Japan Trip 2008 - Day 10 9/12/08

A return trip to Yokohama was my destination this morning. The last time I came here was during sakura season in 2007. Took the Minato Mirai line to Chinatown. Had a nice pleasant stroll around there and then onwards to Yamashita Koen. The views of the port weren’t good because of low cloud.  Had a good hike over from the park to the Minato Mirai 21 area. Looking at the Cosmo Clock reminded me when Welsh rockers Manic Street Preachers shot part of their video to the song Motorcycle Emptiness here all those years ago. I decided to go up to the observatory at the top of the Landmark Tower. It’s a shame that the views from the top was spoiled by the smog and low cloud. After more walking I went back to Akiba just for the AKB48 theater.

Yokohama's Chinatown

This time the theater was open and I could enter the place many Western AKB48 fans dream of visiting. There was a couple of wotas having a cup of coffee in the cafe and I had a look at the merchandise that could be bought in the small shop but the AKB48 t-shirt which I wanted wasn’t available. Looks like I’ll have to buy that online somewhere. Disappointed with that. So far I had been unsuccessful in getting a ticket to see the girls in action here but all I could do was carry on emailing every day and cross my fingers that my luck would come in. After gazing at the photos of each member on the walls in the corridor outside the theater I made my way down the elevator and onto my 3rd destination of the day – back to Nakano.

Looking towards the Minato Mirai 21 area from Yamashita Koen

I knew exactly what I wanted so up to the 3rd floor and Trio 2. Bought a AKB48 tour t-shirt and a Morning Musume Wonderful Hearts 2006 one plus some more photos. As I came out of Nakano Broadway the weather had turned for the worst and it was raining steadily. Got an umbrella but within 5 mins of landing in Shinjuku the bloody thing was destroyed by a gust of wind. What a waste of 300 yen!!

The Cosmo Clock

It was still raining in the early evening as I headed to Tower Records with my points card to buy some CD’s. I purchased Perfume – Game and Hikaru Utada’s Heart Station album with Koda Kumi’s Taboo and C-ute’s Forever Love singles. There was more CD’s I intended to buy before I going back home.

The view from the top of the Landmark Tower

On the TV tonight was a special celebrity edition of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. I spotted Kago Ai in the audience but why was she here and who was she supporting? Actually she was supporting her co-star in the play she’s doing  and plugging her Kago Channel DVD. She looked so cute tonight. She wore a multi-colored striped cardigan on top of a white t-shirt with shorts and red tights and boots.

The Yokohama Bay Stars stadium from the Landmark Tower

Tomorrow – a pilgrimage to a location associated with the anime Lucky Star.