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Japan Launches Campaign To Unsettle Tourists
2007-06-07 04:42:00
Japan's tourism authority recently unveiled its latest advertising campaign, Yokoso! Japan (Welcome to Japan!). Efforts include this 'Welcome to Japan!' illustration awaiting tourists at Tokyo 's Narita airport. The poster attempts to familiarize visitors with the traditional Japanese reaction to foreigners? scowling in a thoroughly sour manner followed by the slow but deliberate unveiling of a weapon. Older or more formal Japanese may further punctuate this greeting by spitting into your eye. Although some regional variations exist. For instance, in Northern Japan the spitting is generally substituted with a punch in the throat. While residents of Japan's Southern island of Kyushu are more inclined to urinate onto your person. Previously, Narita airport employed live greeters to intimidate intruders welcome visitors in person. However, following the economic downturn, arrivals have had to make due instead with these illustrations. Other posters in the Yokoso! Japan series d...
More About: Japan , Campaign , Tourists , Tourist

Return From The Ass-End Of China
2007-05-07 09:18:00
Yes, I've been away for a bit. Spent the past week traveling deep into the bowels of Beijing , gathering the inside scoop for a future iPod city guide. Many unpleasantries were endured, the least of which being this tour operator's unfortunate name and colour scheme. Regular posting resumes now.
More About: Travel , China , Return , Turn

Sicko Store Surprisingly Attentive To My Needs
2007-04-24 07:26:00
I recently paid a visit to Akihabara to pick-up a DVD player. As one might expect, I quickly followed up this purchase with a visit to the nearest porn shop. An unimaginable selection of DVDs awaited me inside Fetish World. All neatly sorted by genre, including, but not limited to: Poop ing Bald Women Rubber/PVC Bondage Women Who Smoke Nose Yanking Uniforms (schoolgirl, nurse, cheerleader, 7/11 employee) Genitalia Abuse (slicing with razors and rubbing with salt) Feet (smelling, sucking, or simply watching pump piano pedals) Women Stomping Bugs (also watermelons, ukeleles) And, on the unlikelihood of finding Fetish World lacking, they even provided a guest book at the entrance for comments and suggestions. The diminutive gentleman ahead of me left this polite request for plus++ sized fish-net stockings. Fetish World 3-1-15 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, +81.03.5298.6140
More About: Shopping , Tokyo , Store

Barbie Complains Japanese Dolls Setting Impossibly High Standard
2007-04-23 03:48:00
In a further blow to Barbie's self-esteem, Ken announces surprise move to Tokyo , citing his growing dissatisfaction with nipple-less boobs.
More About: Shopping , Anime , Japanese , Standard

You Scream, I Scream, We All Scream For Whale Flesh
2007-04-19 16:47:00
Let me say right off that I do not advocate the consumption of whale meat (battered nor otherwise). Firstly, you do not get to select your kill from a giant tank of fresh whales. Apparently, the majestic beast was slaughtered far, far away from my table (they really should have made this clear when I called to make the reservation). Secondly, whales do not taste like chicken. More like beef that has been left to soak overnight in a bucket of chum. Kujiraya 2-29-22 Dogenzaka +81.3.3461.9145
More About: Japan , Restaurant , Tokyo , Scream , Whale

Choco. Party. Good! Good!
2007-04-18 16:35:00
Attended an office party last night. There was plenty of booze and food, including some of the chocolate variety. Sadly, no heaving bosoms. The point is that I'm feeling lazy today. So make do with something old but good, good.
More About: Japan , Party , Tokyo , Candy , Breasts

Japanese Man Masters Obsolete Animation Technique
2007-04-17 16:39:00
This guy has talent. May lack girlfriend.
More About: Animation , Japan , Tokyo , Technique , Japanese

Toilets Tire Of Being Shit On All The Time, Exact Revenge
2007-04-16 16:54:00
High-tech toilet manufacturer Toto Ltd., has admitted more than two dozen instances of malfunctioning thrones. Unfortunate victims reported seats which began giving off smoke, and, in three extreme cases, actually went up in flames. At this point, you're asking yourself just how the fuck a toilet catches fire. Aren't they all just porcelain, plastic and water? Not here in Japan. Japanese toilets are incredibly sophisticated, with features such as multi-stream bidets, temperature controlled seating, ambient lighting, and blow-drying action. Of course, these are just the standard options. A fully tricked-out Toto toilet (model S5000 in Cotton White) recently defeated Garry Kasparov in a best-of-seven chess series. So this latest development comes as no surprise to those of us dumping in the land of the rising sun. It was really just a matter of time before the toilet learned to fight back. Toto is scrambling to rectify the situation with free checks and repairs for all affected...
More About: Tokyo , Time , Toilets , Shit , Bein

Japanese Hospital To Offer 'Gently Used' Babies
2007-04-12 09:45:00
Jikei Hospital in Japan has begun installation of the country's first 'baby hatch'. Once launched, bored mothers will be able to deposit their unwanted babies in complete anonymity. The hatch comes furnished with incubator, monitoring camera, and fire-extinguishing sprinkler. It is hoped the device will save the social lives of countless young women each year. In response, the Salvation Army announced they would one-up the hospital with their own plan to accept donations of both newborns and elderly. Explained Etsuo Susuki, Salvation Army Lieutenant Tokyo Prefecture, "We aim to be a one-stop drop-off for all your parental and filial obligations". When asked whether he expected a dramatic increase in foot traffic to their local thrift stores, Lieutenant Suzuki predicted, "brisk" business on the baby end, but "sluggish" sales of the aged given "they can be difficult to retrain and, in all honesty, are not nearly as cute once fully grown". Retailing analysts offered a more dire f...
More About: Baby , Babies , Adoption

Juvenile Humour: Homo Sausage
2007-04-11 16:47:00
Write your own joke. Also available (honest injun): Jumbo Homo Sausage , Spicy Homo Sausage Spotted at 7/11 in ebisu.
More About: Humour , Tokyo , Juve , Nile

Tokyo Midtown: The Hearsay Review
2007-04-10 16:44:00
The past two weeks have seen local newspapers and blogs heaping praise onto Tokyo 's latest mega-development. The launch appears to have been an overwhelming success with visitors expected to top 25 million in 2007. Personally, I can't be arsed to drop by. Partly because I'm adverse to crowds. Partly because I've got a backlog of shows to plow through on my Tivo . But mostly because, as a general rule, I oppose all urban gentrification that doesn't yield a Kenny Rogers Roasters. However, I shan't let a complete lack of first-hand knowledge stop me from posting on this hot topic. I can easily regurgitate a review similar to the current crop: "Blah blah design blah blah Japanese aesthetic blah. Blah design blah minimalism blah blah. Blah luxury brands blah design blah blah fashionista blah design blah design blah design blah design." Plus, in addition to the above, I've also gone to the effort of gathering observations through a random sampling of people within earshot: Co...
More About: Review , Town

Tokyo Page 116: Ping Pong Bar
2007-04-09 02:59:00
Entertained a guest from out of town over the weekend by taking her to the ping pong bar. Always gets a good reaction. However, this has been my 'wacky' go-to bar for close to a year now and friends are beginning to make repeat visits to Tokyo . So, I'm on the hunt for a newer, more bizarre, bar to amaze my friends with. Perhaps one that's inspired by a full contact sport. If you know of an unusual place, post your recommendation in the comments section or send me an email. In the meantime, here are my predictions for the next implausible, yet totally hot, concept bar: Stratego Bar Beekeeping Bar Crochet Bar Amateur Radio Operators' Bar Model Train Conductors' Bar Jousting Bar Nakame Takkyu Lounge 1-1-13 Kami Meguro-Ku +81.3.5722.3080
More About: Drink , Pong , Page , Ping Pong

Asian Children Poised To Maintain Dominance In School Science Fairs
2007-04-06 05:56:00
Growing up I donated plenty of quarters to the bank of prize dispensing machines outside my local Loblaws.Over time I acquired an impressive collection of marbles, miniature cars, glow-in-the-dark bits of plastic, toy soldiers, superballs, lick 'em & stick 'em tattoos, and other similarly noneducational junk.But I don't recall any anatomical models of the female urogenital system complete with removable full-term fetus.Not a one.
More About: Science , Children , Toy , Tokyo , School

Oh, The Places You'll Go!
2007-04-04 17:42:00
Here's a photo of me taken back in the spring of 1980. Later that same afternoon, I boarded a Pan Am flight for Japan. It was my first experience abroad and I threw myself into research for an assignment entitled 'How I Spent My Summer Vacation'.The three months of intensive field work took me from the pachinko parlours of Tokyo all the way to the opium dens of Bangkok. And when August finally began winding to a close, I made the fateful decision to defer my acceptance into Grade One. After all, there were more smarts to be gleaned on Asia's teeming streets than in any grade school library.Instead of Mrs. Chadwick and Principal Henderson, I received my schooling from the likes of Suzy Wong and Pat Pong. My motto back then: Live fast, die young, and leave behind a wicked-cool hockey card collection. I even paid a visit to Khoa San to have this tattooed across my neck.But I never forgot my promise to Mrs. Chadwick. So, here's my overdue paper...
More About: Places , Place , Lace