Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

Books

4 Comments

Mika Kano’s marvellous manners

Mika kano, one half of the kano sisters, a popular Japanese double act famed for its, erm, double acts,

Kano sisters

has made the brave decision, despite her knockers, of writing the book Oppai ni Tsumatte Irumono (Something beyond breasts).

Mika Kano

A surprisingly slight tome that, despite its less than weighty nature, is one that Kano-san hopes will ultimately help women, as in it she claims manners can be far more important than physical features.

Provided of course that those manners are made as immodestly memorable as is medically manageable.

Mika Kano

3 Comments

Japanese love doll literature

Japan’s growing number of convincing but decidedly costly love dolls may well be hired out to customers or remain ready for rendezvous in rented rooms, but, according to a new book, the development of these silicone sirens was originally encouraged by government agencies as a way of dealing with the desires of teams dispatched to isolated districts.

Japanese love doll book

And, despite the publication’s not exactly catchy title of something along the lines of, ‘Legend Of The Original Antarctic Model: From Dutch Wife to Love Doll, a Post-War History of Sex Dolls’, sales have been surprisingly strong, which could have something to do with the captivating, or even captive, content.

Japanese love doll book

(info via the FG Forums)

9 Comments

Meaningful Japanese manga?

The appearance of religious figures in manga isn’t all that uncommon, with Osamu Tezuka’s Buddha series in particular covering in comic form the story of Siddhartha.

The more recently released ‘Saint Young Men’ by Hikaru Nakamura on the other hand takes a somewhat less serious approach, with Buddha renting an apartment in present-day Tokyo.

japanese manga

A situation made all the more surreal by the fact that he shares the place with another famous fella, Jesus Christ.

japanese manga

Perhaps to allow them to blend in somewhat, they are a suitably stylish pair — with Jesus even boasting a T-shirt that boldly proclaims, “Dad, Me and the Holy Spirit” (父と私と精霊) — although it is nice to see them both bearing their customary coiffures.

japanese manga

Living in the capital’s western suburb of Tachikawa, heaven knows what situations they will find themselves in, but it would certainly be interesting to see their stance on the south of the station’s somewhat seedier side.

japanese manga

(via the FG Forums)

5 Comments

Pussy Galore

With the help of celebrity Aki Hoshino, Sanrio Corp. launched the bi-weekly ‘Hello Kitty Accessory Collection’ on Tuesday, a new magazine that each edition will feature a different country as its theme, providing information on history and culture. Plus, of course, details on the masses of Kitty related merchandise available — both present and past.

hello kitty magazine

Hello Kitty herself will actually provide the undoubtedly fascinating facts in each publication, with the famous feline appearing ready to branch out into more challenging and rewarding territory; the new approach presumably tempting young Hoshino-san to help promote the new venture, with the 29-year-old actress and model saying, “I got a phone call from Kitty yesterday and we decided to wear matching outfits. I really love Hello Kitty”.

hoshino aki and hello kitty

The first edition will focus on Britain, and, like all future issues, will include trinkets of some description or other; a charm bracelet and pouch modeled on Victorian fashion being the first giveaways. Items which Hoshino will presumably be keen to snap up, after divulging that her home is filled with Kitty-related goods.

One such item it seems is a Hello Kitty ring, which she wore for the occasion, forcing one gossip-loving reporter to ask if it was from a boyfriend. Hoshino coyly responding by saying, “Not yet, but my home is packed with Hello Kitty stuff, so I want a guy who is going to like Kitty, too.”

A position that many of those partial to a bit of pussy now and again will surely be more than happy to fill.

aki

1 Comment

Lesbian longing

Following in the online footsteps of the successful Japanese web diary-turned-novel, Densha Otoko (Train Man), Harukarin Blog has sold well since its bookshop debut in May this year. Yet whereas Densha Otoko documents the feel-good feats of a train riding geek winning the heart of a commuting cutie, Harukarin Blog is far less candy-coated, covering the less traditional territory of a man attempting to save his relationship after his girlfriend comes out as a lesbian, with 23-year-old protagonist Harukarin Nakagawa opting for the decidedly drastic approach of agreeing to his partner’s request that he undergo a sex change. A few snips and the odd injection designed to satisfy her needs and thus salvage the union.

harukarin blog

Such an unconventional approach to saving a relationship no doubt helped to fuel interest in the saga, but for the very same reason many people have quite understandably dismissed the diary as mere fiction, with one online critic writing, “The whole story of a guy’s girlfriend of five years telling him she’s a lesbian and asking him to become a woman is just ridiculous.” Others have also hit out at alleged factual inaccuracies, bursting Nakagawa’s claims that his breasts started blossoming shortly after starting hormone treatment. One mammary malcontent stating, “It’s medically impossible to develop a bust as fast as the writer claims.”

Such criticism has resulted in Ameba Books changing the publication’s title, which was originally Seitenkan Dokyumentari Blog (Sex Change Documentary Blog). Yet despite this, the company remains very protective of its lesbian and laceration laced love story, with spokesman Kenichi Yamakawa boasting, “I don’t really think it matters one iota whether the book’s factual or it’s creative. What’s most important is that it’s a high quality piece of modern literature.”