la. I have been reading these articles for a little while now, and its really sparked a good interest in me. Before, for a few years, I have been wanting to visit japan and etc, but now that I've read so much about what its like from your site, I want to move there. Hopefully as a transfer student for graphic design. If you have any more cool stuff on japan and tokyo, then hurry and post it all! You kick ass, dude. posted by LashJune 9, 2004 at 14:23 [ e ]

Very cool site! Greg, IIRC there is a neighborhood in Tokyo proper that has a bunch of these stores/companies all together in the same couple of blocks.  I do not recall exactly where, but for some reason I think it was near Akihabara.  I believe I stumbled upon it while shopping for a new watch (of all things) about 15 years ago on a cool autumn Sunday afternoon.  I have pictures (not digital, though) of that day somewhere.  I'll have to see if I can dig them up and scan them.   What's the coolest thing, though, are the keychains and the earrings made from the miniature food models.  I would love to get my hands on some of those.  For me, these 'food models' are a quintessential part of Japanese culture, esp. since there was many a meal where I was forced to order by pointing at a model the window! posted by HardwareLustJune 9, 2004 at 23:41 [ e ]

Kappabashi I'm assuming you mean Kappabashi.  Yes, they have keychains and earrings.  Even magnets. posted by greggmanJune 10, 2004 at 2:25 [ e ]