Little America in Japan? (America Mura) アメリカ村

Last weekend I went into Osaka to do a few things. I checked out Sumiyoshi Shrine...for a fairly important reason....booking my wedding later this Fall. As well, I went downtown to Namba. Namba is the ever groovy heartbeat and pulse of Osaka's youth culture. Many an English teacher in Korea who had done a visa run to Osaka knows the place well. The Korean Consulate in Osaka is located in Namba, beside the cool areas Shinsaibashi and of course Dotonbori.

I walked all over the place. In one of my latest YouTube vlogs, you can see me checkin out America Mura (American Village). Is it really like America? NO, of course not!! It's completely different, but it's such a cool place. A young hipster's shopping paradise. I'm by no means hip, but for me it was a great place to people watch and admire how freakin' cool young Japanese people really can be!

American Village (America Mura) アメリカ村

A BusanKevin vid...


I saw the throngs of people gathered around the strange robotic-like clown wackin a drum when I was in Osaka last weekend. I wondered what the Hell was happening. Why do thousands of folks want a picture of such an odd thing?? Here's the answer!
Popular Osaka restaurant Cui-daore closes doors after 60 years
Mainichi
OSAKA -- Cui-daore, a popular restaurant here known for its drum-beating mascot, closes its doors on Tuesday, putting an end to almost 60 years of history.

Attention is now focused on the fate of the mascot, Cui-daore Taro. The restaurant, situated in the Dotonbori entertainment district in southern Osaka, has been flooded with inquiries about the mascot, many from people offering to buy it. The restaurant owner is negotiating with several people and businesses over the terms to buy it.

"We're asking them about their purchase conditions, and are considering each case. We can't easily decide (to whom we will sell the mascot)," said an executive of the company that operates Cui-daore restaurant.

The company is considering the possibility of displaying it somewhere in the Dotonbori district or continuing to hold the trademark rights over the mascot.