Don’t forget to check out the Mexican wave pool action in the embedded video below.

Image source: JapanTrends

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A-OjgqBO78

Fist bump to Loco in Yokohama for shining the bat-signal from the rooftop of his blog in his call for submissions to the Summer 2011 edition of Hot Fun in the Summertime! He rocked the house with the Summer 2010 edition with a groove so funktagious that he is here to do it all again. Check out my submission from last year: Beers, beaches and bikinis.

LLP.

Related posts:

1. Tokyo Rockabilly Club
2. Weird Japanese Pepsi Flavours
3. Australia at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics
4. Nuts Bang!!!
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Image source: Michael John Grist

These rebels without a cause can be found in Harajuku’s Yoyogi Park on a Sunday decked out in retro threads, donning psychobilly pompadours and towering quiffs, and gyrating to a boombox blasting rockabilly tunes of yesteryear as if Elvis had never left the building.

Image source: Lars Borges

The rockabilly style first emerged in Japan in 1958 when thousands of teenagers, heavily influenced by the new “rockabilly” music that had recently swept the U.S., fashioned a so-called “rokabiri-bumu” (rockabilly boom), the first popular culture movement of post-Occupation Japan.

Image source: Flickr

The influence of this musical genre and its fanatical following proved short-lived with the style waning in the 1960s, but during the late 1970s and early 1980s, rockabilly enjoyed a major revival of popularity reappearing on the streets of Harajuku.

Image source: Flickr

Harajuku had become a mecca for youth and youth fashion and saw groups of teenagers, such as the “takenoko-zoku” (bamboo shoot tribe), convened on the streets dressed in garish clothes and dancing to portable music. Within this landscape fifties nostalgia was resurrected and the rock ‘n’ roller relics of a bygone era, precursors to the new wave urban tribes – the gothic lolita and cosplayers – have been entertaining onlookers in Yoyogi Park ever since.

Image source: Grizzly Bear Modern

The official music video for “Nothing To Worry About” by Swedish indie rock band Peter Bjorn and John from their album Living Thing features the Tokyo Rockabilly Club in Yoyogi Park.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwcaQ3qJ88U

LLP.

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Below is footage from a tourist who was on the observation deck of the 4,000 tonne steel structure at the time that the massive earthquake struck, probably one of the last places that you would want to be during the 5th largest earthquake in recorded history. Japan’s strict building codes are no doubt responsible for saving a lot of lives and preventing plenty of damage.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwAeNxLW1Ew

LLP.

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My memories of this winter wonderland are not as fond but instead a traumatic recollection reminiscent of a virgin skier, deflowered and defiled on the slopes of northern Honshu. The story of the Purple Sumo of Naeba.

We arrived in Yuzawa after a 200 km road trip from Tokyo. First stop was a ski hire shop to stock up on all the necessary gear that a skier needs. This was my first time skiing, so I had no idea what to expect. Things were going well and with the help of the friendly staff we had our feet measured, ski boots fitted, bindings adjusted and promptly accessorised with poles, gloves and skis. All that was left was to be fitted with ski suits.

My ski buddies measured up well and the choices available to them appeared to be abundant. For me, I wasn’t so lucky. The staff trawled through the racks of ski apparel in search of large size ski wear, they come up bare. Heads bowed, the rental staff humbly apologised that they had failed in their mission and politely advised that they were unable to accommodate.

Dejected I thanked the staff for their efforts and solemnly made my way back to the car pondering how I would entertain myself on the snowfields without snow gear. My cohorts were disappointed that they would not be able to see me depucelated on the ski fields and deprived of my skiing virginity. Just as we were about to drive off, when all was thought to be lost, a sales guy came running out of the store desperately yelling for me to return.

“Chotto matte kudasai, wait, come back!”. He ushered me back into the store explaining that there was one last option.

“We have a ski suit stored in our stockroom that we have reserved for visiting sumo wrestlers who come here to ski.” he said with a wry smile on his face.

My luck had turned, I momentarily thought, as I was presented with a big lump of purple material. I tried on the sumo-sized snow suit to see if it fitted. You literally could have fitted three of me into the one suit.

“I’ll take it!” I said hesitantly but excited that my ski adventure was now back on.

All geared up we headed for the nearby Naeba Ski Resort, a glitzy ski resort perched on Mount Takenoko amidst the forested Mikuni mountain ranges. The Naeba Ski Resort also boasts being home to the Fuji Rock Festival, the largest outdoor music event in Japan. As we arrived at the resort, the blanket of white snow that adorned the mountains in the backdrop persuaded us to suit up and hit the ski field right away.

On the slopes, any first-time skiers feelings of trepidation or hesitation were quickly obfuscated by the attention I received the moment that I donned the big, purple sumo ski suit. My ultra-poor skiing style was overshadowed by my abnormal ski attire. People were smirking and sniggering, pointing and staring. A small crowd started to gather around me as if they were waiting for me to start a show. Little kids would ski past me and yell “Hey, look, there’s Barney the Dinosaur”.

Aside from being an object of humiliating ridicule, I really enjoyed my first time skiing in the picturesque surroundings of the Naeba Ski Resort. Although, I have never skied since.

This article is a submission for the Japan Blog Matsuri hosted by Blue Shoe over at Just Another Day In Japan with the theme “Japan Firsts”.

LLP.

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At a love hotel, you can “rest” – check in for a few hours – or “stay” – spend the night. Rates vary between establishments, a sign outside will usually have hours and rates.

Entrances are discreet and interaction with staff is minimised, with rooms selected from a panel of buttons and the bill settled by a pair of hands behind a pane of frosted glass.

Following is a list of ten decorated love hotel room themes where you can have your own sexual misadventure by living out your kinky, erotic and naughty fantasies.

1. The Space Odyssey

To infinity and beyond!

2. Hello Kitty S&M Room

The kinky side of Hello Kitty. If you thought the Hello Kitty vibrators sounded fun, maybe you should try the Hello Kitty S&M room.

3. The Chikan Express

Tired of the “Please do it at home” poster campaign? Frustrated you can’t ride in the women-only passenger car? Live out your chikan fantasies and dodge the anti-groping laws in this train carriage themed room.

4. The Classroom

Time for school you naughty boys & girls!

5. The Gyno Chair

Perfect for the amateur gynecologist and aspiring medical students.

6. The Hentai Anime Room

Lovers of ero manga can live out their ‘ecchi’ fantasies.

7. The Office

Need some extra RAM for your IBM PC?

8. The Japanese Whaler

Bring your harpoon for a bit of humpback.

9. The Library

Do the Dewey and book it with a librarian.

10. The Supply Cupboard

Indulge in your forbidden ō eru (office lady) fantasy.

If you intend to visit a Love Hotel in Japan an essential companion is The Japanese-English Guide to Sex, Kink and Naughtiness. It contains an exhaustive collection of over 500 sexy, kinky and naughty words and descriptions not found in ordinary dictionaries or language guides.

Sources:

1. Satellite of Love: Vanishing Beauty of Japanese Love Hotels
2. Misty Keasler

LLP.

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When the lights turn red at this busy crossing vehicles stop in all directions allowing pedestrians to billow across the teeming junction.

Shibuya Crossing

The video below shows the organised chaos of the pedestrian scramble.

LLP.

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Umeda Sky Building

After alighting from a fast-moving glass elevator, an escalator transports you through midair to a rooftop observatory that offers a 360° open-air view of Osaka. At 173 meters high, the Umeda Sky Building overlooks the dynamic panorama of Osaka’s boundless cityscape from the 40th floor.

Mid Air Elevator

Looking Across The Floating Garden Observatory

View North

View South

View East

View West

In the basement, there is the “Takimi Lane of Restaurants” that reproduces a street in the gourmet town of Osaka from the early Showa era. Word on the street was that the restaurant Kiji (in the basement of the Umeda Sky Building) was the best place in town for Okonomiyaki. We dropped by for a bite and did not leave disappointed.

Kiji's Okonomiyaki

Kiji Noren

Twilight View from Hotel Room

Image credits (because my photos didn’t turn out as good):

1. Wikipedia, The Floating Garden Observatory
2. Wikipedia, View North
3. Wikipedia, View South
4. Wikipedia, View East
5. Wikipedia, View West

LLP.

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A few years back I managed to get myself outside Tokyo and headed to the countryside intent on climbing Mt. Fuji, the tallest and most famous mountain in Japan. Accompanied by a few mates we set out to take on Japan’s greatest mountain.

Mount Fuji, Japan (image credit: webshots)

We planned a night-time ascent, starting the journey at around 9.00pm from the Fifth Station with a goal to get to the top in time to watch the sun rise, which was said to be around 4.53am. The summit of Mount Fuji has an elevation of 3,776 metres above sea-level.

Mount Fuji (image credit: wikipedia)

At first, the climb was quite pleasant. It was basically just walking uphill on a shallow incline. But after the 6th station, it got rough and quickly turned from a walk to a hike to a climb. At many points, we literally had to use all four limbs to pull ourselves up craggy rocks in the dark.

All traces of vegetation had disappeared early. The top part of Fuji is barren rock, with endless switchbacks leading upwards. We continued in this manner into the night. Although the mountain itself was not very pretty, we had a very inspiring view of the stars. We could also see some lights of the cities below.

The terrain of Mount Fuji

The terrain of Mount Fuji

At around 10.30pm it started to rain. It was rainy, windy and cold. We had all invested in a plastic poncho at the base of Mount Fuji, but with the weather conditions, the poncho was rendered useless. By 1.00am we were becoming quite exhausted, wet and cold. Sitting on a rock shivering we decided to pay Y5,000 for a brief stop in a hut where we could lie on a futon by a small wood fire.

Struggling to leave the comforts of the hut we finally motivated ourselves to re-embark on the journey at around 3.20am. However, we were still 3 hours from the top which meant that we were behind schedule to make it for the sunrise. We started to really make tracks up the mountain however due to the altitude we were also contending with shortness of breath.

Fuji Sunrise

Fuji Sunrise

Fuji Sunrise

When it started to become light, we had gained a renewed energy and made some good time up the mountain. By the time the sun started to rise, we were right near the top.

The sunrise was a spectacular sight. The weather was cloudy, but we were above the clouds. It was like looking at the tops of clouds from an airplane. As the sun rose, the carpet of clouds lit up in orange, red, and yellow, and at about 5.00am, the sun burst brilliantly above the cloud cover to illuminate the entire sky.

On top of Mount Fuji there are vending machines, street stalls and even a public telephone. I managed to call a couple of people in Australia. The oxygen on the top was sparse and on occasions I felt dizzy. Many of the Japanese climbers overcame the lack of oxygen by puffing on a cigarette.

Fuji Landscape

Fuji Crater

Fuji Shrine

Fuji Shrine

This article is a submission for the Japan Blog Matsuri hosted by Todd’s Wanderings.

LLP.

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Hiroshima is the first city in history subjected to nuclear warfare when the nuclear weapon ‘Little Boy’ was dropped on the city by the B-29 bomber Enola Gay on August 6, 1945 during World War II. The city was destroyed and an estimated 80,000 people were directly killed by the bomb.

Following are some of the monuments and memorials found in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park:

A-Bomb Dome

The A-Bomb Dome, almost the hypocenter of the atomic bomb blast, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The uranium bomb detonated almost directly above this building. Surprisingly, the skeletal remains are one of only a few buildings to survive the blast.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial, commonly called the Atomic Bomb Dome or A-Bomb Dome

Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound

A grassy knoll that contains the ashes of 70,000 unidentifed victims of the bomb.

Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound

Children’s Peace Monument

A statue dedicated to the memory of the children who died as a result of the bombing. Inspired by the true story of Sadako Sasaki , a young girl who died from radiation from the bomb, who believed that if she folded 1,000 paper cranes she would be cured. Unfortunately she never reached her goal and, to this day, children from around the world fold cranes and send them to Hiroshima where they are placed at this monument.

Children's Peace Monument

The Peace Flame

Burned continuously since it was lit in 1964, it is said that it will remain lit until all nuclear bombs on the planet are destroyed.

The Peace Flame

Memorial Cenotaph

Representing a shelter for the souls of the victims the cenotaph holds the names of all of the people killed by the bomb. The Peace Flame and A-Bomb Dome can be seen through this monument.

Memorial Cenotaph

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Dedicated to educating visitors about the bomb, the following two images had a long-standing effect showing the contrast of the city of Hiroshima before and after destruction.

Hiroshima Before Destruction

Hiroshima After Destruction

Check out some further photos over at Neil Duckett’s site.

LLP.

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This was my third time in Kyoto. On my second trip back in 2003, I disappointed zoomz (my wife) by abandoning her well prepared temple tour itinerary in lieu of a pub crawl of every British and Irish drinking establishment I could find.

This time around, in an effort to maintain peace time relations with zoomz, I submitted to the Kyoto Protocol. Following are a few highlights.

Kinkaku-ji (The Golden Pavilion Temple)

Originally built in 1397 as a retirement villa for the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the Golden Pavilion Temple is set in a Japanese strolling garden on the edge of the Mirror Pond. The original structure was burnt down by some rogue, suicidal monk in 1950. The present day structure was built in 1955.

Kinkaku-ju (The Golden Pavilion Temple)

Ginkaku-ji (The Silver Pavilion Temple)

Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the grandson of the dude who built the Golden Pavilion Temple, kick-started the idea for the Silver Pavilion Temple back in 1460 but construction didn’t commence until 1482. It’s affectionately known as the Silver Pavilion Temple because apparently the original plan was to cover the exterior with silver foil.

The sand garden of Ginkaku-ji is pretty tranquil. The well-crafted pile of sand in the middle is supposedly meant to represent Mount Fuji. On the day that we were there, the main temple structure was undergoing some repairs and was covered in scaffolding so the first image below is courtesy of Wikipedia.

Ginkakuji (The Silver Pavilion Temple)

The sand garden of Ginkaku-ji

The sand garden of Ginkaku-ji

Kiyomizu-dera

The temple dates back to 798, and its present buildings were constructed in 1633. Impressively, not one nail was used in the whole temple! Kiyomizu means clear water, or pure water.

The verandah off of the main hall has an impressive view of Kyoto. The expression “to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu” is the Japanese equivalent of the English expression “to take the plunge”. Meaning, if you were to jump from the stage and survive the 13 metre fall, your wish would be granted.

Kiyomizu-dera

A deva gate with pagoda in background

View of Kyoto

Ash checks out the statuettes of Ksitigarbha

A couple of girls living out their geisha dreams

Chion-in

The original temple was built in 1234. Numerous buildings in the complex were burnt down in 1633, but were entirely rebuilt by the third Tokugawa Shogun Iemitsu with the palatial structures that stand today.

A large stone stairway called ‘otokozaka’ leads to the temple’s main precinct. The ‘otokozaka’ was used in the 2003 film The Last Samurai in a scene where the character played by Tom Cruise climbs the stairs en route to a meeting with the emperor.

Mieido, Chion-in's main hall

Ash at Chion-in

Stairway leading up to Chion-in

Digitally enhanced stairway from 'The Last Samurai'

Yasaka Shrine

Built originally in 656 it is a Shinto shrine in the Gion District once called Gion Shrine.

Yasaka Shrine

Lanterns at Yasaka Shrine

LLP.

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