Mark K was very kind to let me know that this marvelous Toy Exhibit is taking place at SFO Airport!
Thank you Mark!

What: Toy Museum/Exhibit, " Japanese Toys! From Kokeshi to Kaiju"
When: April 22, 2014; 6:00 - 9:00pm
Where: SFO Airport, International Terminal--At the entrance to Boarding Area A, just before the security check point, turn to the left and proceed a few steps to the aviation museum and library entrance.
How Much: $15 per ticket (does not include tax)
Appearances: Mark Nagata and Bandai toy designer Tsuyoshi Nonaka

SCHEDULE:
6:00 PM – 6:30 PM Registration/Reception
6:30 PM – 7:15 PM Panel Discussion
7:30 PM – 8:45 PM Q&A and Guided Tour
Light appetizers and drinks provided.

FREE PARKING:
Use the International Garage and take your parking ticket with you to the event to have it validated for free parking.

Event Info:
http://www.usajapan.org/event/japanese- ... ided-tour/
http://www.flysfo.com/museum/exhibition ... eshi-kaiju

Registration & Purchase Tickets Here:
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/japanese-to ... 0982004471

I know that this exhibit has been showing at the airport, but there was NO way to access the exhibit, unless you had a boarding pass, as the museum exhibit is beyond the security check point. The JSNA is organizing this special tour, so that you can see the toys without having to have a flight ticket, but for ONE night only.

I would really love to go, but when you register online, you need to provide some sensitive information (birthday and driver's license or passport ID), in addition to your address. I'd rather not type in all of that info and send it electronically (identity theft possibilities!), and it might be a deal breaker if I have to do that! I called the event coordinator, Briana, and she is going to see if we can just submit a driver's license number, and provide the rest of the info at the time of the event. She says that Airport Security-TSA, is asking for all of that info, so we'll see...

Anyone out there interested in attending?
Where are all of you BASKERs!

i've been wanting to see it SO bad!

Well, this is going to be our only chance - 4/22, unless you plan on flying out of the international terminal in the near future. Still waiting to hear back from Briana, to see about submitting the info at the gate...

Lalo, you should make the hop south and see the exhibit!

Definitely curious based on what photos I've seen ... please let us know when you hear back from the organizers.

Okee dokee, will do. If I don't hear anything by Monday-4/14, I'll call back.
Briana did say, there were interested attendees, but they also were reluctant about submitting the personal info. FYI, the organizers are not requiring the info, it's the TSA airport security

it'd be nice if we could present our i.d./passport at the door as if we were flying, instead of having to input it online.

Ok, Briana, the event coordinator from Japan Society of Northern California, sent me an email:

Sorry I didn’t get back to you last week about registering for the Japanese Toys talk and tour on April 22nd. SFO/TSA would still like the information below beforehand. In order for us to get a group this large without plane tickets though security as smoothly and quickly as possible we have to submit it prior to the event date.
-Full name
-Driver’s license number or Passport (if Passport we will need to also know the country)
-Date of Birth
-Gender

I’m happy to take this information by phone (415) 986-4383, and can call SFO Museum with it so it doesn’t go through the internet. Or you can fax us the information to my attention at (415)986-4383 and I can call/fax it to SFO. Another option is my colleague, Eileen Tanaka, our Development Director, will be in Japantown tomorrow and can pick up the registration information from you directly if that would be convenient (not sure where you are located though?).

We would really love to have your group join us!

So, we can telephone the information to Briana at the JSNC, but we still need to provide the info BEFORE going to the event. Not sure how I feel about that. Might wait a day or two to decide.

By the way, feel free to call Briana if you have any questions, she's super nice!
I did tell her about Skullbrain. They never even knew that there was a toy forum just for Japanese Toys! And she was impressed by the number of members and total posts

If you are planning to attend, could you just say yay or nay? Might be interesting to see how many of us are going.

I just saw this post. So...how many people are going?

No one has said yay or nay, so I'm assuming that no one is attending . I don't like the idea of sending all of that personal info. And, even if you called the info in, they will most likely type it out and send it to TSA by email anyway, so it defeats the purpose of trying to avoid sending the info electronically . I'll send another email to Briana, and tell her that I'll sit this one out

lands on a tuesday bummers

Not sure why they chose to have the exhibit past the security gate! I think they should have found a better space for the event, without all the added restrictions, and for one night only!

It seems like a lot of airports do that, now. I've seen the same thing done with exhibits at O'Hare, Dulles, and CDG in Paris. Putting displays in boarding areas almost guarantees that travelers will just walk right past the displays, either too eager to board or too weary after de-planing. I don't get it.

Complaints aside, I share your concern sharing personal data. Had a bit of ID theft trouble recently as well as a bizarre stalking incident and remain very wary about sharing TMI on the 'net.

SFO has had some very interesting exhibits. There have been many occasions where I've wanted to see an exhibit, but couldn't, due to the entrance restrictions. There are exhibits in the pre-security areas, but it just seems all the good stuff is stashed in the post-security areas. The toy exhibit would have been great if they could have shown it at the Japanese Art Museum of San Jose. The space isn't too small or too big, just right. And if Double Punch in SF hadn't closed, the upstairs gallery might have worked as well?

From some of the preview photos, it looks like a nice event. I was hoping to see this guy in person


Red King figure 1967
Bullmark
Japan
Collection of Mark Nagata
L2013.1502.019


King Zaurus Red King salesman’s prop probably 1976
Popy
Japan
King Rory Collection
L2013.1503.028

That King Zaurus Red King salesman's prop looks GIGANTIC!
It's a shame really. When I called Briana last week, she said they only had 30 registrations, but were hoping for 100-150.

P.S.

(clockwise)
Blinking Godzilla lamp 1982
Japan
Anonymous lender
L2013.1512.004


Hedorah figure from Godzilla vs. Hedorah 1971
Bullmark
Japan
Anonymous lender
L2013.1512.007


King Ghidorah figure (Hawaiian version) from Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster 1975
Bullmark
Japan
King Rory Collection
L2013.1503.044

I just bet that "Anonymous Lender" is Brian!