fjords nasty in Tokyo

久々日本語で書こうと思ったから、日本語がよめるみんなさんどうぞ。:)

今日、初めてバイトとして東京の都心でオーペンするお店のフライヤーを配った！すごいなという感想しか出来ない。（笑）　ティッシュとかではなく、あるブランドの新しいお店とそのためのå「開店イベント」のフライヤーを配った。テンションが高くて、ロー・ライダーの自転しに乗ったまま色んな人にお店を事を知らせた。でも暗くなるとけっこう寒くて、表参道の方から渋谷のセンター街で配ったら、東京の大きさ態度が本当に感じた。ほとんどの人は忙しくて、目が合わないようにしたりとか、ものすごく練習した「無視の歩き方」とかような感じだった。（笑）　私は始め何かを配るバイトだったから、何の観点ですればいいかがよくわからなくて、経験のフィルターなしで人のリアクションを受けた。後二日間残りだけど、今までの結論は以下だ：

渋谷の夜は冷たい。

まぁ、ショックではないけど、今日本当にその感じだった。

「人が多い」イコール「絡む事も多い」と言える訳ではないと思う。東京ではそれがはっきり現れている。

でも僕はフライヤーの配りで意外と調子にのったぜ。（笑）

I’m not going to write more about smoking habits in Japan in this post, but I wanted to share an example of cigarette vending machines (more like an army of them) that came across the other day. Sometimes you’ll find these dedicated areas with nothing but cigarette vending machines, often with ashtrays around them. The perfect place to just stand and absorb smoke if you can’t be bothered buying your own cigarettes by the way!

43 percent of adult men in Japan smoke. An astounding 29 percent of the Japanese adult population is said to smoke, according to Wikipedia.

Well who can blame them when they have these pimped out cigarette vending machines on every corner! Yes that is a red neon light on the bottom there, your eyes are not lying. :D

When I first arrived in Japan I didn’t smoke – and I still don’t (except from those few times I need another source of cancer to get my mind off something). But I bought my first pack of cigarettes here, from a vending machine on the street. Here in Japan the tobacco companies redesign packaging and product, and launch (as well as relaunch) them throughout the year. It’s basically just like any other product on the market to attract and keep customers. In 2008 Taspo cards were introduced to prevent minors (that’s anyone under the age of 20 over here!) from purchasing tobacco products from vending machines.

What is it like in the other corners of the world? Are tobacco companies allowed to attract customers by pimping their product like this or is this just another case of what I have come to see as “The Japanese Way”?

In Japan it’s customary for girls to give guys chocolate on Valentine’s Day. For many (if not most) members of the female population hired at some company that means they have to get chocolate for the guys at their office.

But it also means girls will do something special for their guys. And this sure is one of the cutest efforts I’ve ever seen. I feel so special! :D

Better not forget about White Day…

A Domino’s Pizza’s (probably hopefully limited to Japan) Valentine’s Day special pizza. OH THE NOVELTY! :D

On the other hand, this isn’t such a bad idea in a country where owning an oven is a privilege and not a given.

これはあまりおいしくないよな。。。

A in 2007 Square Enix launched a soft drink in collaboration with Suntory (remember “Suntory Whiskey” from Lost in Translation? it’s a real company) to celebrate the release of their Final Fantasy VII 10th; a canned soft drink called “Anniversary Potion“.

　

Well, they’re at it again with another soft drink in connection to the release of Final Fantasy XIII (out since mid-December here in Japan); the Final Fantasy XIII Potion Elixer.

Final Fantasy XIII is coming out next week, be prepared for the sleepless nights. Square Enix is releasing a series of lemon flavored elixirs for the gamers. They contain caffeine, vitamin B1 and B6, take a break and take a swig and you’ll be fully charged for the next stage or the next battle.

Well, let me just be brutally honest and admit – it tastes horrible. But if you’re a fan of the series I’m sure that won’t stop you from ordering and telling yourself it’s absolutely delicious and replenishes your HP when you drink it.

Japan loves foreigners. Foreigners that fit their impression of what a foreigner should be. A lot of times it’s the lean, blond model look with piercing blue eyes that sets the bar for expectations.

I’m registered with a few companies that contact me from time to time about work offers, especially small part-time jobs aimed towards the foreign population in Japan. I was e-mailed about one today, and while reading through the conditions here’s what I stumbled across:

【内容】
自動車のオークション会場での、チラシ、ティッシュ配り
(Translation: Handing out tissue packets [with small flyers in them] and leaflets at a Car Auction even)

…

なお、条件としては、日本語が判り、金髪の方となります。
(Translation: As far as conditions are concerned, the person needs to understand Japanese and be blond.)

And there you go. Want to hand out some tissues and leaflets and get paid for it? You better blond up then!

お久しぶり！Are you having a fantastic 2010? Here’s something to make it even more fantastic!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW.
No wonder Japan is a little different!
(Fun Fact: You might recognize this as the original concept leading to POWER RANGERS!)

This photo sums up what I’m doing on my Christmas vacation here in Norway.
この一枚の写真で僕のクリスマスバケーションの要約できると思う…

CHILLAXING.

There are 124 United States military bases in Japan.