Tokyo Times

Jan 26 2008 2 Comments

Hello Kitty wedding wishes

For the wedding guest after a Hello Kitty gift there’s a whole gamut of goods on offer; however, from tomorrow, Sanrio is offering the option of a wedding witnessed by the famous feline herself, along with her rather less distinguished date, Daniel — all for the suitably ceremonial sum of 75,600 yen (708 dollars).

But not in person unfortunately, although the carefully carved look-alikes produced from pictures will allow any Kitty-loving couple to feel that the all-powerful one was actually present. Her face, were it to have any features, presumably wishing them a fun-filled future.

As well as a lifetime spent amassing similarly meaningless merchandise.

Jan 25 2008 4 Comments

Japanese love doll love-in?

There is no shortage of bars and establishments where Japanese men can, for a fee, get flattered and at the same have a fair old chance of a furtive, if somewhat befuddled, fiddle.

However, at this particular silicone shindig, the flattery may well be a bit forced, fake even. As, it has to be said, will be the fiddling.

Of a fashion.

(image via the FG Forums)

Jan 24 2008 5 Comments

Goodbye Godzilla?

With sumo dominated by Mongolians and Sony already fielding a foreigner in the fold, the giant of all Japanese giants, Godzilla, also seems to have finally succumb to the force of foreign infiltration.

His current disinclination to destroy Tokyo may well have something to do with it, but either way, the monster has at least temporarily been muscled out by that legendary loner the Loch Ness Monster — the secretive Scot currently making uncharacteristically bold appearances in Tokyo Bay.

Albeit due to the success of a sizeable water screen.

And, perhaps predictably, in the pursuit of promotional purposes.

Jan 23 2008 2 Comments

Kit Kat comfort

With Japan now entering entrance exam season, students the length and breadth of the country are desperately tackling tests in an attempt to claim a spot at their school or university of choice. A good or bad score possibly prescribing what kind of career they can carve out, and therefore the kind of company they can conceivably work long hours for in return for little in the way of leisure time or leave.

So, with the stakes so high, many students opt for a bit of outside assistance by writing down their wishes at a suitable shrine. A practice that arguably puts the gods under even more pressure than the students, as apart from the odd regular rabbit-patterned request, the vast majority of entreaties at this time of year are test related.

With absolutely tons of them to take care of too.

However, to ease the deities drudgery somewhat, students can instead opt for the considerable capabilities of a Kit Kat, the wafer-based wonder’s similarity to the Japanese phrase ‘kitto katsu’ (definitely win) creating a chocolate covered charm of sorts.

Its combination of both comfort and convenience making it a match made in heaven.