Sailing and yachting in Tokyo
Want to get out on the water? Meet Captain Milne… ‘Japan looks very different when seen from the water,’ explains Captain Stuart Milne of the Tokyo Sail & Power Squadron. ‘The views of Mt. Fuji from the middle of Sagami Bay can be spectacular.’ We’ve never been a part of a squadron before, but we’re already tempted to fork out the membership fees. The squadron consists of approximately 100 shipmates, all sailing and powerboat enthusiasts that get together regularly to navigate the Kanto shoreline...
read moreJapanese superstitions explained
All of us have our own little habits and quirks that defy common sense. It’s human nature to harbor even just a little superstitious tendency now and then, whether it be not watching a pot boil or leaving a shower curtain open. Even on a larger scale, entire cultures have their own customs that are performed with very few people asking why. For example, why does a bride throw her flowers at a crowd of women? Why was a stork chosen as the bird we trust to deliver our newborn babies? Although, you’ll probably notice that some of these...
read moreIn Japan, Young Women Rent Out Their Legs As Ad Space
A good way to get your advertisement plenty of exposure is to place it where there will be a lot of people looking. With that in mind, Japanese advertising company Absolute Territory PR is offering a unique service that gives brands a ‘leg up’ on their competitors—by renting the legs of young Japanese girls as ad space. Using the notion that ‘sex sells’, this clever marketing strategy was reported to be a big hit with businesses across Tokyo—especially to Japanese men. Girls who are interested in renting out their legs will have to get their...
read moreTokyo trend: Ear-cleaning parlors
When the Japanese government allowed ear cleaning salons to operate unlicensed, a new business model took off. The ancient Egyptians, who brought us paper, locks, clocks and eye makeup, were also ahead of the curve in earwax removal, creating concoctions that included Cypress tree oil, pig fat, cat blood or male bat’s head. Several millennia later, Japan has made another evolutionary leap in ear care. Five years ago, when the Japanese government announced that ear cleaning would no longer be considered a medical procedure, thus making medical...
read moreWant to get into shape? Try the sumo work-out!
Sumo’s incredible hulks might not be obvious role models for a fitness regime, but behind the flab are athletes of awesome strength, stamina and reflexes. Follow their exercises, skip their diets, and you might see some big benefits. The sport’s governing body, the Nihon Sumo Kyokai, has created an exercise programme that draws on the sport’s signature thrusts, stomps and stretches. Regular practice, they say, will relax your muscles, improve circulation, strengthen the spine, stimulate the nervous system and slow the ageing process, among...
read moreThe Most Handsome Men in Japan (Chosen by Japanese Men)
http://youtu.be/P7akpging7o Who’s your secret celebrity crush? No, I’m not talking to the ladies. We know you can go on for days about Channing Tatum’s twelve-pack abs or Bradley Cooper’s smile (PS – they were People’s “sexiest man alive” for 2012 and 2011, respectively). I want to hear from the guys. And don’t pretend like you don’t have a secret celebrity crush. I know at least some of you have had a moment like Andy from The Office: Let me give you a scenario. I’m at like a beach cabana, and Brad Pitt approaches. Tries to lean in and...
read moreThings to do this week in Tokyo September 9 – September 15
‘Embrace the Animal, Strive for the Human’ Until Sat Sep 21, 2013 Vanilla Gallery You generally know what you’re going to get from a trip to Vanilla Gallery, which specialises in work that flirts with the erotic, sadistic and fetishistic. True to form, this solo show by controversial American artist John Santerineross will feature 58 ‘dark magic’ photographs that delve into Greek mythology, religion and the spiritual world. As the title suggests, the contrast between our animalistic, primitive desires and the...
read moreWhere to eat: Food worth the wait, restaurants and shops that keep Tokyo lining up for more
Once a year, around the time that Michelin publishes its Tokyo guide, headlines roar about this city being the dining capital of the world. And it is. But it’s not just the arm-and-a-leg, mortgage-your-kids dining scene that makes Tokyo great. The fanaticism for detail and dedication to fresh, seasonal ingredients trickles all the way down to the places we actually eat at: the ramen shops, the gyoza dumpling joints, the udon noodle restaurants and the confectionary stores. And these everyday eateries have their own version of the fine dining...
read moreWhen do Japanese People Have Their First Kiss?
Japanese men aren’t known for being the most romantically aggressive bunch. Many young Japanese women lament over having to take the lead just to get out of the dugout and onto first base. If Japanese guys are so reluctant to get touchy-feely, you’ve got to wonder: at what age do Japanese people have their first kiss? Japanese mobile company NTT Docomo conducted an online poll that asked respondents to divulge when they first closed their eyes and puckered up. The poll was conducted during the two weeks of September 6-19 and received...
read moreTokyo won the 2020 olympic bid, design for the new stadium revealed
Reconstruction work on the National Stadium, which was the 1964 Tokyo Olympics’ main stadium and will be so again for the 2020 Games, will get under way in summer next year. The renovations will be made partly out of concerns about its quake-resistance and capacity. Work is expected to be completed in the spring of 2019. The renovated National Stadium will seat about 80,000 people — or some 25,000 more than it can now accommodate — and feature nine-lane running tracks. Moreover, stadium will be designed so that the stands...
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