Tokyo Times

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Odd

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Melon mania

This week saw farmers from Zentsuji in Kanagawa Prefecture begin to sell the year’s first square melons. With around 800 of these ‘ideal for the freezer’ variants of the popular green fruit shipped to Tokyo, Osaka, and China. Priced at a decidedly un-mouthwatering 10,000 yen (50 pound) apiece.

square melon

This announcement, coupled with the recent sale of a 280,000 yen (1,400 pound) black melon, means that these are heady days indeed for melon maniacs.

A pity the same can’t be said for those of us in search of the regular and reasonably priced variety. In fact the way things are going, I may have to compromise and make do with a pyramid-shaped one instead.

pyramid shaped melon

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Toilet trespasser

Having recently moved to Tokyo from nearby Ibaraki Prefecture, 22-year-old Shinpei Umezawa’s return to the region on Sunday evening may have seemed quite innocent. But rather than visiting family members or catching up with old friends, the young electrician was actually up to no good with a digital camera and a small mirror.

Securing himself a spot in one of the cubicles at a women’s train station toilet, Umezawa-san set about trying to take a few clandestine snap shots. However after only 25 minutes, his foray into furtive photography came to an abrupt and ignominious end.

japanese train station toilet

Feeling there was something suspicious (or alternatively somebody was having an especially torrid time on the toilet), a commuter reported the long-locked lavatory. A decision that led to Umezawa’s capture, and eventual arrest — for trespassing of all things.

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Disney death

I’ve long since given up trying to understand the Japanese obsession with all things Disney. The desire to posses the company’s merchandise and make numerous trips to Tokyo Disneyland appears to be almost genetic. Even Emperor Hirohito, somewhat surprisingly, is said to have been the proud owner of a Mickey Mouse watch. Several reports even claiming he was buried with it.

Mickey mouse watch

The recent actions of 25-year-old Manabu Furuya however almost make a Mickey Mouse loving Emperor seem acceptable. Quaint even. As finding himself down to his last 10,000 yen (50 pound) — but at the same time desperate to take his girlfriend to Tokyo Disney Sea — the deranged devotee robbed a pub where he used to work.

Yet fleeing the scene with 150,000 yen in his pocket, he was confronted by pub employee Takahiro Dono. And in a bid to escape, Furuya stabbed him. An attack that sadly proved to be fatal.

A tragedy though that failed to get in the way of Furuya and his Disney themed date. The day after the theft and murder, he happily went to Disney Sea as planned.

He may have even bought a watch.

Categorized: Odd

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Sharapova shuffle

Similar to most places around the world, tennis ace Maria Sharapova is a huge celebrity in Japan, although arguably the Russian star is more popular for her panties than she is for her powerful serve. Yes, whenever the teen sensation plays in Japan, her every move is closely followed (and photographed) by hordes of camera wielding panty perverts.

Such unsavoury behaviour has led one local company to try and take the focus away from her undergarments. Instead moving the attention on to her, erm, breasts. The Sharanpowan taking sporting spin-offs to new and previously uncharted depths.

sharapova breasts

Plus for more delicate forehand play, the sports top (which comes in three different colours) can be easily removed.

sharapova breasts

Ideal for cleaning too, should any, ahem, shots go astray.

[Via Japundit]

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Fists at fifty paces

Whilst remaining illegal, dueling once again appears to be in vogue when it comes to settling disputes. As despite the arrest of several youths last year for breaking the 1889 law forbidding such practices, 12 teenagers from Tokyo and nearby Yokohama were recently apprehended and charged with causing bodily injury and dueling.

It turns out the duels were over the sale of a motorbike, and six pairs were formed to fight each other and resolve the disagreement. The rules of each bout stating that hair-pulling was (understandably) forbidden, and the contests would continue until one person gave up, or alternatively a severe pummeling resulted in an opponent ceasing to move. An added clause also ruled that fighting to the death, whilst not compulsory, was acceptable.

When the police arrived on the scene, one dueler had suffered injuries to his arm and head, yet the protagonists were decidedly unrepentant. One of the teenagers asking, “What’s wrong with hitting each other with consent?” A question that understandably cut no ice with the arresting officers.

For anybody interested in the results, the upstarts from Yokohama were beating the kids from the capital by 3 wins to 2. Meaning they were very close to victory when the police arrived, and (whilst I’m not sure about dueling etiquette) will presumably be awarded the victory by default.

Categorized: Odd