Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

Odd

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Noticeable Japanese noses?

As the vast majority of Japanese have decidedly less than bulbous and almost button-like beaks, those of us with more noticeable (although I prefer noble) noses are often treated to comments concerning our sensationally ‘tall’ snouts.

However, while being endlessly entertaining, this fascination with facial features may also stem from envy, as supersizing one’s nose is seemingly sought after in some circles, with this painful looking product supposedly offering the hope of some height.

Japanese nose

Along with a somewhat heightened sense of humiliation.

Categorized: Odd

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No gnomes needed?

For Tokyoites lucky enough to have a garden to tend, the unfathomable need to feature a gnome isn’t necessarily unusual, although the fat little fellas aren’t nearly as multitudinous as they are in middle England.

Masks on the other hand are considerably more common,

Japanese mannequin

along with the rather more mournful mien of a mannequin.

Japanese mannequin

Maybe.

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Tokyo and tortoises

Not caring much for the cacophony of cooing that Chihuahuas command in this country, pet shops aren’t places I particularly favour, let alone frequent, so apart from the presumably almost constant cries of Kawaii!, most of what goes on in these marts is a mystery.

Yet that said, I suspect that an aged tortoise ambling round the aisles isn’t what one would call common, otherwise I would have been carrying a better camera.

Japanese tortoise

Or there again maybe it is, and due to my miserableness I’ve been missing out. Which, judging by the couldn’t care less attitude of customers other than kids, could well be correct.

Japanese tortoise

Categorized: Odd

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Japanese miniature dog mania

In sharp contrast to Japan’s far from burgeoning birth rate, the number of miniature dogs continues to mount, with seemingly billions of the unbearable and invariably bug-eyed little beasts everywhere. A fad that unusually for Japan shows no sign of slowing down, and appears to confirm claims that such pets are increasingly seen as child substitutes, which, with the excessive cooing they encourage along with their offensively fancy wardrobes, would seem to be spot on.

Plus, for people who don’t have a kid or a canine, there’s also the option of substituting the substitute with a, erm, substitute.

Japanese dogs

Or even several substitute substitutes.

Japanese dogs

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Tokyo Imperial Palace pandemonium

With foreign faces now fairly common on Japanese TV, outlandish performances are by no means a prerequisite for a bit of publicity or prime-time prominence. But it can help. Especially if there’s a generous bit of give and take as far as that all important exposure is concerned.

And, with this in mind, swimming naked in the Imperial Palace moat,

naked gaijin

along with tackling the law with one’s tackle out, tops the lot.

naked gaijin

And then some.

By all accounts, this unseasonably suited Spaniard initially went for a meander in the moat to retrieve a friend’s bag, but as the video and pictures amply prove, things very quickly got out of hand.

In more ways than one.

Update: The man in question it now seems is not Spanish at all, but a fellow Brit who just happens to live in Spain.

A portly, almost Python-esque Imperial predicament that the already embattled Prime Minister Brown could probably do without. Although it may at least bring a brief smile to his almost bovine-like bearing.

Update 2: The moat-loving marauder has now been released without charges — although hopefully with clothes — by the authorities. A police spokesman proclaiming, “We decided to hand the man over to his friend without charging him as we concluded that his act was based on mental instability.”

A British embassy official also confirmed that the man is indeed from the UK, although any details about him were understandably deemed inappropriate.

(images via the FG Forums)

Categorized: Odd