17 Mar
It's springtime in Japan and that means one thing.
Actually, two things. Penis festivals and vagina festivals.
It may sound like a sophomoric gag. But these are folk rites going back at least 1,500 years, into Japan's agricultural past. They're held to ensure a good harvest and promote baby-making. One of the best-known penis festivals is at Komaki City's Tagata shrine, about 45 minutes outside Nagoya, every March 15. In a neighboring village, a vagina festival is held the Sunday before that. (Global Post)
It's springtime in Japan and that means one thing.
Actually, two things. Penis festivals and vagina festivals.
It may sound like a sophomoric gag. But these are folk rites going back at least 1,500 years, into Japan's agricultural past. They're held to ensure a good harvest and promote baby-making. One of the best-known penis festivals is at Komaki City's Tagata shrine, about 45 minutes outside Nagoya, every March 15. In a neighboring village, a vagina festival is held the Sunday before that. (Global Post)18 Oct
It dangles down from Nagoya, dividing Ise Bay from Mikawa Bay in the inglorious shape of one of yesterday's socks. While the upper, northern end soaks up the industrial overspill from Japan's fourth-largest city, its southern half works as a calming antidote to the madding metropolitan crowd. It goes by the name of the Chita Peninsula. (Japan Times)
It dangles down from Nagoya, dividing Ise Bay from Mikawa Bay in the inglorious shape of one of yesterday's socks. While the upper, northern end soaks up the industrial overspill from Japan's fourth-largest city, its southern half works as a calming antidote to the madding metropolitan crowd. It goes by the name of the Chita Peninsula. (Japan Times)16 Oct
Nagoya has been the cornerstone of Japanese pottery and porcelain manufacturing for centuries and at the heart of this burgeoning industry is the celebrated name of Noritake.
Japan's leading purveyor of fine bone china, it is famous for its delicate use of colours and hand-painted designs.
If you are a lover of this exquisite tableware, a visit to the Noritake Garden complex in the centre of Nagoya is a must. (stuff.co.nz)
Nagoya has been the cornerstone of Japanese pottery and porcelain manufacturing for centuries and at the heart of this burgeoning industry is the celebrated name of Noritake.
Japan's leading purveyor of fine bone china, it is famous for its delicate use of colours and hand-painted designs.
If you are a lover of this exquisite tableware, a visit to the Noritake Garden complex in the centre of Nagoya is a must. (stuff.co.nz)20 Aug
To many Japanese, the closest they will ever get to a sumotori - just one of several words employed in Japanese to describe a professional sumo wrestler, - is at one of the six annual honbasho tournaments held in Tokyo (3), Osaka (1), Nagoya (1) and Fukuoka (1).
Few will ever think of attending a morning training session known as asageiko.- (Japan Times)
To many Japanese, the closest they will ever get to a sumotori - just one of several words employed in Japanese to describe a professional sumo wrestler, - is at one of the six annual honbasho tournaments held in Tokyo (3), Osaka (1), Nagoya (1) and Fukuoka (1).
Few will ever think of attending a morning training session known as asageiko.- (Japan Times)11 Aug
Even though commercial operation of a super high-speed magnetically levitated train is still years away, local communities are desperately jockeying to land a station in their areas.
Dubbed linear motor cars, the maglev trains, which are capable of speeds in excess of 500 kph, will link Tokyo and Nagoya in just 40 minutes.
They are scheduled to go into service in 2025. (Asahi)
Even though commercial operation of a super high-speed magnetically levitated train is still years away, local communities are desperately jockeying to land a station in their areas.
Dubbed linear motor cars, the maglev trains, which are capable of speeds in excess of 500 kph, will link Tokyo and Nagoya in just 40 minutes.
They are scheduled to go into service in 2025. (Asahi)