While at least one Brit is determined to give tourists a bad name in Tokyo, a city southwest of Osaka is drawing in the masses with the world's most adorable train attendant.]]>
Economic crisis, environmental crisis, there's bad news everywhere we turn and in Tokyo the bad news is smelly, too.
We're talking tuna. Tuna that once went for ¥20 million (US$200,000) for a 445-pound fish at the Tsukiji Fish Markets in Tokyo is going to have to get even more expensive, say the experts, or it'll simply run out because of over-fishing.
We're sensing conspiracy here. Remember that the management at Tsukiji have now strictly limited tourist access to the famous markets? Are the Japanese planning to keep all the tuna for themselves and just feed us the line that it's all been fished out?
Soon we'll only have YouTube videos like the one above of the Japanese fish market to sustain us.
Related Stories:
· Tuna's Just Too Cheap [Japan Times]
· We've Annoyed the Tsukiji Fishmongers Too Long [Jaunted]
· Tokyo Travel Guide [Jaunted]]]>
While at least one Brit is determined to give tourists a bad name in Tokyo, a city southwest of Osaka is drawing in the masses with the world's most adorable train attendant.]]>
A comic book series in Japan is turning into the biggest deal in the wine industry there. As the story goes, the son of a deceased wine critic has to travel the globe, looking for great vino. (Seems much more pleasant than fighting The Joker!)
The mere mention of a bottling in the books can drive outrageous sales, says The Telegraph:
The comic is read by 500,000 Japanese each week and [its] sway over the wine market is spreading throughout Asia. Some wine importers say they have never seen such a powerful single influence on their business.
In Taiwan a single reference to a relatively obscure French terroir led to dozens of cases of the wine being sold within a few days.
Maybe it's getting bought up by those wine spas?
Related Stories:
· Character Drives up Wine Sales in Japan [Telegraph, via]
· Wine Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: PSFK]]]>
Look, Ma, a robot! Robert Downey Jr. and a man wearing a robotic suit hammer open a barrel of sake to celebrate the premiere of "Iron Man" in Japan this weekend. We're just dying to try this at home.
Downey Jr. has had a blockbuster year between "Iron Man" and his critically acclaimed role in "Tropic Thunder."
He wrapped his movie "The Soloist" (by "Atonement" director Joe Wright) in Los Angeles this spring before the press blitz began but is rumored to be in casting for a new "Sherlock Holmes" movie, in which he would star as the deerstalkered one opposite Russell Crowe as Moriarty.
Related Stories:
· A Star's Life: Last-Minute Trip to Hawaii, Check! [Jaunted]
· Movie Set Hotel: "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" at the Downtown Standard LA [HC]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Socialite Life]]]>
What you call these Pacific isles depends on who you are: Named the Liancourt Rocks for a French whaler that was almost marooned there, they are currently the subject of a bitter border dispute between Japan and South Korea, so it matters whether you call them Takeshima (Bamboo Islands) or Dokdo (Solitary Island).
Japan unofficially assumed control of the islands during World War II, but it was only recently that natural gas deposits were discovered underneath the territory, making them potentially much more valuable.
Both countries' claims have inspired T-shirt slogans and ringtones, neither of which were available in previous border disputes--otherwise we might all be humming "54'40" or Fight!"
Related Stories:
· Who Owns These Islands? Map [Jaunted]
· Disputed Korean Rocks Bring Banking, Ring Tones [AP]
[Photo: nolisiso]]]>
The ancient Japanese city of Nara, an hour east of Osaka, might be most famous to us for its map-eating deer, but being an ancient capital means it's also full of historical museums. And we have good news: Getting in to these museums is now going to be free for all foreign tourists.
It's really very simple: The governor of Nara says tourists have told him the entrance fees are too high, so he has decided that everyone who shows a foreign passport can get in for free.
This very friendly gesture starts from August 1 and includes four cultural, art and historical museums in Nara. We also think that the price of Japanese watermelons is too high, so perhaps the nice Nara governor could fix that for us too.
Related Stories:
· Travelers to Visit Nara Museums Free [eTravel]
· Japan: Hands Off the Melons [Jaunted]
· Japan Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: grumpyoldscotsman]]]>
In an effort to keep underage kids from buying, new cigarette vending machines in Osaka have facial recognition cameras. The scanners look for wrinkles and other signs of age before greenlighting the purchase of a pack.
But some crafty kids in Japan have come up with a work-around: They simply hold up a magazine photo of someone older and the machine gives them the OK.
The manufacturer of the machines says a new system that can't be fooled will be ready to go soon. Funny thing is, there's already something more effective: Japan's Taspo program--RFID cards used for age verification--will be installed on machines nationwide by next month.
Related Stories:
· Taspo [Official Site]
· Magazine Photos Fool Age-Verification Cameras [Pink Tenticle, via]
· Osaka Field Trip [Jaunted]
· Osaka coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: PT]]]>