Tokyo Times

May 16 2007 1 Comment

Magnificent melons

Whilst mouth-watering melons are popular all over the world, the Japanese in particular are very fond of the big and juicy variety. A point that was amply proven yesterday, when a department store in Sapporo paid a record 2 million yen (8,300 dollar each) for a pair of Yubari cantaloupes. Easily beating the previous but still preposterous price of 400,000 yen.

A spokesman for the department store in question said that the well-proportioned pair were bought with publicity rather than profit in mind, claiming, â€œWe were bullish in the bidding because we’re celebrating our 135th anniversary this year. We wanted as many customers as possible to see them.â€

Whilst one of the melons has rather amazingly been sold, 79-year-old shopper Ryoko Hino summed up the feelings of the majority of Japanese by stating, “It’s not a price I can afford.” An attempt to grab a couple of good-sized coconuts perhaps the best most of us can ever hope for.

May 15 2007 4 Comments

Japanese ingenuity?

The decision to introduce a ‘baby hatch’ for unwanted children in Kumamoto, southern Japan, has been a controversial move to say the least, and it now looks set to produce even more publicity, as only hours after opening, a nowhere near newly born boy was found to have been abandoned there.

However as he is already three years old, the youngster looks set to stitch-up his parents sooner rather than later, having already told officials his name and that he travelled to the hospital with his father.

Yet due to Japan’s fascination with all things faddish, many people are worried that harassed mothers and fathers from all over the country will soon be following suit and hot-footing it to Kumamoto to ditch any particularly challenging children, with rumours circulating that a few enterprising females have already organised a pick up service for those somewhat pushed for time.

A story that whilst sounding sensationalist could well be confirmed by this covertly captured picture.

May 15 2007 1 Comment

Money changing masterpiece

With such a gargantuan number of gadgets now available to do everything we could ever need — along with countless others to cover those things we didn’t even know we needed doing — industrial design has become increasingly important as far as success goes; the looks rather than the longevity of a device often dictating whether it will sell or simply sink without trace.

A detail it would seem that has definitely not been lost on one particular manufacturer of money changing machines, with the Japanese company’s latest ‘Glory Model’ being especially easy on the eyes. Its calming colours and pointless but pretty little lights possibly garnering even the odd glance from those not in the least concerned with converting some cash.

However as carefully designed as the cabinet obviously is, whether it really does ‘represent pleasant feeling’ is debatable to say the least.

May 14 2007 3 Comments

Tokyo troubadours

There are a humongous number of hostess bars in Japan, where stressed out salary men can go and have their egos (and maybe even more) massaged — provided of course they pay the generally far from piffling price.

Of late however, Japanese ladies appear to have decided that they too should fritter away vast sums of money on false affection, with host clubs increasing in both numbers and notoriety. The almost criminal amounts of cash some women spend on their favoured fella being a steady source of material for sensationalist TV shows and tabloids.

Yet these meticulously turned out and not especially masculine men are now increasingly branching out into other forms of entertainment, with a host from one Tokyo establishment forming Club Prince.

A hugely talented pop group that amply proves they are far more than just preening and pristinely plucked poseurs.

Perhaps.

(video via Japan Probe)

May 11 2007 3 Comments

Cosplay and coffee

After starting off a few years ago as something of a novelty, there are now a multitude of maid cafes throughout the length and breadth of Japan, with Tokyo’s Akihabara district in particular having an especially large number of them.

In fact, these kinds of cafes have now become so common that variations on the theme have already started to appear, such as the serene and civilised St. Grace Court for example. A relaxing retreat that that capably caters for those of a more spiritual nature, making it a charming little spot that rather cleverly combines cappuccinos and convents.

Such versatility has also seen similar places set up for women, with butlers rather than maids taking over the serving duties.

And in a similar vein, Sweet Maiden has now opened for business in Osaka; an establishment that allows its customers to live the life of a princess — or at the very least dress up like one.

Plus as well as getting rigged out in royal regalia, the clienteles cravings are catered for with cute as can be cakes and main courses — over half of everything seemingly served heart-shaped.

However unlike the succession-obsessed media’s treatment of real Japanese princesses, Sweet Maiden thankfully stops short of heartlessly harassing its customers to the point of hurt and ill health.

(huge thanks to Ken at What Japan Thinks for the tip)

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