Tokyo Times

Photographs from a small group of islands

General

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Japanese sailor suit scene

Something of a controversy is currently raging over the origin of the much loved (and indeed maligned) Japanese schoolgirl sailor suit, with two schools claiming to have introduced the iconic outfit first.

An argument that may well continue in classrooms up and down the country, but it’s unlikely to be talked about by the fellas who frequent Egg in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, an establishment that seems to see the uniform as something to delight in rather than discuss.

Japanese schoolgirl club

Yet despite its boast of being an after school club, basic economics is probably about as far as educational gains go.

Japanese schoolgirl club

Although that said, the odd spot of late-night cramming may well be catered for.

Japanese schoolgirl club

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Tokyo traffic cone transgressions

Except for the odd furtive fiddle on a train, drink-related transgressions in Tokyo are generally not too much of a problem, although it does appear that traffic cone tomfoolery after one or two too many is just as popular in the Japanese capital as it is in my native Britain.

traffic cone high jinks

An issue that the Japanese authorities have rather surprisingly tried to stamp out with the introduction of truly colossal cones.

Japanese traffic cone

Objects of such humongous proportions in fact that they are more akin to the size of a house than a hat, resulting in these two in downtown Shibuya — near the station and on a busy thoroughfare — commanding suitably sizeable rents.

Japanese traffic cone

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Japanese maid cafe mollification

With shopping in Japan being a semi-official sport of sorts, customer loyalty is a key concern, and as such, store cards are commonplace, meaning points really do mean prizes — or even cash equivalents.

It’s a practice that has also been adopted by the country’s constantly growing number of maid cafes; however according to WIndbell, instead of offering a cost-free cup of coffee or some cake on credit, patrons are urged to build up their points — over a presumably long and frustrating period of time — and then spend them on pictures of the most fetching maid.

And by the looks of it, this cafe loving client happily splurged all of his stored up points. Rapidly releasing them, so to speak, in one quick but satisfying shot.

Japanese maid

Or something along those lines.

(via dannychoo.com)

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Japanese designer durability

With Japan greying at a rapid rate, reaching a ripe old age is really nothing special anymore, and it’s certainly not very newsworthy. In fact, the number of centenarians in Japan has now topped 30,000 for the first time ever, although that said, a pair of twins reaching 100 seemingly still merits some mild media attention.

Born in Fukushima Prefecture, Saki Takamiya and Tsuki Takashima celebrated their 100th birthday on Sunday accompanied by scores of family members. And, in time honoured tradition, they divulged the secret of their longevity – revelations that are sure to strike a chord with Japan’s fashion and brand-obsessed youth. As rather than a dreary diet or abstinence from alcohol, the pair put their long lives down to the magic of materialism, and in particular, the merits of bonnets and Burberry blankets.

Japanese old people

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Hello Kitty control?

Through Japanese eyes at least, the cuteness of Hello Kitty is utterly unquestionable, with practically every product known to man boasting a ‘special edition’ bearing the feline’s almost featureless face. A money-making phenomenon presumably matched only by a certain mouse and his minions as far as merchandising is concerned.

Yet frivolity it seems can quickly turn to fear, as the initially fun for all the family fan pictured below is, on closer inspection, a bulging, big-headed and overbearing Big Brother-like beast that undoubtedly bullies little children into buying more Kitty goods.

hello kitty Tokyo

Either that or I need to get out more often or at the very least have a little lie down.

(click image for full-sized feline forcefulness)