Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

General

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What goes up…

This massive kite, weighing in at a hefty 1 ton and measuring 12.9 metres in height and 13.3 metres in width, rose 30 metres in the air on Tuesday.

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But despite being controlled by about 50 people, after a brief flight the extremely windy conditions took their toll, causing the bamboo frame to break. Leaving the briefly majestic looking kite in this sorry state.

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To make matters worse it came down on an unlucky group of spectators, injuring 8 of them. Although as far as I’m aware, none of them seriously.

So that’s alright then.

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Destination Disney

Over the Golden Week holidays, it’s estimated that around 600,000 people will go and pay homage to their cartoon gods at Tokyo Disneyland.

Now I’ll admit that I’m no Disney fan, but going there during the holiday season is sheer madness. Unless of course you revel in standing in line for hours on end for a rather tame ride that will be over in seconds. Or alternatively have an uncontrollable obsession with grown adults dressed as vermin.

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Yet somewhat surprisingly it was at Tokyo Disneyland that I experienced my only real case of extreme culture shock. Yes, I admit to going once, but it was purely for research ok? And perhaps more importantly I was given a free ticket. But anyway, at the end of my day at Disney, I foolishly entered a souvenir shop. A decision I regret to this day, as I found myself in the middle of what can only be described as a gift-buying orgy. Honestly, I have never seen anything like it (and hopefully never will again). People were running around literally grabbing any souvenirs they could lay their hands on. And needless to say any sense of etiquette or decorum was non-existent, as customers shoved and elbowed their way towards another potential purchase.

To say it totally freaked me out is no exaggeration, and I just had to leave the shop as quickly as I could. It was simply unbelievable. I kind of wish I’d had a camera with me, but at the same time I’m relieved I didn’t. The memory is still disturbingly clear, and hard photographic evidence is really not necessary.

With the huge numbers that are expected there this week, the mere thought of going anywhere near the place makes me shudder!

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A lull in the crowd yesterday

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Sumo slander

“If we let conventions like this fall to pieces, it’ll only mean women in their high heels will be up there fighting on the dohyo.”

Yokozuna Promotion Council member Makiko Uchidate, criticizing yokozuna Asashoryu’s rebellious nature, specifically when he received his prizes with his left hand instead of right at the last tournament.

Whilst I have to admit that the Yokozuna Asashoryu has been a bit of a bad boy from time to time, he has always learned from his mistakes and corrected his behaviour accordingly. Plus at 23 years old he is still very young. And not coming from a sumo family (or in fact Japan), surely a few lapses should be expected, and more importantly forgiven.

But whatever his faults, he is more than worthy of his status as Grand Champion. Ability wise none of the current crop of wrestlers can get anywhere near him. His achievement of winning the last 2 tournaments without a single loss (only ever done once before) attests to this.

Yet regardless of his talent or behaviour, it’s a big leap from receiving prizes with the wrong hand to the introduction of women sumo wrestlers in high heels.

Or is it?

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Lilliputian lunch

It’s often said that the Japanese are quite short in stature. And looking at this picture there might just be something in it.

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But with the words stereotype, exploiting, and shamelessly ringing in my ears (plus a noisily reverberating cheap shot), I think I’ll leave it there.

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Ball grabber busted

A 60 year old woman was arrested over the weekend for stealing lost golf balls from a lake near the 15th hole at Sasadaira Country Club, Gifu prefecture. The suspect, Ms Natsumi Tsujita, is reported to have said she did it for some spending money.

But she wasn’t content with just turning up with a net and a long pole. No, Tsujita-san donned a wetsuit, and had goggles and a waterproof flashlight to boot. And if all that wasn’t enough, she also manufactured a net attached to a floating ring to store all the balls in.

After starting late Friday night, by the early hours of Saturday morning Ms. Tsujita is said to have collected over 1,500 balls. An impressive haul indeed. One that would have presumably brought in the necessary spending money she so desperately craved.

However unfortunately her car was spotted by club security, and when she came back dripping wet she was promptly arrested. And most likely Ms. Tsujita will face legal proceedings, as bizarrely it turns out that The Supreme Court has already handed down a ruling on lost balls, declaring them to be the property of the golf course.

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Ms. Tsujita yesterday. Perhaps.