Photographs from a small group of islands
You’ve probably heard it so many times now it fails to have any meaning, but Happy New Year all the same. I hope you are granted the very best of luck in whatever you want to achieve in the coming months.
Certainly a little more good fortune than has been bestowed upon these poor buggers; large numbers of whom could still be waiting in line to make their wishes as I write this.
And quite possibly as you read it.
Even if that’s in mid-march, after a completely unrelated Google search.
Not content with making the bathroom a place for the leisurely perusal of poetry, toilet trailblazer TOTO has produced a lavatory with a built-in music player.
As well as the now almost standard wash and dry facilities, TOTO’s unusually named Apricot N5A has the ability to bang out a few tunes, whilst you, erm, bang out other things. A company spokesperson saying, “We conducted a survey in 2002 where we asked people to tell us what they wanted from a toilet. The most common response was a heated water cleaning system, which was closely followed by the desire for audio-visual functions.”
Yet don’t for a minute think that this means some kind of cheap stereo with an inbuilt muzak soundtrack. Far from it. The inclusion of a memory card slot means that users can set the music to suit their needs. A couple of short and snappy pop ditties could be ideal backing for an equally brief ‘business trip’. Alternatively, a 1970’s prog rock marathon would perhaps be better suited to those looking at a more prolonged visit. The addition of volume control allowing any embarrassing splashes or splatters to be easily drowned out by a timely cymbal crash or screeching guitar solo.
With the Apricot N5A however, the fun doesn’t stop with musical accompaniment. For those whose bowels run like clockwork, the toilet seat can be set to warm-up at specified times. Plus the embarrassment of frantic flushing after a particularly large and stubborn deposit should be a thing of the past, as the intelligent toilet is capable of analyzing what it’s dealing with; taking the appropriate action once dimensions and consistency have been accurately calculated. Yet perhaps the Apricot’s biggest boon — at least for the ladies — is that the seat puts itself down automatically.
Whilst such lavish lavvies may seem a little over the top to some, Kuo Ue, director of the Japan Toilet Association, claims to know why such advancements have become so attractive. “Japanese are a people who have placed great importance on hygiene since the olden days and really focused their attention on the toilet. There’s even a saying that if you want to be beautiful, you should first clean your toilet.†Finishing off with a slightly controversial parting shot. “There’s a tendency for toilet talk to be taboo in the West, so they haven’t progressed.”
The old.
And the new.
It is often said that the Japanese will do anything to avoid conflict. An assumption that arguably contains a fair amount of truth. Or at least it does if you consider the recent case of a man arrested for overstaying his welcome at a manga/internet cafe in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture.
Homeless Kentaro Shimada it seems quite enjoyed his private room at the cafe. So much so in fact that he stayed there for almost two months. Yes, you read that right — two months! He strolled in there on August 2nd, and didn’t leave again until September 26th.
Unusual it has to be said, but hardly a crime. Except that after his elongated stay, the 33-year-old fled without paying — leaving behind a whopping 520,000 yen (2,593 pound) bill. A figure that amongst other things included 140 drinks.
To their credit, the staff had asked Shimada-san to pay up; but the impudent internet lover waved them away each time, claiming he’d pay later — much later obviously.
Surprisingly, the fact that young Shimada is homeless – and manga cafes boast a whole host of amenities – has seemingly escaped the attentions of the police. The on the ball officers reportedly grilling him over his motives.
Today is a national holiday; and as is the custom here, it has a name/purpose — Respect The Aged Day.
This year the day off falls at a rather apt time, as figures have just been released stating that by the end of September — barring any untimely falls or bouts of pneumonia — the number of centenarians in Japan will reach 25,554. Meaning there’s going to be an awful lot of ‘respecting’ going on.
Not surprisingly women make up the majority of this hardy bunch, accounting for a whopping 85% of all those who reach this memorable (or not as the case may be) milestone. Old salary man Suzuki having usually popped his clogs a long time before reaching 100; the years of excessive overtime and marathon commutes exacting a decidedly terminal toll.
This geriatric gang is a relatively modern phenomenon, and has been increasing in numbers for the last 35 years — steadily growing each and every year. The fact that there were only 153 centenarians in 1963 proving how exclusive the club once was.
The oldest person (as of writing) is 112-year-old Yone Minagawa. Although as impressive as this is, Mr. and Mrs. Semba’s record for the world’s oldest couple is even more staggering. Yae Semba plods along at a sprightly 100-years-old, whilst her husband Nisaburo clocks in at an impressive — and statistic contradicting — 107. The pair narrowly edging out Yoichi and Gomi kazono of Kanagawa. A couple that also boasts a combined age of 207.
Now this is all well and good, but having already lived here for seven years and in no rush to go home anytime soon, will some of this longevity rub off on me?
It’d certainly be nice to think so.
Perhaps.