braincelljupiter

Monsutaa Doggu

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:16:00 +0000

I am loving this cover image for the Japanese VHS version of "Monster Dog" starring Alice Cooper.

Ega-chan's Antics

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:24:00 +0000

I originally saw this on TV last summer when the theme song from the anime "Ponyo" was a hit. I finally rented and watched the film last weekend, and I thought it was dumb, even for a kid's movie. But this spoof of the theme song, with lyrics about the comedian Egashira 2:50 and featuring him doing all sorts of crazy stuff, is pretty funny.

Central Post Office

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:45:00 +0000

The Central Post Office in Tokyo was a 1930s structure just across the street from Tokyo Station. It was listed by Docomomo as a historically important Modernist building. Japan Post was slated to build a new tower on the site and preserve only 20% of the original building. Then a politician got involved, made a fuss about getting the site registered as a Cultural Asset, and the plans were revised to "retain more of the building" -- or so the Japan Times said back in March. Even in the Asahi Shimbun, an article stated that Japan Post's plans to demolish the building were "abandoned."

For months the building has been entirely covered up, but on my daily train ride to work, I could see at the rear of the building that demolition was taking place. On Tuesday, though, I noticed that some the screens covering the facade had come down, so I took this photo. It looks like more than just the facade is being preserved (there are actually lights on inside the building), but to me it doesn't look like more than 20% of the original building has been saved. Check out this aerial photo and judge for yourself. Basically, the building was fairly large, as it occupied pretty much most of that site. Sometime after this aerial photo was taken, the middle section of the facade was also demolished, as you can see if you look at the left of my photo. For me, that curved part of the building was most architecturally appealing detail of the post office as it mimicked the flow of the street.

Whiskey a Go Go

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:45:00 +0000

Let's watch as Koyuki shows us how to mix a delicious highball. Don't usually touch whiskey, or whisky according to Suntory, but this ad makes me thirsty.

Cut and Blow

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Seems I am always learning a new word. Today's word: GAYANGO, which apparently means "Hair and a lot of fun." Actually, the pronunciation of the katakana would be "gajango," but the romanized GAYANGO definitely rings more accurate for a beauty salon. Of course, it would work better as a title for a gay western or maybe the sequel to "Brokeback Mountain."

Frappucino Petito

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:07:00 +0000

Does Starbucks in the U.S. have these cute samples that look like a miniaturized version of a Frappucino? Or is it only here in Japan? I am pretty sure the contents of my sample (coffee jelly and frozen coffee) is only on the menu in Japan. The Japanese sure do love coffee-flavored jelly! I had never eaten it until I worked at a Japanese public school. JELL-O Brand apparently tried to market coffee-flavored gelatin in North America, but it was discontinued.

Rainbows at Night

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:46:00 +0000

All buildings should light up at night like the Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills.

Akihabara Anniversary

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:44:00 +0000

I should have posted this last week. I went for lunch on June 8 in Akihabara, not far from my office, and passed the street corner where a year ago to the day some nut went on a stabbing spree, killing seven people. News reporters were gathered around the spot where people had placed flowers as a memorial. Akihabara is always crowded, pretty much like the rest of Tokyo's business and shopping areas, and it's hard to imagine what I would have done if I had been one of the people who just happened to be strolling along the street that Sunday. I had passed this street corner dozens of times before the murders and dozens of times since. Random violence like the Akihabara murders is the scariest kind of violence because it could happen anywhere at anytime. Yet, just like with earthquakes, we generally don't let the fear of these kinds of incidents stop us from going about our daily lives.

May Disease

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:20:00 +0000

For some reason, I totally lost any desire to blog about anything over the past month and a half. It is quite possible that I was suffering from what the Japanese call "gogatsu-byou," literally May Disease. In Japan, the new business and school year starts in April, so new recruits and students work really hard for the first few weeks. Then, BOOM, we get this great week of national holidays, and it seems to wreak havoc on people's mental ability to function. This leads to a kind of depression. (At least, this is my understanding of "gogatsu-byou." I ain't no doctor.)
But since I didn't just start my job in April, I really have no excuse. And since it's halfway through June already, I must just be lazy.

Love Sub

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:20:00 +0000

Supposedly there's a love hotel in Shibuya with a swimming pool in the room. Supposedly there are geeks who rent the room out to play with their remote control submarines. Supposedly there is a video of this on YouTube. I'll believe it when I see it. . .

This gives a whole new meaning to the euphemism "watching the submarine races."

Wash and Go

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Washlets (toilets with a bidet-like spray nozzle) have become so common in Japan, you not only find them in homes, but also in the restrooms of offices, department store and restaurants. You could say that ass-washing is almost a national sport. (OK, not quite.) I've always made it a point not to use a public sprayer because I figure that any water spraying up has to fall down. . . and where is it falling? Onto the very spray nozzle that everyone is using. Well, bathroom fixture manufacturer TOTO must want to tap into this market of people who are either afraid of using public washlets or are simply afraid of going to toilets without one available. This portable washlet that I spotted yesterday at Yodobashi Camera runs on one AA battery and can fit into your purse or briefcase. The display at the store even had English explanations aimed at making this product appeal to all those foreign tourists who "suffer from hemorrhoids" or those who want to clean themselves "during or after pregnancy."

Train Robbery

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 05:24:00 +0000

This notice on a train ticket vending machine warns people that gum or other substances may have been placed intentionally in the coin return to rob them of their money. Most people are in such a rush that they probably don't count their change, and after they have gone through the turnstile, someone will place their fingers into the machine and pocket the blocked coins. Some of the machines even let you buy a ticket with a 10,000 yen note, so any change over 1000 yen will come out of a separate bill return. Now if I could only find a way to block that, I could quit my day job.

Extra Appendages

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 06:26:00 +0000

My gym has a room outfitted with massage chairs, and I often use it after my "rigorous" workouts. There's a poster on the wall that explains, in Japanese and English, how to behave (no sleeping!) and how to use the chairs (15-minute time limit!). I've never really looked closely at all the rules, but the other day some text caught my eye. At first I thought the vibrations of the chair had shaken my retina loose. Upon closer inspection, though, I realized it said exactly what I thought it said. Apologies for the blurry pic -- I rushed in order not to disturb the people that were "not" sleeping. The English says, "Please put the spare prick in the basket." The original Japanese says something like "Please use the basket for your belongings." How that translates to "spare prick," I have no idea.

The Long Arm of the Claw

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 07:56:00 +0000

This sign, which is found on most train platforms here, has always struck me as odd. Yeah, it's just a notice to tell stupid people not to jump onto the tracks to retrieve dropped items, but still the combination of the faceless silhouettes, the alien-like posture of the little "girl" and the long, skinny claw gives me the creeps. It might be triggering memories of my UFO abduction.

Shower Suit

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 05:50:00 +0000

Hate those dry cleaning bills? People in Japan apparently do. According to this TokyoWalker article, since last spring when clothing manufacturer Konaka debuted its "Shower Clean Suit," more than 150,000 have been sold. The company's amusing commercial shows men wearing their suits under the showers in a public bath house. The beautiful blue mosaic of Mt. Fuji on the wall, a common decoration for bath houses, makes for an eye-catching ad. But if the ad was trying to emphasize the convenient aspect of the suit, I think they missed the mark. Public baths are no longer in every neighborhood like they once were, and you'd most likely have to go out of your way to find one.

Hallelujah!

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:36:00 +0000

I had read about miracle fruit in the New York Times about a year ago, but yesterday was the first time I had ever seen it in a supermarket. Apparently, if you eat this berry, for about a half hour afterwards, any sour foods that you eat will taste incredibly sweet and delicious. I personally don't see the point of this, especially since I usually eat sour foods because I like the sour taste. The price is another factor that will keep me from trying it: 580 yen for one! Maybe they could reduce the price if they didn't over package the thing. Yes, that is just one tiny miracle fruit inside all that plastic. Even more amusing is how the price sign says one "pack" is 580 yen when you're not getting a pack of anything at all, just a lot of packaging!

Grate Advertising

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:55:00 +0000

This is the second floor window of a tatami-maker. Tatami are traditional Japanese straw floormats. I like how metal grillwork over the window has been manipulated to form the kanji character for "tatami."

Ultra Can

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:20:00 +0000

I'm more of a 100% fruit juice kind of guy, so I almost never buy soft drinks. But how can I resist this? Ultraman-themed cans of cider! Unfortunately for me, cider here does not mean real apple-cider, which I love, but a clear sweet soda. There are six cans representing six versions of the superhero character from over the last four decades, including Ultra Seven. The beverage manufacturer, DyDo, is selling them for only 100 yen to encourage people to buy the whole set. I think if I downed six cans, I would have an ultra sugar rush.

Green Computers

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 06:37:00 +0000

There's all this talk about green computers lately. Well, you can't get any greener than this Gachapin notebook PC. Not sure whether it does anything good for the environment, but it's loaded with Gachapin and Mukku pics, icons and sounds. Buy it online at LaLaBit Market.

Big Cans

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:30:00 +0000

Most canned coffee in Japan comes in little cans. Not American Coffee. Everyone knows that we Americans like things to be BIG. Our coffee, our cars, and our women.

As most canned coffees are here, it's got tons of sugar in it. I bought a can of it a while back just because I liked the design. It's so retro, I figured it must be intentional, but maybe it actually is an old logo that's been around for decades.

Bad Manners

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 06:35:00 +0000

It's not uncommon in Tokyo to see posters in train stations that tell people how to behave properly so as not to offend their fellow passengers when riding the rails. I was a bit confused, though, when I came across this one that says "Please do it at home." Do what at home, exactly? Eat heart-shaped snacks? Or fondle my crotch like the man in the illustration is doing here?

Pig Out

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 03:18:00 +0000

I'm not usually a fan of fried food, but this tonkatsu at Tonki in Meguro was fried pork cutlet heaven. Diligent servers dressed in white kept piling free cabbage on my plate, and I think eating it all helped soak up the grease that would have otherwise collected in the bottom of my stomach.

Two-story Slice

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:40:00 +0000

Tokyo's got a lot of wedge-shaped buildings. This one in Meguro is no Flatiron Building, but it's got its own charm.

Presidential Pachinko

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 05:55:00 +0000

Obama's already President in the U.S., but it looks like the campaign for "CHANGE" is still going on at this Shibuya pachinko parlor. Actually, the place is just advertising its grand reopening.

No Yatai

braincelljupiter@gmail.com (Braincell Jupiter) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 09:35:00 +0000

This sign near Tokyo Dome made me laugh. No yatai, or street vendors, are allowed on this corner. The use of a black and white photo of a yatai on the sign is what really struck me. These mostly wooden carts are a remnant of another era, yet there are still enough around that they don't normally strike me as particularly anachronistic. But here I think that the use of the modern-day internationally recognized prohibited symbol (red circle and slash) over the clip art-style photo totally overemphasizes just how outdated these two-wheeled contraptions really are.