One Piece Dome Tour

Golden week has finally begun. As I have the inherent tendency to feel too comfortable just staying at home letting days pass by, I’ve decided to force myself to do something worth blogging about each day during the following 10 days. That will not guarantee blog posts, only that I will get out of the house and find something more meaningful to do than sitting on a chair.

The schedule for today had been pre-planned at least one day beforehand, which is a rare occurrence in my curriculum. Usually I just go somewhere on a whim, or even more often, I don’t. But a couple days ago I came across an advertisement poster in the metro about One Piece having some kind of “Dome Tour” around Japan during this spring, and the Tokyo dates happened to coincide with Golden Week. My Kimeta©-decision was as follows: If I can manage to use the 7-11 ticket vending machine to buy myself an entry pass (¥3000 in advance, ¥3500 at the venue), I’ll go. So last night I courageously ventured into the world of konbini vending machines for the first time since buying Ghibli Museum tickets at Lawson in early 2009. Although the machine needed my name and phone number for no apparent reason, I managed to receive one entry ticket without too much hassle. The receipt of such a token immediately manifested on my face through forming a huge grin that lasted overnight.

Artistic rendition

As the Dome Tour was open from 10 to 18, I had originally planned to be there as soon as it opened. Unfortunately, due to… krhm… snooze button related issues I was belated and only arrived to the premises at around 11. Once again, I had completely underestimated the enthusiasm the Japanese exhibit towards queuing. Not only do they not seem to mind, it’s as if they genuinely enjoy it. The line to the entrance was easily over a kilometer long, going towards the next metro station before turning back in front of a baseball court and zigzagging around the dome a few times.

*chuckles in disbelief*

It took me roughly one and a half hours from my arrival at the dome to actually get in the dome. I also managed to enjoy a couple of spontaneous bursts of laughter when realizing that the queue was still going to continue through one more street corner. Obviously, queuing was a fundamental part of the experience. Luckily I had one volume of Tenjho Tenge with me so I was able to enjoy gratuitous violence, nudity and unintelligible kanji during the long downtime instead of falling into the depths of tedium. One would think the organizers of such a huge event could be just slightly more prepared for this kind of attendance, especially considering there were lots of space inside the dome upon entering. Maybe open more than one entrance gate you fucks!

Going up the stairs and going down the stairs and going up the stairs and going down the stairs and going up the sideways stairs.

Once inside, I reacquired my earlier permagrin. Like all visitors, I also received a Wanted Newspaper with some information on what was to be found at the event, and promptly proceeded forward towards the main exhibition hall.

Toilet signs had been redesigned for the occasion, and instead of toilet jazz, the speakers inside were playing Binks' Sake

Although it was apparent that the entire event was meticulously well prepared in order to draw a huge amount of money from the people entering, I was happily willing to fall prey to that plan. The One Piece Dome Tour also marked the first time I’ve really longed for a better camera, as my poor N95 had no way to immortalize all the greatness that was present in front of my eyes. Then again, nothing could accurately depict that. You just had to be there.

Laboon!

The unfolding of the plot in the main area is better explained in this post, so I will, instead, comment on the show that some of the series’ seiyuu performed in the afternoon and post all of my low-quality pictures. Despite none of the main cast being present at the show, the actors voicing Bon Clay, Jinbei and the venerable Den Den Mushi were able to send some chills down my spine as well as produce a few laughs. I clearly haven’t watched the series enough as I initially failed to recognize Jinbei’s voice. But then again, the book is always better. Visitors were also offered the possibility to rent Zoro or Sanji voice guides for the tour for ¥2000, something which I rapidly discarded as a worthless ripoff.

*purupuru purupuru*

Before leaving the dome I did eventually buy a straw hat pirates flag as an everlasting symbol for future Sebaattori LAN parties as well as a box of overpriced “treasure chocolates” for no reason whatsoever. After leaving the main exhibition area that was the dome, I also had a vague attempt at entering the nearby Prism Hall where the bigger merchandise shop was located, but I was thwarted at the entrance by a queue that once again would most likely have lasted for over an hour.

I am a consumer whore

This marks the end of Grand Line News. The plan for tomorrow is to wake up at 5 in the morning and go straight to the Tsukiji Fish Market to queue for one of the best (and freshest) sushi sets in the world. I wouldn’t hold my breath for success, though.

-Antti

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