Culture

Oct 31 2004 2 Comments

Rogues, rats and red lights

Shinjuku’s Kabukicho district is well known as a popular entertainment area. Although when I say entertainment, I don’t mean bingo halls and bowling alleys. No, it’s very much adult (and male) orientated. I always remember my first visit, as in the middle of the street was a man holding up a placard with an arrow pointing down — for want of a better description — a dark passageway. And on his advertising board in bold letters were the words ‘Anal Sex’. In English too. As a wide-eyed and naÃ¯ve gaijin fresh off the boat, I was surprised to say the least.

Anyway, arriving in Shinjuku on Friday to meet a friend and finding myself a little early, I thought I’d take a little detour through this colourful part of town. But with it only being 4 pm, I wasn’t expecting to see much activity. I was wrong.

Within 3 minutes I’d seen a rat out on an early evening stroll, and been very kindly invited by numerous dodgy looking men in suits to watch a live show, have a sexy massage, or alternatively indulge in rigorous and fulfilling sex. Oh, and also the offer of a look around a shop that was selling all manner of unusual and exotic items. Many of which I couldn’t even begin to fathom their purpose.

Although if those (apparent) sex aids were mind boggling, they weren’t quite as baffling as this sign above a nearby pachinko parlour.

But considering the area it is situated in, and the various services on offer, the gambling emporium’s name is rather appropriate.

Oct 28 2004 1 Comment

Feline fanatic

This year sees Hello Kitty celebrate its 30th anniversary. And perhaps because of the cat’s incredible longevity, it’s arguably not all that surprising to find that many of the feline’s most ardent admirers are in their 30’s and 40’s.

One such fan (or more accurately obsessive) is 31-year-old receptionist Asako Kanda. As a young child she bought a few kitty-chan items, such as pens, books, etc. And by the time she reached 10 or 11 her interest had become more pronounced, with a Hello Kitty mug made in pottery class, and a similarly patterned apron in home-economics. Yet for many girls this would not be a particularly unusual story, but in the case of Kanda-san the obsession didn’t gradually fade with age. Rather it got stronger. Much stronger in fact.

In her Kitty-goods packed (and sickeningly pink) apartment, the feline fan said that, “Kitty has always been with me, almost subconsciously.” And with the recent earthquakes in Niigata, she worries about what will happen to her kids should there be a major tremor. These kids being the huge number of Kitty soft toys she has amassed over the years.

However with Sanrio (the company behind Hello Kitty) making the most of such fans, Kanda-san doesn’t have to worry about Kitty-chan only being with her subconsciously. With Kitty toasters, TV’s, pens, and pans, she can be with her favourite character almost all her waking hours. In fact on the rare occasions she isn’t surrounded by Kitty paraphernalia, Kanda confesses to feeling stressed.

But the cat crazy receptionist says the relationship is not completely one-sided. When her father became ill and underwent an operation a few years ago, she claims that, “looking at my Hello Kitty handkerchief, I felt as if she were calling out to me, ‘don’t worry, everything will be fine’.” Similarly, a Kitty pillow (shaped like the face of the character) gave Kanda-san hope and support when one of her bosses was sexually harassing her.

As extreme (and disturbing) as some of this is, I guess you can say it’s relatively harmless. And if it has helped the woman out in a few bad situations, then fair enough. But Kanda-san’s dream of a Kitty-shaped house with two ears sticking out of the roof is a little disconcerting. Although perhaps more so is her wish for a Kitty-style funeral complete with a Hello Kitty tombstone.

Hmm…

Oct 20 2004 2 Comments

Dictator denied

Pachinko is an unbelievably popular form of gambling in Japan. In the evenings and over the weekend, the rather glamorously named pachinko parlours are packed full of chain-smoking and coffee-glugging addicts. All sat transfixed in front of their flashing and noisy god of choice.

To keep gamblers interested (and more importantly their wallets open), the machines are frequently updated and are sometimes named after famous characters, places, etc. But one pachinko machine maker has hit a stumbling block with a proposed list of names for its latest range.

The Japan Patent Office recently rejected a request by the company to register the names of 35 famous people. Unfortunately I don’t know the full list, but a couple of those mentioned were Moses and Hitler. Two very contrasting figures it has to be said. The specific reason for rejecting the use of the name Moses wasn’t revealed, but the application for Hitler was deemed inappropriate and a violation of the country’s pacifist constitution.

The manufacturer in question said it had intended to use the name of Hitler as a parody, but admitted to lacking discretion with its selection. What they had in mind for Moses was sadly not disclosed.

Oct 20 2004 4 Comments

Tuna technology

It’s probably not much of an exaggeration to say that the Japanese are obsessed with food. Trips, TV, and traditional events often seem to be based solely around eating. And whilst perhaps not devoured to quite the same degree, the nation isn’t all that averse to new technology and gadgets either.

So it seems perfectly natural that the two should be combined. And what better way to do it than with some sushi USB memory?

For anybody tempted, the SushiDisk comes in two sizes. The 128 MB model will set you back a steady 8,200 yen (42 pounds), and the smaller 32 MB version a more reasonable 6,000 yen (30 pounds).

Oct 12 2004 5 Comments

Heisei history

Whilst Japan follows the standard system of year, month, and day, the traditional practice of marking years in connection with current and past emperors is also used. This means that unless you are getting on in years (or alternatively are very young), your date of birth will fall somewhere in the Showa Era (1926-1989). The long reign of Japan’s controversial wartime head of state, Emperor Hirohito. So for me, I can say I was born in 1969, or if I want to impress any nearby Japanese, Showa 44.

This is all well and good, but last week this method of marking time produced an historical event of sorts. The two maiko (apprentice geisha) pictured below, debuted with their very first rounds of Gion teahouses. The one on the left may make a name for herself by becoming a respected and skilled geisha, however young Fumiko on the right is assured of at least a footnote in the history books. As at the tender age of 15, she has become the very first maiko to be born in the current Heisei Era. A period that begun in 1989 with the death of Hirohito, and the ascendance to the throne of his son, Akihito.

Fascinating stuff eh?

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