Kichijoji Ichiban Rare Chara

The other day, you learned about Nakano's nameless and mysterious new mascot. But did you realize that Kichijoji has its own official mascot character, too? Meet Kittan! In the annals of the "yuru-kyara" ("weak characters"), he's one of the most decidedly yuru. A near featureless orange ball with Disney-inspired eyes, he's supposed to evoke... what, exactly? The sunny skies over the city? Your liver after a night spent getting sloshed in scenic Harmonica Yokocho? Actually, he's vaguely reminiscent of the kanji for "kichi," 吉, which means "good fortune" and is used to write "Kichijoji" (吉祥寺).

He's decidedly difficult to spot in his natural habitat (the info kiosk on Sun Road is a good place to start), but lo and behold, there he is kicking it on the curb with a "furry" in Second Life! (In Japan, apparently, super kawaii characters drink sake instead of forties.) In fact, a Kittan devotee has created an entire virtual Kichijoji in Second Life, complete with replica Inokashira Park, Iseya yakitori stand, maids, and the occasional dinosaur. Hats off to anyone who spends their free time masquerading as an alcoholic mascot character!

Comments

[hillsy]

"has created an entire virtual Kichijoji in Second Life, complete with replica Inokashira Park, Iseya yakitori stand, maids, and the occasional dinosaur."

Whaaaaa? If I can't hang out in my favorite yakitori joint IRL, maybe I should give Second Life a second chance!

Ok...I probably won't...

[Aceface]

I grew up in Kichijyoji and to me,that old Yakitori bar by the Inokashira park has always been one of two things that never change in Kichijyoji.(the other is Hanako,the elephant in the zoo,She was the first Indian Elephant that came to Japan after the war)

However,I went to the new Iseya joint a few days ago and I just missed the old one.The Yakitori wasn't that good either.When it comes to the taste,Iseya has always been overrated.But that's just me.

There's actually a better place for Yakitori in Harmonica Yokocho right near "Hamornica Kitchen".HY also has an awsome pasta joint called SPAKICHIスパ吉 and there,you can get the best spaghetti meat sauce in all of Kichijyoji.)

[Matt]

I love Iseya for its ambience, particularly the one near Inokashira Park, but you do need to be drunk (or on your way) to really appreciate the cuisine. The parkside one is also the only Tokyo restaurant I know of with true unisex toilets, where women have to walk past a line of guys at urinals to reach the stalls.

I haven't been to the newly renovated one but have been hearing mixed things. Somehow an Iseya without peeling wallpaper and decades-old, grease-drenched cobwebs in every corner doesn't feel like an Iseya.