Photographs from a small group of islands
The agony of hearing Last Christmas on loop along with ludicrously illuminated living spaces means that the festive season can’t be far away.
But that said, the official countdown to Christmas in Japan can’t actually start until the colonel gets kitted out in his costume.
And so, without further ado, let consumption commence.
Japanese food is now well-known throughout the world, but much less mentioned is the nation’s really rather good range of beers; which, as well as regular lagers, also includes a few premium brews. The current favourite, according to the always well informed What Japan Thinks, being Yebisu.
Yet despite its huge popularity in Japan, the beverage of choice for many is still considered somewhat uncouth, with bawdiness and bad behaviour seen as its usual bedfellows. Along with, erm, bikinis.
Sake on the other hand is seen as much more refined, especially with its links to culture and religion, which is possibly what prompted one Tokyo bar owner to go as far as flaunting five (albeit rather vague) reasons for rejoicing in a glass or two.
Although whether ‘to refuse the future’ is meant as reflective or as a rash refusal of any resultant headache is very much open to question.
For fellas who are all fingers and thumbs at the best of times, this lunch-themed bit of lingerie must be the last thing they’d want to see, let alone lay their hands on — the combination of food and a possible fiddle making a fumble all the more likely.
Imaginatively made by Triumph International, Japan’s premier novelty underwear producer, the ‘My Chopsticks Bra’ comes cleverly equipped with a pair of collapsible eating utensils, along with two bulging bowls containing replica rice and miso soup.
Which, while not exactly saucy, do supply the option of a quick slurp or something to have a naughty nibble on should a break be deemed necessary.
Update: There’s now a video available to at least feast your eyes on.
Kind offers of appendage increasing pills and performance enhancing potions are forever being forwarded to Tokyo Times; however, whereas the former are admittedly hard to find in a Japanese supermarket, a quick forage around the fish section is usually enough to locate something along the lines of the latter.
Eel, perhaps predictably, is earmarked as something of an ‘energiser’, but for those after a particularly salacious night of sauciness, then salmon sperm is supposedly superior.
If a little sickly looking.
Plus it’s also slightly discounted for those needing a boost but at the same time on a budget. What more could one ask for?
With the Japanese government owning a hefty stake in Japan Tobacco, manners more than anything are seen as most important. Yet despite this decidedly unorthodox approach, the number of smokers is steadily declining, and with the Japanese population going in the same direction, domestic sales look set to deteriorate still further.
But there again, if kids can be encouraged to acquire a taste (of sorts) for tobacco at an early age, then a turnaround in the trend may just be possible.
With memories of summer fun fading fast, and the New Year break not exactly near, stressed out Japanese salary men seeking a bit of sun will simply have to soldier on; however, for those after a brief rest-bite and a few beach-themed babes, this bikini bar may not be a bad bet.
A place where sweet rather than sweaty times are supposedly the order of the day.
Although the latter may well be possible if it’s paid for.