After a surprisingly good month in regards to my Google Ads, I’ve decided to branch out into real estate.
Anyone want a room?
Google gains
General
Anime advertising
Some people will consider it a crying shame, but despite living in Japan and being exposed to it everyday, I have little or no interest in anime. And my knowledge of it is arguably even less. But that said, an anime advertising campaign involving a bevy of young beauties dressed in black bat-like costumes is very different. It’s not only interesting, but also worthy of a few poorly taken pictures.
This procession weaved its way around the streets of Akihabara, and not surprisingly drew quite a lot of attention. So much so in fact that their bat-like beauty warranted a visit by the masked man himself. Although perhaps not the one you are thinking of.
But all this attention and the novel nature of the campaign didn’t mean that those involved were enjoying themselves. No, far from it.
Vending villain
Vending machines are an ever-present part of Japan’s modern landscape. From beetles to beer, and Pepsi to panties, these mechanical merchants are always ready to help out. Some of the newer machines even have the ability to talk, greeting purchasers with a hearty “hello†or a friendly “how are you?â€
However an as yet unidentified man in Hokkaido has found a rather unconventional use for these reliable retailers. Hiding behind them. As late on Friday night last week, a 39-year-old farmer was about to buy a beverage when the man appeared from behind the vending machine, hit the farmer in the face with a hard object, and raced off with his wallet containing 20,000 yen (100 pound) in cash.
But for a nice and big ice-cold beer are you willing to take the risk? I know I am.
Curious George Ryozo
Despite the fact that four elementary school students were recently caught trying to make counterfeit cash, a 32-year-old teacher (who really ought to have known better) was arrested earlier this week on suspicion of doing exactly the same thing.
Ryozo Nishiguchi has admitted to forging 10 notes using a scanner and printer, but told the police, “I made them out of curiosity. I didn’t intend to use them.†The validity of this statement is questionable though as for reasons unknown Nishiguchi had put the money in his car.
Yet whatever the reason, it turned out to be the young teacher’s biggest mistake. As a in a piece of unbelievable misfortune, 60-year-old Katsumi Okide decided he desperately needed some cigarettes. But having no money, he broke into Nishiguchi-san’s car, stole the forged bills, and tried to spend them at a nearby convenience store.
When the bills were found to be fake, the investigation quickly led back to Nishiguchi and his scanning and printing skills. Or lack of considering his arrest.
How piqued the teacher’s curiosity is in regards to prison life wasn’t disclosed.
Hopeless hijacker
Drunk and possessing an urge to go to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, a 19-year-old man boarded a bus on Tuesday and threatened to hijack it unless the driver took him there.
Unfortunately for the youth in question, there were a few things he had failed to take into consideration. Firstly he wasn’t carrying a weapon, and secondly the bus was already on its way to the airport.
Realizing that the man posed no real threat, the bus driver quickly alerted the police and the hopeless hijacker was arrested on suspicion of forcible obstruction of business. A police spokesman calmly summed up the whole sorry affair by saying, “He just wanted to make a scene.â€
Which if nothing else, he did manage to do successfully.