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General

Jan 10 2006 2 Comments

Male members

After years of secrecy and clandestine meetings, the Zenkoku Teishu Kanpaku Kyokai (National Male Chauvinists Association) has finally gone public. A spokesman for the group claiming the decision was prompted by the rising number of marriage break-ups amongst older Japanese. The self-proclaimed chauvinist proudly boasting, “We want to prevent more middle-aged divorces.”

The association currently only has ten members, but over the years it has produced several books that include recollections of spiteful and ill-tempered marital spats. This uncompromising approach being similarly evident during the group’s first ever open meeting on Saturday. One speaker boldly pinning his colours to the mast by acerbically claiming, “There are only two types of men. Men who are hen-pecked, and men who are going to be hen-pecked.”

japanese male chauvinists

Whether such statements helped boost membership size wasn’t disclosed, but the mood was lightened somewhat by an award ceremony. One chap even bagging a Level Two ranking in the Way of the Chauvinist; receiving this most prestigious of prizes after recounting a feisty fracas with his wife, and how he unexpectedly flinched when she threw a chair at him.

Yet despite such obvious distinction, the accolade was tinged with an element of regret, as its recipient fell just short of an unprecedented top-level award. A fact confirmed by a fellow association member’s rather rueful comment of, “He would have got an even higher grade if he hadn’t flinched.”

Categorized: General

Dec 28 2005 5 Comments

Balls aplenty

Compared to many countries, Japan is still an incredibly safe place to live: bags can be safely left on chairs; mobile phones needn’t be carefully guarded; and coming home late at night isn’t a journey one approaches with fear and a large dollop of fortitude — whether male or female.

Yet despite this rather enviable situation, crime is gradually on the rise. And if the powers that be don’t continue to crack down on wrongdoers like Tadashi Nakatsu, then the country could change considerably over the coming years.

In an unlawful act that sent shockwaves through the small town of Sayama, Saitama Prefecture, the 60-year-old criminal played 48 straight games* at a local bowling alley on Tuesday. An incident shocking enough in itself, amply proving how damaging boredom can be on the human mind; but after finishing his last game at 10:50 pm, Nakatsu-san didn’t have any money to pay his rather hefty 24,500 yen (121 pound) bill. The unemployed miscreant claiming a friend would come later with the money.

hello kitty bowling ball

Needless to say this ‘friend’ never materialised, and when the alley closed at 2 am, the police were called in and the old man was duly arrested. Nakatsu’s confinement finally allowing nearby residents to breathe a sigh of relief and local school children to sleep peacefully in their beds.

japanese bowling alley

*The alley where the incident took place stated that Nakatsu managed an average of over 150 for his 48 game stint.

Categorized: General, Sports

Dec 27 2005 Leave a Comment

Concrete non-conformity

Whilst construction companies and huge public work programmes appear determined to cover every spare inch of the country in concrete, thankfully there are a few people being a little more creative with the grey building material.

mikimoto ginza

A rare combination of beauty, style, vision and humour.

Very rare unfortunately.

Categorized: General, Photography

Dec 26 2005 Leave a Comment

Golden Ginza

Whilst slightly on the late side, this tree will still be good for a few more days. Plus buying one now will save you the hassle next year.

gold christmas tree

The only problem is the cost: it’s a little expensive. Being mostly gold and quite large appears to have bumped up the price up a bit. Well, more than a bit to be honest.

expensive christmas tree

Yes, it costs a cool 45 million yen. That’s a decidedly un-festive 223,000 pound.

I may wait until January and see if it’s in the sale.

Categorized: General, Photography

Dec 24 2005 9 Comments

Christmas crackers

Whilst the Japanese don’t really ‘do’ Christmas, they are second to none when it comes to decorations and costumes. And whilst I don’t have any pictures of the former, rather predictably I do have more than a few of the latter.

Like this delightful little stocking filler for example.

sexy santa

Or alternatively, how about having your sleigh pulled gently to and fro by this racy young reindeer?

sexy santa

Plus for the ladies, there’s always salary man Santa.

japanese santa

Merry Christmas!

Categorized: General

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