海によって (Down by the Sea)
Growing up in DC, I spent a great chunk of my childhood and young adult life driving out to and walking around in malls. If we had dough to spend we'd hit up Tyson's Corner or Montgomery Mall. If we were tryin' to ball on a budget, we'd hit up the outlet malls like Potomac Mills way out in Virginia.
Speaking of outlet malls...
Finally made my first trip to Ashibinaa over the weekend. It's in Toyosaki, an area of Tomigusuku that, like Agarihama, was once nothing but ocean. And, just like Agarihama, it's trying to become one of the hot spots in Okinawa with the outlet mall as one of its centerpieces. It was a little bit cold and cloudy as fuck the day I went, but I can imagine Ashibinaa being the shit to go to in the summer time. For one thing all the stores are outdoors ala Bowie Town Center. For another it's got a nice mix of big,upscale, international stores and the stuff you'd typically find in a Japanese mall.
Like this Adidas outlet, which has been inextricably combined with a Reebok outlet. I guess both companies are European so...maybe it makes sense? Neither one had anything worthwhile to drool over so I kept it moving.
Strolled past a couple of Japanese stores...
...until I stumbled onto the Polo store. Is it just me or does it resemble a small barn? Or maybe a stable for all those horsies and their diminutive little riders.
Everything I owned as an elementary school student (before my family discovered the awesomeness of Sears and Bugle Boy) came from this brand. It's got a special place in my cold black heart.
If you're looking for a plethora of cheap G-Shocks...well...
And don't ask me why there's a tiny train for children running around. Some things are just not meant to be explained by science or reason.