Hecka Mecha: Mapping the East Bay’s Japanese Sci-Fi Robot and Vehicle Craze (1980 — Present)
Room B | Eugene Randolph YoungJoin Prof. Eugene Randolph Young for a deep dive into the history of the East Bay’s many unique access channels to Japanese robot-themed toys, model kits, TV shows, and movies throughout the 1980s. This presentation explores the synergy between past retailers, transportation routes, and broadcast media that was instrumental in making the East Bay such an important hub for fans of the genre.