Photographs from a small group of islands
Or at least they were once as, just like everywhere else in the world on a Sunday it would seem, somebody, somewhere in Tokyo, tentatively wakes up after way more than one too many wondering where on earth one shoe is.
It’s difficult to know exactly what kind of body those trying out Japan’s latest dietary tablets desire, but one can probably hazard a guess that they’ll be hankering after one that’s, ahem, heavenly.
(click image for jumbo-sized Jesus Body)
After seeing the Japan BE Laboratory’s largely dilapidated state last week, it’s arguably quite difficult to imagine what the self confidence building sanctuary would have looked like in its prime, but at least the view that those turning up would have been treated to is still as mesmerising and memorable as ever.
As, it has to be said, are the place’s private rooms, although they are arresting for all the wrong reasons, with the beds now nothing less than a nightmare,
and while looking at one’s tired and timid face in the morning is still feasible, washing away any lingering worries isn’t.
Yet somewhat surprisingly, the option of adding a bit of spice to a dull hairstyle is still doable, if not necessarily desirable.
However, damage and dodgy tonics aside, it’s obvious that the rooms were once quite fancy and fairly sizeable, with western,
or Japanese styles available.
Along with the current bonus of curtains that beg to be bagged in black and white.
In fact, regardless of whether it was due to them being photogenic or furnished, one of the rooms was still considered to be largely liveable, as some poor soul had obviously been staying there until several seasons ago.
And squalor aside, it certainly would have been nice and quiet, with no sounds at all from the next door neighbour.
But scores of people once stayed legitimately in the hope of somehow increasing their self confidence, and while what became of them is a mystery, they too left behind a few belongings, which primarily involves pictures, and not particularly pleasant ones.
Or at least they appeared that way in the dark and dingy rooms.
With even the sun seeming sinister.
Cigarettes in Japan may still be surprisingly cheap compared to many countries, but lighting up in any location is, in Tokyo at least, becoming increasingly tough, with even Japan Railways recently removing its supremely popular smoking spots from over 200 stations. A situation that is certainly a far cry indeed from scenes seen only several years ago, when sucking on a ciggie would only have been tutted at if it was actually on a train.
That said, dens devoted to drinking are for the time being at least still far from ready to tackle the tricky issue of tobacco, and this place in particular will presumably be one of the last to discontinue it even if they do.
As the weather gets ever warmer and summer doesn’t seem so far away, the odd damp and depressing day definitely doesn’t dishearten people like it would have in the middle of winter, with some now even uncharacteristically not worried about getting wet,
allowing them the chance for a good look around and even a laugh.
Although that said, one or two Tokyoites still seem to be decidedly delirious about being dry,
while others look to make the most of not carrying an umbrella with some off-the-cuff canoodling.
But, as ever, one person’s idea of fun is another’s frustration, and this young woman is certainly having loads of the latter,
and far from any of the former.
In a similarly random vein, a bit of site news now as, after being readable by RSS for a while now, Tokyo Times is currently trying to tackle Twitter which, should you want to, can be seen in all its simplistic glory here.