Nude Jewelry

From the land of Yakuza body tatoos comes the latest trend(?) in jewelry/body art.

While 'skin jewelry' is basically trinkets taped to skin or glitter spry, Nude Jewelry takes the concept to a higher level by setting pure gold or platinum directly on the skin. It lasts about a week and can cost several hundred dollars depending on the design.

Just Looking!

Here's a new DVD for shy people, called "just looking."

50 people, 96 minutes, just looking.

Bay-ge-ru (Bagels in Tokyo)

I was never 'spoiled' on bagels - I wasn't born with an innate birthright to claim "you can't get real bagels here."

As a Jewish kid growing up in California, bagels were a staple part of my diet - especially on weekends or at Bar Mitzvahs. But as our relatives from back east (New York) constantly reminded us, "you can't get real bagels in California."

That was probably true in the 70s and 80s. But at some point in the 90s, Californians learned how to make passable bagels. I know this for a fact because I can clearly recall my Aunt from Long Island eating a bagel with us somewhere circa '92 and saying "this isn't half-bad, where did you get it?"

And thus, California bagels were now "real."

Then I moved to Japan. At first, oh about 1994, there were literally "no" bagels. The best I could do to satisfy my cravings was a Kaiser roll. I was able to get my hands on Philadelphia Cream Cheese (stick only, no whipped) and of course this being Japan, smoked salmon (or any other sea creature) was not an issue. So there I was back in the day, eating my Kaiser Roll with lox and cream cheese (and a hole cut in the middle to complete the fantasy) and longing for them good ole' California bagels.

Fast forward to the early 2000's and Tokyo has changed. Internationalization or globalization or whatever has kicked into gear and before you know it there are not only McDonald's in every station and Coke machines on every corner, but we also get Starbucks, Subway, Tropicana, Frosted Flakes ("corn frosties"), Crystal Geyser, Cold Stone Creamery, Costco, Ikea, Krispy Kreme, blah blah blah.

And bagels.

Bagels became a hit with the OL's around 2001 and were then firmly added to the cultural culinary landscape. A chain of bagle shops (aptly called "Bagel & Bagel") spreads the word and even Doutor has "bagel sands" (I can't think of an appropriate North American cultural assimile for Doutor other than to say it's like Winchell's back in the 80s when people still smoked, only without the doughnuts).

The truth is, though, bagels in Tokyo are no better than the ones in California back in the 70s and 80s. Mostly they taste like white bread in the shape of a doughnut. Occasionally I find one that is marginally better than Safeway brand bagels (6 in a bag for 1.99), but I try not to be too elitist - I know what it's like to have your bagels bagged on.

So until recently, we used to 'import' bagels by the dozen (take 'em on the plane with us and put 'em in the freezer. We used to do the same thing with tortillas before you could buy them here too - but that's another post.)

But having kids and the high cost of fuel has limited our ability to import our own precious bagels. Luckily, for those living in Tokyo and craving bagels, there is a place called 212 (which is somehow connected to H&H Bagels from New York, so it must be good, right) which is leading the charge to make Tokyo like California in the 90s. The locations are out of the way - Harumi Triton Square is nearest to us and we make a pilgrimmage about once a month (go early to get them fresh baked and before they run out).

L'Chaim!

Nice Melons

Japanese love fruit and approach the production of fruit with the same care, passion and dedication to quality as any Toyota or Sony or Nikon.

Which is why I'm somehow not surprised to hear that someone paid 650,000 Yen (a little more than 6,000 USD) for a watermelon.



It's black, weighs about 10 kilos (22 lbs), and is a variety only grown in the northern part of Hokokaido. Basically, some rich guy wanted to make a show and support the farmers - the price wasn't driven by any real market factors. But melons are serious business here, often selling for hundreds of dollars.

They even make square melons, ostensibly to better 'fit' into space-limited refrigerators:

Meaningful Innovation 3

The Japanese government officially announced that Japan is a "full-fledged" aging society today, highlighting data that 10% of the population is at least 75 years old. With the lowest birthrate in the developed world (less than 1.3), Japan's population is not only facing a downward trend but a severe case of silveritis as well.

Enter the robots.

Japan is well-known for its robots - mostly from anime but also in factories and real-looking-hot-chick-auto-receptionists - but this may be one of the more useful applications.

Robotics for seniors. This is the aptly titled Experimental Walking Assists Device by Honda. (Assimo is finally paying off?)

And this baby is the HAL-5 developed at Tsukuba University (a Japanese University actually came up with something!). Part of the idea was to help senior and disabled caretakers move their patients around (better than putting in ramps in all those buildings I guess).

HAL-5 retails for about $15K plus maintenance.

Meaningul Innovation 2

Ever wondered what spy gear would be like now that we have digital cameras everywhere? You know like those cigarette pack cameras in old spy movies?

No? Well somebody has... A company called Hanwha (a Korean company but I found this in Japan) is now selling the Pen Camera. Not impressed? Saw that in an old episode of Get Smart? Well there's more... It's a Digital camera with a 1 mm radius lens in the ballpoint that can snap photos and take video (2GB flash memory). With sound. Data can be transferred to your pc with a USB.

It writes too.
Check out sample videos, and order one for yourself, here.
Happy spying!

Japanese Technology in the Toilet

Some of most impressive ideas I've encountered in Japan have been in the bathroom.

OK, that didn't sound right.

Still, Japanese toilets are impressive. First there was the heated seat. Then the washlet/bidet. Add temperature control on the water. Then you got 'malodor removal' (air freshener) activated by sitting down.

Here's the adjustable washlet spray explanation visual from Toto.


While Americans, typically, want more Power -as in Flushing Power? - Japanese manufacturers continually innovate on usability, comfort, convenience, and, of course, space-efficiency.

Well lately the craze is full no-touch automation. Market pioneers Toto and other household appliance brands like National (Panasonic) and Hitachi are now pushing the latest in bathroom luxury with features like:

-motion sensor activated toilet seat lifting/dropping (sorry, I don't know the lingo but you know, the seat goes up and down without you touching it.)

-automated flushing

-pre-programmed muzak with speakers, also motion-sensor activated

Here's the wall-mounted remote with all the controls you could ever dream of for the potty:

And of course, for those with the Capt. Kirk thing:

"Would you like me to wash your dick for you sir?"

Click here for a full reading on the history and etiquette of Japanese toilets.