The only convenient way to get to and from the Odaiba complex is in the monorail... a real honest to goodness monorail. After a scenic, futuristic ride across the water, you'll be treated a whole bunch of perfect-looking, super clean buildings. Several are malls, but what's more interesting is Fuji Television.
that's fujitv on the right
The media giant actually keeps their headquarters open to the public. I didn't go in this time, but I understand it's packed with everything fans of their shows could want, including the studios. At fuji terebi you can attend tapings, and maybe even meet your favorite celebs. And naturally, you can buy merchandise. Right now, they're in the middle of the Odaiba adventure, a special attraction for the summer (and the reason I went, but more on that another time). During the "adventure", national acts play most every day, the shows run kind of an open house, and special limited edition shops and goods go on sale.In this way, Fuji TV strikes me as a really progressive media company. They realize that TV plays a big role in many peoples lives, and that keeping that experience inside the home and inside a box is a missed opportunity. Not just an opportunity to sell people souvenirs and collectibles, but an opportunity to create a deeper connection between people and the products and series they love. I know it's cynical capitalism, but lately I'm especially pleased with cynical capitalism's ability to deliver meaning and meaningful experiences and connections between people.
When I first arrived, the Japanese cultural-economy felt especially heartless and empty, but as time goes on, I feel more and more attatched to it... like it's the future of capitalism.
the ride home, click for a better view
No comments:
Post a Comment