“Man that’s so cool, I want it!”

On the way to Gekkoji Temple, there’s a bookstore that was always surrounded by young boys with their eyes glued to the window.

Tsukinoko Book Store boasted rare plastic models of airlines or battleships in their window display which delighted the neighborhood boys to no end.

There were also airplane models made of bamboo and paper, underwater models of Mabuchi Motor, and Lamborghini models that were irresistible for the supercar boom generation. Colored model goods were also available, which were symbols of admiration for children.

Regardless of how invaluable these plastic models were, the minute one of the kids could get their hands on one they would all rush down to the pond at Gekkoji Temple to see who could sink their battleship first.
They say that back then it didn’t matter who sank whose battleship and it was all fun and games, but was that really the case?