Photographs from a small group of islands
I came across a shop near where I work this afternoon. And whilst I was reluctant to venture in, judging by the somewhat unusual figure placed outside, I’m presuming the establishment sells trousers.
Although on the other hand it may trade in brightly coloured and uncomfortably tight underwear.
Admittedly this is an extreme case, but from what I’ve seen myself, unpaid overtime is very common and generally unchallenged. Plus with the economy still in a slump, and the Japanese tradition of a job for life becoming a thing of the past, it isn’t going to go away any time soon.
Now whilst I haven’t really suffered culture shock in my time here, experiencing the Japanese attitude to work is certainly a shock of sorts. With this working for free business being a prime example. Coming from Britain, overtime itself is a dirty word. As for unpaid overtime, well…
A man was arrested in Osaka on Monday for trying to sell a giant panda on an internet auction site. But before you gasp in horror at 45-year-old Noburo Ichii’s dirty deed, it should be mentioned that the animal was stuffed. Does that make it alright?
Yet whether you believe it’s acceptable or not is in some ways irrelevant, as selling stuffed giant panda’s is apparently a violation of Japan’s species protection law. And along with Ichii-san, 72-year-old Yasunori Ueda was also arrested, for originally selling the panda to the unsuccessful animal auctioneer in the first place.
Stuffed Panda’s though are obviously a decent money spinner, as the 1.1 metre tall animal had a starting price of 8 million yen (40,000 pounds). This high valuation was perhaps also helped by Mr.Ichii trumpeting that it was “sent from China as a testimony to Sino-Japanese friendship.”
Where the panda did actually come from is still being investigated, and Ueda isn’t giving much away. Only saying, “I got it from a friend 20 years ago.”
I wonder if he was offering free shipping…
In Osakikamijima, Hiroshima, an old man suffered a dislocated shoulder when his house was destroyed by an out of control cargo ship.
Masuo Hamada, the captain of the Shintsunetoyo-maru, admitted to falling asleep in the early hours of Saturday morning as he was guiding the ship to Tokuyama Port in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Coast guard officials were said to be questioning Mr. Hamada (providing he can keep his eyes open that is), and it’s thought he will face charges.
Fortunately, 76-year-old Haruo Abe’s dislocated shoulder was the only injury suffered by those affected. Although Abe-san’s house (and 2 neigbouring one’s) didn’t fare quite so well.
In another unfathomable celebration of Hello Kitty’s 30th anniversary, the Mitsukoshi department store has a diamond encrusted platinum kitty-chan for sale. The 41mm tall Queen kitty is priced at a staggering 10.5 million yen (53,000 pounds).
Is the famous feline really worth such extravagance?
Sadly it would appear so.