It’s not uncommon to see people standing in line outside a shop or restaurant that is having a sale of some kind. And that’s fair enough I guess, as there is nothing wrong with seeking out the odd bargain. But isn’t going through all the trouble of photographing a book or magazine taking being careful with one’s money to new and previously uncharted depths?
General
Goodwill grimace
Japan’s sumo wrestlers have just wrapped-up a goodwill tour of China, and below is great picture of some pre-match fun and games.
But whilst the main bouts were well received and watched by some very large crowds, the two little boys receiving the wrestling wedgies may not look back on the tour with entirely fond memories.
Following suit
Having seen his England teammate David Beckham make a fortune in Japan advertising everything from chocolate to sunglasses, Liverpool striker Michael Owen has decided to get in on the money making action.
But whereas everything Beckham does is considered cool, Owen might not find things quite so easy. As for reasons unknown (although most likely financial), he has opted to lend his name to the Aoyama brand. A company well known for providing cheap and not especially fashionable suits.
Is that embarrassed smile due to feelings of guilt associated with the huge amount of money he is being paid, or because of the knowledge that this picture of him in an ill-fitting and cheap suit is going to be seen all over Japan?
I’m going with the latter.
Mildly amusing English usage #3
Master of English
Now feel free to scoff all you want, but yesterday as I was explaining something in class, one of the students said I was a master of English.
It probably won’t surprise anyone (and especially regular readers of this site) to hear this, but I’ve never had such a compliment bestowed on me before. Yet despite the fact that it came from a 13-year-old boy with only rudimentary knowledge of the language, I shall milk it for all it’s worth.
The moniker Master of English has already been added to my resume, and I’m currently in the process of having some business cards printed.
Do you think those three flattering words should be in gold lettering? Perhaps even embossed?
92-vehicle police chase
A while ago on this site I reported a 17 hour police hunt involving 18 cars and two helicopters. All for a man alleged to have stolen a DVD player.
But that epic pursuit has been made to look like kids stuff by a chase through Tokyo’s suburbs on Tuesday. An operation that involved an unprecedented 92 police vehicles and 2 helicopters. Whilst the man the police were after was admittedly suspected of stealing more than a DVD player, he can hardly be described as public enemy #1. And whether the theft of a woman’s bag and a small van warrants an operation on this scale is highly debatable to say the least. But by snatching the bag and then making off in a stolen van, 33-year-old Masami Takahashi set in motion events that would even be considered excessive in a Hollywood action movie.
Initially just one police vehicle set off after the bag and van loving Takahashi, but as the policeman had no success stopping him, reinforcements were called. Presumably it was a quiet day for the capital’s police force, as the longer the chase went on, the more reinforcements were called in. Resulting in the aforementioned 92 vehicles and 2 helicopters.
This epic chase went on for several hours, and it took Takahashi-san and heaven knows how many police officers through a whistle stop tour of 5 Tokyo municipalities. In the end though, and no doubt through sheer force of numbers, the suspect and his vehicle were brought to a halt.
But even then the gallant criminal wasn’t ready to give up, as he attempted to escape on foot. But with the streets presumably swarming with police, and helicopters hovering above, Takahashi didn’t get very far. Eventually being captured in a barbershop of all places. Although whether he’d had time to get his haircut before being arrested wasn’t reported.
Pictured above is an alleged reconstruction of the police chase. The circled area is where Takahashi was finally arrested, and the numbers apparently indicate when and where more police vehicles were requested.