Shinjuku Golden Gai (新宿ゴールデン街) is a small area of Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, famous both as an area of architectural interest and for its nightlife. It is composed of a network of six narrow alleys, connected by even narrower passageways which are just about wide enough for a single person to pass through. Over 200 tiny shanty-style bars, clubs and eateries are squeezed into this area. History Golden Gai was known for prostitution before 1958, when prostitution became illegal....
Read MoreThings to do this week in Tokyo September 16th – September 21st
Deborah J Carter Mon Sep 16, 2013 B Flat American jazz singer Deborah J Carter will be stopping in Tokyo for one night only as part of her September Japan tour. Having started her career in Okinawa (where her Japan tour will culminate later this month), she’s now based in Europe, and her music draws inspiration form a range of cultures. She will be accompanied by the Amsterdam Trio – consisting of Joost Swart on piano, Mark Zandveld on bass, and Seb Kaptein on drums...
Read MoreSurfing in Tokyo
The perfect wave is closer than you think For many Tokyoites, surfing is synonymous with just one place: Shonan. The coastal area in Kanagawa Prefecture is generally regarded as the birthplace of Japanese surf culture, and it teems with boarders during the summer months – never mind that the swell is often pretty pathetic. Local schools include Easy Surf in Shichirigahama (beginner classes ¥5,000; private lessons ¥15,000), and Shonan Surfin School, which has shops...
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....
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...
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...
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