Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

Fashion

1 Comment

Distinguished darts

Mentioned on this site a while ago, the growing popularity in Japan of that giant of the sports world, darts, has given the noble activity something of a face-lift. As despite its natural home in smoky bars and the perspiring and portly nature of its protagonists, the game now boasts a lively and almost lascivious side, with feisty females rather than fat fellas its new cover stars.

sexy darts japan

A transformation that may now be complete, with jewellery giant the MIKI Corporation incorporating darts into its new campaign for the company’s exclusive Camellia Diamond brand.

darts and diamonds

Clicking on the image below and watching the Camellia commercial provides a glimpse of the modern game in all its gracious glory; a sport destined to finally take its rightful place at the sporting top table, without a beer or a bulging belly in sight.

distinguished darts

A shift that must surely make Olympic inclusion a mere formality.

1 Comment

Loincloths for the ladies

The humble loincloth (or fundoshi) has recently been making something of a comeback, with swashbuckling salary men joining senior shoppers in the loincloth line; the distinctive garment even earning the moniker ‘power underwear’, although this is purely in regards to business matters and in no way related to pulling or, erm, poking prowess.

However with increasing numbers of men now once again brazenly baring their buttocks, women have begun to have pangs of retro resentment — so much so in fact that a line of ladies loincloths has hit the shelves. A collection catering for a wide variety of derriere displaying devotees, including the bold,

loincloth

the bashful,

loincloth

and the bad English buff.

loincloth literature

These and other fundoshi proving to be fun, feisty even, but not necessarily flattering.

loincloths for ladies

3 Comments

Bulging bureaucracy

Perhaps taking the government’s casual cool biz campaign a little too far, a Hyogo Prefecture bureaucrat stepped out last weekend sporting a wig and miniskirt. A not altogether objectionable outfit it has to be said, although on a 56-year-old male it could be regarded as unconventional — risqué even.

a miniskirt
not the man in question apparently

Still, Hiroshi Ikeuchi’s Saturday night out wouldn’t have raised much more than a few eyebrows if he’d just gone quietly about his business. Yet feeling a little giddy in his gutsy garment, the general affairs manager inexplicably opted to expose his genitalia to three female students. The skimpy nature of his outfit presumably facilitating this bit of furtive fun.

Appalled at what they saw however, the three young women overpowered Ikeuchi-san as he tried to demurely depart and handed him over to the local police. The resultant arrest prompting a clearly shocked city mayor to say, “It was an act unworthy of a public servant, and I express my heartfelt apology.” A comment that Ikeuchi may not necessarily agree with, as the fashion conscious felon calmly claimed, “I was steeped in a sense of freedom.”

11 Comments

Digitless digital

Digital watches have come a long way since their birth in the early 1970’s. So far in fact that it now seems they have progressed to such a level that even digits are surplus to requirements.

Yes, whilst it may not be ideal for quickly checking the time as you dash for an all-important train or meeting, Japanese manufacturer Sea Hope’s new EG design certainly looks the part.

japanese digital watch

Ok, so you may not have a clue what time of day it is, but when you finally reach your destination you’ll have the advantage of an excuse, a ready-made talking point and the EG’s undeniable coolness. All for the surprisingly reasonable price of 15,750 yen (76 pound).

japanese digital watch

But seeing as at the end of the day it is a timepiece, and therefore more than a mere fashion accessory, any idea what different times the two watches are showing? And thankfully it is only the time, the date and year having been mercifully excluded.

Answers on a postcard please, or alternatively you can click here to find out how it works.

63 Comments

Girdle hurdle

Whilst Triumph International Japan may be better known for its creative and eye-catching novelty bras, the underwear giant it seems is quietly doing a brisk trade in girdles — for men.

triumph underwear
not a girdle

Initially released on a trial basis last month, the company’s ‘long girdle’ and ‘hip hugger’ variety sold so well that an increase in production is planned, the nation’s portly appearance pioneers quickly snapping them up. A spokesperson for Triumph confirming this craze by saying, “Men are getting so much more fashion conscious these days that they’re starting to pay attention to the lines of their body and their silhouette, just like women.”

This corset campaign fits in well (so to speak) with a recent report stating that Japanese men are slowly piling on the pounds, as 29 percent of males aged between 20 and 69 are now overweight, compared with only 24 percent 6 years ago; the flab flattening girdle helping disguise some of this extra baggage.

A trend in Japan that for the first (and probably last) time I was actually ahead of, although I hasten to add that’s in regards to packing a paunch — not sporting a girdle.