Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

Food and Drink

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Cosplay and coffee

After starting off a few years ago as something of a novelty, there are now a multitude of maid cafes throughout the length and breadth of Japan, with Tokyo’s Akihabara district in particular having an especially large number of them.

In fact, these kinds of cafes have now become so common that variations on the theme have already started to appear, such as the serene and civilised St. Grace Court for example. A relaxing retreat that that capably caters for those of a more spiritual nature, making it a charming little spot that rather cleverly combines cappuccinos and convents.

Japanese maids

Such versatility has also seen similar places set up for women, with butlers rather than maids taking over the serving duties.

swallowtail butler café Japan

And in a similar vein, Sweet Maiden has now opened for business in Osaka; an establishment that allows its customers to live the life of a princess — or at the very least dress up like one.

Sweet Maiden café Osaka

Plus as well as getting rigged out in royal regalia, the clienteles cravings are catered for with cute as can be cakes and main courses — over half of everything seemingly served heart-shaped.

Sweet Maiden café Osaka

However unlike the succession-obsessed media’s treatment of real Japanese princesses, Sweet Maiden thankfully stops short of heartlessly harassing its customers to the point of hurt and ill health.

(huge thanks to Ken at What Japan Thinks for the tip)

Taciturn Tokyo?

“Vending machines spread in Japan because of people’s demand for automation. Leaving aside the issue of whether this is good or bad, people clearly want to purchase things without having to talk to others.”

Takashi Kurosaki, director-general of the Japan Vending Machine Manufacturers Association on his organisation’s astounding success.

With 5.51 million vending machines already in Japan, Kurosaki-san may well be on to something; however as association head, he could be a little biased, as surely the vending machine is simply a convenient way of grabbing a drink or snack on the way to work, rather than an indicator of Japanese society’s uncommunicative character.

I mean, whilst beverages and bars of chocolate are one thing, it’s not as though people would happily go out and buy the likes of fruit and veg from a machine just to avoid meeting people. Now that would be an indicator of societal indifference.

Japanese vending machine

Perhaps.

Japanese vending machine

But of course, if the edibles on display looked particularly enticing, then it wouldn’t necessarily mean one was remote, just more than likely in a rush.

No, surely the only time people purposely use such machines to avoid interaction is when they are underage drinkers or smokers — a mind-boggling collection of cigarettes and alcohol colourfully calling them from almost every other corner.

Japanese vending machine

Or alternatively, when some entertainment of a more risqué nature is required, but the thought of aimlessly chatting about the weather whilst clutching a stack of decidedly un-Disney-like DVDs is too much, then the trusty old vending machine is once again a silent saviour.

Japanese DVD vending machine

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Boobs and beer

For people partial to a few pints of beer now and again, Japan is by no means a bad place to be, as along with numerous regular and really rather good lagers, there are also plenty of cheaper options for those whose wallets aren’t quite as bulging as their bellies.

Low malt ‘beers’ (happoshu) for example are saddled with less tax, creating a drink that is almost beer but at a better price. And with an alcohol content usually around the 5.5 percent mark, any issues surrounding taste are often quickly forgotten. Plus for those who don’t miss malt at all, there’s a third alternative, rather appropriately named ‘third beer’ — a process that uses pea or soy protein to produce an even cheaper beer-like brew.

All in all it’s combination that has seen beer (and beer-like) beverages account for almost two thirds of Japan’s alcohol intake, whilst the nation’s traditional drink of sake has slumped to a seriously sober 8 percent of the market.

Price however is perhaps not the only factor, as beer makers it has to be said really know how to push their products. A bikini-clad and lager loving young Japanese lady for example is the perfect promotional tool, as after one or two too many, confidence is increased, and maybe,

Japan beer model

just maybe,

Japan beer model

such a busty young beauty would simply be unable to resist a randy fella who is a little rotund and red-faced.

Japan beer model

Sake manufacturers on the other hand have managed to make a real mess of their marketing, and instead of giving drinkers something to dream about, they have inexplicably opted to offer boozers a painful picture of what they may well become.

Japanese sake

Namely naked, neanderthalic and maybe even nuts.

Japanese sake

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Japanese giant

The dogged drive for world domination hardly endears the Hello Kitty cult to the dwindling number of non-believers.

Yet Japanese giant Sanrio certainly demands at least begrudging respect, as just when it seems that the marketing marvel can’t possibly produce a product that doesn’t already have the placid pussy plastered all over it — it does, this time with a banana case of all things.

Japanese hello kitty banana case

Fruit and fairly featureless feline fans rejoice…

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Fowl play?

Japan’s ultra-competitive world of grilled chicken production took another twist over the weekend, when the town of Hidakagawa, in Wakayama Prefecture, reclaimed the honour of holding the world record for the longest piece of grilled chicken (or yakitori) — a title that was controversially won by the residents of Kawamata back in August last year, a mere 12 days after the good people of Hidakagawa had first been crowned chicken champions with an effort of 11 metres and 7 cm.

So this year, in a bid to make sure they don’t fall foul of the same misfortune again, the town in western Japan callously killed a whole glut of chickens to produce a gargantuan grill measuring a gut-busting 16.46 metres.

Jumbo Japanese yakitori

However cruel chicken-based taunts by the champs in reference to the size of Kawamata men’s ‘cocks’ has not surprisingly ruffled more than a few feathers, leading many to believe that the title may once again change hands in the not too distant future.