It’s a picture i scoured online to represent what this week means and with Christmas so close by, nothing sums Japan up with a fantastic display of lights.
Picture courtesy of Shiniciro Ishihara, Fotos from Kyoto and Kobe.
Seeing the poo swim around the toilet bowl reminds me of the poo in South Park. I mean, seriously if your kid don’t learn how to use the toilet after this, i don’t know what will make him/her do it…LOL.
These are two very interesting videos that touches on the modern day lifestyles of women in Japan. I find that shift has created an alternative look on how the woman live, work and their outlook on relationships. Much have changed in the past 10 years - marriage was an obligation for women in Japan before but now, many older generation are opting for divorces and the younger generation delay getting married. After watching the two videos, I feel that it is the lack of time, despite being more empowered, and maybe, just *maybe* women today are purging the old tradition of being obligated to a marriage - a sort of like an exorcism of such practice, beliefs and customs. If you look at it on a collective mode of things and term “women” as one entity, instead of looking at women as many different individuals.
Or maybe Japan’s women are currently undergoing a new phase of cynicism towards marriage and prefers, what usually used to be a men’s only activity, visiting nightclubs (or Host clubs) and having one or many male gumars (Italian for mistress).
Can somebody tell me why the “relaxing wine-filled onsen” is purple?
It looks like radioactive stuff.
I like the mock bowl and noodles, music performers in suits and tie, cycling through the narrow alleys of Japan, picture taking booths, sushis, little cute japanese kids….this is pretty much everyday Japan :P
I love this clip and whoever filmed this rocks! It’s another day in Japan for another person and this video makes life in Japan look so wonderful. I think it’s the bicycling around town ;)
They’re grander than just kids knocking on doors asking for candies here. The video is from last year, this year’s Kawasaki’s Halloween’s Parade’s video is not up yet but a photo of the week in Metropolis showed variety and grand costumes better than it’s western counterparts ;)
Pet lovers are everywhere in Japan and you will find them waiting at pet spas for their pooch or kitty to be ready. And you wondered for a second about this new culture of pampering animals when once, these domesticated animals were actually used to help humans hunt? Well, at this day and age, animal companionship are more sought after because like it or not, it’s a type of unconditional love some find hard to attain from their human counterparts. To appreciate their feline/canine friend, pet owners have been sending them to spas and even oxygen capsules. And the cost do add up if you take your pets to these luxury every month.
Cat and dog owners have risen significantly since 1996, today there is approximately 12.5 million cats and dogs as compared to only 7.9 million and 10million, respectively. Check out the graph made by pet food manufacturers in Japan:
Frankly, I don’t know if these animals appreciates such things; spas, oxygen capsules, funky accessories for their fur and clothes for those winter months. My dog love chewing on twigs, groveling on the grass, sunbathing and running around the park like a nut case - that makes me and her happy. And not to mention, it doesn’t bore a hole down my pocket too. I am beginning to wonder if I am a bad pet owner for not indulging my dog like these owners do.
To me, I feel that all these luxury treatment and dressing up your pets serves a very selfish purpose of the owner. The dog/cat doesn’t WANT to be dressed up - nature didn’t put fur on them to be covered by a sweater. What is it if it’s not for pet owner’s entertainment only. Dressing and torturing your cats/dogs in oxygen capsules and give them aromatherapy only makes the owners happy but think about it - it’s human desires imposed on these poor animals. Do animals like being put in a small enclosure, appreciate the aromatherapy or enjoy being in a t-shirt that says “Pets’R'Us”?
It’s so unnecessary.
I am not saying that you shouldn’t love your animals but do it in ways that they deserve - buy them their favorite meat, their favorite chew toys, a nice scratch pole, a good fur brush and give them your attention because that’s all the pampering they need. Not the spas and chi-chi accessories. Geez.
It warms my heart to find a center like RBR - where people can express their feelings and soul. It’s basically a local institution of art that helps Tokyoites to unleash their right brain abilities, while enriching their life with the various workshops offered; from yoga classes to comedy improvising to music lessons.
RBR is not your typical art school. The center can be more aptly described as an innovative hub for people wanting to release their creativity. By providing classes that stimulate the right side of the brain, RBR helps everyone realize their potential.
“Art is a safe tool for people to express themselves,” says Creative Director Lia Howe. “There is no expectation as to what is good or bad art. Anything and everything around us can be included in [the term] ‘art.’” It is this broad definition that has enabled RBR to become the inspirational force that it is today. From writing workshops to yoga classes, comedy improv training to music lessons, the institute offers a mixed bag of artistic enrichment.
There are three types of public phones you will see in Japan and they will ALL function similarly except for some small modification and improvements.
The green phone is the the most common public phone you will see in Japan. It takes coins and telephone cards and you can also make international calls with them. The grey phone is also very common, you can make international calls from this as well but it will only take certain service provider’s phone cards only. So be sure to check before you dial. Alternatively, bring a bucket of coins.
The orange phone is the newest public phone to grace the streets of Japan and they are also becoming quite common. It takes coins, phone cards and IC cards. You can make international calls with this ones too.
Oh, you might encounter a pink phone that accepts 10yen coins only too. Remember to take a picture of it because it will soon be extinct from general consumerism and stored in a museum soon.
For those of you living in Japan, don’t forget to check out the “Discover Akihabara” Walking Tour. The tour is held every Saturday now until January 2008. So there will be plenty of opportunities to check Akihabara, Japan’s electronic town, out so try not to miss it. The tour is free and is a great way for foreigners new to Japan to get to know the world-famous electric town out - it’s also a great way to shop for your electrical necessities as not only will you be spoiled for options, prices for electronic in Akiharabara is significantly valued for money.
Go to Akihabara Tour and sign up for your free tour today.
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