Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

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Tokyo terrors

Quite what the collective noun for scarecrows is remains unclear, yet the birds in this particular part of western Tokyo must be especially problematic, with a gaggle or even a scourge of scarecrows sent out to protect the harvest.

But no ordinary bird scarers mind, as heading the horde is a sport-sponsored sentinel.

To, ahem, cover all bases however, the inclusion of this effigy of an elderly lady complete with liberally applied make-up appears to have been deemed necessary.

And it being a farm and all that, omitting a copy of a country gent would have been inconceivable.

The final addition of a disturbing looking dancer completing the crowd, its freaky face almost enough to scare off both birds and humans alike.

(click images for super-sized sentries)

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Fowl food

In the obsessive world of over-sized snack production, the residents of Kawamata in Fukushima Prefecture are currently flying high — which is more than can be said about their ingredients, as the town’s record-breaking yakitori required the use of around a dozen game fowl.

jumbo yakitori

Measuring a trouser-tightening 12 metres 27 cm, the flame-grilled foodstuff got the official nod from a member of a national yakitori association, who was conveniently on hand to verify the record. A result that whilst delighting the inhabitants of Kawamata, dismayed those of Hidakagawa, Wakayama Prefecture; the latter’s reign as yakitori kings lasting a measly 12 days — a gallant effort of 11 metres 7 cm simply lacking the necessary length to hold on to the celebrated title.

However Hidakagawa Deputy Mayor Senya Yamamoto vowed to fight back, although his allegedly disparaging comments concerning girth and his counterpart’s apparent lack of it have yet to be confirmed.

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Britney’s bottom ban

The seemingly perpetually pregnant Britney Spears has caused something of a kerfuffle in Japan, a promotional campaign featuring her bare body being censored by Tokyo Metro Co., the capital’s subway operator.

britneys breasts and bum

Whilst Britney’s ballooning breasts and bulging belly were deemed acceptable, her thunderous thighs were not, resulting in the ad campaign designed for Omotesando Subway Station looking like this.

britneys breasts only

HB Japan Inc., the publisher of the magazine being advertised, failed to understand the decision, saying, “The photo expresses her happiness at being pregnant. Covering part of the photo has made its concept unclear.” Tokyo Metro however remained unrepentant, claiming the image of the singer violated advertisement guidelines, which state that they must be appropriate in view of the protection of youths.

However the hypocrisy of the decision will not be lost on HB Japan, especially considering that as of writing, this ‘protection of youths’ hasn’t stretched to removing Ms Spears’ songs from the nation’s airwaves, with the likes of “Oops!…I Did It Again” and “Baby One More Time” still allowed to pervade the minds of impressionable youngsters.

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Lesbian longing

Following in the online footsteps of the successful Japanese web diary-turned-novel, Densha Otoko (Train Man), Harukarin Blog has sold well since its bookshop debut in May this year. Yet whereas Densha Otoko documents the feel-good feats of a train riding geek winning the heart of a commuting cutie, Harukarin Blog is far less candy-coated, covering the less traditional territory of a man attempting to save his relationship after his girlfriend comes out as a lesbian, with 23-year-old protagonist Harukarin Nakagawa opting for the decidedly drastic approach of agreeing to his partner’s request that he undergo a sex change. A few snips and the odd injection designed to satisfy her needs and thus salvage the union.

harukarin blog

Such an unconventional approach to saving a relationship no doubt helped to fuel interest in the saga, but for the very same reason many people have quite understandably dismissed the diary as mere fiction, with one online critic writing, “The whole story of a guy’s girlfriend of five years telling him she’s a lesbian and asking him to become a woman is just ridiculous.” Others have also hit out at alleged factual inaccuracies, bursting Nakagawa’s claims that his breasts started blossoming shortly after starting hormone treatment. One mammary malcontent stating, “It’s medically impossible to develop a bust as fast as the writer claims.”

Such criticism has resulted in Ameba Books changing the publication’s title, which was originally Seitenkan Dokyumentari Blog (Sex Change Documentary Blog). Yet despite this, the company remains very protective of its lesbian and laceration laced love story, with spokesman Kenichi Yamakawa boasting, “I don’t really think it matters one iota whether the book’s factual or it’s creative. What’s most important is that it’s a high quality piece of modern literature.”