Nov 1, 2004
An Afternoon in Shibuya
Headed out early today to get to Shibuya with Yuko. She has some things she needs to do all day at the Tokyo University Komaba campus, so I tagged along until Shibuya, and am spending the afternoon in the area.
I started off with Tower Records, where I finally picked up the first issue of COMPOSITE (the previous issue was numbered 0). It brought my Tower point card to 40, which means my next magazine will be free! My regular Shibuya stops route was followed by Parco Part 1’s basement, where I got some nice stationary at Delfonics. Seems like they updated their collection, as there were many new things on hand, including some new Braniff Airlines branded goods, produced by Delfonics. The Parcos Gallery had a show by Colobockle. I picked up a nice Christmas card. I also noticed for the first time that the P-BC is now a Libro bookstore. Don’t know when the change was made.
I had a hard time getting out of the Parco complex, what with a visit to the basement of Parco Part 3 (the recently opened zakka floor), and then Parco Part 2’s 4th floor for a few new interior design shops (style, keep left, arenot) that recently opened. If I had the money, I would love to redo my apartment with some of the things I saw. One day…
Now I’m at Planet 3rd, where I’m writing this, and just had a delicious taco lunch set. After this I’ll head out to Aoyama. I just had a look at Tokyo Art Beat, and I think I’ll check out some new exhibitions (Gallery 360, Rocket, Colette Meets Comme des Garcons, and Nadiff).
Update: When I visited Gallery 360, I had my iPod earphones on (nevermind that the music was off). The woman in charge came up to me and asked me to stop listening to music. When I asked her why, she responded that it was “bad manners” to view an artist’s works while listening to music. I felt like I was being confronted by SEINFELD’s Soup Nazi. I thought it was ridiculous, and walked out.
Jean Snow is a contributor to 
He will be contributing to the upcoming fifth editions of 
Well it must be too late, but there’s a new mall about behind Tower Records in Shibuya, called Picasso 347.
Upper floors contain a design bookshop and an interior shop I thought you’d like. So put that on your list for next time (if you haven’t been yet). :)
It is spelled “Delfonics”.
‘delicious tacos,’ in tokyo you say?!
what is this planet 3rd you speak of?
That’s right (about Picasso 347)! I’d heard of it, and have been wanting to check it out, but didn’t know where it was (I always forget to check before heading out to Shibuya).
Thanks for the correction for Delfonics, I’ll fix it in the post.
As for the Tacos, they weren’t… well… pure, as you would expect in Tokyo, but damn good none the less. As for Planet 3rd, this is their site, but it seems to be down right now. Also the tacos were part of the special lunch menu, so don’t know if they’re available on a regular basis.
i got tacos somewhere in Shimokitazawa once and they were – i kid you not – tortillas with hot-dogs and fried sweet potato.
Jeez, that’s bizarre being told it’s rude to wear headphones while looking at art! If the rudeness factor of doing that is, say, 3%, her rudeness factor in telling you not to is about 75%. What is Japan coming to, it used to be so polite! And didn’t they invent the Walkman in the first place?
hi.
ugh, gallery 360! Once I visited there, they kicked out a couple with their little kid and also I wasn’t allowed to take note, either. Most of their exhibits are interesting, but I don’t really prefer the attidude.
I don’t feel like going there again. I felt like I was being talked down to. I was wearing a t-shirt, old jeans, and sneakers, and have a feeling that I was being targeted.
haruna – not allowed to take notes?? that’s screwed. I can understand not taking photos. I can sort of understand headphones IF they were so loud everyone can hear them (this case, obviously not). But not taking notes is ridiculous.
when i went there, you weren’t allowed to look at the art!
yo, man. i just simply wasn:t ALLOWED.
haha… fun tread
Heh. Maybe we should all get together in our most casual clothes and conspicuous headphones, and flood the gallery all at once.
Anyone up for some catharsis?