Odd

Not caring much for the cacophony of cooing that Chihuahuas command in this country, pet shops aren’t places I particularly favour, let alone frequent, so apart from the presumably almost constant cries of Kawaii!, most of what goes on in these marts is a mystery.

Yet that said, I suspect that an aged tortoise ambling round the aisles isn’t what one would call common, otherwise I would have been carrying a better camera.

Or there again maybe it is, and due to my miserableness I’ve been missing out. Which, judging by the couldn’t care less attitude of customers other than kids, could well be correct.

With foreign faces now fairly common on Japanese TV, outlandish performances are by no means a prerequisite for a bit of publicity or prime-time prominence. But it can help. Especially if there’s a generous bit of give and take as far as that all important exposure is concerned.

And, with this in mind, swimming naked in the Imperial Palace moat,

along with tackling the law with one’s tackle out, tops the lot.

And then some.

By all accounts, this unseasonably suited Spaniard initially went for a meander in the moat to retrieve a friend’s bag, but as the video and pictures amply prove, things very quickly got out of hand.

In more ways than one.

Update: The man in question it now seems is not Spanish at all, but a fellow Brit who just happens to live in Spain.

A portly, almost Python-esque Imperial predicament that the already embattled Prime Minister Brown could probably do without. Although it may at least bring a brief smile to his almost bovine-like bearing.

Update 2: The moat-loving marauder has now been released without charges — although hopefully with clothes — by the authorities. A police spokesman proclaiming, “We decided to hand the man over to his friend without charging him as we concluded that his act was based on mental instability.”

A British embassy official also confirmed that the man is indeed from the UK, although any details about him were understandably deemed inappropriate.

(images via the FG Forums)

As most Japanese cities, and especially the capital, are not only crammed but seem to be constructed almost completely out of concrete, getting out now and again and seeing some nature is not only nice, but necessary. A need that makes the huge northern island of Hokkaido a common summertime destination due to its colossal coastal plains and comfortable climate.

These appealing attributes more often than not making it the perfect spot for city types to de-stress and soak up the scenery on their, erm, Segways.

As bath time in Japan is often an important portion of peoples’ daily life, it’s understandable that this sunset soak should be as comfortable and relaxing as possible, meaning it may well include the likes of music or even manga. Other foibles, however, are arguably far more unfathomable.

Ok, so maybe it’s just because I’m a fella, or that my feet aren’t festoon with fungus, but isn’t a device specifically designed for towelling between one’s toes a tad over the top?

There again, if it sells, then why stop there? A bottom buffer or even a penis powderer may also prove to be improbably popular.

Perhaps.

With its plentiful supply of commode equipped convenience stores, Tokyo is very welcoming indeed for those blighted by a weak bladder or excessively busy bowels. And, with a recent Japanese fashion show claiming that adult diapers don’t have to be dowdy, most people can now happily go out without having to be overly mindful of a mishap.

However, after a large coffee or a load of lager, the possibility of getting caught short should never be completely ignored; a predicament the young lady below amply proves. As, after inexplicably going about her business in a bikini, her bladder was obviously so bulging that she had to relieve herself right in the middle of a busy road. An acutely embarrassing situation that was luckily eased somewhat by a kind-hearted crowd covering her inconvenience with cameras.

Click image for possibly not safe for work wanton weeing.

(image via the FG Forums)