Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

Sports

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Sumo insensitivity?

Having just returned from my summer hiatus in the homeland, it’s rather surprising to find that an admittedly not particularly good but fairly prominent poster campaign by HSBC, is bothering some of the more sensitive members of Britain’s Japanese community.

HSBC sumo

A problem that has even prompted Godfrey King, director of the Anglo-Japanese Society of Wessex, to provisionally peek out from his posterior and claim that the ad has, “Insulted the honour of a nation. The fact that the picture depicts a sumo wrestler who is not actually a sumo wrestler but has been made up to look like one would be considered a high insult to the Japanese community.”

A comment that it has to be said could well be seen as somewhat on the sensitive side.

Japanese foreigner

Happen even hypocritical.

Japanese blu-ray

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Japanese golfing gadgetry

The vast majority of golfers would no doubt agree that Mark Twain’s famous suggestion that golf is a good walk spoiled is a little harsh to say the least, but rather strangely, the Showa-no-mori Golf Course in Akishima, western Tokyo, appears to have taken the denunciation to heart. As, while for obvious reasons the pummelling of the ball hasn’t been eradicated from proceedings, the hindrance of hauling one’s bag around has.

Japanese golf gadget

Meaning that, for the fairly efficient at least, a good walk now need only be spoiled by some seventy or so swishes of a club.

Japanese golf gadget

(click images for gargantuan golfing gadgetry)

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Japanese weight watchers

The term metabolic syndrome is now a much used media mainstay in Japan, and, as well as anyone a little meaty now being known as ‘metabo’, those weighing in with waists considered a bit wobbly — over 33.5 inches for men and 35.4 for women — will initially receive government ordered dietary guidance, or even re-education, if a reduction isn’t realised.

A situation that, while undoubtedly well intentioned, has resulted in those even a fraction flabby feeling the full force of all the fat-related fuss, with even little (or even not so little) ‘uns being similarly singled out.

Like this young fella for example. As, if a belittling day by the bench wasn’t bad enough, there was even the affront of being photographed by a funny-looking foreigner.

chubby Japanese kid

(click image for, erm, bigger batter)

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Nice On nourishment

For those willing to pay the often mindboggling membership costs, or alternatively fork out the still substantial but far more affordable green fees, access will be granted to the eccentricities of golf in Japan, like big meals and beers midway round, and the slightly comical language localisation; including the almost cute ‘caddie-san’, as well as my own personal favourite, ‘Nice on!’. The seemingly ubiquitous ‘Nice on!’ being happily hollered every time a player manages to manoeuvre his ball onto the green, regardless of whether he happens to be bearing down on a birdie, or building up to an embarrassing bogey.

In fact, it has now become such an integral part of proceedings, that beverage giant DyDo has started selling this Nice On soft drink.

Japanese golf drink

A soda that supposedly contains stuff like ginkgo leaf and maca, which is all well and good for a bit of a boost, but when all is said and done, it has been named Nice On.

Is that not novelty enough?

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Hello Kitty health

For fanatical fans of Japan’s most famous feline intent on fighting the flab but at the same time looking to do more than merely wobble their waistlines with a Kitty-themed contraption, this branded badminton set may well be ideal.

Hello Kitty badminton

Plus, after pounding the shuttlecock with their pussy emblazoned playthings, they can quickly check that all important body fat count with another cat-friendly contrivance.

Hello Kitty body fat

Along with the added option of downing a suitably sponsored energy drink to fend of any fatigue,

Hello Kitty drink

so long as it’s not feline focused.