Category: Japanese Society/Culture

Japan Updates

NHK in Japanese has the best live coverage (the other JP news channels have been unstable today):
High speed 1
High speed 2
Low speed link

In English, NHK International is useless and US news channels are a FUCKING JOKE, especially CNN (presenters reading Twitter updates apparently based on what people are seeing on other channels). Try the streaming Al Jazeera page.

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I’ve gotten in touch with some relatives, but the Yoshida clan is spread far and wide, and there are 6.0 (on the Japanese scale the max is 7) aftershocks happening as I type this.

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UPDATE: Google Crisis Response page

Whoring in Japan

A commenter on a post I wrote last year has summarized what it’s like to be professionally serviced in Japan, complete with typical prices and the phrase, “moistened antibiotic towelette.”

How to pay for sexy sexual sex in Tobita Shinchi, Japan.

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Note: I take no responsibility if you get frowned at, beaten, robbed, ganked, or infected with Jap ghetto cooties because you go somewhere you shouldn’t.

That is all.

Water Business

I thought some translator was having fun when I saw a reference to “JR East Water Business Company” on this photo of a vending machine employing a facial recognition system.

As it turns out, it was somebody in a higher position having fun with katakana English:

JR East Water Business Company

(Many Japanese literally translate mizushobai — hostess bars, kyabakura [cabaret clubs], sunakku [err, snacks], etc. — as “water business.” Japanerds seem to prefer the term “water trade.” Of course, there’s no reason to break down this particular word and the Japanese that do it usually do it to show that they know some English…)

Tobita Shinchi Rap

I’ve been wanting to post this video for some time now, but forgot where I put the link. It is, quite simply, brilliant:

For those who don’t know, Tobita Shinchi is one of the historical red light districts in Osaka. Located in Nishinari-ku, the brothels operate to this day, largely unaffected by anti-prostitution laws and the police. It is the largest brothel district in Kansai.

The equivalent of madames stand in the genkan (entryways) of their homes and beckon passers-by to come in with clapping and hand gestures, ostensibly “for a meal” where they might just happen to “hit it off” with one of the young women living there. This is how they skirt around the law.

Comparisons are often made between Tobita and Amsterdam, but I have to say that the former is not geared toward tourism – it’s scary walking down the small streets at night, and foreigners that hang around there are usually not up to any good. The safest way to check it out is by car, behind tinted windows. This often elicits the flashiest performances by the madames trying to get business.

How to defeat a breathalyzer test in Japan 5 years ago, or Thailand today

Put your mouth up to the apparatus and make a show of drawing a deep breath. When you exhale, do it through your nose instead of your mouth, but obviously not in a way that will be noticed by the people administering the test. Basically, you are aiming to make a sound like you are exhaling into the apparatus while not actually doing so.

At least, that’s what I hear.

The best way to avoid trouble at all is of course to avoid drinking and driving entirely.

But hey, work drink-ups are a bitch, I know.

Charismatic

Metropolis has a remembrance up about Charisma Man: Man of the Moment

click to see full size

I remember the first Charisma Man strip in the Alien; I might have even saved it somewhere. The strip was hilarious because it was just so apt. I had no idea that it was used as an insult outside of Japan, though.

Note: On the official site, it seems the merchandising has gotten out of hand. Space suits and condoms sounds more like Western Woman’s type of thing.