General

Dec 10 2007 7 Comments

Japanese model mystery

Saturday saw famous Japanese idol Aki Hoshino promote her new DVD in Tokyo’s Akihabara district. The 30-year-old mesmerising the mass of media and middle-aged men with her slightly saucy Santa ensemble.

However, the coy and rather calculating Hoshino kept the exact contents of the new release close to her chest, meaning that fans will remain frustrated until they can finally get their hands on it.

That said, the common consensus is that it’s either a rather damning documentary detailing the growing divide between the rich and poor in post-bubble Japan, or an unabashed celebration of boobies,

and bikinis.

With those in the know leaning ever so slightly towards the latter.

Oct 18 2007 6 Comments

Tokyo tobacco technique

Japan is certainly not the smokers paradise it once was, with restrictions of some sort or another now found in most restaurants and many public places, along with some cities even going as far as banning smoking in the street. A change in attitude that may well account for the number of smokers in Japan recently dropping to an all-time low of around 26% of the adult population.

Yet while this number may well continue to fall, it’s still a formidable amount of people, and as such, they are well looked after by the local authorities. For starters, there are several places for a ciggie sojourn, ranging from the supposedly stylish,

to the somewhat silly.

And, with the government still owning a substantial share of Japan Tobacco, it’s still manners, more than anything, that really matter.

Oct 09 2007 7 Comments

Japanese sailor suit scene

Something of a controversy is currently raging over the origin of the much loved (and indeed maligned) Japanese schoolgirl sailor suit, with two schools claiming to have introduced the iconic outfit first.

An argument that may well continue in classrooms up and down the country, but it’s unlikely to be talked about by the fellas who frequent Egg in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, an establishment that seems to see the uniform as something to delight in rather than discuss.

Yet despite its boast of being an after school club, basic economics is probably about as far as educational gains go.

Although that said, the odd spot of late-night cramming may well be catered for.

Oct 08 2007 6 Comments

Tokyo traffic cone transgressions

Except for the odd furtive fiddle on a train, drink-related transgressions in Tokyo are generally not too much of a problem, although it does appear that traffic cone tomfoolery after one or two too many is just as popular in the Japanese capital as it is in my native Britain.

An issue that the Japanese authorities have rather surprisingly tried to stamp out with the introduction of truly colossal cones.

Objects of such humongous proportions in fact that they are more akin to the size of a house than a hat, resulting in these two in downtown Shibuya — near the station and on a busy thoroughfare — commanding suitably sizeable rents.

Oct 03 2007 1 Comment

Japanese maid cafe mollification

With shopping in Japan being a semi-official sport of sorts, customer loyalty is a key concern, and as such, store cards are commonplace, meaning points really do mean prizes — or even cash equivalents.

It’s a practice that has also been adopted by the country’s constantly growing number of maid cafes; however according to WIndbell, instead of offering a cost-free cup of coffee or some cake on credit, patrons are urged to build up their points — over a presumably long and frustrating period of time — and then spend them on pictures of the most fetching maid.

And by the looks of it, this cafe loving client happily splurged all of his stored up points. Rapidly releasing them, so to speak, in one quick but satisfying shot.

Or something along those lines.

(via dannychoo.com)

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