Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

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Japanese economic ease?

With Japan’s Nikkei index experiencing the same roller-coaster ride as the rest of the world’s markets, the country is rapidly heading towards recession, if indeed it hasn’t now pottered over the edge of that particular precipice. A situation that — along with countless other issues — could, according to some analysts, send Japan’s already shockingly high suicide rate into the stratosphere; particularly as it has happened repeatedly in the past.

This then could be why, when it comes to unemployment, some of the language in use is couched in almost comforting and carefree locution. Even the unforeseen shock of a salary man with suddenly no salary is countered somewhat by a visit to the local happy-go-lucky and hardly something to get upset about sounding, Hello Work (ハローワーク) headquarters.

hello work

Plus, after the initial introduction, unemployment is still a decidedly dirty word, and certainly not one to be banded about unnecessarily. In fact, even ‘between jobs’ is arguably deemed a bit depressing, with those working on wangling a new workplace through job ads simply having something of a siesta.

Japanese job nap

Of sorts.

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Tranquil time out #33

Sometimes, it would seem, even the usually indefatigable dynamism of youth can’t soldier on through the spirit-sapping system that is school,

Japanese student sleeping

on Saturday.

(click image for super-sized slumber)

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Japan Unwrapped #11: Japanese girlfriends again

Since posting the last and now long since lapsed Japan Unwrapped series, one post in particular has had a surprisingly lengthy life-span — the one, perhaps predictably, concerning Japanese girlfriends. Now, admittedly I’m not exactly inundated with emails on the subject everyday, but on a fairly regular basis, a male somewhere in the world feels the need to make it known to me how much he wants a Japanese mate. And, as if I’m some kind of whizz in the world of wooing, how they can go about getting one.

Hello,



I’m 26 and from India. I really want a sexy Japanese girl as my girlfriend. They are so lovely. Especially those with short skirts and a pretty face.



How can I get one?

However, quite why the Japanese female is such a fantasy figure remains a mystery, although it could well be because many of the images that make their way online are not unlike the ones below. But sadly, such, erm, sizzling smiles aren’t seen everyday.



Yuri Ebihara

And neither are such mesmerising mammaries.



Nemoto Harumi

Plus, even if such peachy posteriors were as predominant in public are as they are on the net, the method of picking one up for more personal appearances presumably can’t be pared down to a particular procedure.

Rina Akiyama

There again, maybe I’m just grabbing the wrong end of the stick, as due to Japan’s fondness for fashion, and the perpetual preening and importance paid to appearance that partners it, the vast majority of the nation’s females are admittedly fairly fetching.

This then — giving the men who mail me the benefit of doubt — could well be at the heart of their feelings. A point perfectly proven by young Yuki here. As, while admittedly lacking the Photoshopped features of the beauties above, her meticulously maintained mien allows her personality to positively shine through.

cosplay cross-dresser

An effect only added to by her heart-melting modesty.

cosplay cross-dresser

Which presumably means the consistent arrival of mail looks set to continue, although for those with yearnings towards Yuki, I’m sad to say she isn’t single.

Sorry.

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Keeping abreast of habits from home

The likes of Starbucks and McDonald’s are certainly easy to criticise, as they almost criminally continue to make cut and paste copies of countries, and conceivably even continents. An issue that is particularly pertinent in Tokyo, with one or the other — and quite often both — seemingly battling it out on every busy block.

However, when one is far away from home, familiar places and especially products are now and again nice to have nearby, although being British, fish and chips shops are decidedly few and far between, and coming across the comforting treat of a toasted crumpet is tantamount to lighting upon long lost treasure. Yet that said, it’s not exactly impossible to get merchandise from the motherland, with the availability of certain beers and possibly even a bit of public school buggery for those with a penchant for such practices.

Plus, on days when one is in the doldrums, it’s always nice to know that no matter where one is in the world, the never ending fun of novelty breasts is never far away.

novelty breasts

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Tokyo eatery extra?

With Japan’s stuttering birth rate staying stubbornly low, and an estimated one million centenarians predicted to be pottering about by 2050, this rapidly greying nation is in grave danger of degenerating into a giant geriatric home. A situation that the government is acutely aware of, causing it to create a Minister of Declining Birth Rate; however, at 34 years of age, and boasting only one baby, department head Yuko Obuchi is going to have to really start cranking out the kids if she’s going to have any kind of statistical significance.

Yet looking on the bright side, this relative rarity does mean that children may well start to actually create money rather than merely cost it, with this pioneering restaurant swapping the selling of soba to siblings. An opening offer of ‘buy one, get a brother free’ rather boldly getting the ball rolling.

Tokyo restaurant