Tokyo Times

Aug 07 2007 1 Comment

Tokyo tipple

Japanese pets with a penchant for workouts are fairly well catered for, with the likes of Pet Sweat helping them to relax and rehydrate.

Yet all work and no play makes Patch a dull pooch, so thankfully there are alternatives for the mellower mongrel. Like lolling around the house supping lager for example.

And for any animal after a change now and again, there’s also the option of the equally merry sounding Happy Tail Ale. A drink that 9 out of 10 dogs prefer.

Apparently.

(Big thanks to the wonderful What Japan Thinks for the link)

Aug 06 2007 180 Comments

Japan Unwrapped #9: Japanese girlfriend

Dear Tokyo Times

Like Rod who wrote in recently, I’ve also been offered a job in Japan, but personally I’m much more interested in the females than the food. So without wanting to sound too desperate, do you have any advice about getting myself a Japanese girlfriend?

JJ, Boston

Hardly being a legendary Lothario myself JJ, I’m not perhaps the best person to give advice on such matters, but for starters, at least a basic knowledge of brands would undoubtedly serve you well. Big name bags along the lines of Louis Vuitton are incredibly popular with the ladies, so being able to pick out a Prada from a Puma would certainly be helpful. And with this in mind, the purchase of such products as presents is guaranteed to make you very popular indeed.

Immersing yourself in the complexities of ‘cuteness’ is arguably also a must, with the ability to coo uncontrollably over Chihuahuas or cry out ‘kawaii’ at a new haircut producing plenty of opportunities.

And it goes without saying that feigning interest in famous felines will be a big aid in your action-related ambitions.

Perhaps most of all though, just being yourself and ignoring such stereotypical claptrap is best.

Mostly.

Aug 03 2007 Leave a Comment

Burst bubble

The Japanese don’t necessarily smile all that much these days, which could be cultural or even connected to the country’s continuing economic concerns. Yet during the bubble when cash was king and businesses were merrily given loans whether they merited it or not, people perhaps did.

For a whileâ€¦

Aug 01 2007 7 Comments

Cast aside

The Japanese habit of wearing masks during hay fever season may well be what created a fondness for such facial fashion amongst certain people, rather bizarrely resulting in the birth of ‘mask idols’.

A slightly unusual yet not altogether unappealing practice.

The burgeoning predilection for casts and covered body parts however is a little more difficult to comprehend, although admittedly there is more in the way of variety. There are injured arms.

Legs.

And even both for the true cast connoisseur.

Plus for the true fanatic, there is also Kegadol, a book bursting at the steams with such stuff.

Eye-patches an added bonus.

Jul 30 2007 2 Comments

Cool Biz candour

After its introduction several years ago, Japan’s energy saving Cool Biz summer clothing concession has been a resounding success, with salary men the length and breadth of the country boldly going to work without jackets — some of them even turning their noses up at ties.

Yet perhaps not surprisingly, it is Japan’s ladies that have really taken to the idea of dressing cool for summer, with this video showing how far behind the nation’s sombre shirt-wearing salary men have already slipped.