Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

Travel

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Oh dear

I don’t know whether you are aware of it or not, but groping on trains is not exactly uncommon in Japan. It’s so prevalent in fact, that it could almost be viewed as a hobby. That’s no exaggeration either (well, not much of one), as why else would there be a need for women only carriages? Yes, sadly that’s how far train operators have had to go to in an attempt to stop such behaviour.

Fairly recently though, women have at last begun fighting back. Singling out perpetrators on the train, and reporting them to station officials. The only down side to this is that unfortunately some men have been falsely accused.

This is when 47 year-old Mitsuru Nagasaki stepped up to join the fray. Kindly taking it upon himself to help a group of falsely accused men. Now the only problem with this is that he has gone and got himself a suspended six month prison sentence.

And for what? Surreptitiously taking a photograph up the skirt of a woman sitting opposite him on the subway. That’s what.

His is definitely the kind of help most of us could really do without.

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Packed in like sushi

I found this video over at A Welsh View. It shows how unbelievably busy the trains can get in Tokyo.

I’ve only had the misfortune of being on such a train once. When it’s the last train you don’t really have much choice. Needless to say it wasn’t very pleasant. Made worse by the fact that I’d been out drinking and badly needed the toilet. Although I hasten to add that despite my discomfort, I didn’t, ahem, embarrass myself.

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Big Buddha

Looking for some files on my old computer, I came across a few photographs that I had forgotten all about. And going by the title, you’d be right in guessing they are of a big Buddha. Or in this case, a very big Buddha.

For reasons unknown, I have a bit of a thing for big Buddha’s. Before visiting the one in question, I’d been to see the famous Kamakura Daibutsu, and its slightly larger cousin the Nara Daibutsu

Both the Kamakura and Nara Buddha’s are sitting. So when I heard of another giant Buddha that was actually standing, there was no way I was going to pass up the chance of seeing it. Before you could say meditation, I’d shaved my head, donned my sandals, and set off to meet this mighty Buddha.

Whilst the standing Buddha in Ushiku isn’t that old (it was built during the bubble years), whatever it lacks in history, it makes up for in its sheer size. It clocks in at a whopping 120 metres. That’s pretty damn tall it has to be said. The picture below gives you some idea of how tall it really is.

in-all-its-glory.jpg

I must confess that there was something else, bar its size, that prompted my visit. It has a lift inside. Yes, there can’t be many statues of Buddha that can boast a lift. When I was told, I was skeptical to say the least. But this picture taken from inside the Buddha’s chest proves it.

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As well as the chance to take some pictures from very high up, the Buddha contains a huge study area, and a memorial floor where ashes can be stored. Whilst somewhat out of the way, it’s quite a novel location for a final resting place. The Japanese aren’t all that religious (despite the prevalence of big Buddha’s!) so you could probably reserve an urn without too many awkward questions. If storing your ashes inside a 120 metre Buddha is your thing of course. And, needless to say, that you could come up with the necessary cash.