Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

Fashion

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Denim desires

In a crime that is baffling to say the least, a 34-year-old Tokyoite has been arrested for throwing acid at the buttocks of several women. The charge being an almost equally bizarre ‘willful destruction of property’.

Tsukasa Saito it seems acquired the acid from the metalworking company he’s employed by, and riding his mountain bike he would hurl it at the bottoms of denim wearing women. His victims luckily suffering no physical injuries, although their jeans had holes burned in them.

Saito-san has apparently admitted to the allegations, and explained his behaviour by saying, “It really turned me on to see a bottom in a pair of Jeans.” Although why this should prompt the aforementioned posterior to be doused in acid remains a mystery.

News of the acid flinging arse maniac’s arrest was greeted with joy amongst the capital’s denim wearing population. Prompting those who had fled to the countryside in fear of an attack to make plans for a speedy return.

japanese cutie

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Barcode barbers

Like everywhere else in the world, there are countless companies in Japan peddling lotions to reduce balding, or sprays to ‘thicken’ thinning manes; and despite making very little difference, they sell by the bucket load. The unscrupulous manufacturers preying mercilessly on the comb-over community. A group whose growing numbers have even led to an alleged inclusion on Google Earth

salaryman combover

Up until recently barbers have failed to tap into this vast market, but perhaps predictably things have begun to change, with cash registers now ringing merrily with comb-over cash. A prime example of this shift in focus is Hair Aesthetic Salon Yuu in Yokohama. From the outside it looks like any other barbershop, but its speciality is the reticent and receding; and due to the sensitive nature of its business, the shop only takes one customer at a time.

This privacy it seems is very appealing, with a 28-year-old Salon Yuu regular saying, “I like going there as I can consult with the barber without other people seeing me.” Such confidentiality attracting around three or four customers a day, with owner Isao Watanabe claiming to be both barber and counselor. “Listening to what they say is important, I have to maintain a good relationship with them.”

combover japan

Whilst such speciality shops are currently about as abundant as their customers’ curls, an increasing number of salons are now beginning to offer private ‘balding’ booths, where the folically challenged can have their hair cut without any embarrassment or shame. Plus at the same time receive advice on protecting and maintaining what little they have left.

This trend also appears to be no fly-away fad, as Zenriren, the national federation of barbershop owners, has established a system to train ‘hair counselors’. The 20-hour course teaching hair care and (perhaps most importantly) the mechanism of hair loss. With a total of 735 licensed hair carers already, balding-only barbers could well become commonplace. A Zenriren spokesman saying (with apparently no pun intended), “It is a time when barbershops need added value. The hair restoration market has large potential for growth.”

baby combover

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Political passion

It’s probably fair to say that a Hyogo Gubernatorial Election doesn’t usually garner much attention outside the region, and posters informing people of the event even less so. Until now that is, as due to the use of popular idol Eriko Sato, the date of the upcoming election is very well known; and the promotional posters have become much sought after commodities.

Young Sato-san you see is pictured sporting a shichisan (7-3) hairdo. A style generally favoured by middle-aged men, and one that gets its name from the position of the parting. Meaning that a centre parting could conceivably be labelled a 5-5, and a comb-over a 9-1 — although sadly they aren’t.

sato eriko

However as you can see from the poster, the shichisan is more than just a hairstyle. The numbers relate to the election date of July 3. Clever eh?

Arguably not so clever though, was the choice of Ms Sato. Her popularity has meant that the posters are being stolen at an alarming rate. Large numbers of them turning up on internet auction sites and selling for around 1,000 yen (5 pound) each. A situation that prompted one official with an unidentified haircut to say, “It’s not appropriate for them to be sold.”

Yet when all is said and done, the 7-3 isn’t the most flattering of hairstyles — regardless of how pretty young Sato is. Especially when you consider what could have been on the posters.

eriko sato

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Commute suit

Salary man Suzuki’s suit may look a crumpled mess at the office, but on his busy commute he’ll be the embodiment of style and sophistication. Meaning that rather than reading the newspaper, he’ll more likely need it as a weapon to fend off all the young ladies.

Salary man fashion

Or at least he would if they weren’t all in the women-only carriage.

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Hell O’Kitty Angels

Leather-clad bikers who simply can’t get enough pussy need worry no more. Whilst Sanrio may not (yet) produce a Hello Kitty motorbike, these new helmets should ease any frustrations for now.

hello kitty helmet

A product that rather fortuitously allows for a whole host of double entendres. The possibilities of pussy, helmet, and tight fitting are seemingly endless, and could keep a schoolboy — or indeed a Tokyo based blogger — happy for months.

However fear not. Due to a lack of time I’ll have to save them for another day. I’m off out on my scooter shortly, and as my helmet hasn’t been used for a day or two, I need to give it a good polish first.