Tranquil time out

Clubs, curry and kimono-clad clichés.

Traditionally dressed tots at Japanese festivals are far from uncommon, although in this particular case, rather than sneaking a peek at her parents,

she may well have been peering at a prodigious pink penis.

It is often said that two heads are better than one, but as far as cycling is concerned, for some at least, one wheel is way more entertaining than two.

After years of losing ground at the breakfast table to bread and its tasty little brother toast, rice has recently seen something of a resurgence, due to the ever-increasing prices of wheat and flour. A shift that has obviously not gone unnoticed by Japan’s Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry, which has launched a public relations blitz in an attempt to take advantage of the trend — resulting in comical, if not necessarily convincing, campaigns such as this.

A situation that is obviously good news for Japan’s rice producers, and one that, should sales really start to soar, may even force this old fella to forego his time-honoured method and finally fork out for something more mechanical.

Farming in the far reaches of Tokyo is a lot like the city itself — sort of.

A relatively relaxed mix of tradition and technology, combined with the conveniently close proximity of all the comforts one could care for.

Well, tranquil apart from the technicolour tone of his top,

and trousers.