Neko in Japan: Going to Ghibli (album)

May 11, 2008
Saitama --> Mitaka
Japan

It was quite a rainy day but Ms. Helen and I were not daunted by drops of water - we set off to visit Ghibli Museum!

After my borrowing of an umbrella and other accessories from her, we first made a stopover at some places sure to delight the cockles of my manga-speckled heart and black-hole of a stomach.

Ms. H has ESP! 
Okay, she was probably told by Sir B that I am anime and manga-crazy. I was pretty happy at the used manga bookstore - even if all the manga were in Japanese. There was no stock of the manga volumes I wanted though.

However, the visit to this place near Nakano station (near Shinjuku) was worth it as not only did I get to acquire a character book of "Fruits Basket" and earlier volumes of "Sainkoku Monogatari" (I *heart* this series!). but I also acquired two "hentai" mangas too..but they were a gift for an officemate (male) who is collecting them....hehehe!

Going around the place resulted also in more shopping moments (bags, socks, slippers) and lunch! My mouth is watering just remembering it now...I can almost smell the katsudon in my mouth. Mmmmmmm.....*drool*....

Ghibli Museum (三鷹の森ジブリ美術館, Mitaka no Mori Jiburi Bijutsukan, Mitaka Forest Ghibli Museum): 

It was opened in 2001 and is located in Inokashira Park in Mitaka, a western suburb of Tokyo, Japan. This museum features the work of Studio Ghibli, a Japanese animation team founded by famous Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. 

Let's Lose Our Way, Together is the slogan for the Ghibli Museum. And children and adults seem to have fun losing their way inside this strange and fantastic building.

Taking pictures inside the museum is forbidden, so you will only see some hazy photographs taken from my cellphone and clearer ones from those taken outside.

We were shown in Saturn Theatre a Ghibili short film entitled "Koro's Big Day Out". Koro no Daisanpo (コロの大さんぽ) was first shown in 2002. Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli is the writer and director. (If you don't know him, think Spirited Away") 

The film is about Koro the puppy, who runs away from his owner, and runs into adventures around town until he is finally happily returned home.

Official Site: http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/
Address:
1-1-83 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo 181-0013, Japan
phone 0570-055777 (Japanese only) 


To Helen-san, ども ありがと ございました！

Aside from guiding and helping me...she ensured I starred in souvenir pics too 

- Nov 1, '08 10:43 PM