nihonshock » Japan’s “Special” Side

How to park your car in Japan

Lloyd Vincent — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 02:19:09 +0000

Have you ever wondered how Japan fits their roughly 78 million vehicles into a habitable area roughly the size of Maine? Well, it takes just the right mix of creativity and precision (it also helps that most of the cars are really tiny). In this post I introduce a few of the methods Japanese people have come up with for getting the most out of their limited parking space.

Private parking waza*

*: means “technique”

C3PO, shut down all trash compactors on the detention level!!

I have to admire the driver for being able to maneuver the car into that space. I presume they exit through the rear door.

I can not see you. Ergo, you can not see me.

頭隠して尻隠さず [atama kakushite shiri kakusazu] is a Japanese proverb literally meaning “to hide your head but not your butt”, and seems to fit perfectly with this picture.

(Note: the proverb actually refers to not completely concealing your mistakes/wrongdoings)

Its the feeling that counts.

The added work of having to lift the shutter in order to steal this car is of questionable deterrence value, but this owner seems satisfied. Doesn’t look like a car worth stealing anyway, to be honest.

If you can’t move out, move UP!

For those Japanese who have two cars but only space for one, apparently you can buy a private use car elevator. Also handy for cleaning 2nd floor windows, though you’d better double check their earthquake/typhoon durability rating.

Public parking waza

Actually, the notion of stacking cars is well developed in Japan. In fact, they have whole buildings that are basically giant car stacking machines. Pretty cool, actually.

You may question whether or not a タワーパーキング [tower parking] like the one in this video is actually economically viable, even in Japan. Well, here’s my answer:

If there’s sufficient demand for parking space in Japan that a two-car-capacity commercial parking (with one space being out of order?) lot can pay the bills, then so can a parking tower. I’m still looking for a single-car pay parking lot, by the way. If anyone knows one, please send me a tip!

The other popular method for communal/commercial parking is what I call “the honeycomb.”

While mathematically speaking this a very effective way of parking, getting out can become problematic.

Random pictures

Sorry, but making your car harder to see does reduce the mount of space it takes up. Try again.

It’s important to note that not all areas of Japan have parking issues, as you can see the above picture, taken in rural Japan (Shirakawago).

Ummm, are you SURE that I can U-turn in there?

Flavor Success: Chocolate Soda

Lloyd Vincent — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 01:36:39 +0000

Seriously, Japan. WTF? “Chocolate Sparkling” from Suntory.

Do you take some sort of sick pleasure in forcing me to drink these ridiculous concoctions!?!?!? Curse you, curse yo….. wait… This is… actually not half bad.

Suntory has done what Sapporo couldn’t: mix the flavor of chocolate into a non-coffee drink. Congratulations, Suntory! I don’t really think I needed 500ml of the stuff, I would have been happy with just a taste. Anyway, drinking this “Chocolate Sparkling” is like having a strangely flavored Jelly belly. The flavor doesn’t match the medium at all, but it’s mysteriously accurate and somehow good…

I think if I had any more than a bottle, the paradox of chocolate soda would wreak havoc on my mind… so I’ll make this my first and last bottle of the stuff this year. Maybe it’ll be back for next year’s Valentine’s day.

Translation: Contains no chocolate (chocolate was not used)

Finally, it’s interesting to note that the chocolate flavor, while strikingly accurate, uses no actual chocolate. If you’ve got a chocolate allergy but are curious what all the rage is about, this might be the drink for you!

See Suntory’s official Chocolate Sparkling page for more information (in Japanese, of course).

Flavor Fail: Chocolate Beer

Lloyd Vincent — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 02:40:09 +0000

It’s been a little quiet here at Nihonshock for a couple weeks. I haven’t forgotten about the blog at all, I’m just busy with a couple larger posts/projects for the site, so there has been a slowdown in posting. However, I went to Family Mart last night and spotted this easy post to help fill the gap.

I’m a Sapporo beer fan. I prefer their brews to Asahi and Kirin, and generally rave about their special releases. So when I saw this on the shelf at my local convenience store, I approached it with an open mind. I like chocolate, I like beer, I like Sapporo. Therefore, I like this, right? right…?

Verdict

I don’t know whose idea it was to spread the ridiculous drink flavor wars into the world of alcohol, but they should be punished. This was terrible, just terrible. I hate to waste alcohol, I really do, but the only place in the world for this is….

…down the drain.

Good riddance.

Just noticed…

Apparently this beer isn’t as new as I thought. I guess Sapporo tried this last year too. Maybe it’s a Valentine’s day thing?

The latest otaku craze: lap pillows

Lloyd Vincent — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:21:03 +0000

I’ve been seeing these around a lot lately at both otaku-ish locations and regular department stores too (two of these 3 pictures I took at Loft in Sakae, Nagoya). They’re an interesting item, playing on the Japanese word 膝枕 (hiza makura), which is made up of the characters for “lap” and “pillow” and usually refers to resting your head in someone’s lap.

Although sadly I didn’t have my camera with me at the time, I’ve also seen these pillows in UFO catchers (= the crane games at game centers). And I’ve seen them in Evangelion girl’s school uniform style, for the true otaku connoisseur.

PS. No, I’m not the first person to find these.

Party games with panty hose?

Lloyd Vincent — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:18:56 +0000

Yep, I’ve been hanging around the 100 yen stores again. Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to pull pantyhose over the top of your head? Have you ever wondered what someone’s face would look like with pantyhose pulled over their head?

Well have I got the item for you! Check out this… novel …100 yen Japanese party game. I haven’t tried it myself, but apparently it’s a very funny “tag” of war.

Warning! crazy Japanese signs

Lloyd Vincent — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 03:08:29 +0000

Japanese signs are great fun. You really have to admire the amount of detail that went into some of them. Here’s a collection of pictures of various warnings, notices, caution signs, etc. that I’ve come across in my journeys.

A sign urging Japanese bicyclists to look for cars before crossing the road.

This sign says "danger" but fails to clarify whether the danger is the water or the fish.

A Japanese sign on an elevator urging people to make sure they don't get any straps/cords stuck in the doors.

Dear parents, don't let your perfect little Japanese Johnny out on the internet alone, just look at all the dangers.

Please don't play baseball near puddles near downed power lines. But if you do, this dog will try to save you.

Sign reads: watch out at night! groping doesn't just happen on the train.

The HAND OF GOD shall prevent you from rushing across the crosswalk on a blinking green light. The Almighty Hand is impervious to kicking.

This poor dolphin wasn't paying attention to the train doors. Don't be like this poor dolphin.

Did you know that every time you park your bicycle haphazardly and obstruct the walking path, little Japanese kids cry?

Warning: this elevator has crabs.

A sign urging bicyclists to turn on their bicycle lights at night.

Added December 3, 2009. Thanks Darryl! (be sure to check out his Jubeat project)

A sign at a subway station urging middle aged men to... not be drunk at the subway station.

Outlandish Japanese flavors: Azuki (sweet bean) Pepsi

Lloyd Vincent — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:59:08 +0000

Not long ago you could find green tea flavored coca cola at convenience stores around Japan. Thankfully that scourge seems to have passed, but the age old rivalry between Pepsi and Coke wages on, and Pepsi has fired back with… sweet bean flavor? all…. right….

A bottle of Azuki-flavored Pepsi

Azuki is a bean commonly used in traditional Japanese sweets. I’m not sure if the bean itself is sweet or not, but it is nearly always used with a ton of sugar.

Azuki beans

Personally, I’m not really a fan of them. I like sweet things but Japanese candies made with azuki are usually just too sweet for me. But, since I have a blog about Japanese stuff I kinda feel obligated to try these things.

So, how is it?

Not bad. Better than the pizza-flavored instant yakisoba I had recently and the flavor does resemble azuki if you use your imagination a little. But something about it didn’t seem quite like azuki to me, so I checked the ingredients list for a hint…

Ingredients list on the back of the bottle.

A-ha! So that’s your secret: grapes. Actually, after reading that my mind picked up on the grapey-ness of the drink a lot better, and now I actually think it tastes more like grape than azuki. So, if you’re a grape soda fan, give azuki Pepsi a try! The drink contains no actual azuki, so it’s not like you’re drinking anything disgusting (well, not any more disgusting than a regular Pepsi).

Actually, Pepsi releases flavors that no one wants on a seasonal basis, probably in an attempt to try and build brand awareness and grab market share from Coca-cola, who is much more strongly positioned in the Japanese market. You can read more about stupid Pepsi flavors here: Shiso Pepsi and links to other silly flavors.

Japanglish journeys: the 100 yen store

Lloyd Vincent — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:57:35 +0000

While it’s true that Japan is more expensive than many other places in the world, there is always a way to get more for your money. Japan is flush with 100 yen stores everywhere you go, known collectively as 100均 (hyakkin). I have a Lawson 100 just a couple blocks from my house where I buy my natto and bread, most shopping centers have a Daiso, and the annoyingly catchy store-theme-song that they loop over and over inside of Ｓｈｏｐ 99 (kyuukyuu) has never quite left my head.

Not only are 100 yen shops a kind of messiah for tight-budgeted students, travelers and residents, they are an honest to goodness goldmine for top-quality Japanglish. I imagine some of the products they carry ended up there specifically because the maker realized their translation was rubbish.

Recently I made a trip to the Skyle building Daiso in Sakae, Nagoya… here’s what I came away with.

Do not play it rudely

Oh, that’s a very nice looking bowl. A little expensive for a 100 yen store item but very nice cracked glaze-work… Let’s look at the usage notice on the back.

Okay, I’ll be sure not to play it rudely. But why can’t I use this near the TV? (o_O)

On a side note, I have no clue how they got that first particular English sentence from the original Japanese, which basically says “please do not bump, throw or handle this object roughly.”

Oh look, there are some nice tea pots over there!

Made of Poland

…hm?!

Oh no! My homeland (I’ve got Polish blood) is being turned into value tea pots!!!

I can’t bear to look…. speaking of bears, what’s that I see on those plates over there?

British Bistro Bear

Bistro bear! That dawg. He’s such a lady-killer. I’m actually the proud owner of a bistro bear coffee mug at home, with the same Japanglish on it of course.

And he’s British, even.

Let’s see… what else is there to look at in this 100 yen store…

Round tray of non-slip processing

Non-slip trays! Just what my shaky hands need. Oh and look, they even illustrated and translated the non-slippage concept for us. Let’s take a look.

Bag of holding and cloak of invisibility jokes aside though, I’d really better get myself one of these before it becomes such a situation.

On the plus side, this particular English should get points for at least getting its meaning across.

Okay, that’s enough in the kitchen and tableware section for now. Time to move on to something else.

With ass

A lot of the big department stores in Japan are starting to charge 5 yen each for plastic bags now… maybe I should get one of these vinyl shopping bags. Hmmm, what does that blue one say?

“With ass”… You almost have to be trying to write Japanglish this good. A classic piece, this one. Truly classic. I would have bought it too if the bag itself were of at least reasonably good quality (it wasn’t).

Here are some shirts…

Possibility of synaeresis

Since we are at a 100 yen shop after all, we’d better check the usage guidelines first.

Sin… Syne…. Synaeri…. Syn-ae-re-sis. Synaeresis.

Forget that this word has absolutely no relevance to clothing at all… How in Buddah’s name did they get that word spelled right but then come up with “fluor“?

And what exactly am I supposed to understand from the sentence “separately wash with other clothing.”??

To their credit though, the word “insolate” is actually correct.

A few random shots

Lloyd Vincent — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:35:06 +0000

Sorry for the lack of updating but as I mentioned on Twitter, my parents are visiting for 10 days and I don’t have much time for the blog. Of course it’s also a chance for me to get out and about, so I’ve taken quite a few pictures that I’ll be putting here eventually.

For now, here are a couple random shots from my travels so far…

Music from back in the good orld days.

Look out for the cutely drawn raccoons.

The construction zone frog!

15,750 Japanese Yen = (Apx.) 178 USD = 111 GBP = 200 AUD = 121 Euros = way too freaking much. But damn do those look like some fine grapes…

Japanese sometimes translate things too well for their own good. How many westerners are actually familiar with the word alight, I wonder?

Okay, that’s all for this short post. I’m looking forward to getting back to updating nihonshock more regularly, but that won’t be until next week.

Pizza Flavored Instant Yaki-soba

Lloyd Vincent — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:16:10 +0000

Japan is very good at coming up with flavors and combinations that no one else would dare to attempt. On this point, Japanese pizza is another post in and of itself… but today I just want to show everyone this interesting new product that caught my eye at my local convenience store yesterday.

The box

Note: Pizza-la is a Japanese pizza chain store (I have to say store instead of restaurant because Japanese pizza is 99% delivery)

The product

For those of you looking at the above image and thinking “there’s no way that tastes like pizza,” you’re correct. I decided to become a guinea pig for the sake of science and tried it myself. The actual flavor as far as I can tell is primarily pepper, kind of mixed with an artificial-meaty flavor… Cheese? Tomato Sauce? Sorry…, not on this “pizza.”

Oh well, I wasn’t expecting too much (it is just a box of instant noodles, after all). I pretty much just got a cheap dinner and an easy blog post out of the deal.

The verdict: leave this product alone, you’re not missing anything. It’s not so different from any other instant noodle. Not that it’s really bad, but it’s not anywhere close enough to pizza to be as interesting as the box implies.