Sun(glasses) King
I knew about otaku, the term for Japanese obsessively interested in particular cultural artifacts — particular kinds of anime, arcade video games, 1950s L.A. jazz, whatever. But I had no idea how deep and odd the obsessions ran until today.
As I was wandering through the neighborhood of used book stores called Kanda, I came across a shop whose raison d’etre is more narrowly defined than any I’ve ever seen ever. It sells nothing but John Lennon-style eyeglasses. By which I mean not just round wire-rims, but branded glasses to which Lennon actually lent his name in the 1970s.
I suppose finishing with a Yoko Ono joke would be in poor taste.
– Kurt Andersen
The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!