While researching previous posts on kids’ beer, I came across several blogs featuring Petcomyu’s Happy Lager, a beer aimed at dogs. Like kids’ beer, dogs’ beer is a non-alcoholic beer that is marketed in the same way as regular alcoholic beer (ie shown in advertising to be consumed in the same way and in the same places).
(more…)

Click on thumbnails to see enlarged view.

<<01>> All aboard the hanami train! <<02>> View of Kyobashi’s Osaka Business Park behind Osakajō-park’s colourful flora. <<03>> A closer view of the striking 37-floor (157m) Crystal Tower, one of Osaka’s better skyscrapers. <<04>> Petals in the castle moat. <<05>> A view of Osaka from the other side of the park, as daylight starts to fade. <<06>> Reflection of bare cherry trees in a blossom-lined puddle. <<07 - Main Photo>> A beautiful sakura sunset to end a pleasant day of blossom viewing (and of course beer drinking) in Osakajō-park.

One of the questions I was often asked in Japan was whether we have cherry blossoms in England. To this, I would reply: ‘yes, but English people don’t really pay much attention to them.’

Since returning to the UK, I can confirm that this is definitely the case: whereas the fervour surrounding hanami in Japan can best be described as a national obsession(a perfect example of this being the sakura-zensen ‘cherry blossom front’ weather forecasts, pictured above), in England (more…)

Click on photos to see enlarged versions. Captions are below.

<<01>> Arguably Japan’s most famous cherry blossom tree, in Maruyama park. It’s a type of shidare-zakura (weeping cherry tree), which receives the kind of photo attention usually reserved for Hollywood celebrities at film premieres.
<<02>> Well aware of the hordes of tourists who descend on Kyoto during this season, famous Buddhist temples and gardens in the city are keen to exploit the commercial potential with raito-appu (‘light up’ = illuminations). Eager to get on in the act, Nijō castle plastered the city with these posters featuring enticing - and slightly misleading - composite photography. As with other places of historical interest, the Japanese tradition of viewing yozakura (nighttime cherry blossoms) can be enjoyed for a ‘small fee’. (more…)

This clip is a compilation of segments featuring impressive ‘Pythagorean devices’ from Japanese kids’ TV programme Pitagora Suicchi (Pythagora Switch). Pop-culture vultures will be familiar with this kind of device from films like Back To The Future and The Goonies.

The ones in this clip are made from the kind of items you would find at home or in the classroom, but are incredibly sophisticated nonetheless. They’re also accompanied by one of those insanely catchy jingles that Japanese people seem to love, so chances are you’ll be humming the tune for the next few days.