There might not be a great deal of space in Tokyo, but nobody could ever accuse the Japanese of not utilizing what little they do have.
I think this little scene I came across today proves it quite nicely.
Fishing, Tokyo style
Dog fighting and Dachshunds
Quite surprisingly it turns out that dog fighting is still legal in Japan, and although it’s not especially popular, there are still regular fights in some areas, with a national championship every year in Kochi, southwest Japan.
The animals have rankings the same as sumo wrestlers, with the (if you’ll excuse the expression) top dogs gaining the rank of Yokozuna. And judging by the picture below, they have the same kind of ceremonial dress too.
Now whilst fighting between two dogs will never be a civilised affair, they aren’t battles to the death. Four judges watch each bout, and the winner is determined through a mixture of fighting temperament, stamina and injuries inflicted. But it’s probably fair to assume that these injuries have the potential to be pretty severe, as the fighting dogs are a breed called tosa, incorporating the bloodlines of great danes, bull terriers, bulldogs, german pointers, and mastiffs. A heady mix for sure, and one can only imagine the damage they must be capable of.
Not surprisingly, dog fighting doesn’t attract the same kinds of crowds as it used to, and the number of tosa dogs has dropped dramatically — although considering that they cost over 100,000 yen (450 pound) a month in food alone, it’s understandable. Yet ironically it’s not just economic constraints or modern sensibilities that threaten the survival of the breed, and ultimately dog fighting itself.
Small dogs you see are now very much in vogue, and figures from the Japan Kennel Club prove this. In 2003, only 5 Tosa were registered as pedigrees, compared with 73,684 Chihuahuas, and a whopping 171,144 Dachshunds. Meaning that as preposterous a mismatch as it sounds, the mighty tosa looks like being humbled by the dainty dachshund.
Tantalizing tennis
Due to regular rotation in the Japanese education system, from this week I’ve started at a new school. And judging by my first 10 minutes in the place, it could be an interesting year.
Having only just found my desk, the English teacher came over and quickly got his introduction out of the way. He then wasted no time in telling me that the previous day a man (naked from the waist down) had been spotted masturbating whilst watching some of the students play tennis.
With the new school year not yet fully underway, heaven knows what’s to come!
Sushi surprise
After a public outcry, the Japanese-style restaurant Hefengcun Huaishi, in Kunming (southwest China), has stopped serving sushi on near naked and fair-skinned young beauties.
Apparently the establishment in question recruited the women from a local college, and then had them lying face-up on the table, their bodies covered with sushi, flowers, and other foodstuffs. No doubt making for very exotic plates indeed.
The owners however appear unrepentant despite the furore, and claim not to have bowed under local pressure. Rather, they said that it was merely a promotional campaign that has now finished.
Li Ailing, the manager of the restaurant said, “The purpose of this promotion is to spread Japanese culture.â€
Going by that picture, it certainly beats flower arranging, or the quiet and rigid environs associated with the tea ceremony.
Hamasaki hustler
As a brief bit of background information, this is a picture of Ayumi Hamasaki (or Ayu as she is commonly known).
Not only is she pretty, but it’s probably fair to say that she’s Japan’s most popular female singer, having produced a steady string of hits over the last few years.
But sadly, like many pop stars, some of Hamasaki’s fans can be a little obsessive. Although perhaps non more so than 35 year old Masashi Tsueda. A man who was arrested this week for a series of robberies he committed to feed his love of attending concerts and buying Ayu merchandise.
Since July 2001, Tsueda is alleged to have committed around 170 robberies. Although before you immediately condemn him, he was a criminal with a conscience, as he made a rule of never stealing more than 200,000 Yen (about 1,000 pounds) in a single day! But even after heroically restricting himself in this way, the besotted fan managed to acquire over 22 million Yen (112,000 pounds) in his crime spree.
You’ve got to wonder what he was buying though. 22 million Yen! I don’t care how many concerts you go to, or posters you buy, getting through that kind of money would be quite a challenge. But by the sounds of it, one that Masashi Tsueda was obviously up to.