Imagine all the people descending on Yokohama, Japan, for the World Cup.
Among them yesterday were Brazilian fans Albert and Marco, who stopped off at the John Lennon Museum in Saitama on the way.
PHOTO: JULES QUARTLY, TAIPEI TIMES
As they move through the commuter traffic they twist and shout "Brazil, Brazil" at bemused passersby, making friends wherever they go.
PHOTO: JULES QUARTLY, TAIPEI TIMES
The museum is based near the Saitama Super Arena, a high-tech concrete and glass sports, culture, business and entertainment complex.
Getting lost in this brave new world, which contains a "forest in the sky," the pair track down an information center.
"Help, I need somebody, not just anybody," they say and, as instant karma would have it, they are given a portable terminal, which is supposed to guide them through the maze of concrete, undulating land masses and over walls and bridges. It's like a magical mystery tour.
As they walk a buzzer sounds intermittently on their portable terminal, telling them that an electronic signboard is nearby.
The electronic signboard has a "ping pong" sound to let them know they've arrived and they press a button marked "John Lennon Museum."
It tells them which way to go, but in Japanese, which is no help at all. Abandoning technology, they ask someone the way instead.
Eventually, they find the museum, which was opened on Oct. 9, 2000, the day that John Lennon would have been 60 years old, if he had not been shot some time in New York City.
It's said to be the only John Lennon museum in the world and has been officially approved by the former Beatle's Tokyo-born wife, Yoko Ono.
In addition to the photographs, videos and music, Ono has provided sketches and song lyrics penned in John's own hand, as well as clothes, pendants, pipes and other memorabilia from her husband's life.
Deputy-general manager of the museum, Masotoshi Watanabe confides Lennon's personal affects were rented by Ono. "She is a very good businesswoman, we paid a lot of money for these things."
The museum is housed on the fourth and fifth floors of the Saitama Super Arena and there are around 130 items to look at, beautifully arranged, with signs in English and Japanese.
The tour takes Albert and Marcos through Lennon's life, from his humble beginnings in Liverpool and Penny Lane, to Hamburg and the Revolver years, onto the heyday of the Beatles and Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and ending with his solo projects.
After the pop culture came the serious business for Albert and Marco of getting into the hotel where the Brazil team was staying in Yokohama.
Without reservations, they made their way on the train from Saitama and arrived at the Prince Hotel, carrying enormous packs of Brazilian shirts and photos, which they have been selling to pay their way.
Thousands of journalists, FIFA officials and assorted hangers-on were at the hotel and the front desk was clearly not impressed by their arrival.
"We have reservations under the names Marcos and Albert, we are with FIFA marketing," the fast-talking Albert said. Naturally, the reservations could not be found, but so insistent were they, the assistant manager tried his best to help out.
Meanwhile, it was like a family gathering of the Brazil clan. Everyone seemed to know each other and they slapped each other on the back and congratulated each other for having made it so far.
Eventually, the assistant manager gave in and offered the pair a room, even though the hotel was "completely booked."
"Don't you worry," Albert said, "We give you plenty of Brazil merchandise, you like, of course you do." Everyone was happy.
Lying on their beds, overlooking Yokohama, they felt they had arrived. Now all Brazil had to do was win the World Cup. It's a double fantasy.
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