Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

4 Comments

Modish minister

From the beginning of next month, all government officials will be urged to dress casually in a bid to save energy. Cool Biz as it’s been dubbed, aims to save electricity by changing the ministry buildings air conditioning settings from a cool and comfortable 25-degrees, to a slightly more stuffy 28. With the shedding of ties and jackets intended to help bureaucrats and ministers stay comfortable in the warmer climate.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosada is a keen supporter of the summer saving campaign, and told reporters that, “The important thing is to save energy by raising the temperature of air conditioning.” But not everyone is so enthusiastic. Veteran politician Toranosuke Katayama voiced concerns that, “It would be rather hot at 28-degrees.” Also adding, “There could be problems of dignity.”

And right on cue, Hosada-san stepped out in this casual Okinawan top yesterday. Shirt and tie nestling stylishly underneath.

japanese politician

(Apologies for the low quality picture. I couldn’t find an online image, and had to scan the one posted from a newspaper. Thankfully though Hosada’s acute sense of fashion still shines through.)

2 Comments

Erroneous etiquette

After extensive research, condiment maker Ajinomoto has found that only a meagre 20 percent of married women follow traditional etiquette standards in relation to the laying out of eating utensils. The shocking discovery being made after 235 respondents were asked to provide two pictures. One of an evening meal they had prepared during the week, and another of a dinner they made at the weekend.

Japanese table setting

Proper etiquette (which I’m sure the majority of you are acutely aware of) dictates that the rice bowl be placed on the left, and the soup bowl on the right. But the photographs Ajinomoto received proved that many women showed scant regard for such customs. And if the misplacement of bowls wasn’t bad enough, chopstick positioning was even more haphazard. Instead of being placed horizontally in front of the eater, with the wider of the two ends on the right, they were spread seemingly willy-nilly over the table. Some women placed them on a stand, others had them resting on dishes, and rather shockingly, 2 percent of respondents lined the eating utensils up vertically. Yes, vertically!

Yet whilst such etiquette errors can perhaps be excused to some degree due to busy schedules and irregular eating habits, even the simple act of serving beverages was muddled by the majority of those observed. Instead of waiting until the end of dinner to serve drinks as tradition demands, most women served them at the beginning of the meal. And scandalously, 20 percent of families had to endure drinking green tea out of mugs, rather than from refined and respectable cups.

japanese green tea cups

Arguably the only positive note from Ajinomoto’s findings is that 24 percent of families enjoyed eating dinner on a cloth covered table, with a further 8 percent having their dining experienced enhanced by decorations such as flowers or a plant. But even this encouraging sign was tempered by the fact that 27 percent of respondents subjected their family to a meal served on a table festoon with objects such as personal computers and power cords.

A disgraceful state of affairs it has to be said, and one the participants should be thoroughly ashamed of.

2 Comments

Sleeve related slumber

With an early (but very strong) entry for the dullest and most pointless research project of the year, Bunka Women’s University professor Teruko Tamura studied the relationship between summer temperatures and the length of men’s sleeves.

In a report that must make for an absolutely riveting read, it was found that about 20 percent of men still wear long sleeves when the temperature exceeds 30 degrees. Women on the other hand are quick to adopt more suitable summer wear. Captivating stuff I think you’ll agree.

japanese shirt
A long sleeve shirt

To acquire these frankly fascinating facts, Tamura-san and her team spent 10 days in June 2001 filming near Tokyo’s busy Shinjuku station. And from their footage they were able to check the clothing of 7,132 sweltering and sweaty men, and 3,699 cool and collected women. This sleeve-based information was then meticulously matched with temperature data from the Meteorological Agency.

japanese shirt
A cooler short sleeve one

Needless to say no life altering findings were uncovered, but Teruko “Temperature” Tamura did conclude that, “Men still seem to be bound by the custom to wear long sleeves even when it’s uncomfortable. Wearing long sleeves when the temperature goes above 25 is unpleasant and is bound to decrease productivity.”

So there you go. Research money very well spent.

11 Comments

Summer sumo

Mongolian Yokozuna Asashoryu made history at the weekend, equalling the twelve titles won by Samoan-born wrestler Musahimaru. Meaning he’s only one victory away from becoming the most successful foreign-born fighter ever.

Thankfully this bit of sumo history gives me the excuse I need to post some pictures I took on Saturday. A decidedly fortuitous day, as not only did I get to see Asashoryu clinch the title on the penultimate day of the summer tournament, but it was close-up and personal from a ringside seat.

And talking of the Yokozuna, here he is in his pre-bout ceremonial outfit. Exuding the usual menace.

yokozuna asashoryu

Further down the ranks, the two wrestlers below seemed to be well aware of my picture taking deficiencies. Politely pausing in the middle of their fight to allow me the necessary time to fumble for my camera.

sumo

And last but by no means least, no sumo selection is complete without a picture of Toki and his retro facial fashion.

sumo toki

Leave a Comment

Careless customer

At some time or another we’ve probably all been careless and left something behind. Especially on occasions when alcohol has played a part. But a passenger on a bus in Nagano managed to forget something rather more valuable than a book or a bag. Namely the princely sum of 4 million yen (20,000 pound) in cash.

Personally speaking, even when I’m safely on the train to the airport I continually check my pocket with neurotic zeal to confirm my passport is still there. Needlessly making sure it hasn’t defied the laws of physics and made an unexpected bid for freedom. So heaven knows what obsessive-compulsive disorder I’d end up suffering from were I to find myself in possession of 4 million yen. The owner of the money in question however was far more blasé, as the cash was found casually abandoned in a plastic bag when the bus arrived at its final destination.

As of writing the careless and cash carrying passenger still hasn’t come forward, despite the incident making the news and the money being handed over to the police. Should the stash remain unclaimed for a total of 6 months and 14 days, it will tragically be given to the bus company. And arguably even worse, if the company refuses to accept it, the prefectural government will get the lot.