Odd

Mar 23 2004 11 Comments

Freaks ahoy

I’ve (kind of) got used to being stared at when I’m out and about. But there’s staring, and then there is staring.

Last weekend whilst on the Yamanote Line (which circles central Tokyo), I could feel someone’s eyes practically boring into me. Turning around, I saw a salary man stood just to the side of my seat, unashamedly staring at my friend and I. He made no attempt to avert his gaze either when I looked him in the eye. So I asked him if there was a problem.

Now I’ve heard all kinds of dumb questions, but his ranks up there with the best of them. In all earnestness he asked.

â€œIs this your first time on a train?â€

How on earth do you respond to such nonsense? I immediately decided you can’t, and after a brief shake of the head went back to talking to my friend. Yet the idiotic question asking salary man continued staring, and just for good measure he glared at us through the carriage window when he got off the train a few stops later.

Sometimes it would be so nice to blend in.

Mar 22 2004 3 Comments

Smoking manner #3

I’ve already mentioned on this site Japan’s rather novel approach to smoking. And a couple of days ago I posted some photos of Japan Tobacco’s latest smoking manner campaign.

Since then I’ve come across a few more. So without further ado here they are.

This last one is my personal favourite.

There’s no way I can top that, so I’m not even going to attempt a witty comment.

Mar 19 2004 4 Comments

Platform performance

At 7:30 in the morning I don’t usually notice much, but when somebody pulls his or her trousers down in the middle of a busy station, it does tend to grab your attention.

Yes, changing trains and heading for the steps recently, I was shocked to see a gentleman stand in the middle of the platform and swiftly pull his trousers (and underwear) down. Then for good measure he adopted a squatting posture. As this is the required position for using a Japanese style toilet, for a split-second I thought he was going to perform his morning bowel movement right there and then on the platform. But thankfully for all concerned he didn’t.

Now in public the Japanese don’t usually give much away, but I’m sure I saw a slight flicker of dread on the faces of those already on the train that the trouser-dropping madman was about to board. What he did when he actually got on the train is anybody’s guess.

Mar 18 2004 9 Comments

Porn, panties, and pepsi

There is no shortage of vending machines in Japan. Drinks, cigarettes, chocolate, and rice are all readily available at the press of a button. And I for one am not complaining. Just take a look at this little beauty.

But there are also machines stocking rather more risquÃ© products. And with a big thanks to Alex for the photograph, Tokyo Times can now proudly boast a picture of one of those infamous panty and porn vending machines.

There aren’t many of us who get see such a thing on a daily basis, so just for good measure here’s a close-up.

I don’t think there’s much I can add. Except perhaps to point out that the items with a red light below them are sold out. Obviously very popular!

Mar 17 2004 3 Comments

Smoking manner #2

I’ve written before on this site about the novel approach to smoking in Japan. Unlike many other countries, the focus is not on getting people to quit. Rather, its main emphasis is on observing smoking manners.

In continuing this theme, Japan Tobacco has introduced its latest smoking manner campaign.

This first one is pretty easy to grasp, and I have to concede makes a fairly decent point. Even if the format is a little odd.