My local supermarket sells single bananas, nicely wrapped up in plastic packaging. This banana is labelled “プレシャス” (Precious). It would want to be precious given the extra effort to wrap it this luxuriously (and wastefully).
Sphere: Related ContentArchive for the ‘Mechakucha’ Category
Banana in a bag
December 21st, 2009Beware of chikan with claws
September 10th, 2009
Followers of this blog know that I like a good warning sign (here, here and here), and especially expressive hand-drawn ones at that.
Even though Japan is generally such an orderly country, there are many warning signs telling people how to be careful and how to behave. I found this sign at the entrance to Kita-in Temple in Kawagoe last weekend. It says to be careful of chikan (perverts) and bag snatchers – but apparently, only the ones with sharp claws. It’s good to see community minded people warning us all of local dangers.
(I’ve cut off the bottom of the sign from the photo, but it gave advice about keeping out of the shadows at night, etc.)
Sphere: Related ContentThe min min sound of summer
August 17th, 2009
One of the quintessential Japanese summer sounds is the cicada chorus coming from the greenery of the local park on a hot, humid day. Ever wondered what the creatures that make that min min sound look like? I got close enough to a cicada (semi 蝉) to find out that they’re not exactly tiny. Nor are they the most beautiful of creatures to admire.
» More: The min min sound of summer
Sphere: Related ContentThe Sound Princess
August 16th, 2009
This is the Otohime (音姫), literally translated into English as the Sound Princess. As a male, this is something that I’ve sometimes heard about, but rarely come across. The Sound Princess inhabits women’s bathrooms in Japan, or in the case of a cafe I went to on the weekend, the unisex bathroom.
The purpose of the Otohime is to create a sound that drowns out and hides any embarrassing toilet sounds that you might make whilst going about your business. After all, you wouldn’t want the person waiting outside or in the next cubicle to hear what you’re up to. Click on the sound button above to hear the Otohime in action. The sound is a recording of water flushing, which saves water because it saves the necessity of flushing the toilet to create the noise to hide your toilet sounds.
Sphere: Related ContentGood behaviour in the park and other signs
July 14th, 2009It’s the beginning of summer, so what better way to spend a nice balmy evening than the local park? We all want to let off some fireworks, eat some watermelon and have a BBQ. But not all parks are friendly towards these activities. There’s nothing like a good warning sign telling us what to do, and this one comes complete with cute pictures.
» More: Good behaviour in the park and other signs
Sphere: Related ContentHappy Birthday Audrey!
July 11th, 2009
My niece Audrey is 2 years old today! Thanks to Skype, I joined her birthday celebrations this morning.
Sphere: Related ContentFastidious face covers
June 15th, 2009This weekend I encountered another level of Japanese change room etiquette and a socially acceptable way of covering your face rolled into one.
When I tried on a T-shirt in a Shibuya store this weekend, I was politely and routinely asked by the store attendant to wear a face cover, as she pointed to a box on the change room floor. The box contained flat-packed material bags labelled as “Face Covers”, but without additional explanation.
Putting on my thinking cap, I realised that I was meant to put this thing over my head so that my face didn’t directly touch the clothes that I was trying on as I pulled it over my head. Is this fastidiousness gone overboard?
Japanese change room etiquette requires taking your shoes off before stepping inside – it’s easy to see if a change room is occupied because of the shoes outside. But I was previously unaware that I might be required to put a bag over my head to protect the store’s merchandise from myself. I can’t imagine consumers back in Australia being very compliant if they were asked to cooperate with this.
This photo, taken on my mobile phone camera via the change room mirror, shows the result. I’ve had confirmation from a Japanese friend that I got it right.
I’ve already posted about face masks in Japan. Do I detect a broader trend of face covering?
Sphere: Related Content
Wednesday night running
Quick melt
Shibuya in the snow
Snowing in Tokyo
Winter hike to Kawanori-san
Akemashite omedeto gozaimasu
Advertising cacophony
Hakuba
Ear wax
Yakiniku
