Tokyo Times

Oct 26 2004 3 Comments

Feeling foreign

Takeshi Kotsuka, the former president of Hawks Town (the operator of the Fukuoaka Dome baseball stadium), has been arrested for molesting two female employees.

The company had already sacked the 57-year-old Kotsuka at the end of last month for committing “serious illegal acts”, but since then his victims have filed criminal complaints against him. Specifically for unrequested hugs and kisses.

Whilst not denying the charges, Mr. Kotsuka however remains unrepentant. In fact in his mind he seems to believe he was doing the young ladies a favour, as he went on the record as saying, “I hug my female employees and kiss them, but I think they enjoy it.” But that is arguably nothing compared to his repost when accused of openly fondling and kissing employees. In Kotsuka-san’s world, such behaviour is “a kind of communication,” and (this is the best bit) “such practices are common in America and Europe.”

With this in mind it’s a wonder any work at all gets done in Europe and America, what with all the kissing, groping, and general molestation…

Oct 25 2004 1 Comment

A grand day out

I came across a new shop the other week that was preparing to open its doors for the very first time. But the event was expected to be so big that it was beyond grand. Indeed, so spectacular were the plans that it was being billed as grond.

Oct 25 2004 3 Comments

Earthquake images

Saturday’s earthquakes in Niigata seem to have been comprehensively covered, but with more aftershocks felt earlier today, I feel compelled to post a few pictures I came across this morning.

These were the worst quakes to hit Japan since the Kobe disaster in 1995. Now obviously these things aren’t quite so simple, but it would be nice to think that the weekend’s events mean that the much talked about big one will be further delayed. And if we are lucky, for an indefinite time period.

Oct 21 2004 1 Comment

Million yen meal

During December, 40 wealthy individuals in Tokyo will get the chance to sample some of the world’s finest wine, combined with an original menu by France’s chef of the century Joel Robuchon.

The event will be held on two separate nights, and goes by the rather apt title of Hedonistic Dinners. Organizer Robert Parker (a U.S. wine critic) has lined up 19 top vintages, including a 1921 Chateau d’Yquem, and a 1953 Margaux. And if that’s not enough, there will also be an 1864 Chateau-Lafite-Rothschild, which has been aged for a century in the Scottish cave that inspired Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

But all this comes at a cost, and as the title suggests, a place at the table will set you back a staggering 1,000,000 yen (5,000 pounds). A price that Parker claims will be unlikely to cover the costs.

I wonder if they’ll be doing a cut-priced lunch set?

Oct 20 2004 2 Comments

Dictator denied

Pachinko is an unbelievably popular form of gambling in Japan. In the evenings and over the weekend, the rather glamorously named pachinko parlours are packed full of chain-smoking and coffee-glugging addicts. All sat transfixed in front of their flashing and noisy god of choice.

To keep gamblers interested (and more importantly their wallets open), the machines are frequently updated and are sometimes named after famous characters, places, etc. But one pachinko machine maker has hit a stumbling block with a proposed list of names for its latest range.

The Japan Patent Office recently rejected a request by the company to register the names of 35 famous people. Unfortunately I don’t know the full list, but a couple of those mentioned were Moses and Hitler. Two very contrasting figures it has to be said. The specific reason for rejecting the use of the name Moses wasn’t revealed, but the application for Hitler was deemed inappropriate and a violation of the country’s pacifist constitution.

The manufacturer in question said it had intended to use the name of Hitler as a parody, but admitted to lacking discretion with its selection. What they had in mind for Moses was sadly not disclosed.

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