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Tokyo trend: Ear-cleaning parlors

Tokyo trend: Ear-cleaning parlors

Posted on Sep 13, 2013 in History of Japan, Japanese customs, Japanese technology, Must see, News, Stories about Japan, Things to do |

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...

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Want to get into shape? Try the sumo work-out!

Want to get into shape? Try the sumo work-out!

Posted on Sep 13, 2013 in History of Japan, Japanese customs, Stories about Japan, Things to do |

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...

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Things to do this week in Tokyo September 9 – September 15

Things to do this week in Tokyo September 9 – September 15

Posted on Sep 10, 2013 in Must see, Things to do |

‘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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Where to eat: Food worth the wait, restaurants and shops that keep Tokyo lining up for more

Where to eat: Food worth the wait, restaurants and shops that keep Tokyo lining up for more

Posted on Sep 9, 2013 in Japanese customs, Must see, Things to do, What to buy, Where to eat, Where to shop |

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....

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Where to eat: Aoyama Flower Market Tea House

Where to eat: Aoyama Flower Market Tea House

Posted on Sep 8, 2013 in Things to do, Where to eat |

Few cafés in Omotesando can rival the atmosphere at this verdant tea shop, which sits inside the Aoyama Flower Market shop on the corner of Aoyama-dori. Flowers and plants crowd the greenhouse-like interior, where customers can sample herbal teas alongside a menu of food including open sandwiches, parfaits and French toast. Details Address 5-1-2 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, TokyoTransport Omotesando Station (Ginza, Hanzomon, Chiyoda lines) Telephone 03 3400 0887 Open Daily...

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Where to shop (and drink): Maison Kitsuné and Café Kitsuné

Where to shop (and drink): Maison Kitsuné and Café Kitsuné

Posted on Sep 8, 2013 in Things to do, Where to drink, Where to shop |

Café Kitsuné The Kitsuné brand has fingers in several pies – fashion, music and, it seems, coffee. Grab a well-brewed cup in the Japanese-style café next to the Maison Kitsuné shop in Omotesando, and browse records and selections from the Parisien and Kitsuné Tee lines. The décor incorporates Japanese touches like custom-made tatami and fusuma sliding doors, while the in-house barristas have been trained by Omotesando Koffee’s Eiichi Kunitomo. Details...

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