Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

Food and Drink

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Alcohol attendant

Whilst certainly no slouches as far as alcohol consumption goes, the Japanese are a little more cautious than their beer guzzling British counterparts, sensibly dining whilst drinking instead of getting utterly inebriated and then cramming down a kebab or a curry. An approach that has created a whole range of booze-related bites, although due to their rather specific nature they are far too sophisticated to be fobbed off as mere snacks.

Japanese beer snacks

Popular alcohol attendants (or attedants even) being cheese and fish apparently, without any peanuts or a packet of pork scratchings in sight.

Japanese beer snacks

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Food-based facial fashion

Whilst spring may bring warmer weather and the fleeting beauty of cherry blossom, for many Japanese it also heralds the start of hay fever season — a time of misery for most, except money making medical men and mask makers. The work of the latter in particular resulting in a tremendous amount of Tokyoites trotting around town wearing these.

Japanese masks

Yet for the more fashion conscious sufferer, the Japanese site Daily Portal Z suggests popping down to the local sewing shop for material to make your own. A prettily patterned protector perhaps perfect for a big night out.

Japanese masks

Or alternatively, if a night of naughtiness is on the cards, this lacy little number could be ideal.

Japanese masks

For the food-loving fashionista however, a trip to the supermarket and the purchase of some seafood is deemed necessary.

Japanese seafood

Shell size it seems is the only concern, and once bought the insides can be either made into dinner or discarded. Then, after a quick dab of paint and the attachment of some elastic to hold it in place, it’s ready to wear.

Japanese masks

With considerable pride.

(via Japan Probe)

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Lunchbox love

As a child, a cheese sandwich, an apple and perhaps a biscuit or two was more than fancy enough for a five year old who cared much more about Lego than the look of his lunch. A view apparently not shared by young Japanese kids of today, or more accurately their mothers, who seem to see the humble lunchbox as much more a means of expression than merely something edible.

Japanese bento

Osaka housewife Miho Tsukamoto explaining the oeuvre by observing, “This is rather about my pride. My son boasts about my cooking to his friends, so I can’t stop doing this.”

Japanese bento

A statement that was also supported by Kazumi Shimomura (pictured above) whilst working away on her current creation; a design based on one of her son’s dinosaur drawings. “I never make the same thing twice. I just think about what to make next time.”

Japanese bento

A painstaking task that often sees slivers of carrot become crabs and Mickey Mouse materialise from seaweed, sesame seeds and a section of sweet potato — perhaps. Such dedication meaning that the day starts very early indeed for some Japanese housewives, although Shimomura-san declined to disclose what time she rose to finish her rumoured radish-based recreation of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper last week.