Bra for the nation - 2

You might remember one earlier post (november 2005) about a magic bra that will reduce Japan's energy consumption.
Well, this is the summer version, and it will....solve the low birthrate problem!
Right boobie: Sad grandma', with only 2 poor babies crowling under the weight of a black Japan.
Left boobie: Happy grandma' supported by many happy babies in a golden Japan.
You can't see it on this photo but is also says "stop low birthrate" on her panties.
Don't know how this is supposed to work....


P.S: Completely unrelated, Hiroshi's blog has moved to a new site (Bunny and the Echomen). Check out the first post with some cool Swedish videos.

Qui dit mieux?

Vous aimez le melon? Peut etre voulez vous un bout de ce delicat et delicieux (le meilleur au monde?) melon Yubari, qui pousse a Hokkaido au Nord du Japon. Il va falloir debourser un peu. Les premiers melons de l'annee ont ete vendus aux encheres cette semaine, rassemblant 500 personnes au petit matin. Il a fallu seulement 4 secondes pour conclure l'enchere la plus elevee de l'histoire (dans la categorie "Melon" bien entendu).....800 000 Yen, ou 5 600 Euros. L'heureux (mais fauche'?) proprietaire est un grossiste, qui le revendra sur un site internet (genre ebay), ou les encheres peuvent continuer! A vos claviers...

Go go Japan! (not really)

Less than one month to the opening of the biggest sporting event of the year, and the football fever is sensibly raising.
The starting group of Japan includes Croatia, Australia and....mighty Brazil. Tough group, but this doesn't seem to be much of a concern. I think most people here expect Japan to pass to the second round. Some actually believe that the Brazilians will be indulgent and let Japan win, because Zico (Japan's coach) is a Brazilian legend. What do you say, Elaine, have you heard about such consensus in Brazil??
Anyway, I have tried the "official curry" of the Japanese team. It's kind of OK. Hiroshi is eating one pack after the other because he is collecting the badges that are found inside (apparently it's not only for kids, no...), but I think these guys should not eat too much of that stuff if they want to advance in the competition.

Tokyo Daibutsu

In the neighborhood there happens to be the third biggest statue of Buddha in Japan. Maybe not strictly speaking, because there are several categories like sitting Buddha, standing Buddha, indoor Buddha, outdoor Buddha etc... This one is a 13 meters high, sitting, bronze Buddha.
The statue is meditating in a hilltop compound that includes a huge wooden temple, a traditional temple bell, a family home, a scattering of statues of all kinds (among which the 7 gods of good fortune), and a graveyard.



Right beside there is a small botanical garden. It is a quiet place, hidden and forgotten from the Tokyo crowd, which by definition makes it a very pleasant spot.
Oh, and I forgot, the town is also the "birth place" of the famous Mos Burger fastfood chain (Japanese version of McDonald, check out the menu), that opened here in 1972. I know, you don't care...