Cafe Rodney


Miyuki-chan in front of Cafe Rodney

Just by chance I was out with my friend Miyuki and we happened upon Cafe Rodney.  Rodney Alan Greenblat is the artist who designed Parappa the Rapper and Um Jamma Lammy as well as Thunder Bunny, the characters for Family Mart, and the stage and package design for the Japanese group Puffy and their TV show as well as several other companies.  I don't think he's nearly as well known in America but here in Japan he's pretty huge.

His style is all about cute and fun.  In the picture above you can see a face on the door as well as on the two tea pots on the sign.  Even the chairs had happy characters on them.


Even the chair backs are cute

Like most Tokyo cafe's they have a pretty small menu.  A few drinks, a few desserts and a few light lunch dishes.


The side of my glass

I had a tropical smoothie. Nothing to write home about but it did hit the spot for a muggy summer day in Tokyo.


Inside the cafe

I didn't take a very good picture of the inside but basically every part of the cafe is decorated.  Rodney's style is very busy.  It's like you are at a cafe in Disneyland but busier.  You can see PJ Berry and Thunder Bunny sitting at the counter above.  On top of food and drinks they also sold some merchandise like T-Shirts and some of Rodney's books.


Happy Happy Fishy Fish

Behind the counter was the happiest about to be killed fish in the world   At least with all the veggies drawn around him he looks like he's about to be made into lunch but clearly he's not too concerned

If you want to check it out and you are in Tokyo it's in the Harajuku, Omotesando area.  From Omotesando station walk toward Harajuku maybe 5 minutes and then turn right and walk into the neighborhood.  It's maybe 5 minutes back from the main street along with lots of other boutiques and beauty salons.  Here's a map

Also, the placemats had half-finished pictures on them with a request (in English) to finish the picture, turn it into the staff and maybe they'd put it on their website.  Since it's in English it seems like most Japanese probably wouldn't read it but I guess quite a few people did because there's lots of pictures on the website.  Maybe if I'm lucky mine will turn up

All images not copyright me copyright their respective companies. Everything else copyright me.
Comments:

Rodney Stuff in America [ e ]

I think the reason he doesn't sell it is because it's not under his control AND because it's been deemed not sellable. In other words they test marketed it and there was not enough interest or TPTB just don't think it well sell. Of course there are people like you and me that like that kind of stuff but...

I think in Japan, Sony distributes all his stuff. That would suggest it's not up to him. Even Rodneyfun.com is not run by him. That's not to say he didn't do the art or at least supervise but it was made by Sony I think.

posted by greggmanJuly 1, 2001 at 13:22

We love Thunder Bunny! [ e ]

Hey, I sent my co-worker the link to this article! She loves Thunder Bunny and it's almost impossible to find him in the US! I've got her items from Yahoo Japan but they cost so much! I just don't understand why Rodney Greenblat won't sell any of his stuff here! His stuff is really cute!

posted by nikita1971July 1, 2001 at 18:32

[ e ]

way cool I like the idea. I wonder why he didnt make much here??

posted by anon_thenephewformallyknowna
srickyNovember 26, 2002 at 14:15

im gay - the hot fox [ e ]

i hav to put 2 methageth on this board thing

one, ith that u take the GUD methageth off the board tho thatth pretty bad and two is that i am a homothexual, i have thtrong feelings for a guy, hith name ith jay and he ith extremely gay (and hot) but i prefer being called queer aniwaith tho i jutht wanted to tell all mi frendth and tha whole queer groupth out there that im here for tha taking COME AND GET ME GUYTH!!

posted by ahadthatryhardfaggotNovember 17, 2005 at 23:41

Rodney Alan Greenblat and "Clickamajigs" [ e ]

Rodney Alan Greenblat did some "Clickamajigs" for the Nickelodeon (Kids' TV) Web site several years ago.  These little downloadable things were not really games, but more like cute, quick diversions.  Very imaginative and fun.  Creative guy.

posted by FnuLnuAugust 7, 2006 at 17:24