Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

General

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Japanese jamboree

Conversations in Tokyo this weekend may well touch on the birth of a male heir to the Chrysanthemum Throne, along with the upcoming selection of a new Prime Minister; however for most people, riding high at the top of their ‘to talk about list’ will undoubtedly be the results of this year’s hugely prestigious and much coveted Best Jeanist and Nicest Hair awards.

best jeanist 2006

In a decision that sent shockwaves through the nation’s schools and offices, top denim wearer of the last three years, Ayumi Hamasaki, was finally ousted, with Olympic gold medal winning figure skater Shizuka Arakawa gracefully walking away with the Best Jeanist award. A result that many are already claiming trumps her Torino triumph by a considerable margin.

Also on the podium were singers Kumi Koda and Kazuya Kamenashi, the former pictured below, having inexplicably lost her jeans for that all-important promotional shot.

kumi koda

Similarly compelling was the contest for hair honours, with actress Chiaki Kuriyama bagging her first Beauty Week award. The Kill Bill Vol. 1 star emotionally confessing, “There used to be a lot of times when I just wanted to lop it all off, but I’m really glad I’ve kept my long hair.” The image below clearly confirming Kuriyama’s comment, with her long and lovely locks on prominent display.

chiaki kuriyama

Fellow actress Masami Nagasawa was also presented with an award for her handsome hair, prompting the 19-year-old to prove the incredible importance of such events by pithily proclaiming, “This has really made me pleased that I’m a girl.”

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Pussy Galore

With the help of celebrity Aki Hoshino, Sanrio Corp. launched the bi-weekly ‘Hello Kitty Accessory Collection’ on Tuesday, a new magazine that each edition will feature a different country as its theme, providing information on history and culture. Plus, of course, details on the masses of Kitty related merchandise available — both present and past.

hello kitty magazine

Hello Kitty herself will actually provide the undoubtedly fascinating facts in each publication, with the famous feline appearing ready to branch out into more challenging and rewarding territory; the new approach presumably tempting young Hoshino-san to help promote the new venture, with the 29-year-old actress and model saying, “I got a phone call from Kitty yesterday and we decided to wear matching outfits. I really love Hello Kitty”.

hoshino aki and hello kitty

The first edition will focus on Britain, and, like all future issues, will include trinkets of some description or other; a charm bracelet and pouch modeled on Victorian fashion being the first giveaways. Items which Hoshino will presumably be keen to snap up, after divulging that her home is filled with Kitty-related goods.

One such item it seems is a Hello Kitty ring, which she wore for the occasion, forcing one gossip-loving reporter to ask if it was from a boyfriend. Hoshino coyly responding by saying, “Not yet, but my home is packed with Hello Kitty stuff, so I want a guy who is going to like Kitty, too.”

A position that many of those partial to a bit of pussy now and again will surely be more than happy to fill.

aki

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Rescue relief

The rigours of the unregulated world of silicone sex workers was highlighted today when a ‘hotel employee’ was urgently rushed back to its manufacturer, Tokyo technicians applying emergency lubrication of the synthetic kind to keep the plastic patient pliant.

Thankfully the doll’s condition was later said to be stable, with a hygienist claiming that after a good scrub and a quick hose down she’d be back at work in no time.

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Big bother

Should he return to school after the long summer break, 24-year-old Kota Wakabayashi may not receive the warm reception he is probably used to, as over the weekend the junior high school mathematics teacher was arrested for trespassing after being caught peeping into a man’s house in the early hours of Saturday morning.

peeping tom

Taking the concept of ‘neighbourhood watch’ to extremes, Wakabayashi-san was picked up for peeking into the home of a 44-year-old company employee — just a few hundred metres from where the young teacher lives. The misguided mathematician making no attempt to disguise his dishonour by telling the police, “I went in because I wanted to peep.”

School officials were understandably shocked by the arrest, with headmaster Atsushi Misono saying, “We’re really surprised by this. We’ll hold an emergency meeting for parents on Saturday night to discuss how we’re going to go on from here. We’d like to apologise.” The perplexed principle further adding, “We had expected big things from him.”

The latter being a wish quite possibly echoed by the wily Wakabayashi himself — albeit under slightly different circumstances.

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Pitiful park

Tokyo it has to be said isn’t the greenest city in the world, but city planners at last appear to be making something of an effort. The creation of several small parks in the city’s business district allowing weary workers the chance to enjoy a spot of nature and a well earned break.

japanese park

No cycling though.