Photographs from a small group of islands
When space is at a premium, putting out one’s pillows (or indeed cushions) for a bit of an airing can be a quite a palaver, although the ability to cleverly balance them on boxes and bikes can be a considerable boon.
(click for bigger bike and box balancing act)
With their overly-priced drinks and paid for pleasantries, Tokyo’s now hugely popular and very profitable host clubs have learnt a lot from their considerably more established male catering counterparts.
Plus, judging by these billboards advertising a couple of bars,
it’s not just logistics,
but also looks,
that have been carefully copied.
For the Japanese barbecue lover looking to liven up their burgers with a few bangin’ tunes, there are a plethora of iPod speaker available for purchase.
However, to really pump up the volume and at the same time completely piss off other picnickers, bigger is undoubtedly better.
In a new weekend feature that unfortunately will probably fade away in next to no time due to either forgetfulness or fizzy drink fatigue, Tokyo Times will sample a beverage from the multitudinous amount that can be found in the nation’s equally numerous convenience stores and vending machines.
So, first up, if you can somehow contain your excitement, is a can of, erm, canned coffee, which is arguably an appropriate start as this popular drink is now almost as much a part of the culture as sushi and soba.
Plus it’s wonderful as well.
Or at least it’s supposed to be anyway, but despite Asahi’s claims, Morning Shot’s sugary mix tastes much the same as the myriad of other coffee’s on the market, although it should offer enough of a boost to just about set a salary man on his the way to another twelve hour day and a trek on the train.
Japan’s growing number of convincing but decidedly costly love dolls may well be hired out to customers or remain ready for rendezvous in rented rooms, but, according to a new book, the development of these silicone sirens was originally encouraged by government agencies as a way of dealing with the desires of teams dispatched to isolated districts.
And, despite the publication’s not exactly catchy title of something along the lines of, ‘Legend Of The Original Antarctic Model: From Dutch Wife to Love Doll, a Post-War History of Sex Dolls’, sales have been surprisingly strong, which could have something to do with the captivating, or even captive, content.
(info via the FG Forums)