Celebrating life through the spectacular
and tasteful dispersal of cremation ashes
by firework.

This isn’t real, is it?

http://www.heavenlystarsfireworks.com/

Interestingly, I read the above quote as “…spectacular and distasteful dispersal of cremation ashes…”

Please tell me that it is just my dirty mind, and there is a perfectly innocent alternative explanation. Please…

One interesting thing about Japan is that it’s not a country that many people know a lot about, but we have all sorts of stereotypical ideas. Well, our experience was that with every turn, we were bombarded with manifestations of those stereotypes - large as life, and very, very real.

For example, there is the perception that the Japanese love ‘cute’ and will have a cutesy cartoon everywhere they can place one.

“Surely not everywhere?” you ask.

Well… I guess when even fire hydrant covers - pretty serious in anyone’s book - look like this:

…you can safely say “check! stereotype confirmed”

So… we’re back from two weeks in Japan, and oh how I wish I were making this up…

Found in East Shinjuku, Tokyo. Let’s just get a close-up on that menu, shall we?

No. We did not go in.

I vote redneck on this one…

So, this place offers:

1) do-it-yourself deep fat frying.

along with…

2) all-you-can-drink beer and cocktails.

Can anyone see the potential risk?

Not long to go until Project Fuji comes together.

I really can’t wait to get out in nature, away from the crowds, away from the trappings of the city…

D’oh!

In case you’re wondering, yes, those are vending machines on the summit of Mount Fuji.

(Photos by Chris Birchall)

Found in the frozen meat section of Day In supermarket…

So… I’m shopping around for travel insurance for the trip to Japan. Climbing Mount Fuji is one of those activities which, I guess, could be seen as high risk - not massively so, but you know what insurers are like for doing their best not to pay out.

Therefore I’m reading potential insurers’ exclusion criteria quite carefully. One made me titter…

Activities not considered hazardous:

• Abseiling - under licenced instruction only
• Badminton

…

• Mountain Climbing - without ropes or guide

…

• White Water Rafting - to grade 2

So… if you go up a hazardous mountain but don’t take any ropes or a guide, you’re more likely to fall off, but at least you’re covered? Make the effort to do it safely, and you’re on your own.

That’s p’raps not exactly what they meant.

すごいだね！ Sugoi da ne!