I co-wrote a book.
Tokyo Underground: Toy and Design Culture in Tokyo (128 pp, hc, $19.99)
Probably the #1 subject for emails to CollectionDX is "Where can I find good toy shops in Tokyo?". I had a small guide I created after my 2003 trip, and that was really popular, but not comprehensive. When I went back to Tokyo in 2006, I took notes and pictures. With my good friend Dave's help, I had the start of the ultimate Japanese toy guide.
Originally this was meant to be an e-book - a pdf that you could print and bring with you. But I lacked the time to compile it and format it properly. I pitched the idea to Brian Flynn of Super7, and he thought why not take it further, and make it a real book?
Brian put his design house, Hybrid-Design, on the job of making the book look great. Brian combined his maps of the vinyl scene with my maps of the vintage scene and added extra information. The end result is what you see here, a real, honest-to-good actual book.
The book is published by Super7 and distributed by Ginko Press. The book should be available in funkier book shops around the country.
TOKYO UNDERGROUND digs deep and unearths Toy and design culture in the land of the rising sun.
September 24, 2007 - Buried deep down back alleys of Tokyo’s hippest neighborhoods are the secret places. For years, toy collectors would keep maps of these stores to themselves, lest another collector find out one of his hunting spots. As toy and design culture collide and become mainstream, these locations can no longer be kept secret!
Tokyo Underground: Toy and Design Culture in Tokyo (128 pp, hc, $19.99) is the ultimate guide to Otaku nirvana. From the trendy Harajuku shops to the Mecca of Japanese nerd culture - Akihabara, Tokyo Underground tells you how to get there, what you’ll find, and what to do when you get bored of the toys (if that is even possible).
Each neighborhood in Tokyo is mapped out in detail, with the locations of each store, what you can find there, and even the contact information! Not only the shops, but find out what to do from the time you step into the Narita Airport. This book covers everything from currency exchange, train rides, toy shops, and how to figure out how to say “How much?” in Japanese.
Meet the characters that inhabit this world, from the designers to the eclectic toy shop owners. Find out where to eat and how to round out your toy purchases with the coolest in books, magazines, designer t-shirts, sneakers, music and more.
This guidebook includes stunning photography, well thought out maps, and a specialized lexicon of terms and phrases to help you along on your tour of this fun and fascinating culture.
Tokyo Underground: Toy and Design Culture in Tokyo is a collaboration between Brian Flynn (Super7 Magazine) and Joshua Bernard (CollectionDX) with photography by Jeff Dey.
ISBN: 0-9796678-0-1
ISBN 13: 978-0-9796678-0-0
Amazon
Also available at:
Kinokuniya (Japanese)