This year many firms enjoy a nine-day New Year break thanks to favorable weekday alignment. Palaceside Building closes Dec 31 (Tue)–Jan 3 (Fri) and Jan 5 (Sun) like regular holidays—east/west entrances and subway escalator access will be closed.
Individual shop hours on Dec 30 (Mon) and Jan 4 (Sat)—please check separately.
Today's Dec 27 (Fri) is this blog's last post for the year; updates resume from Jan 6.
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2014's zodiac is Kinoe-Uma (Wood Horse)—every 60 years; 60 years ago was 1954. I arbitrarily think the most famous 1954 Kinoe-Uma birth is Godzilla—Godzilla's 60th anniversary year.
When was Godzilla born? First released Nov 3, 1954, Toho's film was an unprecedented hit—9.61 million viewers at first-run theaters alone, roughly one in ten Japanese. Height started at 50 m, later 100 m—a Kinoe-Uma giant and origin of suitmation.
Toho opened a promo site for Godzilla's 60th (http://godzilla.jp/)=photo lower. Press direction keys to walk and destroy cities; "G" for heat ray, "M" for Mothra, "K" for King Ghidorah. Stylish red-and-black design. Jan 27 adds special interviews and Blu-ray/DVD info; all 28 films featured.
Hollywood revives "GODZILLA" July 25, 2014; June brings digital remaster "Godzilla (1954)" revival at ~80 theaters. Also from March, Jimbocho Theater will screen the "Godzilla" seri
es—30 films total, adding "Monster King Godzilla" export version and 1998 "GODZILLA" on days with "5" in the date. Jimbocho Theater: 3 min from subway Jimbocho, 8 min JR Ochanomizu, under 10 min from Palaceside Building/Takebashi on Tokyo Metro Tozai Line.
Sixty years on, Godzilla's appeal hasn't faded. 2014 feels like something will run wild—the biggest foe may be the consumption tax.
Wishing you a healthy year-end and New Year.