Photographs from a small group of islands
A good all-rounder with plenty of space for passengers, but especially efficient in heavy rain.
Apparently.
However it’s only available as a 2-wheel drive. 4 x 4 is simply not an option.
(click image for larger laughably poor language pun)
The sentiments behind this suburban Tokyo record shop are laudable to say the least.
Yet as if to prove that such cordiality has no place in today’s callous and cutthroat commercial world,
the store has long since closed down.
Despite not being as significant as the highly respected ‘Best Jeanist’ awards, the ‘Best Leathernist’ competition is nevertheless not to be, erm, sniffed at.
Amazingly celebrating its sixth year in existence, the event’s organiser was delighted to announce Eriko Sato as the 2006 leather-clad champion; the 24-year-old actress taking over from the previous winner, Anna Tsuchiya.
Now quite what constitutes a good ‘leathernist’ apart from the wearing of animal skin isn’t exactly clear, but after extensive research it appears that Sato-san’s shiny black boots may well have clinched the deal.
With the addition of this rather cheeky little number doing her bid no harm whatsoever.
Admittedly none of which may actually be made of leather, but that, it has to be said, is about as relevant as the contest itself — and indeed this post.
Whilst the pink and perky Kewpie doll may well have made its first appearance in a women’s magazine in the United States, its fame in Japan appears to stem from a close connection with mayonnaise; a company bearing the same name closely associating its egg, oil and vinegar based speciality foodstuff with the big-eyed baby.
In fact, as well as Kewpie appearing prominently on mayonnaise packaging, it even enhances the entrance to company buildings.
Such a close affiliation to the character however means that the soon to be released variations on the Kewpie theme by amusement firm Buildup may not exactly be greeted with the trademark open arms.
Well, the old man and melting models may not cause too much distress.
But the fat, and in particular the anorexic version, are quite possibly a different story altogether.
As the construction of colossal calculators is something of a niche pastime, the 12-metre-long abacus recently built by Japanese craftsmen and children in Shimane Prefecture will almost certainly be recognised as the world’s biggest — especially as it is rumoured to top the previous record by an impressive 2 metres.
However with abacuses being complicated contraptions at the best of times, this behemothic beast will no doubt prove problematic for even the most experienced of users, with one of the craftsmen involved apparently taking almost an hour to work out that 15 plus 22 equals 189.