Back in 2007 we did a fairly intense tour of France. The last major leg of the trip was a visit to the Champagne region in north-eastern France. From Normandy we drove across the north of France bound for Reims, a city of the Champagne-Ardenne region.

Moët et Chandon marker stone

Here it is, the January 2010 edition of “Gekkan J-News Review”, a monthly wrap of five entertaining articles, events or observations related to Japan that piqued my interest. Not always mainstream and sometimes obscure yet invariably intriguing.

Fuji, Tramontane by CJW

In the off season Mt Fuji is prone to extremely unstable weather conditions. This didn’t stop one adventurer as he embarked on a lonesome and grueling climb of the highest mountain in Japan. Read his inspiring story which makes my climb more like a walk in the park.

The Japanese Passenger on the Titanic by Peter Payne

Not so famous employee of the Japanese Transportation Ministry, Masabumi Hosono, the only Japanese aboard the Titanic and survivor. On return home to Japan was attacked by the Japanese press for living fending off calls for him to commit suicide to atone for his dishonorable act. Read more.

Ruins of the Japanese Sex Industry by Michael John Grist

Michael John Grist searches and explores the abandoned ruins of Japan, a past-time known as ‘haikyo’. In the first of a series he explores the ruins of the Japanese sex industry and uncovers rotting, desolate and decaying love hotels, brothels and Turkish baths (‘Soaplands’). Read more.

Giant Robots by Muza-chan

“Robot anime” (ロボット, robotto), also known as “mecha”, is a Japanese animation genre featuring walking robots usually controlled by pilots. Muza-chan presents the top 6 life-size replicas of giant robot tourist attractions from various parts of Japan. Read more.

Shibuya Streets Vol 9 by Shibuya246

The “Shibuya Streets” series is a set of posts with pictures of the action from street level in Shibuya. Featured here is Volume 9 of the series as Shibuya246 explores Dogenzaka including shots of the Shibuya scramble crossing and the Shibuya 109. Read more.

February 2010 Gekkan J-News Review »

The Shibuya Crossing, hailed as the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world, is the famous intersection located in front of the Shibuya Station Hachikō exit.

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

Shibuya Crossing

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