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Fujikyu / Fuji-Q Highland is a theme park in Yamanashi Prefecture, owned by a company of the same name. They also have a bus company. And some private train lines. And some department stores. Remember Fujimigaoka? Fujikyu are no different from Keio. They build things for you to go and visit, and to ensure you can get there, they’ve established a network of transport systems.

In 2006, the theme park was home to two record breaking rollercoasters – the Eejanaika and the Do Donpa. By spinning its victims passengers through 14 separate 360 degree rotations, the Eejanaika made it into the record books and into a very high position on my list of nope, nope, nope.

The Do Donpa was just the fastest rollercoaster in the world, clocking in at about 175 miles an hour or something. (While no longer the fastest overall, it’s still got the fastest acceleration in the world in 2020, as far as I know.)

There was also the Fujiyama, once the tallest rollercoaster in the world, which has long since been surpassed in the constant arms race that is rollercoaster development.

Despite all this trivia rattling around my head about them, rollercoasters are very much not my jam so I didn’t shell out the 5000 yen to actually go into the park. I couldn’t really afford spending that much money just to try and go on a Thomas the Tank Engine themed ride. (I had been inside Fuji-Q prior to this trip and can confirm that it is a very boring experience if you don’t like rollercoasters and are too big for Thomas Land. It’s also embarrassing being turned away from a ride when you’ve gone to all the trouble of dressing up as the Fat Controller.)

I therefore had to find my entertainment elsewhere, and the heavens smiled upon me. On this particular day there were a lot – and I mean a lot – of people dressed up as what might be best described as the Japanese version of teddy boys. I saw whole families dressed up like this. Finally, I discovered that there was a concert on. It was Kishidan’s tenth anniversary! Wow! For the uninitiated, this is Kishidan:

I was trying to rewrite my 2006 notes on Kishidan to be a little kinder about their own inimitable style; however that has been a lot more difficult than I thought it would be after watching that video.

I’ll just not say anything, I think that’s best.

FUJIS LEFT AT THE END OF AUGUST 28th, 2006 : 49/59