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Here in Japan you see some pretty funny names given
to cars. A few examples that come to mind are:
-Every
-Let’s
-Town Box
-Guppy
I wonder how many hits of acid it takes for the marketing
teams to come up with some of these names?
And if these are the names that “cut the mustard”
and were good enough to be selected I can just imagine
the ones that were dropped.
Here is my cut on some names that might not have passed
muster:
-Almost
-What if
-What’s
-Can You
-Did You
-Would You
-Should You?
-My Room
-Stiff Squid (This sounds like a great name for a stock
index fund by the way...)
-Soba Rocket
-Mochi Magic
-Smile
-Turbo Snail
-Air Geta (Sounds more like a shoe name...)
-Sake River
-Planet Wagon
-Manga Fish
-Scoopy Go
-Tinfoil Can
-Peppy
Can anyone else think of some catchy car names?
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A Singapore based photo magazine called GRAIN has decided
to do an article about blogs and will be referencing
Sushicam as well as using some of my
photos for the article. I think GRAIN is only sold in
Singapore, Malaysia ad Thailand, so don’t expect
to see it on your local newsstand unless you happen
to live in one of those countries.
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I’m not sure when it all started, but kanji tattoos
seem to be all the rage these days. (Not really here
in Japan, but outside Japan they do seam to be popular)
A friend of mine recently told me about a funny story
involving a foreigner getting a kanji tattoo. Here is
how it goes:
A Japanese woman who was living in Australia was practicing
some calligraphy one day when an Australian guy noticed
and complemented her on
her beautiful writing. (Which means: he was trying to
get into her pants)
After a little more small talk (and realizing he was
not going to get into her pants) he then asked her how
to write “Cool Guy” in kanji.
Obviously there is no direct kanji translation for
“cool guy” so she decided to get creative.
She thought about it for a minute, trying to think of
something cool…
Ice?... No.
Winter?... No.
Snow?... No.
As an artist she was looking for something a little
less direct, and more creative.
After a little more thought she came up with an idea.
To signify “cool” she used the kanji for
Tofu since a certain tofu dish is served cold (Hiyayakko)
with some green onion and soy sauce. (Very refreshing
on a hot day, and thus "cool")
For “guy” she used the kanji for child.
(“ko”, as in “boy”).
So she proceeded to do her best to write the two kanji
characters in her best flowing script. Upon completion
she handed him the finished work.
He closely inspected it and thanked her for the writing
and tucked it into his pocket and left.
She though nothing more of it. That is, at least not
until the next time she saw him as he proudly showed
her his cool new tattoo....."Hiyayakko Ko"
or literally “Cold Tofu Child”.
True Story.
Following are some links to some similar stories about
foreigners getting tattoos that they did not intend
or necessarily want. There is even a link to a website
that will verify the meaning of kanji characters for
you
prior to putting yourself under the needle and ink.
link
1
link
2
link
3
link
4
I invite you to do a quick google search using the
terms “funny kanji tattoo” and you are sure
to generate a whole bunch of entertaining reading.
--
I have added another video today. It was shot last
summer in Harajuku and showcases a pretty common sight
here in Japan. A young singer or musician playing out
on the street. A good way to get practice in front of
a crowd and there is always that off chance that they
might get "discovered".
See
the video - (5 mb .wmv file)
--
I want to clue you all in to a new Japan based photoblog
named Gaijin
that was recently started by Daren Epstein. Daren lives
near Tokyo and he just started his blog in December
of 2004 so this will be a good chance for you to watch
a(nother) photoblog grow over time.
Obviously if you are coming to Sushicam on a regaular
basis you have an appetite for Japan related photos.
Darens new site should help curb your cravings a little.
Comment 43
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