Once upon a time — about 50 years ago — a man had a dream. The dream involved the creation of a magical kingdom where the man's many visitors could frolic happily. So happily, in fact, that they would each shell out tons of money to be there. Oh, and the dream also involved a mouse.
While Walt Disney lived to see that dream come true in the States, he never saw the magic of Disneyland in Japan. The Japanese version may look the same, but it's not. The differences work out not so much in language and attractions, but in overall cultural oomph.
Everywhere else Disneyland is the "happiest place on earth." Not here. Here that's an understatement. Here Disneyland is the center of the happy universe. It is bliss sugarcoated with delight and then deep-fried in sheer joy. It is where angels go when they die. It is where all your troubles disappear, almost as fast as your money.
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