Posts in "Japanese Culture"

An interesting thing about Japan is the culture of leavings ones possessions at a table to claim ones seat. The process is:- Look for a seat > leave bag at seat > go and get food > come back to seat with food to eat.

For some reason or another, some ladies in Japan are rather shy when it comes to jettisoning human waste. For this reason, bathroom appliance maker TOTO invented the Otohime [音姫] which literally means "princess of sound." Otohime is a device that e...

Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries took a survey from a sample from over 5000 people which reveals that less that 10% of Japanese folks regularly eat breakfast.

As a countermeasure against molestation of women on the trains, we have women-only carriages in Tokyo. But when I was in Sapporo the other week, I spotted carriages that were specifically marked "Women and children only." The word to describe a perso...

This mobile belongs to my new employee Asanon and has the most straps I've ever seen attached to a single device. Maybe fit enough for the Guinness book of records? All Japanese mobiles have a hole which enables a strap to be attached and many folks...

Was going to post some photos from today's trip to Edo wonderland but just remembered that tomorrow are the general elections.

Apart from cool figures and Dollfies, don't forget to pick up some cool apparel too. These dolphin sacks are available for a mere [currency=1680]. Perfect for those hot summer nights? Picture snapped in Shimo Kiitazawa last week.

Obon is a traditional Japanese custom to honor the departed but these days it seems to be more of a family reunion where folks living in the main cities travel back to other areas of Japan to see their folks. The Obon period starts today (12th Augus...

Tis the rainy season in Japan right now meaning that many house and shop entrances across Japan start to fill up with transparent umbrellas. And why transparent umbrellas? Mainly because most of them cost [currency=100] and can usually be picked up f...

Ganguro is where folks either get a suntan or wear make up to give their skin a darker appearance. Gan = Face Kuro = Black When some Japanese words are mixed together, the "K" becomes a "G" Some Ganguro folks wear a particular style of make up that...

7pm in Tokyo - near Yurakucho looking for some dindins and come across this place that does grilled Motsu or Motsuyaki. Motsuyaki is grilled organs of animals - things like heart, liver, stomach and intestines. Wifey loves it but I don't have the st...

This is a "7pm in Tokyo" and a "Dollfie Days" post combined ^^; Ryomo about to tuck into some take out bento - assorted katsu from Saboten - cost about [currency=600]. Katsu is meat or vegetables deep fried in breadcrumbs. Been eating it at least onc...

More from the time saving show - this time its how to wake up a kid and get him/her ready in 5 mins which includes making him/her brekkie. Via Japan Probe. Original text from Hikaru Kazushime below.Found this pretty funny from Japan Probe earlier,...

Nice catchy tune that goes along with the new Summer apparel ads for Aeon - tis the Summer season where girls are looking for Yukata or Mizugi to buy. First up is Mizugi Magic - "Mizugi" [水着] is Bikini or Swimwear. And the next one is Yukata Magic...

Went through all my Japan and A Week in Tokyo articles, plucked out 365 photos and stuffed them in the video below. Thanks to comrades at Beings for letting me use the track Change Chance by the Primarees that can be downloaded from here - notice h...

When I first started to follow Japanese culture, I saw these bags in anime, manga, J Dorama and in magazines. I then came over to Japan and started to wonder why all the kids had one and why there were all the same shape n size. These bags are know...