Sex

Apr 08 2004 6 Comments

Sushi surprise

After a public outcry, the Japanese-style restaurant Hefengcun Huaishi, in Kunming (southwest China), has stopped serving sushi on near naked and fair-skinned young beauties.

Apparently the establishment in question recruited the women from a local college, and then had them lying face-up on the table, their bodies covered with sushi, flowers, and other foodstuffs. No doubt making for very exotic plates indeed.

The owners however appear unrepentant despite the furore, and claim not to have bowed under local pressure. Rather, they said that it was merely a promotional campaign that has now finished.

Li Ailing, the manager of the restaurant said, â€œThe purpose of this promotion is to spread Japanese culture.â€

Going by that picture, it certainly beats flower arranging, or the quiet and rigid environs associated with the tea ceremony.

Apr 05 2004 4 Comments

Phallic fun

Yesterday, the Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine in Kawasaki held its annual fertility festival.

Sexually transmitted diseases helped spur the popularity of phallic symbols at such festivals, and going back a few hundred years, prostitutes used to pray for protection and good business.

Things have changed a little bit these days, and apparently large numbers of prostitutes are nowhere to be seen. But many young women still attend for good luck and fertility blessings. The potential danger of sexually transmitted diseases is still a major part of the festival though, and whilst the diseases have changed somewhat, the threat hasn’t. So now part of the event is to ask for protection against AIDS, and to raise money for research.

The main aim of the festival however would appear to be fun. And with activities such as carving penises out of vegetables, it’s a great day out for all the family. Although it perhaps would be better to leave Grandma at home.

Paying respect to the mighty member

I’ll let you make your own caption for this picture!

Mar 27 2004 Leave a Comment

Love hotel athletics

With Japan (and especially Tokyo) being so densely populated, there is a distinct lack of privacy. And for those times when you are feeling a little amorous, there is thankfully no shortage of love hotels.

These can be just basic rooms hired out for a specific period of time. However for the more adventures, there are numerous themed hotels to pick from. Fancy a bit in mock castle, or a heart shaped bed? No worries, as you’ll be sure to find one if you look hard enough. This one relatively near my apartment is a little on the conservative side. It has a nice name though.

Not only do these hotels provide some much needed privacy, but they also appear to help people get over their inhibitions. As Judging by a recent article in the Mainichi Daily News, love hotels have the ability to bring out the devil in many visitors.

A 26 year-old sales lady told Spa! magazine that â€œlove hotels are all about sex, so my aim is to do it as much as possible. My best record is eight times.”

Eight times. My word! As rooms are hired by set time limits, I’d like to think that she was there for the longer of the two options. Which is rather coyly named stay. Although that’s not as misleading as the short stay, which is preposterously billed as rest.

And whilst this 28 year-old hotel goer seems a little peeved by her man’s behaviour, I can see where he’s coming from.

â€œIt’s more exciting when you lock together as soon as you’ve closed the door, instead of trying to be calm about what you do. If the guy suddenly turns on the TV, I tend to think, ‘What the hell has this guy come here for?'”

Fair enough I guess, but what if there’s a big game on TV?

Mar 24 2004 3 Comments

One-legged flasher

On Monday, an Asahi Shimbun editor was arrested for allegedly flashing his genitalia on a crowded bus.

The accused however claims the incident was a complete misunderstanding, as he wears a prosthetic leg and was merely adjusting its position. The 43 year-old man was arrested after a schoolgirl complained to the bus driver, who then reported the incident to the police.

Despite such denials, prosecutors remain confident that they have taken the right decision. Stating that â€œWe have decided to prosecute him after comprehensively examining the testimonies [sorry] of the schoolgirl and the driverâ€

The nation’s publications have had a field day with this story, sporting headlines along the lines of he doesn’t have a leg to stand on, and other similarly cheap shots. But here at Tokyo Times, coverage is much more balanced. Oops.

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.