One reason I love japanese magazines is that they always come with free stuff for example the A Bathing Ape “lookbooks” always have some neat free stuff with them like a wall clock, yes a wall clock where in the world would you buy a magazine and get a free wall clock with it !?. Even better SMART magazine gives you two free pair of A Bathing Ape socks! SOCKS!?
Well we used to have this magazine for kids here in Germany called YPS (pronounced “ueps”), it always came with free things actually they where the first ones to call them gimmicks, they always had the weirdest “toys” like a periscope who doesnt know what that is check out the wikipedia link you could use it to spy on someone from around the corner, I remember I had a lot of fun with it looking like an idiot behind the wall. Also very famous amongst YPS readers were the URZEITKREBSE (Artemia salina) this is the german name for it basically its some kind of shrimp species… you would put them into water and watch them grow until you drain them down the toilet for a fantastic voyage in shitland, have fun growing them thinking they would really do something or grow big enough so you could enjoy a shrimp baguette LOL.
If you ask me yes I buy those magazines and yes I could always use a fresh pair of socks haha, so not bad at all next time you look for designer socks check the magazine stands in Tokyo ;-).
peace
Chrishimself