Attack of the Cyborg School Girls

Japan, a nation long known for its technological superiority (and unflagging inability to integrate it with good design - see Toyota Prius for example), have a long history of creating hi-tech robots that serve no functional purpose. Toyota created a robot that can sort-of play a trumpet and Honda made a robot that can serve tea to other robots. Every year in Tokyo, robot designers showcase their innovation in dancing droids and this past November we were able to watch what looked like a metallic kogyaru go through a series of parapara moves that would make even Aymi Hamasaki envious. Most disturbing is perhaps the fact that cyber-trance is gaining a new group of loyal, if not anymore intelligent, converts.

Japan Officially Endorses International Kidnapping

After two weeks behind bars, Japan released the American father who came to Japan to re-kidnap his children after they were initially kidnapped in America by his Japanese wife and brought to Japan. Christopher Savoie had no choice but to attempt to snatch his children back because by Japanese law divorced husbands are never given even joint custody of their children, and in fact, most fathers are not able to see their children again until they are adults (20 years old in Japan).  Savoie's wife knew that if she could sneak her kids back to Japan, she would be protected from those pesky egalitarian American laws which require joint custody and outlaw kidnapping.  Savoie is getting support from an unlikely source: Japanese fathers who want more visitation rights. These fathers welcome all the attention the case has garnered and hope that it leads to a change in child custodial policy.  Ambassadors from the U.S. and seven other countries have also chimed-in to encourage Japan to modernize its laws governing custody. But, as is the case with most Japanese laws, they are older than dirt and nobody wants to take responsibility for making any changes.

Thinking Outside the Bun in Tokyo

Went to a burger joint in Kichijoji called Village Vanguard for lunch today. Since I don't eat beef, but I was in the mood for a sandwich, I asked if they could take the herb chicken that was on the menu and just put it on bread for me, and add a little cheese and onion (there was no "chicken sandwich" on the menu, just beefy all beef-beef burgers). Since this is Japan, and nothing out of the ordinary is ever tolerated, let alone requested, three wait staff and two cooks spent 10 minutes discussing the feasibility of my request (which entailed taking a few items already on the menu, and using them to create something slightly different). In the end they took a chance and I ended up with one of the tastiest sandwiches I have had in my life.  This is progress I think. 10 years ago they would have just made that familiar sucking sound through their teeth, tilted their heads and said: "chyotto...."

Picture via "bantus"

Suzuki Ichiro Ejected from Game

Suzuki Ichro was ejected from last Saturday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. This was Ichiro's first ever ejection in his entire career and has some in Japan blogging that it is just the most recent example of a long string of objectionable behavior of late.  Critics first started paying attention a few weeks ago when Ichiro uttered a sentence laden with polysyllabic words.  Then during a recent away series on the east coast, Ichiro was spotted smiling in the locker room.  Whether this deviant behavior persists or not remains to be seen. But Umpire Brian Runge thought the best way to reign in the stubbed upstart was to throw him out of the game, saying later, "something had to be done. After I called strike three on a pitch so far outside the catcher had to dive to knock it in the dirt, I saw Ichiro crack an American-style sarcastic grin. To see him suddenly confident and at ease being one of the best players in the history of the game- it was making the American players self-conscious.  I mean, what is he, like 4'.8"? Obviously never took steroids. It ain't right. So I booted his spunky munchkin ass."

Japanese Style Erections

This is how Japanese politicians try to get votes- sitting outside restaurants and cafes with trucks laden with loudspeakers. After they ruin everyone's dinner they drive off to annoy other innocent diners. Unfortunately, Japanese law prohibits T.V. attack adds, which we all know is how elections are fought and won in other modern democracies.