Cute is a horribly overused word in Japan, but when it comes to these kindergarten kid carts, for once it is fully warranted.
Archives for June 2012
An air-conditioned jacket actually being worn in the wild
With power saving once again a priority, and electricity bills about to rise, it’s going to be another hot and very unpleasant summer in Tokyo. Fortunately, the Cool Biz campaign means that many people won’t have to suffer in a suit, but the ultimate in cool clothing — in a purely functional rather than fashion sense — has to be this air-conditioned jacket.
A garment I’d previously only seen on the internet, but unlike attractive young ladies gagging for middle-aged men, or improbably generous Nigerians, it’s actually genuine.
Japanese drinkers in the incredibly old Tokyo bar, Iseya
Just like everywhere else in the world, Tokyo has an ever-growing number of restaurant/bar/coffee shop chains that attempt to slowly suck the life out of the place by making it another branded, homogenous mass. Luckily, however, the city retains an enormous amount of privately owned establishments; so many in fact that even small pockets of the capital would take several lifetimes (not to mention livers) to fully explore.
Yet despite this vast and varied selection, Iseya, in Kichijoji, still manages to stand out.
It was originally opened 84 years ago as a butchers, but in 1958 the business was converted into its present form, a yakitori-ya. A date that not only marks its inception, but conceivably the last time it had any kind of construction work done, or enjoyed a good clean.
An approach that, in our increasingly sterile, indistinguishable world, makes it all the more special. There are no airs and graces. No unnecessary expectations. And definitely no requirements to hold back. It’s a place where people simply go to eat, drink and invariably make merry.
After this month, however, it’ll be no more — at least not in its current state — as it is set to be rebuilt. A decision presumably made in the name of progress, or maybe even health and safety. But whatever the reason, it’s sadly time to pour one last drink.
Then when everyone has had their fill.
Stumble out.
And say sayonara, Iseya.
A very human-like pet monkey in Tokyo
The on-going pet boom in Japan has resulted in a large number of animals being treated like humans; arguably even better in many cases, with dogs in particular living the high life. They wear clothes, drive toy cars and even ride pillion on their masters’ motorbikes.
Yet to come across a pet that actually looks human, instead of just being expected to behave like one, is somehow much more unsettling.
A bearded and mercifully modest Japanese transvestite
One of the great joys of living in Tokyo is that despite all the regulation, it is also incredibly random, meaning it’s impossible to predict what’s round the next corner. And it’s even better when any unexpected sightings have the common courtesy to cover any further surprises.