General

With their washlets and wonderful array of anus-related attributes, modern Japanese toilets are a far cry indeed from their purely functional and floor-based forefathers.

However, similarly styled ceramic slippers for one’s feet rather than faeces, and a patterned pot for peeing in, arguably offer a place where many men at least would still be happy to spend more than a few pennies in.

Or even one in which women would be prepared to put in some practice with a newly purchased Shewee.

Perhaps.

(old toilet taken from here)

More and more restaurants in Tokyo may well be taking steps to separate smokers and non-smokers, although on the whole, tobacco is still tolerated way more than it is in the West. A fact that without a doubt has nothing at all to do with the government holding half of Japan Tobacco, the world’s third largest cigarette company. It’s merely just a coincidence — it must be.

Still, hugely profitable interests aside, it’s plainly not quite the smokers paradise it was several years ago.

No, not by a long shot, and particularly for those partial to pottering about while puffing on a positively preposterously sized cigarette.

Such comforts now sadly restricted to when one is motionless,

or indeed comfortably consuming a coffee.

For those of you that indulge in a spot of gift giving at this time of year, I sincerely hope that Santa-san brings you a couple of sizeable sacks that will keep you suitably absorbed for some time to come.

Or failing that, a perky pair of puppies perhaps.

Merry Christmas!

With a truly tremendous amount of transportation tracks criss-crossing the Japanese capital, waiting for a train, or indeed for one to pass, is a typical everyday task. A lull that fortunately only lasts for a little while, with most people either just loitering or leisurely looking at their phone.

Although for the odd old woman, it’s apparently a lucky chance to inexplicably lift her leg into a ludicrous and positively painful looking position.

Japan’s terrific number of train otaku have already been treated to a carriage-themed clock, and now, these timetable obsessed citizens can sensibly save their money in this uniquely designed depository which, in these financially volatile times, may well be about as safe as a real bank.

Based on Tokyo’s Yamanote loop line, the product cleverly allows its proud owner to pop their money through the roof of the carriage.

Plus, if that wasn’t enough, the lights flash on and off,

along with the doors actually opening,

and closing.

Details which undoubtedly make it a must buy; however, incredibly it has one more tantalising trick — the ability to play train station melodies from a selection of stops on the line. A few examples of which can be heard by watching this dazzling live demonstration.

A final flourish that means Japanese train aficionados can now happily save up for their next trip while at the same time still feel like they are traveling on a train.

Does life get any better?

With Japan’s seemingly forever faltering economy, and the fact that the country’s once famed job for life system has been slowly slipping away for a considerably long time, vocational-based colleges now seem conspicuously more common — the pursuit of practical skills seen as equally crucial as other kinds of education for carving out a career.

A trend that Tokyo Academy is obviously intent on making the most of, although sadly its much touted male nurse major has failed to fire many people’s imagination.

Its cutie doctor course on the other hand has managed to maintain much more interest.

Maybe.