News Sushi #63 And we keep serving News Sushi!
Editor Note:It is Friday and that means it is time for the World Famous, soon to be Intergalactic Famous, News Sushi from our very own, Hamish Downie. Hamish brings us a decidedly different slant on Pop Culture as viewed through the lens of a non-native living in Japan.
Thank you Hamish, for your insights.
This week’s dumpster dive/gleaning for treasure in the primal soup that is the Japanese news cycle brought up a pretty weird bunch of items… I can’t even say that it has a theme. Only that this is what I found…
I really need to acknowledge that Japan now has a new Emperor, and he and the Empress have come out to greet the public for the first time since ascending to the throne.
Japan's Emperor Naruhito greets public for 1st time since ascension https://t.co/D58kMWpG8A
— TokyoReporter (@tokyoreporter) May 4, 2019
Good luck to both of them. That said, I don’t think they are under the same pressure from the press that England’s royal family is.
(today’s gif brought to you by the great film, “Shoplifters” – that the Japanese Prime Minister doesn’t want you to see… it’s not “cool Japan”)
Beauty Blender
Bringing Drag culture to Osaka, there’s a fringe event going on every month (the mainstream drag shows happen at iVillage in the Kita area of Umeda)… so, if you are in Osaka, maybe you could check it out? (I can’t as I work early in the mornings on Saturday and Sunday… as the young people say, “adulting” is hard)
Osaka’s Candy Coloured trains
staying in Osaka (after all, that’s where I live)… did you know that there’s a train line here with candy coloured trains? Actually, I didn’t either… that’s what I love about writing this column… I get to discover so many neat things about where I live.
Candy coloured trains of #Osakahttps://t.co/fVcPxFUozB
— Hamish Downie (@hamishdownie) May 7, 2019
Pet Loss Cafe
I hope this isn’t in poor taste. I think this is something that could either be very beautiful or very bad taste… all depending on how it’s done. As quoted, “with the number of dogs and cats being raised as pets exceeding the country’s total population of those under 15 years old — hitting over 18.55 million last year — pet loss can be a big issue.” Indeed, you can see in last week’s story on Rilakkuma, there’s a big emphasis on “fur babies” here in Japan (and I imagine around the world). So, now, we have a pet loss cafe.
My latest. With the number of dogs and cats being raised as pets exceeding the country’s total population of those under 15 years old — hitting over 18.55 million last year — pet loss can be a big issue. https://t.co/JgIo90OVok
— Chisato Tanaka (@jt_chisaT) May 3, 2019
The cafe seems to be your typical upmarket coffee shop, but “Pet Loss Cafe” offers a place for people who have lost their pets a place to meet and share their memories of their lost pets. One customer said that it was the only place where she felt she could cry over her loss.
Continuing the theme of death comes a Dark Micro-Poem from Andy Van Scoyoc…
I recently got to preview a copy of Andy Van Scoyoc’s upcoming audio book of poetry and I can say that you’ll be in for a treat!
Because you've all been so disgustingly wicked…a treat for you. The cover of my soon to be released audiobook of poetry.
Special thanks to @hamishdownie #micropoetry #poetrycommunity #dark #morbid #sinister #macabre #horrorfans #darkside #films #art #artist #Creepy #Death pic.twitter.com/JoM1EkFuXK
— Destination Desolation Productions… (@AndyVanScoyoc) May 7, 2019
What a Psycho!
Continuing the dark theme… I couldn’t pass up the chance to share this real life version of Psycho (minus the serial killings)…
Ishikawa: Man lived with corpse of mother for year https://t.co/SRwsYKjDKf
— TokyoReporter (@tokyoreporter) May 6, 2019
So, as a palette cleanser, here’s some social photos from “The Benza” premiere event…
The third episode is out now, so please catch it on Amazon Prime!
Speaking of toilets… you can take off from the comfort of your throne! (and now the circle is complete…)
Takeoff from the toilet: West Japan airport cubicles given cockpit makeover https://t.co/8HEkBDmeDw
— TokyoReporter (@tokyoreporter) May 7, 2019
Multi-colored Kimono
Moving away from toilets and death… here’s a beautiful kimono which appears blue, but upon closer inspection is made of multiple coloured threads (this is not a “what color is this dress challenge”).
On this dreary spring day, I chose to wear a yuki-tsumugi (結城紬) hitoe (単衣 = one-layered) #kimono with a chirimen collar. It looks blue (in fashion now), but the charm of the tsumugi will always be the multi-colored threads it's made from. #kimonooftheday #springkimono #紬 pic.twitter.com/OvZmYG40Rn
— Paprika Girl (@PaprikaGirl_JP) May 2, 2019
Hot Link of the Week…
for anyone who’s thought that those Rickshaw guys were hot…
So, a weird week… but, hopefully you enjoyed the dark and light places we went to…
Thanks for visiting. Let us know what you think.