Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

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Fiery female

When it comes to a lack of ideas or a shortage of stories, some sorry site owners resort to posting pictures of sexy sirens in swimsuits, pathetically passing them off as relevant to a story, or even as ironic. However a blogger from Suwa, Nagano Prefecture, adopted a rather more drastic method to address her lack of interesting material; the 20-year-old setting fire to random buildings and automobiles in her local neighbourhood.

Arrested over the weekend for torching a car in a dealer’s parking lot, Erika Hirata confessed to the crime, bluntly declaring, “It’s true that I started the fire.” Her capture has also made Hirata-san chief suspect for the 20 or so unexplained fires that have occurred in Suwa since April this year, with the young woman possessing photos of 2 of the blazes under investigation.

Yet despite going to so much trouble to get something interesting to post on her blog, Hirata has hardly been imaginative with the material. The fire she was arrested for produced only 2 short sentences. “There has been a fire in Shimosuwa. It burned two cars” Similarly, another fire she quite possibly started at her old school was dealt with very briefly indeed. “I was shocked because it was the school I graduated from.”

What kind of sentence she will receive is unclear, but it has been reported that Hirata wanted to become an entertainer after leaving school. Her dream of gracing the pages of fashion magazines like Erika Sato,

erika sato

or developing a long and illustrious career like Norika Fujiwara,

norika fujiwara

appear to have been dashed.

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Bauer’s bother

Whilst wrangling with all manner of wrong-doers in his U.S. based adventures, 24’s Jack Bauer faces a far sterner task in Japan — furiously fending off silly at best ‘storylines’ plus at the same time being force-fed disgusting dietary snacks.

Calorie mate commercial

Yet having manfully manoeuvred himself through the women-only carriage of a commuter train in an earlier escapade, our hero has now been set an even tougher task — politely turning down his side-kick’s kind offer of a souvenir whilst at the same time running for a helicopter, and, it goes without saying, enjoying a noticeable nibble of his favourite foodstuff.

24 in japan

Click the image to see how Jack fares, perhaps pausing briefly to marvel at the presumably massive sums of money used to seduce Mr. Sutherland.

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Cabbages and confession

With husbands doing next to nothing around the house, and making even less effort in the bedroom, things aren’t looking especially rosy in the relationship realm. But whilst this may paint a decidedly grim picture of marriage in Japan, and an even worse one of the nation’s menfolk, it’s not all doom and gloom — at least not if you visit the village of Tsumagoi in Gunma Prefecture; a spot where a 4th Century emperor is said to have unashamedly sobbed following the death of his wife who had sacrificed her life for his worthy well-being.

Whilst now more famous for its cabbages than monarchial mourning, the name of the village translates as ‘wife love’, making it the perfect spot for members of the Nihon Aisaika Kyokai — or the Japan Wife Lovers Association. As come September 9th, the gang of mostly middle-aged men will stand amongst the cabbages of Tsumagoi and shout about the love they feel for their wives.

no cabbages

Chief shouter and head of the group, Kiyotaka Yamada, explained his shameless bouts of bawling by saying, “I just wanted to tell as many people as possible about what a wonderful marriage I was enjoying. I wanted to be able to give courage to men who want to thank their wives but are too embarrassed to do so.” A laudable theme it has to be said, and one he wants to develop beyond the confines of his organisation by the introduction of ‘Love Your Wife Day’ on January 31st — a bold (and some would say overly ambitious) venture that urges salary men the length and breadth of the country to briefly cast off the shackles of their company. “We want people to go home from work early on that day at least and say ‘Thank you’ to their wives.”

Yamada-san hopes that these initially small steps will eventually lead to not only better relations, but also a better image of Japan throughout the rest of the world. “Overseas, Japan tends to be seen as a chauvinistic country. We want to improve the image of Japanese men overall by carrying out public displays of affection for our wives. For Baby Boomers such as myself, saying that you love your wife is akin to admitting that you’re totally hen-pecked. But, I’d really like to see as many guys as possible head up here on September 9th and shout their lungs out no matter how much of a fool they feel.”

Turn-out is expected to be low.

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Erection fever

What exactly is concealed behind the covers below is unclear. A proud and tall column perhaps. Or maybe a smaller, sturdier form with a large circumference.

japanese erection

Either way, it’s a mystery that has left locals eagerly awaiting the unveiling, with rumours rife over how big the erection will turn out to be.

Odds on a large one are high.

wood get!

(click images for enlarged erection)

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Distinguished darts

Mentioned on this site a while ago, the growing popularity in Japan of that giant of the sports world, darts, has given the noble activity something of a face-lift. As despite its natural home in smoky bars and the perspiring and portly nature of its protagonists, the game now boasts a lively and almost lascivious side, with feisty females rather than fat fellas its new cover stars.

sexy darts japan

A transformation that may now be complete, with jewellery giant the MIKI Corporation incorporating darts into its new campaign for the company’s exclusive Camellia Diamond brand.

darts and diamonds

Clicking on the image below and watching the Camellia commercial provides a glimpse of the modern game in all its gracious glory; a sport destined to finally take its rightful place at the sporting top table, without a beer or a bulging belly in sight.

distinguished darts

A shift that must surely make Olympic inclusion a mere formality.