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How to drink… Shochu (Japanese gin or vodka)

How to drink… Shochu (Japanese gin or vodka)

Posted on Sep 16, 2013 in History of Japan, Japanese customs, Japanese technology, Things to do, What to buy, Where to drink |

While sake is familiar to millions outside of Asia, shochu is the drink of choice amongst the Japanese. Since 2003, shipments of shochu within Japan have outstripped sake and the trend shows no sign of reversing. Shochu can be made from barley, sweet potatoes or rice and is distilled like whisky, unlike sake, which is brewed similarly to beer. The shochu is then aged in oak barrels giving the drink more kick (it averages around 25 percent alcohol, rising to 40 percent for...

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In Japan, Young Women Rent Out Their Legs As Ad Space

In Japan, Young Women Rent Out Their Legs As Ad Space

Posted on Sep 13, 2013 in Japanese customs, Japanese technology, Must see, News, Stories about Japan |

A good way to get your advertisement plenty of exposure is to place it where there will be a lot of people looking. With that in mind, Japanese advertising company Absolute Territory PR is offering a unique service that gives brands a ‘leg up’ on their competitors—by renting the legs of young Japanese girls as ad space. Using the notion that ‘sex sells’, this clever marketing strategy was reported to be a big hit with businesses across Tokyo—especially to Japanese men....

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Tokyo trend: Ear-cleaning parlors

Tokyo trend: Ear-cleaning parlors

Posted on Sep 13, 2013 in History of Japan, Japanese customs, Japanese technology, Must see, News, Stories about Japan, Things to do |

When the Japanese government allowed ear cleaning salons to operate unlicensed, a new business model took off. The ancient Egyptians, who brought us paper, locks, clocks and eye makeup, were also ahead of the curve in earwax removal, creating concoctions that included Cypress tree oil, pig fat, cat blood or male bat’s head. Several millennia later, Japan has made another evolutionary leap in ear care. Five years ago, when the Japanese government announced that ear cleaning...

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Japanese design explained: Shizen and Wabi-sabi

Japanese design explained: Shizen and Wabi-sabi

Posted on Sep 6, 2013 in Japanese customs, Japanese technology, Stories about Japan |

    Japanese design is famous the world over, but what is it exactly what we are looking at? I always believe if you know a bit of the back ground of things, it becomes easier to better appreciate the intentions of the designer and to appreciate something beyond face value. In this blog posting I aim to explain two different, but intertwined Japanese design principles.   Wabi-sabi a form of Japanese aesthetics   Wabi-sabi (侘寂) represents a...

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What to buy: Essential Tokyo souvenirs

Posted on Sep 5, 2013 in Japanese technology, Must see, Things to do, What to buy, Where to shop |

25 only-in-Japan gifts, from chopsticks to Be@rbricks No trip to Tokyo would be complete without some souvenir shopping, but scoring the ultimate omiyage can be a real pain sometimes. We’ve made life easier by picking 25 great Tokyo souvenirs, ranging from the traditional (incense, combs, lucky charms) to the downright quirky (tooth-shaped jewellery, anyone?), and most of them are sold close to the city’s main sightseeing spots. Happy shopping, and remember:...

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Nissan goes starwars

Posted on Sep 5, 2013 in Japanese technology, News, Stories about Japan |

Nissan has joined forces with the Empire. Images of stormtroopers, the shock troops seen in the Star Wars films, will be emblazoned on promotional materials up and down the country and on TV screens as the car maker enlists their help for the launch of its redesigned Juke sport-utility vehicle. Invision for DisneyConsumer Products/AP ImagesThe stormtrooper character from the Star Wars movies is helping Nissan sell its redesigned Juke SUV in Japan. In a TV ad aimed to boost...

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