Years ago, thanks to Gargamel’s Thrash Out, Ricky (Velocitron) and Luke (Grody Shogun) all being in Koenji, I quickly discovered it was where I wanted to live. I was just leaving a job in the suburbs of Tokyo, up in Saitama, and wasn’t sure where to go. It was either move back to Austin, or to Koenji. Thankfully, I found a nice first floor of a house in Koenji, and moved in.

That was in January of 2011, three months before the big earthquake on March 11th. The earthquake helped me realize that the people around me were my new family, and I felt a part of a larger group. Over the years, Cory (Science Patrol) eventually moved to Japan, and a few years after, over to Koenji. As a joke, we created the Suginami-ku Cryptozoology Society brand(?) and it’s been a way to make things that wouldn’t normally fall under toy-making.

In 2018, I finally moved out of Koenji, but it was really important that I stay within the larger ward of Suginami-ku. I’d feel like I’m cheating making something labeled “Suginami-ku” and not living there. Again, I got super lucky and found an amazing place one station down in Asagaya, still well within Suginami.

Suginami’s not a place a lot of people head to when they’re in Tokyo, but it’s well worth your time. Some of the nicest people, best food, and the atmosphere of not actually living in one of the world’s most metropolitan cities, but having all the conveniences of it. Plus, this is where I have a family of friends around.

Thanks for being great, Suginami-ku. I’m going to keep making stuff.