Personally I’m not convinced that Nintendo’s (alleged) new game-based headwear is going to be the big hit the company is obviously hoping for.
Mario millinery
General
Fuji foray?
This coming Thursday marks the start of the official Mount Fuji climbing season. Not that you can’t climb it any time you wish, but unless you know what you are doing when it comes to climbing mountains, the next 2 months are the ideal time to give it a go. If you really want to that is.
Ascending Fuji-san has a fair few advantages and disadvantages. Perhaps the main disadvantage (apart from slogging up the mountain for 7 hours or so) is that up close Fuji isn’t all that pretty. Although that’s something of an understatement, as basically it’s ugly and strewn with all kinds of rubbish. Those postcard images of a snow capped conical beauty are hard to imagine when you actually get on the mountain itself.
Also, if you choose to make a bid for the top during August, be prepared to deal with thousands of other like-minded individuals. Get your timing wrong and you are going to find yourself in a slow moving and very frustrating queue for the top.
But like I said, there are advantages. Well, a few anyway. First off, imagine the sense of awe and wonder you’ll feel upon reaching the top and finding numerous vending machines placed there just for your convenience. Dispensing all kinds of tasty hot beverages, and if you are partial to it, canned corn soup too.
But if that doesn’t amaze you, I’m sure the ramen shop that opens just before sunrise will at least raise an eyebrow. I’m not joking here. There is actually a restaurant on top of Mount Fuji. Ok it’s no 5 star establishment, but it serves hot and (relatively) tasty ramen. So in my book that’s a restaurant. And at some ungodly hour in the morning, after just climbing the mountain and finding it a lot colder than that you expected, that humble little shack looks like the most enticing eatery you could ever imagine.
And if these man-made wonders don’t make the jaunt worthwhile, there is always the view.
Regal Rooney
David Beckham may still be god in Japan, but 18-year-old phenomenon Wayne Rooney is hot on his heels. Rooney’s incredible rise has been so fast that he’s already been crowned king on these shores. And not just any old king either, but a Wonder King.
The back page of that newspaper is usually reserved for Japanese baseball stars, soccer players, sumo champions, and of course the aforementioned David Beckham. So it looks like Rooney could well be on his way to reaping in bucket loads of cash from Japanese sponsors.
The only problem may be his appearance. In fashion conscious Japan, Beckham fits the bill perfectly with his ever-changing hairstyles and cool street fashion. Rooney on the other hand doesn’t. And on TV last week, one sports presenter said that as much as he admired Rooney’s skill, he couldn’t stop thinking about how unintelligent he looks.
You know, he does have a point.
Dozing donor
Last week a teacher in Fukuoaka lost his temper with a student who repeatedly fell asleep in class. After calling the boy to the staff room, the unnamed teacher chastised him for continually sleeping during lessons. But as the teacher felt the student didn’t show any remorse, he handed him a piece of paper and a box cutter and told him to write an apology in blood.
Despite the boy’s habit of sleeping when he should be studying, he can’t be accused of not following orders. As when the teacher returned to the staff room a few minutes after giving his bizarre instructions, the boy had already cut his finger and managed to write the first sentence in blood.
At this point the teacher finally realized that he “went too farâ€, and told the boy to stop. Writing in blood that is. The rest of the letter it was decided could be finished in plain old pencil.
Later in the day the incident was reported to the principle, who not surprisingly wasn’t all that impressed. Although his statement can’t really be described as a forceful condemnation of the teacher’s actions. Whilst presumably not raising his voice, and definitely not banging his fist on the desk, the principle said, “I want to issue instruction so this type of thing doesn’t happen again.â€
I certainly hope it doesn’t, as after seeing disturbing numbers of perpetually sleeping students in Japanese schools, such practices would result in a huge rise in the number of anemia sufferers.
A triumph in design
After the success of its horse and Maiko themed bras, Triumph International has managed to up the ante even further with its new skin bra. This state-of-the-art bra is made of silicone, and if that isn’t enough for you, it is available in transparent and beige.
So without further ado, here’s a picture of the skin bra in all its glory. Which just so happens to be modeled by a young and attractive model.
A marvelous combination of technology and design I think you’ll agree. I was so impressed I bought one of each colour. Despite that the fact that I don’t possess man-breasts, and have never had a penchant for wearing women’s underwear.