Blog Title: Notes from a small group of Japanese islands — Tokyo Times

Japanese amphetamine fun?

With marijuana-related cases rapidly rising in Japan and the authorities terrified of people having too much fun or dabbling with other drugs, it could be argued that despite such concerns, some campaigns are still sending out decidedly mixed messages. Maybe.

Japanese workers working #15

Considering that the Japanese are still, on the whole, noticeably svelte when compared to their cousins in many other countries, food, and a phenomenal amount of it at that, is a huge feature of not only days out, but day to day life itself. And as every single city, sometimes even street it seems, appears to read more..

Michael Jackson mural

Presumably just like the rest of the world, the Japanese media’s reaction to Michael Jackson’s untimely death is currently making the coverage of Princess Diana’s demise seem somewhat succinct — restrained even. A situation that at the moment shows no signs of abating either, especially considering all the speculation and suspicion surrounding the singer’s life read more..

Foot urine fun?

The possible healing powers of pee have been feverishly debated when it comes to athlete’s foot, but it now seems that a well aimed bit of wee may, or indeed may not, be similarly ideal for dealing with some rough or rank looking skin, with the ‘easy’ or ‘surprise’ aspect presumably dependent upon the users read more..

Riders on the storm

When it comes to motorbikes, a Honda or Kawasaki may well go on forever, and maybe even further, but for many Japanese motorcyclists, a Harley of some kind or another is the machine to have — their shape and especially sound offering something that domestic bikes simply don’t seem to have. Yet that said, as marvellous read more..

All you need is love

Spread around the country there are temples and shrines for all kinds of things, from not failing a test to fertility and phenomenal phalluses. Yet even in Japan, where babies aren’t exactly bountiful, Jishu shrine’s offer of everlasting love still seems more unlikely than landing a little ’un. Not, or course, that such cynicism stops young read more..

Magnificently proportioned melons

Every year it seems, the media happily mentions the arrival of the season’s first gorgeously un-globe-like members of the gourd family, complete with a picture of several Japanese ladies happily handling a plethora of marvellously proportioned melons. However, seeing such beauties in the wild as it were is still relatively rare, but they are indeed real, read more..

Inconceivably colourful car

Despite there being no shortage of variations to pick from when purchasing a new vehicle in Japan, a huge number of cars — approximately 78.56% at a rough count — are somewhat insipidly either silver or white. A decision that apparently has something to do with these two colours being easier to sell second-hand, which read more..

Tranquil time out #50

Zen and the art of meticulously sculpted maintenance. A survey into sand.

We all live in a silver submarine

Well, OK, it might not be a submarine, but it is silver. Plus, with its metal panelled appearance, it certainly looks more sea-bound than suburban. Along with the added bonus of a bow-like balcony that DiCaprio and Winslet would look only marginally out of place on. Maybe.

Slightly precarious public sleeping

When it comes to the popular pastime of public sleeping in Japan, Kirainet has got the art of securing some not so furtive forty winks consummately covered. Well, except that is the kind performed by the weary worker who, whilst worn out, still deems it necessary to add a wee bit of danger to his read more..

Decidedly fancy dog food

For whatever reason, these days it definitely seems de rigueur for dogs in Japan, especially those of a diminutive nature, to not even consider leaving the house unless they are donned in duds of some description. A fad that thankfully hasn’t been followed by their feline friends. Well, apart from the really cool cats that is. However, read more..