Culture

Aug 24 2008 5 Comments

Sumo insensitivity?

Having just returned from my summer hiatus in the homeland, it’s rather surprising to find that an admittedly not particularly good but fairly prominent poster campaign by HSBC, is bothering some of the more sensitive members of Britain’s Japanese community.

A problem that has even prompted Godfrey King, director of the Anglo-Japanese Society of Wessex, to provisionally peek out from his posterior and claim that the ad has, â€œInsulted the honour of a nation. The fact that the picture depicts a sumo wrestler who is not actually a sumo wrestler but has been made up to look like one would be considered a high insult to the Japanese community.â€

A comment that it has to be said could well be seen as somewhat on the sensitive side.

Happen even hypocritical.

Jun 18 2008 8 Comments

Tokyo’s bosozoku battle

With their predilection for recklessly riding round the streets late at night and rebelliously revving their engines, Japan’s bosozoku bike gangs are a nightmare for many neighbourhoods, as the youngsters manage to create a ferocious amount of noise, if not exactly fear, on their meticulously modified motorbikes.

But regardless of the disruptive din they make, such gang members are easily identifiable, as their jingoistically emblazoned jumpsuits,

and technicolour transportation, are a far cry from the far less noticeable norm.

However, despite being regularly regarded as ideal recruits for the yakuza, and as role models of sorts for teenage troublemakers, bosozoku numbers have been steadily declining of late — a crackdown by the police and the possible realisation that making a racket and running the odd red light isn’t all that revolutionary, presumably taking their toll.

Plus, when the powers that be come up with a cute and colourful campaign that, it is hoped, will herald a hiatus, it’s probably time to pack in the practice anyway.

Still, sly digs aside, the bosozoku are an interesting breed, and for a much more insightful, and indeed sympathetic, look at them, this video is well worth a watch.

(additional images from here, here and here)

May 06 2008 7 Comments

King-sized Japanese kites

As a child, flying a little kite was tremendous fun, but in some parts of Japan, the ‘kids’, as well as being significantly more sullen,

aren’t nearly so small,

and the kites are mindboggingly massive.

This particular one in Sagamihara, just outside Tokyo, measuring a monumental 14.5 metres by 14.5 metres; its 950kg bamboo and handmade paper construction making it appear far from flyable.

However, with some considerable effort,

it can actually be coaxed into the air,

albeit briefly,

with even the old boys at the back bearing a bit of the burden.

(click images for considerably more colossal kites)

May 02 2008 5 Comments

Capsule Land limit

Whether it’s in relation to the past or present, Japan is certainly not lacking in national symbols, all the way from kimonos to cosplay, and Mount Fuji to manga. Plus, at least as far as more recent representations go, the confines of a capsule hotel are also commonly conjured up.

However, while this relatively recent addition — the first one opened in Osaka almost 30 years ago — may speak volumes about modern Japan’s dedication to the company and convenience, more than a few aren’t exactly tolerant of far older traditions, as, regardless of them gradually gaining more acceptance among the general public, the tattoo will simply not be tolerated.

Apr 29 2008 3 Comments

Tokyo pachinko promotion

With today being a national holiday (Showa Day), parks the length and breadth of the country will be predictably packed out, although that said, they probably won’t boast the same staggering number of people as the nation’s plentiful supply of pachinko parlours; salary men of all ages willingly swapping the orderliness of the office for the ball bearing-based cacophony of a Beam,