Last time I was in Japan, I found this old school candy and toy store in Odaiba. It was in one of those new mega complexes, but their shelves were stocked with traditional toys and masks and dagashi—dirt cheap candy ranging from little Cola-flavored drops to pork cutlet-flavored strips of mystery meat. Here are some of the things I picked up, all for under $1:
A plastic-and-styrofoam airplane. Is it just me or does it look like a kamikaze pilot plane? These were probably made in the immediate post-war and I remember seeing them when I was a kid.
A syringe filled with mizuame, or water candy. It's called "Doctor Mizu Ame." I bought this for my boyfriend so I could inject him with sweetness, but it's still sitting around in a drawer somewhere.
OK, this can't be that old, right? I mean how long have Sour Cream and Onion Pringles been around for? Nonetheless, I thought it was pretty creative that they made the famous potato chip brand into a glue stick, and it embodies the humor-meets-utility spirit often seen in Japanese parody products.
Mmm...I love the cutlet flavored treat. It's actually finely shredded and pressed fish. But damn does it taste like a real tonkatsu...
Posted by: Nobita | May 29, 2008 at 09:09 AM
The airplane? That's either a Supermarine Spitfire or Hurricane in the packaging picture. These were legendary WWII planes of the Royal Air Force (Britain). But the assembled toy may look very different. Prolly does.
Posted by: oatsey | June 05, 2008 at 04:23 AM