Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

Food and Drink

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Japanese binge drinking barrier

Binge drinking in my native Britain is seemingly always in the news, with beer-fuelled bother a tried and trusted source for the tabloids. And now in Japan, with April’s fresh intake of staff partaking in plenty of welcome parties, there is a new campaign designed to help protect those not wanting to get totally wasted.

An approach that means the common call of “ikki ikki” to coerce someone into downing their drink in one, can now be countered by The Ikki Harassment Prevention Committee’s new collection of coasters.

Japanese drinking

The suitably cute creations protecting their owners with four sensible and sober slogans: “I don’t do ikki – I like to savour my drink”; “I can’t drink – it’s not in my DNA”; “I’m not drinking, I’m driving – so I’m not joining in” and “I’m not drinking, I’ve got limits – one drink is quite enough”.

Japanese drinking

Which, in the midst of drink-induced debauchery, should definitely do the trick.

Japanese drinking

Especially so when one is tucked into a top pocket.

Japanese drinking

(via the FG Forums)

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Hello Kitty health

For fanatical fans of Japan’s most famous feline intent on fighting the flab but at the same time looking to do more than merely wobble their waistlines with a Kitty-themed contraption, this branded badminton set may well be ideal.

Hello Kitty badminton

Plus, after pounding the shuttlecock with their pussy emblazoned playthings, they can quickly check that all important body fat count with another cat-friendly contrivance.

Hello Kitty body fat

Along with the added option of downing a suitably sponsored energy drink to fend of any fatigue,

Hello Kitty drink

so long as it’s not feline focused.

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Aki Hoshino’s fleshy fruit

Promoting oranges is presumably not easy, as, even in the far from exciting world of fruit, the citrusy snack is not exactly special. Still, Sunkist’s plan of producing an Orange Day Princess was novel if nothing else, and Aki Hoshino proudly appeared as the publicity pin-up.

Aki Hoshino

Plus, despite her knockers, the 31-year-old model pulled off a passable job at posing with the product, as well as cleverly quipping, “I’d like to marry by 40, which is the age when I’d look good in a wedding dress. Like oranges, please ‘eat me’ before I go bad.”

Aki Hoshino

The only trouble is, with Hoshino more famous for her melons, the message may well get a bit muddled.

Aki Hoshino

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Kamen chameleon

The vast and varied number of vending machines in Japan are certainly convenient, although they can cause a considerable amount of clutter, meaning most come complete with a rather characterless little container to collect all the cans.

Like this tired-looking trio for example.

Japanese vending machine

But every now and again there is the odd nod to the unique, with this colossal Kamen Rider cleverly collecting cans in his calf.

Kamen Rider Japan

How they are fished out, on the other hand, is almost as unfathomable as the freedom fighter’s phenomenal fame.

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A foodstuff too far?

As Japan boasts an absolutely massive amount of vending machines, and the vast majority of them dispense drinks, it’s perhaps not surprising that manufacturers are keen to offer customers a bite to eat as well as a beverage.

But whereas bread in a can appears quite passable, and tinned udon looks terrible but is perhaps palatable at a very peckish push, pasta is patently a foodstuff too far.

pasta in a can

Although it does feature a folding fork, which is at least something.

pasta in a can

Sort of.