Terry Ito Column Vol.47 Totsuka Totsukana Mall is amazing

On my way back to Kamakura, I usually don't make detours, but I suddenly had a craving for Chinese food, so I headed to Totsuka. I went to Totsuka Mall, a shopping center in front of the station that I've been to before. I usually choose Japanese food, but today I decided to go for Chinese food. That said, I wasn't expecting much from my first visit to a restaurant, Karin Saikan, located in the mall. However, once I stepped inside, I was surprised by the enthusiastic staff and chefs, all Chinese. The Tianjin noodles, double-cooked pork, and hot and sour soup were all delicious. And they were all reasonably priced. The flavors rivaled those of famous restaurants in Yokohama Chinatown. On my way out, I noticed a photo of a young Ueki Hitoshi and Kurosawa Toshio hanging next to the cash register. It appears to have been taken inside the old Karin restaurant. Ueki, as you'd expect, knew what a cheap yet delicious restaurant was. I left the restaurant feeling very satisfied, but as I wandered around the mall with a full stomach, I realized something incredible: everything in life was available here.

The basement floor is home to TOKYU PLAZ, a grocery store. It offers a wide selection of fast food options, plus a construction company, a cultural school, a baby park, and two dance studios. There's also a health consultation center and a subway entrance. The first floor is lined with over 30 popular restaurants. But then there's a shoe repair shop, a key duplication shop, a jewelry store, a prescription pharmacy, and Yokohama Bank, among other impressive offerings. The second floor is home to a lottery ticket counter, a hearing aid center, a dental clinic, Resona Bank, a men's casual clothing store, and a variety of restaurants, from women's favorites to Yoshinoya beef bowls. What's even more impressive is that there's a pachinko parlor. While pachinko parlors aren't usually found in malls in urban areas, this one was likely granted preferential permission because it had been operating here before the development. There's also a dental clinic, a smartphone repair shop, and finally, a nursing care facility placement center. The variety is impressive.

The third floor is the entrance to the bus terminal and the path leading to the JR Totsuka Station ticket gates. While three major banks line the street, the mall seems to be focusing on attracting female customers, with beauty-related shops that appeal to women, such as nails, extensions, relaxation, chiropractic massage, bedding, and drugstores, all conveniently located. The fourth floor is home to many fashion stores that you won't find in Tokyo, including Uniqlo. They're so fresh and interesting that I ended up buying two sweaters. There's also a kimono shop, computer classes, English conversation classes, an eye clinic, a dental clinic, and an obstetrics and gynecology clinic. The fifth floor also offers a complete healthcare environment, with an eye clinic and a dialysis clinic.

Totsukana is an incredible mall where you can be born, study, become beautiful, dress fashionably, eat delicious food, gain weight, diet, fall in love, save money, find a home, get sick, and find a nursing home. It's truly a mall where you can get everything you need "from the cradle to the grave." The name Totsukana is also great. 2025 began with a pilgrimage to Totsukana.

Terry Ito (director)

Born in Tsukiji, Tokyo in 1949. After attending Waseda Jitsugyo Junior and Senior High School, he graduated from Nihon University's School of Economics.
In March 2023, he completed the Master's program at the Graduate School of Media and Governance at Keio University.
He joined the television production company IVS Television, where he worked on variety shows such as "Tensai Takeshi's Genki ga Deru TV" and "Neruton Benikujidan."
He then went independent and worked on planning and directing a number of television programs, including TV Tokyo's "Asakusabashi Young Clothing Store."
His book "Comedy North Korea" became a bestseller, and he subsequently made numerous media appearances under the name Terry Ito.
In addition to his work as a director, he is also active in a variety of fields as a producer, entertainer, and commentator.
YouTube channelTerry Ito's Comedy Backdrop'
Currently writing a column in LALALA USA
https://lalalausa.com/archives/category/column/terry