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One of the amusing things about living in the home of the Sopranos is the sheer quantity of cultural diversity that's stuffed into this tiny state. In Edgewater, looking across the river at the concrete jungle, is a place called the Mitsuwa Marketplace. Formerly called Yaohan Plaza, until the Japanese mother company folded, Mitsuwa is a slice of Japan that has somehow gotten lost in Jersey. The intended audience is Asian ex patriots, but we found it anyway.
When we first started going to Yaohan, we were part of the very few non Asian faces to be seen. More tourists have found the place over the years, though it's still mostly folks looking for a taste of home, rather than gawkers. Unfortunately, to my dismay, I look like a gawker.
As a hairy, rotund, nearly six and a half foot tall white guy, I look something like a fanboy cliche. I find this somewhat mortify, but I can't really do anything about it. I could argue that I became interest in Japan after getting a Judo belt at 9. Or reading the likes Herman Hess or Alan Watts. Or... never mind, most other protestations; interests in martial arts, medieval armour and weapons, anime, they're all part of the same damn archetype. Faced with such overwhelming personal geekness you have to either make your peace and go with it or pretend to like professional sports. I loathe professional sports.
With this in mind, I spot a few of my lesser doppelgangers wondering about, people who look more at home in comic shops than in public. Word of advice here, if you are a tragically unlaid still single geeky guy, look for Asian chicks, for some reason they seem to like that. The Japanese toy store has seen people like be before. The Asian girl running the store is cute and seems happy to talk to me (ahem.)
I note that Fullmetal Alchemist, one of my favorites, seems popular. Oh, yes, very, she says, though Naruto is really big right now. I make a mental note of this, the shame. I briefly consider getting a tiny kawaii figurine of Scar for my desk, but manage to banish the thought. I glance over and see, to my horror, wearable items from anime, particularly head bands. The exceptionally helpful girl comes out from behind the desk, "Oh, would you like to try one on," she says excitedly, making motions toward the case.
It was at this point I remembered that I probably looked like someone who might try something on. Asian chick seemed far to enthusiastic about the prospect of this. I explained that I liked watch the stuff but had no intention of making it some kind of fashion statement. Cosplay falls on the short list of things way too weird even for me. She nodded and laughed animatedly, as if she totally understood and agreed. I suspect she would have reacted the same way if I had donned the head band.
There are times when I think having a porno collection might be less embarrassing than having an anime one. I don't want to be a cliche. Then I am reminded that there are other cliches I'd like to be even less. I'll leave the porn to the sports fans.
When we first started going to Yaohan, we were part of the very few non Asian faces to be seen. More tourists have found the place over the years, though it's still mostly folks looking for a taste of home, rather than gawkers. Unfortunately, to my dismay, I look like a gawker.
As a hairy, rotund, nearly six and a half foot tall white guy, I look something like a fanboy cliche. I find this somewhat mortify, but I can't really do anything about it. I could argue that I became interest in Japan after getting a Judo belt at 9. Or reading the likes Herman Hess or Alan Watts. Or... never mind, most other protestations; interests in martial arts, medieval armour and weapons, anime, they're all part of the same damn archetype. Faced with such overwhelming personal geekness you have to either make your peace and go with it or pretend to like professional sports. I loathe professional sports.
With this in mind, I spot a few of my lesser doppelgangers wondering about, people who look more at home in comic shops than in public. Word of advice here, if you are a tragically unlaid still single geeky guy, look for Asian chicks, for some reason they seem to like that. The Japanese toy store has seen people like be before. The Asian girl running the store is cute and seems happy to talk to me (ahem.)
I note that Fullmetal Alchemist, one of my favorites, seems popular. Oh, yes, very, she says, though Naruto is really big right now. I make a mental note of this, the shame. I briefly consider getting a tiny kawaii figurine of Scar for my desk, but manage to banish the thought. I glance over and see, to my horror, wearable items from anime, particularly head bands. The exceptionally helpful girl comes out from behind the desk, "Oh, would you like to try one on," she says excitedly, making motions toward the case.
It was at this point I remembered that I probably looked like someone who might try something on. Asian chick seemed far to enthusiastic about the prospect of this. I explained that I liked watch the stuff but had no intention of making it some kind of fashion statement. Cosplay falls on the short list of things way too weird even for me. She nodded and laughed animatedly, as if she totally understood and agreed. I suspect she would have reacted the same way if I had donned the head band.
There are times when I think having a porno collection might be less embarrassing than having an anime one. I don't want to be a cliche. Then I am reminded that there are other cliches I'd like to be even less. I'll leave the porn to the sports fans.
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From:
no subject
I first found Yaohan as part of the Anime shoppers guide to NYC. We still visit, do some shopping, then take the $2 shuttle into the big city.
From:
no subject
We're even on their mailing list... we get the sale flyers. We even manage to figure out about half of them..
Damn, now we're gonna need another trip soon. Though Assi has helped the void. OR, Hong Kong on Adams Ave... which also means PHO heh...
From:
Food!
They're renovating at the moment. The stand that had the obanyaki and the yakisoba not longer does the soba; I was very bummed. The obanyaki is still good, though.
Finally figured out what one of the thick brown sauces that's served with my chicken katsu is and got a bottle.
Yeah, I'm not real exotic in what I eat there, but I have fun.
Oh, and if Becky's reading this: Man Pockey!
From:
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But I go for the stationary. Shame they swapped bookshop owners, I wanted to pick up a couple of tomes they no longer carry.
Mmmm ohbanyaki