Odd

It’s a commonly asserted stereotype that the Japanese (and especially those residing in Tokyo) live in tiny little houses and apartments. And whilst it has to be said that this is true in a fair number of cases, the situation is not necessarily all that different from many other big cities around the world. I for one distinctly remember my time spent looking for accommodation in London, and being surprised at some of the box-like abodes on offer. Although perhaps more surprising was the inordinately expensive rent that was being charged for such compact apartments.

So whilst in this respect Tokyo may not be that dissimilar to many other big cities, don’t expect Tokyo Times to shy away from reinforcing tried and trusted stereotypes. Especially as the other day I came across this little lodging.

Now I don’t know how an estate agent would go about promoting a place like this, but I guess for starters you could say it is a detached property. And whilst it’s not all that clear in the photograph, the house is situated next to a clean and relatively pretty river. Although unfortunately due to a lack of windows, there won’t be much of a view.

So shall we start the bidding?

“I warned him to realize the importance of things, but I didn’t think he would really write in blood”

Last week a teacher in Fukuoaka lost his temper with a student who repeatedly fell asleep in class. After calling the boy to the staff room, the unnamed teacher chastised him for continually sleeping during lessons. But as the teacher felt the student didn’t show any remorse, he handed him a piece of paper and a box cutter and told him to write an apology in blood.

Despite the boy’s habit of sleeping when he should be studying, he can’t be accused of not following orders. As when the teacher returned to the staff room a few minutes after giving his bizarre instructions, the boy had already cut his finger and managed to write the first sentence in blood.

At this point the teacher finally realized that he “went too far”, and told the boy to stop. Writing in blood that is. The rest of the letter it was decided could be finished in plain old pencil.

Later in the day the incident was reported to the principle, who not surprisingly wasn’t all that impressed. Although his statement can’t really be described as a forceful condemnation of the teacher’s actions. Whilst presumably not raising his voice, and definitely not banging his fist on the desk, the principle said, “I want to issue instruction so this type of thing doesn’t happen again.”

I certainly hope it doesn’t, as after seeing disturbing numbers of perpetually sleeping students in Japanese schools, such practices would result in a huge rise in the number of anemia sufferers.

Early Saturday morning a convenience store was robbed at knifepoint, with the perpetrator getting away with 100,000 yen (about 500 pounds). But this wasn’t your average run-of-the-mill robbery, as the knife wielding thief was a transvestite dressed only in stockings and a camisole.

Police said the incident occurred at 4:30 a.m., and described the suspect as 180 cm tall, in his 30’s or 40’s, and sporting a shoulder length black wig. He was also wearing make-up, although despite this his five o’clock shadow was said to be clearly visible.

In some respects though you could argue that the thief was pretty smart. As to evade detection, all he needs to do is get a different wig, a new dress, and change his make-up a bit. Probably having a shave would be a good idea too!

The newly disguised robber?