I’m back from Japan and catching up on sleep, slowly. Before I  go back to reviewing, I wanted to share some photos from the end of this trip.

Sunday night we returned from Big Sight and decided to eat out like humans. We went to a restaurant near our hotel and had a delightful dinner of duck & soba and grilled duck (yes, we like duck). It was a nice way to end the day.

The next day we headed out to Shibuya.  A few months ago, I had picked up an issue of RICE magazine, for a special Sandwich issue. I wrote down a few places to try to get to. On the top was a French bakery, Brasserie Viron. We tried to get to the one near Tokyo Station but it didn’t happen. As we were walking in Shibuya, we passed Village Vanguard, which handles the merchandising for Yuriten (the 2019 show was just announced, tune in tomorrow for details!) and…Brasserie Viron in Shibuya.

It was magnificent. I had a jambon and cornichon sandwich. The wife had a Pâté de Campagne and cornichon sandwich,  and profiteroles for dessert. So good~~  Also, we are all about pickles right now. (Life advice here – eat more fermented and pickled foods.)

While in Mandarake, I picked up an issue of Margaret magazine with the original run of Rose of Versailles, because I could. ^_^

We came back to Ikebukuro and did one last pass at Tokyu Hands and Animate.  Here’s pictures of the stash!

This was, undoubtedly, the most exciting thing I bought. I was beside myself with joy that I was able to get this. I’d seen an ad back at New Year’s and resigned myself to never having it. This is a brand new Sailor Moon Girl’s Day release and I was basically dancing as I bough it. ^_^

Here’s both sets, my wife and I got these for each other as Valentine’s Day gifts. ^_^ I love that Haruka and Michiru are being marketed this time around as an established couple, along with Usagi and Mamoru.

I thought this was hilarious, so I kept it. As we were walking along Takeshitadori in Harajuku some woman gave me this. I didn’t win. ^_^

Here’s a selection of our Harajuku and Nakano purchases. For years, major Japanese stores have had a policy of refunding tax for any purchases over $50 for foreigners who have their passports. I almost never think to do this, because I honestly believe in paying taxes (and I’m often buying things in small chunks at different stores.) I mean, if I bought a large single item, I might remember. But at Kiddyland, they do it automatically  without making you got to a special Tax counter. When my wife pulled out her passport, she and the woman behind the counter laughed, because there was her receipt from the last time she had shoveled money at Kiddyland. ^_^ 

Here’s a bunch of gashopon we got, minus the other couple we had put in a different bag. One day I kept getting two balls out of one pull on the machine for some reason. I’m not complaining. ^_^

Here’s my stash. I was a little shocked to find I had bought 3 CDs(!) including something by Fujieda Miyabi, a voiced doujinshi and a Bloom Into You Radio CD.  Manga,  doujinshi (including Berry Strawberry Shake 4 which made me so happy!) and a bunch of ridiculous Sailor Moon garbage from the cafe last year and the concert goods. And a Eudial pin! 

While we were in Seibu at the Loft, we passed a Nakahara Junichi popup shop as we were on the escalator, so I picked up some sticky notes for Lucky Boxes to be added to the Shimura Takako goods and other stuff like the postcards I got after I scan the images into my screen saver. So the next round of Lucky Boxes will be super excellent. ^_^

Thank you all for following along on my trip this time. It’s always a pleasure to have you along with me!