Sunday's free museum day landed us at Kaiju vs. Heroes: Mark Nagata's Journey through the World of Japanese Toys at the Japanese American National Museum.
My love for toys probably dates back to my childhood battling and blowing up G.I. Joe figures with my brother while taking breaks in-between to comb and cut my barbie dolls hair. As you know, I went on to star in numerous Barbie commercials and ironically, worked at Mattel for a short time right before I married my very own collector(hoarder) of all sorts, lately Lego. So you see, the thought of being surrounded by vintage toys brings sentiment to this vinyl loving girl.
One-of-a-kind Kaiju creatures came to life while familiar ones struck at my nostalgic heart strings.
I have a soft spot for misunderstood, city-stomping monsters.
As well as heroes who take them down victoriously in the name of peace and order.
It's the eternal struggle between good and evil, the two sides to a story that we know so well.
Mark Nagata's history lesson on the Japanese toy industry and Japanese pop culture made for a great prerequisite for when we travel to Japan...one day!!
