Flashy shop in equally flashy Ginza. A match made in heaven?
Without doubt.
Grand brand
Tempting Talby
New phones seem to appear on an almost daily basis, but unfortunately whilst having varying capabilities, many of them look depressingly similar. Thankfully not so AU’s new Talby design.
And unlike many models, it actually looks just as good in the flesh/plastic. Its website has a relatively interesting English version, which if the urge takes you is viewable here.
Now why can’t Vodafone (who I have a contract with) produce phones like the Talby, instead of hulking plasticy monstrosities like the design below?
Ok, so it doesn’t look that bad. But in reality it’s the size of a house brick and feels like a kid’s toy.
Honest.
Shoe gazing
This place is a bit different from the local Clarks shoe shop back home.
Fancy fruit
Yamagata farmer Kazuo Hanawa made the first shipment of his greenhouse-grown cherries yesterday. Now admittedly cherries don’t usually make the news, but they do when they sell for an incredible 1,000 yen (5 pound) a piece. Or an even heftier 40,000 yen (200 pound) for a 300 gram pack.
The fantastically priced fruit is apparently of the Sato Nishiki variety, which I must confess means nothing to me. Yet don’t for a minute think I’m adverse to the small spherical fruit. Not at all. In fact I’m quite partial to the odd cherry or two. But at 1,000 yen a go, I don’t think I’ll bother.
However that doesn’t mean to say I would deprive you dear reader of the opportunity of trying these choice cherries. You see quite miraculously I’ve managed to acquire a pack of this prized product, and I’m willing to sell it to the highest bidder.
Look pretty tasty don’t they?
So shall we start the bidding at, erm, 41,000 yen?
Shinto shivers
Today I was lucky enough to witness something I had previously only ever seen on TV. A man (presumably a Shinto Priest) praying underneath a waterfall.
Now whilst not the biggest waterfall in the world, as you can see from the picture below, there’s snow on the ground. Plus it’s situated halfway up a mountain, so I don’t need to stress how cold it must have been.
Unfortunately access was blocked and I couldn’t get very near. But having said that I guess it’s fair enough, as in the unlikely event of me trying something similar, I wouldn’t want a crowd.
Once under the water the hardy young man did a lot of shouting/praying. And after a few minutes (yes, it wasn’t a quick dash in and out) he emerged to gave a final and hearty Thank you very much to whichever god(s) he was praying to.
I would liked to have asked him how often he prays like this and how on earth he manages it, but he quickly darted off to a nearby building. Presumably to get himself dried off and warm. Or there again, perhaps to stick hot needles in his legs.
After what he’d just subjected himself to, who knows?