Today we took the Tokyu Toyoko Line to Yokohama station to again do some shopping. We make these frequent trips to Japan to visit family and friends and most importantly, do some shopping! I hate shopping back in the States because in my opinion is quite boring and there is not enough variety. At least in the Seattle area, you have your big chain stores, such as your Best Buy, Target, Home Depot, etc…. Every town or city you go to has the same stores. They all sell the same stuff…….

So many years back, after Japan’s economic bubble burst, they made some gradual reforms that I was afraid would encourage the type of retail capitalism we have back home. Japan would start losing it’s Mom & Pop stores and big business would replace them. Througout Japan I’ve seen this transformation take place, however not as extreme as I originally thought. Still have your Mom & Pop stores, and because of the way consumers are here, Japan continues to have small, original retail and restaurant businesses everywhere. In fact in some districts in Tokyo, such as Shibuya, you see malls occupied by these single owned businesses. As the Japanese like to think - it’s very harmonious….

Anyhow, back to me - like most big train stations, there are a lot of shops either surrounding a station or attached to it. Yokohama station is one of the more popular ones. We spent almost the entire day there not stepping once out of the station area. It’s great during the rainy seasons. While my family broused around the mall, I just spent my time in the toy section with my son. Now, I don’t play with toy’s anymore but because I grew up on these toys, such as Ultraman, I naturally get a little excited. I have an urge to buy it all because I want my son to play with the same toys I had when I was a kid. The only toy that I really dislike is Anpan Man. Can’t stand the character…. He’s made of red bean bread….that should sum it up…….Red Bean Bread Man, NO - Blue Futuristic Cat with no Ears because a mouse ate it, YES! For those who don’t know, I’ll explain in a later post who this Cat is….

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