Planet Tokyo News
- Art In The Streets - Japanese Style
February 8, 2006
Chances are you have a image in your head when you hear the words "Japanese art". You probably imagine a Ukiyoe print of Mount Fuji or perhaps a Sumi painting. You almost certainly are not reminded of the covers over sewer holes. Yet, that's exactly where you'll find a unique form of Japanese arts.
« read more » - Goodbye Robot, Hello Robot
February 3, 2006
Planet Tokyo's love for robots knows no bounds, and it's with great sadness that we say goodbye to Sony's Aibo, that lovable little robotic dog known for its unique personality, stubborn streak (building a little defiance into a robot is pure genius), and scampering gait. As the tiny robot lopes off into the sunset, a giant robot, designed to help in avalanches, is making the scene.
« read more » - Early Morning, Tokyo Time
January 30, 2006
You will say, as you read this, that you're not really a fish market kind of person. It's not that you have anything against fish, but, well, you don't need to be that close to your food. It's enough that fresh fish is delivered to your restaurant of choice and prepared according to your needs. Then, around 4 or 5 a.m. on your first morning in Tokyo, you will rethink this stance. Suddenly, oddly, nothing seems like more fun than heading to the Tsukiji Fish Market.
« read more » - The Secret To Japan's Robot Dominance
January 24, 2006
If you are of a certain age you probably grew up believing that by the early 21st century we'd all live in a world of human-like robot servants. We were promised a veritable utopia of robotic cooking and cleaning that has yet to materialize. Instead, the best we have is a small disk that scoots around the house vacuuming up pet hair. Unless you live in Japan, robot capital of the world.
« read more » - Remembering The Trip, One Rubber Stamp At A Time
January 20, 2006
Somewhere in the Planet Tokyo archives is the evidence: I once underwent a week-long rubber stamp obsession. I think my first stamp came from the Tokyo Stock Exchange -- memories become hazy after time -- and continued, at least, through ten museums and various parks. The goal was simple: visit the venue and prove by placing a rubber stamp in my journal.
« read more » - Apples: The New Luxury Fruit
January 12, 2006
To an American, the prices of fresh fruits and vegetables in Tokyo are outrageously expensive. The first time you see a $100 watermelon, you think it's either a joke or, well, a really bad joke. A watermelon, even a square one, should fall within the realm of reasonably priced -- and $100 is rarely considered a reasonable price.
« read more » - Urban Planner Fights Ugly Japan
January 8, 2006
It's no secret that Tokyo is not one of the world's most attractive cities. Between wars, earthquakes, fires, and generally bad urban planning, Tokyo's inner beauty has been largely buried under what appears to be a random jumble of concrete and steel.
« read more » - How To Avoid Over-Crowded Trains
January 5, 2006
Until you've been squished from all sides riding the subway in Tokyo during morning rush hour, you cannot say that you've truly experienced a crowded train. New Yorkers might complain, but we've never seen a subway car there packed to capacity. Helpful white-gloved attendants packing people into cars might seem like a cliche, until you've been shoved into the empty space created by two people exhaling simultaneously. Physical contact with your fellow passengers is unavoidable -- leading to a growing problem with groping.
« read more » - The Influence of Japanese Art
December 29, 2005
As viewers of Samurai Champloo know, there is a long tradition of Japanese influence on Western art. Of course, if you did indeed learn this tidbit from watching anime, it is clear proof that someone forgot to pay attention during art history class. Then again, if you're watching anime, you're following in the footsteps of luminaries such as Vincent Van Gogh.
« read more » - Going To The Dogs
December 10, 2005
Birth rates in Japan might be declining, but dog ownership is rising. While Planet Tokyo maintains a feline-only environment, we can appreciate the benefits of dogs: they're easier to attach to a leash and take to the park. And for the childless, dogs fill a powerful void.
« read more » - Japan Braces For The Son of Cool Biz
November 20, 2005
It seems like only yesterday that we were following the progress of the Japanese government's energy saving Cool Biz initiative. As you'll recall, this past summer saw Tokyo's iconic Salarymen agonizing over the prospects of casual dress as thermostats in office buildings around the country were set to 82 degrees (F). Government sponsored fashion shows were no help. Instead, the Salarymen chose to grin and sweat it out.
« read more » - Towel Incident At The Westin Tokyo
October 18, 2005
I blame Douglas Adams for what happened during our last two days in Tokyo. It's because of him that we always take towels with us whenever we travel. Sure, the Westin Tokyo has towels, but we were unsure of what to expect from the budget ryokan on our side-trip to Kyoto. As a result, we lugged a couple of our best bath towels half way around the world "just in case".
« read more » - Budget Tokyo Becoming a Reality
October 8, 2005
Most people have a perception of Tokyo that can be summed up in a single word -- expensive. The thought of $80 melons and $200 cab rides scares travelers so much that many simply avoid Tokyo entirely, mistakenly assuming the city is a destination exclusively for the super-rich and executives on expense accounts.
« read more » - Is Japan Heading Toward Only Three Levels of Politeness?
September 5, 2005
We never thought we'd be old. Somehow, being the cranky old person who muttered under his or her breath about those rotten kids didn't fit the image we had of ourselves. That being said, we have embraced crankiness to the point where we embarked upon the behavior far before our time.
« read more » - August Robot Update
August 22, 2005
Here is a question for the ages: why is it that male (or ostensibly male) robots look like fat white spacemen while female (and we use the term loosely) robots look like Barbie dolls? Is it because the coolest Cylons on Battlestar Galactica are the women?
« read more »