Richard,
Mostokiz Museum, Osaka |
Richard
had just returned from a twelve day tour of Japan with Dave
Prowse. The Vader-Motti Tour was an exhausting and resounding
success. Many thanks up front to Dr. Abe, our tour organizer
who set us a grueling but exciting schedule. He worked very
hard for both of us. |
Tokyo |
"I've
never been involved in anything like this," Richard said
on his return, "The country was so unique, Tokyo is frightening
in its size and population. I have a real love-hate relationship
with it - it's exactly the same feeling I had when I went
to New York the first time - and now New York is one of
my favourite cities in the world. I really want to go back
and get to know Tokyo, if that's possible." |
A Big Fan at Fan Day, Tokyo |
The
tour kicked off at Red Mercury, one of the largest stores
in Tokyo where Dave and Richard signed for the afternoon
and met five hundred Star Wars fans and collectors. Reds-Direct
was next, a toy manufacturer where they spent the evening
and had a great time. |
Richard boards the Bullet Train |
The
next day, Richard Dave and Abe boarded the Shinkansen -
The Bullet Train for Fuji City and a signing in the shadow
of Mt. Fuji at Max Powers run by Mr. Ito. They got a glimpse
of Fuji through the clouds but were distracted by Ito-san's
workers. He has the ability of finding the most beautiful
sales staff who acted as helpers for the afternoon. The
fans were just fantastic, many brought presents for Dave
and Richard from macramé to ceramics. That night Dave and
Richard signed in what they thought was the smallest toy
store in Japan, R&D toys in Yokohama until ten pm. The store
may have been small but the hospitality provided by Mr Kakizawa
was fantastic. |
Richard & Dave at The Cantina Bar, Tokyo |
Back
in Tokyo it was the signing at The Cantina Bar - yes, a
Cantina really exists and it's in Tokyo and it's fantastic.
It's a toy collectors dream come true - a Star Wars toys
store and a bar under the same roof. Ralf and Mauka, a gorgeous
couple who know their cocktails and their collectables,
run the joint brilliantly. A must stop for any fan who visits
Tokyo. |
Calligraphy Lessons |
The
next day Dave and Richard experienced Japan on an entirely
different level. They went to the Showa Elementary School
in Gifu to meet the students and the staff. Mr Yashushi
Hosoe, a teacher at the school, was their host. It was unlike
any school in the West. Richard and Dave left their shoes
at the door and slippers were provided for the tour. They
watched three classes at work and had tea with the principal.
They were presented with a box of beautiful ceramic bowls
from the school. The Altair Model store in Gifu was the
most relaxing signing of the tour. |
|
Signing, Osaka
|
The
next day it was off to Osaka for a hectic signing at The
Nostalgia Museum in a district that looked like a cross
between London's Soho and New York's Upper West Side. In
spite of the pouring rain five hundred plus Star Wars fans
turned our for the signing. That night they were taken out
to Hasi Bashi (everything cooked on a flat griddle) by the
principal and teachers at the Amusement Media Institute
where Dave was having a retrospective the next day. Once
again everyone's kindness and hospitality was just unbelievable.
That afternoon it was off to Sasebo on Kyushu, the south
island, and a chance for some sightseeing - Japan whizzing
by at 285kph. " The Bullet Train experience is just fantastic,
take Eurostar, multiply by ten and you're almost there."
|
The Y.Y Boeki Team
Laminated card from the Principal of the School |
This
part of the tour was sponsored by Mr. Ogata's toy shop "Y.Y
Boeki". Mr. Ogata arranged a tour of his high school where
Richard and Dave tired their hand at calligraphy - they
told Richard he was a natural. The Principal then took them
out to lunch at a traditional Kyushu seafood restaurant.
There was only one thing on the menu, three giant deep fried
shrimp, a sea snail as big as Dave's hand and a lean steak.
The Kyushu version of Surf and Turf until Richard figured
out the "turf" was whale. It was one of the best meals they
had in Japan. Richard and Dave spent the rest of the day
touring video stores publicising their two-day signing in
Sasebo and discovered that even Buddhist monks are Star
Wars fans. Richard and Dave hosted a one-hour Q&A before
each signing. Sasebo is a large US Navy and Marine base
and there were lots of servicemen at the signings. |
Restaurant, Sasebo |
They
left Sasebo early Sunday morning to go to Hamamatsu in Central
Japan. Here that signed at Mr. Suzuki's, The Collector's
Box in the early evening, had a Chinese meal and an early
night. Back in Tokyo, Richard took a day off before flying
back to London where his new screenplay was having a public
reading. |
The Fish Restaurant, Sasebo |
There
was time for a last visit to The Cantina where he was honoured
to have his favourite bourbon (Knob Creek) bought in for
him by Ralf and a not entirely chance meeting with one of
his dearest friends William Hootkins (Jek Porkins) who was
in town for fun. Richard and William were further honoured
by Mauka who named after them for The Cantina cocktail list
- The Porkins Special - Tequila, papaya juice and lime and
the Espresso Motti - Coffee, Khalua and Vodka. The twelve
hour flight back to London literally 'flew by' with Virgin
and another great flight crew - Gary, Tara et al were just
fantastic. |
