KINOKUNIYA.

One of my favorite past times as a child was begging my mother to drive hours to Edgewater, New Jersey to take me to Yaohan, which is now known as Mitsuwa Marketplace. I loved eating ramen and bento boxes in their food court and then going to the Japanese bookstore and forcing my mother to buy me lots of stickers, stationary, and art/design books. Japanese bookstores always have the best stickers, stationary, and art/design books.

The Kinokuniya Bookstore near Bryant Park is no exception and it is even better than the bookstore at Mitsuwa Marketplace because it is in Manhattan and a mere subway ride away.


Can you just feel the amazingness!?!? And do you see that Kristen already ran down the stairs ahead of me so she could point out the HUGE TOTORO in the stationary/office supply/toy section!?!?


I tumbled down the stairs and the HUGE TOTORO jumped into my arms. Pure bliss.


The Cat Bus took an immediate liking to Kristen and begged her to take him home.


What, Totoro?? You think I should purchase this little $10 White Totoro keychain??


Why, yes, I agree. Say hello to my new zipper pull.


And one thing non-Miyazaki related. I spotted INUIT ART OWL CARDS!!!!njsegnlseg I am absolutely OBSESSED with Inuit art (and was deeply disappointed that Borders did not carry another Inuit Art calendar for 2010), probably because they commonly use owls as subjects in their work. The Inuits have deep respect for all living things so when you study birds and other animals in Inuit art, you will notice that each one has its own special character. From top to bottom: "OH HAI, I LOOK POWERFUL BUT IT'S JUST BECAUSE I DON'T MOVE MUCH AND AM USUALLY JUST HONGRY." "OH HAI, I AM NERVOUS AND ALERT." "OH HAI, I WANT A LOVE MARRIAGE."

Love marriage!??? Just a way for me to segue into the best song I have heard in quite some time. Thank you, Wilbur Sargunaraj.