In April of 2000 I moved from Brentwood, Tennessee to Nara, Japan to begin studying at a JLPT-prep school to prepare for my upcoming University entrance language exam. That first evening, after unpacking and arranging everything how I liked in my tiny dorm room, I set out on one of the dormitory's bicycles to the city center for my final essentials. I headed directly to the Joshin electronics store in the city center. I bought a small TV/VHS all-in-one set, a small-ish electric rice cooker and a second controller for the PS2 I was going to purchase the following day. I began making the 40 minute walk back to my dormitory with the awkward TV box balanced precariously by the loaner bike's basket and handlebars. Using a recently learned shortcut, I left the main street and headed down Shimomikado Shōtengai, which is a traditional Japanese covered shopping street lined with a variety of specialty stores, restaurants and souvenir shops. I came upon a small mom & pop type toy store and as a long time fan of all things Kaiju and collector of pricey, (a lot more pricey back then!) Godzilla and Gamera figure imports I'd occasionally chance upon back home, I couldn't pass up the chance to check out what this quaint little shop might hold. After 20 minutes of ooh-ing and aww-ing at the racks of Ultraman and Godzilla Bandai figures, (while simultaneously lugging around the cumbersome bulk of the new TV box) I made my final purchase of the day. I bought the Bandai Godzilla 2000: Millennium figure (1999 release). I hadn't even seen the movie yet, but had been following every bit of information I could find on the movie since it's release a few months back in December. This was the first official piece of Godzilla merchandise I acquired during my first major stay in Japan, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. Unfortunately, after many moves to and from Japan as well as a few big work related relocations within the US as well, my precious 1999 edition Millennium Goji has sadly disappeared. When I saw the 2016 rerelease of my long lost friend, I had to jump at the chance to bring him back home. It's a great reproduction of the original figure. He fits in perfectly with all of my other classic and newer Bandai Movie Monster Series Kaiju figures. I'd recommend this collectable to anyone who is a fan of this pretty awesome design! Thanks again Godzilla.com, and I'm looking forward to my next purchase.
-Steev
