The iconic Tokyo Tower, a communications and observation tower standing at 332.6 metres (1,091 ft), withstood Friday’s ferocious 8.9-magnitude quake that struck Japan with minor damage. The tower, which is 13 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower, appears to have only suffered a bent tip as a result of the devastating earthquake.
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.
My very first apartment in the Land of the Rising Sun was affectionately known as “Funky Town”. When I first arrived in Japan my company had allocated me a modest monthly allowance to cover property rental and furniture. I was excited to get out there and get my pad sorted, but before heading off on a spending spree I fired off a question to my manager to get the low-down on what expenses the accommodation budget would cover. The response was that I could spend the amount on anything that I wanted, and as a demonstration of the broadness of the scope, by way of example my manager said that if I wanted to I could spend the whole amount on prostitutes each month and sleep in the gutter just as long as I got receipts from the prostitutes.
Armed with this directive, and being a single guy, I rented an unfurnished apato in a cool part of town. The only furniture that I bought was a one-seater leather recliner, a big arse TV. Oh, and a bed. I used the remaining amount of the budget on essentials like black lights, strobe lights and lava lamps. For the complete effect, I plastered my ceiling with a constellation of those tacky glow-in-the-dark self-adhesive stars and planets. Thus, “Funky Town” was born. A bachelor stronghold and popular party pad.
When it came time to tie one on in celebration (or is that commiseration?) of a buddy’s pending nuptials, “Funky Town” was nominated as the starting point for the festivities of the evening. We decided to kick-start the night with a few looseners at “Funky Town” before moving onto further debauchery in what was being touted as a surrogate bachelor party (or stag, buck or bull party depending where you are from). Given that the number one rule at a bachelor party is to humiliate the bachelor, our man Nick was requested to be attired in a Pink Power Ranger outfit for the duration of the evening. Like a champ, Nick, without argument, donned the garb and everyone queued for a photo with Mr Pink.
The February 2011 edition of the Japan Blog Matsuri brings to you eighteen fantastic submissions from around the blogosphere presenting to you articles related to the theme “Famous Japanese Events”. Participants were asked to tell us about a current or historical notable occurrence related to Japan. The possibilities were endless. It could have been a current event, a recreational event, an historical event, a religious event, a sporting event, a cultural event, an entertainment event, a political event, a social event. The event did not necessarily have to occur in Japan but it must have been related to Japan.
There’s something here for everyone, so take a swig of your sake, swallow down your sushi and enjoy the ride.
Billy
lina
aidan bob
C Ohara
chris
Goukaseishi
Hello Beautiful
Japan Australia
Jen
Ken Seeroi
