Tokyo Times

Feb 23 2006 11 Comments

Gorilla grapple

Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo held a training exercise this week, the aim being to practice capturing animals that may escape during a major earthquake; an Elephant near the Emperor’s Palace or a Giraffe in Ginza probably being the last thing that rescue teams would want to deal with.

Presumably being disorientated and afraid, any roaming beasts would be both dangerous and unpredictable, so this year’s exercise was made as authentic as possible — the latest advancements in make-up and synthetic material allowing officials to effortlessly achieve this. A tactic that proved hugely successful, as despite knowing that underneath the ultra-realistic gorilla suit was Suzuki-san from sales, the fear amongst the staff is practically palpable.

Feb 22 2006 2 Comments

Pimply perfection

Perhaps a little run-down due to her anti-spyware campaigning, all-round celebrity and big-time blogger, Kaori Manabe, has turned her attention to more personal matters; joining forces with facial cream manufacturer Proactiv in the quest for better skin.

Manabe (left) and some other woman

At this week’s promotional event, the 24-year-old claimed to have suffered in the past with spots, resulting in her being quite withdrawn as a youngster. However now that they’ve cleared up — all down to the power of Proactiv of course — the boil-beating blogger has a new and confident outlook on life, happily boasting, â€œI want to show off my skin.â€ Her pimple-free and positive approach amply conveyed in the bubbly and bouncy picture below.

As well as delighting both her sponsor and the nation’s adolescents by adding, â€œI want to dress up and go out, and find new love,â€ Manabe-san also had hordes of gamers frantically fiddling with their joysticks, claiming, “I’m into video games now.”

Final Fantasy being a good betâ€¦

Feb 21 2006 6 Comments

Monroe meal

In an area where people mustn’t get out much, residents of Susami, Wakayama Prefecture, are currently going wild about an unusually shaped daikon (Japanese radish).

Found in the garden of 74-year-old Keiko Tanaka, this mildly interesting member of the mustard family is being likened in appearance to a woman crossing her legs. In fact, so uncanny is this resemblance, that locals have gone as far as naming the daikon ‘Monroe’; presumably after the famous movie icon and rumoured radish lover.

However whilst currently on display, the demure daikon’s time is almost up; as after eyeing up its luscious ‘legs’, Tanaka-san drooled to reporters, “I’m hoping that it will taste better than regular ones”. A comment that will surely dismay the entertainment starved residents of Susami.

Feb 20 2006 8 Comments

Beastly backpacks

For Japanese elementary school students, these bulky and bland bags are standard issue; kids the length and breadth of the country weighed down with their colossal size and cumbersome design.

Yet for parents looking for something just a little bit different, help is finally at hand, this collection of beast-skinned backpacks offering a real alternative.

(click image for added animality)

As a mid-range introduction, the wild boar option could be a wise move — its furry finish a definite plus point. And it’s a snip at only 500,000 yen (2,436 pound).

However for those on the look out for a bag with a little more class and colour, the zebra clad carryall is ideal; although priced at a steady 1 million yen (4,853 pound), it’s not for the faint-hearted.

Yet for the truly ostentatious, this heady mix of snake and frog skin is arguably unbeatable — the inclusion of a liberal amount of gold further adding to its allure. Plus with a price tag of 1.3 million yen (6,307 pound), it’s guaranteed to cause something of a stir on the school bus.