When director Fran Rubel Kuzui made ‘Tokyo Pop’ (1988) it was very much the height of the bubble era for the economy in Japan. It is a delightfully fluffy kitsch piece of ’80s nostalgia with a certain simple charm. Production took place at multiple locations around the capital city naturally beginning (on screen!) at Narita Airport as Wendy (Carrie Hamilton) arrives in Japan from New York.
There is the obligatory scene from Yasukuni Dori in Shinjuku as Wendy tries to get a taxi back to the Mickey House Hostel in Kami-Itabashi which has long gone. Having met Hiro (Yutaka Tadokoro a.k.a. Diamond Yukai) and his bandmates at an outdoor ramen stall, they end up in a love hotel but don’t actually sleep together.
N.B. The time codes given are approximate.
The following morning starts (27 minutes in) with Kappabashi’s landmark; the large statue of a moustached, chef hat-wearing man on top of the Niimi Western Tableware Shop (1-1-1 Matsugaya, Taito-ku) between Ueno and Asakusa.
The scenes in Yoyogi Park on the half hour mark really are of their time as there’s a flea market, punk dancers, cosplayers and live musicians. Sure, such things can still be seen today but Continue reading
