Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

Food and Drink

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The day after…

Below is a picture of Noh actor Otoshige Sakai wearing a hannya demon mask.

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Whatever its original meaning, that pained expression coupled with the actor’s hands clasped desperately to his temples, accurately depicts how I feel after a particularly heavy drinking session. One when the intensity of the headache is almost enough to induce tears, and lying in a darkened room remains the only option.

I hasten to add however that I used the word depict. In, ahem, noh way do I bear even the slightest resemblance to the hannya demon shown in the picture. Honestly!

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A lovely pair of melons

Are you fond of big juicy melons? If the answer is yes, then you should consider trying a yubari melon. They come from Hokkaido in northern Japan, and unlike other melons, have orange coloured flesh.

There’s only one problem. They are expensive. And sometimes ridiculously so. A department store had two such melons for sale over the weekend. Retailing at a cool 210,000 yen (1,050 pounds) each!

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Pictured above is a department store worker proudly showing off her big melons yesterday.

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Cake crazed crackpot

“I wanted to buy some cakes, but the store on the platform I was at was closed, so I crossed the tracks to buy the cakes from a store on the other platform”

This is what 41 year old bar owner Tadakazu Mitsui told the police after his subsequent arrest. Admittedly at first Mr. Mitsui’s actions seem a little dangerous, but nothing to get too upset about. That is until you find out that the platform he performed his daring run on was only for bullet trains. Which nobody needs reminding travel a fair bit faster than you’re average locomotive.

The cake loving dare devil wasn’t content with just one death defying attempt though, as after purchasing his sugary dessert, he made the perilous journey back. And if all that wasn’t enough, to give the feat even more of an edge, Mr. Mitsui was drunk.

Now whilst I have been known to eat the odd cake now and again, if it meant passing in front of one of these monsters, I don’t think I’d bother. Would you?

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No, I didn’t think so.

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Governmental gastronome

“Everyone would be healthy if they kept eating this kind of food.”
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, after he and his cabinet members ate elementary school lunches consisting of barley rice, fried pork, boiled root vegetables and milk.

It’s often said that politicians are out of touch with real life. And judging by the above quote, the Prime Minister has managed to prove it quite admirably.

Can he really be talking about this slop?

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I have the rather unenviable task of eating this healthy food 5 days a week. I think it’s quite clear that Mr. Koizumi does not.

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Sushi surprise seconds

Recently a Japanese style restaurant in China caused something of a stir with its eating-sushi-off-near-naked-girls promotion. For the full story, and the added bonus of a slightly racy picture, just click here.

Sadly, having never attended such a cultural extravaganza, I can’t comment on the pros and cons involved. But it would appear that the authorities in Kunming (where the restaurant is situated) have decided to put a block on such activities once and for all. As they have banned any further promotions, and just for good measure fined the restaurant 2,000 Yuan.

Interestingly the financial penalty was imposed by the local health authority, who claimed that the ladies used during the meal lacked the necessary health certificates, and what’s more were improperly dressed!

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The last supper?