Tokyo Times

May 04 2006 6 Comments

Golden goodness?

After four months of hard slog since the New Year break, most Japanese can now kick back and enjoy the current Golden Week holidays. A rather aptly named spot of time off, as prices for flights and hotels double at the very least, shamelessly shafting the millions of people trying to make the most of this short vacation.

Still, why worry about money when the chance of a stress-relieving holiday presents itself? Yet whilst getting away from it all is arguably more important than financial concerns, it’s a pity that the actual getting away part is such a hassle.

Certainly doing battle at the airport is not for the faint-hearted.

There again, a journey on a shinkansen may be even worse, seat occupancy ranging from a decidedly uncomfortable 130%, to a quite frankly bloody awful 180%. Statistics that mean sights like the one below will be reserved solely for those who manage to push and prod their way on to the carriage first.

Yet being crammed and crushed on a train for several hours may well be preferable to traveling by car, with several routes out of Tokyo inflicting over 50-kilometre traffic jams on heroic holidaymakers yesterday.

That said, when they all eventually reach their destinations, it’ll at last be rest and relaxation time. A few days to idle away with the masses of other want-away workers and holiday-starved sightseersâ€¦

May 03 2006 3 Comments

Measurement mishap

It’s to be hoped the chap who owns this car is more proficient behind the wheel than he is with a tape measure.

(click image for bigger blunder)

May 02 2006 3 Comments

Bear blaster

Confetti throwing may still be popular, but for Japanese brides, the bouquet toss appears to be old hat, with many couples now opting to inexplicably throw a teddy bear instead; a trend that paint company Sunamiya is hoping to exploit, the Ehime Prefecture based firm coming up with a bear blaster of sorts.

The gun-shaped device ingeniously allows blushing brides to effortlessly launch terrified teddy bears high into the air, and so as not to injure unsuspecting guests, the bears are equipped with parachutes, allowing them to gently descend to the presumably awestruck throng below. Such technological advancements making the company confident of success, a spokesperson proclaiming, â€œWe’re hoping to capture the hearts of couples.”

For less romantic newlyweds however, Sunamiya’s criminal catching paintball marker could be more appropriate, a few well aimed shots at interfering relatives or lecherous uncles potentially providing far more entertainment.

May 01 2006 5 Comments

Panty plunder

Japanese women are often reluctant to live on the ground (first) floor of an apartment building due to the supposed danger of underwear theft. In fact, so often is this alleged threat mentioned, that one can almost imagine huge packs of lingerie lovers roaming the streets in search of unattended underclothes.

Yet as absurd as that sounds, it may not be too far from the truth; however instead of gangs, the perpetrators may be lone individuals blessed with prodigious plundering capabilities — Hideki Aoki being a prime example.

The 50-year-old’s panty pinching prowess came to light on April 11, when he was busted for illegally entering a woman’s apartment in Nagoya; a heist that bagged him an incredible 67 undergarments. Yet such greed worsened his predicament, as the arresting officers decided to investigate Aoki further, and the search of a garage listed as his work place unearthed a staggering 1,700 pieces of underwear. The fruits of his labour lovingly laid out by the police and then photographed for good measure.

Under questioning, Aoki-san admitted to the allegations, telling the police, “I was responsible for around 250 incidents from 1990.” Later attempting to explain his behaviour — and at the same time providing an unsurpassable punchline — by adding, â€œI haven’t been able to talk to girls since I was a student, so I became interested in underwear.”

Apr 28 2006 5 Comments