DespiteNieR Automata Ver1.1a’s second hiatus, the hype is still going on and strong. On the first floor of Ikebukuro’s Cosset building, was where the collaboration took place. Since it was donut-only, the space was rather simple, with gashapon machines lining the right side of the wall, and the collab area itself being located from the middle to far left of the room.
On a TV screen, trailers for the anime adaptation played on repeat, while the OP and ED songs played consistently throughout the store. Towards the back, there was a quick order and pay option, where customers could select what they wanted in advance. Alternatively, they could pick out whatever merchandise they wanted from the various baskets in the store, behind the front display.
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Getting There
Ikebukuro is one of the larger cities in the Tokyo Metropolitan area - so of course, it’s going to take a bit of time to navigate to your favorite places. Alas, but worry not! From the JR East Exit of Ikebukuro Station, it’s only about an 8-10 minute walk and is right down the street. There are 8 floors total, with DECOTTO (and the location of the collab) being on the entrance floor. On the other levels are one of Cosset’s HACOSTADIUM venues, a cosplay rental shop, private seminar rooms for cosplay events, and Animate Café itself on the 8th floor.
Is It “Donut” or “Doughnut”?
Each order was a couple of small donuts on a singular stick. While the same flavor, there were two options to choose from. You could either get the 9S version, which had an image of him in the form of a rice cracker on the top, or 2B, which had the same layout. As for taste, the first donut was a standard chocolate donut with an even flavor between the dough and the frosting. The second one on the other hand, was sweeter and richer in flavor, a bit similar to a Krispy-Kreme donut, especially in terms of texture. Small pieces of milk chocolate were sprinkled on for good measure.
On the store floor, there were also pre-packaged “gift” donuts available for purchase. Though taste and texture-wise, they were more like mini bundt cakes coated with a thick layer of chocolate frosting.
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Where The Money’s Spent
Pins, tiny blind bag acrylics, key straps, and more were available for purchase and put on display. However, the two main acrylic stands of 2B and 9S were only sold to those who made reservations during the first week - and they only came in a pair. In spite of the exclusivity, there were still many other options to choose from. DECOTTO was selling their own merchandise as well, such as a frame that one can use for any exclusive collectible coasters you’re given, with a purchase of 2000 yen or more; in accordance with how many items are purchased including one extra,justfor spending 2000 yen. Moreover, on the collectibles side of things, for each coaster you receive, sometimes there will be one with a holographic pattern.
The environment had a good solid atmosphere, as it wasn’t too decorative in terms of marketing but was simple enough to know about the collaboration. The main area itself, while small, didn’t feel congested or tight, unlike a lot of other anime merch stores. It gave you space to walk around and enjoy the scenery. Rather than a restaurant, it truly did evoke a warm and cozy café experience.
