TOKYOMANGO

Answer to "Just Say No" Pop Quiz

The answer to last week's train ad pop quiz is: A and C.

The ad reads: "We all hate violent acts in trains and train stations."

And the subhed says: "Let's create a safe environment in trains and at stations for passengers and staff by getting rid of violence, train perverts, and destructive behavior."

It's a collaborative campaign by all 21 train companies in Japan, including JR East and Tokyo Metro, that started last July.

Press release (Japanese)

The Grumpy Hello Kitty Donut Man

This man is scary-looking, and very grumpy, and very serious. But his sole job tonight is to sell little Doraemon and Hello Kitty-shaped donuts at a local holiday festival. You should see him flip them over in that little baking machine of his. He's very professional about it. Even though he didn't say a word to me as I bought a bag of 30 Kittys for 500 yen, deep inside I think he's a softie. When I asked him if I could take pictures, he grunted yes. Thanks sweet man!

Candy That Makes You Horny

Happy 2007! Tokyo's the city of the future--literally. It's already next year here. Tomorrow, it will be 2008. And you all will still be popping champagne corks for the end of '06.

But regardless of when we welcome the new year, we can all use a little action, right? So for those of us who don't get to default back to a bedroom partner, there's this wonderful Japanese candy.

It's called "The candy that will make you want to do horny things...maybe."

 

Nikko's Temperature Dance

Nikko is my brother's best friend. He loves spam musubi, Sai Baba, and the New York Knicks. He's usually pretty quiet and I didn't know he could dance like this until I saw this video.

Tonki's Pork Cutlet Assembly Line

Tonki is one of the oldest and best pork cutlets restaurants in Tokyo. Although hipsters say newer joints (like Tenshin, which is right down the street) are more tasty, I like eating here better because you get to watch a real traditional Japanese trade--tonkatsu-making--in action.

Pictured here are three Tonki chefs hard at work. Each one plays a crucial role in delivering one of the most well put together pork cutlet plates you'll ever get. The guy on the far left is the breader. He takes each pork filet and dips it in egg, then dips it in flour, then dips it in egg again, then flour again, and finally breads it before tossing it in the giant metal canisters behind him.