What we saw at the Urusei Yatsura Cafe at Tokyo Ikebukuro Parco

The following was originally featured on dennisamith.com:

The popular manga and anime series “Urusei Yatsura” has been a fan favorite for many people around the world as it is one of Takahashi’s (“Ranma 1/2”, “Maison Ikkoku”, “Inuyasha”) most popular series that the mangaka had created.

So popular, the manga would lead to 34 tankobon volumes (graphic novel releases) and a 195-episode anime series from 1981-1986.

“Urusei Yatsura” debuted as a manga back in 1978 in “Weekly Shonen Sunday” and concluded in 1987.

The series revolved around a teenage, lecherous and clumsy boy named Moroboshi Ataru who fought against an alien race to save the world (well, not exactly…) and somehow ended up in a predicament in which he is misunderstood by the female alien named Lum who misconstrues his lecherous actions as a proposal for marriage.

As Takahashi Rumiko’s “Ranma 1/2” Cafe was opened fora limited time, in 2019, Takashi’s “Urusei Yatsura” opened for a limited time at Parco locations throughout Japan.

• Fukuoka Parco: December 21-January 28
• Sapporo Parco: December 29-February 25
• Tokyo Ikebukuro Parco: January 11-March 31
• Nagoya Parco: January 18-March 31
• Osaka Shinsaibashi Parco: March 30-May 28.

I often go to the Parco in Ikebukuro and visit their “The Guest” restaurant (a restaurant section on the 7th floor at Parco which features a lot of niche cafe’s that are featured for a very limited time, may it be to promote an album, a book, a film, an exhibit, etc.) was where I got to experience the “Urusei Yatsura Cafe”.

And also, a nice surprise was to see Takahashi Rumiko “Maison Ikkoku” merchandise sold at the Urusei Yatsura Cafe!

Overall, for “Urusei Yatsura” fans, this cafe was no doubt memorable. From the manga covers displayed, the old and new merchandise sold at the shop and the specialty “Urusei Yatsura” meals sold.

But I was glad to actually experience the cafe this time around (I missed the “Ranma 1/2” Cafe, as I went to the location but found out that the cafe was in the Kansai area and missed it for about a week.

It was a fantastic to experience “Urusei Yatsura” again through the limited cafe and see a new generation of fans also attending the cafe!

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