Posted by Leefe on 29 December 2008 – 1:33 pm
As you leave Shinjuku station via the west exit you can’t but notice the mass of advertising for Apple iPod Nano. The rise between the pedestrian level and the ceiling has a ring of iPod advertisements (pictured below). And many of the pillars had the same advertisement on each side.
While this may seem like overkill, here in Tokyo I have seen a whole train covered in advertisements for one product. All the ads on the walls and hanging from the ceiling conveyed the same message. And the same video ads in the train playing over and over again.
It seems that advertising campaigns here in Tokyo can be overwhelming, but short in duration, and then disappear like the last season.
For those interested, the ads say “Nano 色いろ” (iroiro). The Kanji means ‘colour’, and is pronounced ‘iro’. The Hiragana that follows is also pronounced the same. The pun being that, いろいろ, pronounced ‘iroiro’, means ‘various’.
Posted by Leefe on 22 December 2008 – 10:35 pm
For a friend’s Christmas present it was suggested to get fishing equipment, something for fishing bass. Japanese are mad about fishing, get some Japanese stuff I was told.
Well that statement is about right. We asked at one fishing shop, Sansui Shibuya, and they sent us to another one of their stores a few blocks away. Seems they have one store for each type of fishing.
This photo shows a wall of bass lures on one she of the store. The other side has this much bass fishing paraphernalia again. Not to mention the stuff on the wall behind me, and down the stairs to the first floor.
So, if fishing is you cup of tea, have a look for equipment while in Japan. Your sure to reel in more than you expected.
Posted by Leefe on 19 December 2008 – 4:02 pm
According to an article in the SMH, The weirdest cities in the world , the Lonely Planet guide books have rated Tokyo as number one. And though I haven’t been to the other cities listed. After living in Tokyo, I can see why it made the number one spot. Talking toilets and microsized pod hotels are just the short list that grabs your imediate attention, there is a lot more to see, hear and do.
Posted by Leefe on 16 December 2008 – 11:36 pm
The seasons are important in Tokyo, and things often change for the season. The types of clothes on sale, food at restaurants, and even the type of chocolate milk available.
Just a few days before Christmas we can see that the season is already changing. Van Houten Cocoa, a chocolate milk, is changing from its ‘Christmas’ branded packaging back to the normal variety. And a new line of Strawberry cocoa milk is available.
It is interesting to observe how often advertising and packaging here in Tokyo changes. This brand, for instance, has changed its packaging 3 or 4 times since we got here in April. There seems to be a need to keep changing, and offering something new, to stay competitive here.
Posted by Leefe on 15 December 2008 – 10:04 pm
In Sydney it is not uncommon to see garbage trucks adorned with mascots or other things that garbos have retrieved from the rubbish they collect. Tokyo seems to be more reserved in the decoration of garbage trucks. All that I have seen seem to be a regulation blue, with no ornaments.
This is the first garbage truck I’ve seen with a mascot. Are these Tokyo garbage collectors less worried about keeping their truck regulation pristine? Or is it just that in the ordered world of Tokyo garbage that the availability of mascot material is low?
Posted by digg on 14 December 2008 – 1:31 pm
Parents are worried about their children looking at the Australian Prime Minister’s or Oppositions Leader’s web site, when they should be finding out about pop stars. Worried about the bad influence this could have, their children growing up to be politicians themselves. – A funny parody of the current Internet filtering debate.
read more | digg story
Posted by Leefe on 13 December 2008 – 9:53 pm
Please do it at a pub
Please do not make a commotion on the train
Another community service announcement, brought to you by Tokyo Metro.
There is a new one of these put up every couple of weeks. All quite funny. Have take pictures of many of then. Shoudl get round to putting up more on Flickr.
Posted by Leefe on 6 December 2008 – 5:59 pm
Shot from a walkway opposite Akihabara station. It feels both high tech, and run down.
Posted by digg on 1 December 2008 – 5:25 pm
Support for the Govt’s plan to censor the internet has hit rock bottom, with even some children’s welfare groups now saying that that the mandatory filters, aimed squarely at protecting kids, are ineffective and a waste of money. The filters, which will block “illegal” content for all Australian internet users and “inappropriate” adult content on a
read more | digg story
