Is this cigarette vending machine advertisement limited to just machines in Japan? Do those who smoke it in Japan really like to smoke it? Is Village People smoker fashion the new gay in the land of the rising sun?
Whatever the motivation behind this ad campaign is, it’s a bit disturbing.

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I think it prudent that when marketing a beer to those whose existences are much less than adequately fulfilling, a beer company should spice up the drink’s name a little.
Oh, well… Maybe this is the new-type straightforward thinking of Japan in the new millenium.

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If you’re like me, you’re a spirit free enough to take it slow, even in a public restroom stall.
Often, I see the Babytrapper in Tokyo public toilets, but until recently, I never paid attention to the instructions for use.

1. 目を離さない - Don’t take your eyes off the baby.
Wat?! What else is the Babytrapper for than [...]

Came across this video this morning.
Apparently, it’s the work of a Japanese student done for his final thesis. There are both English and Japanese versions available, but I’ve only included the English one here.

Japan-The Strange Country (English ver.) from Kenichi on Vimeo.

What do you think?
Taken from Kenichi’s Vimeo page.
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Last night, I foolishly got suckered into a heated debate with a Japanese friend on the issue of extending voting rights to foreigners with permanent residency. Opponents of a new bill granting foreigners voting rights tend to strongly claim that Zainichi Koreans living in Japan would take advantage of the system by continuing to refuse [...]

I always knew Doraemon was a whore for cash. Just you watch, he’s gonna get caught up in chasing fat stacks and forget poor little Nobita-kun, leaving him to his loser destiny, likely blowing guys in some Roppongi basement bar just to scrape by.

I Facebooked this photo and a friend of mine asked, “What does [...]

You ever been to the Shimokita?
Lots of Japan noobs come to the Shimokita because they hear it’s a good place to buy vintage Levis or that it’s full of cheap drinking establishments that have cool, laid-back atmospheres. However, many a young gaijin punk-ass biyatch have come to the Shimokita looking for the next sweet Tokyo [...]

He may have been the most despised rikishi in Sumo, but there’s no denying he was the best. Well, still is the best since his retirement only came last week.
At 29, and as strong as ever, Asashoryu should not be retiring.
So what if he rubbed some Sumo purists the wrong way. So what if he [...]

Ok, Tokyo Filter has been around for a couple of years and this is the third incarnation of the site. However, it now serves as my blog, the same way 7:10 to Tokyo did.
The reason for the switch? Well, 7:10 was originally meant to be a blogazine with several contributors, and in the beginning, it [...]

Ever seen the movie, The Cincinnati Kid with Steve McQueen? Well, if you’re someone who likes movies, you should see this one. If you’re someone who likes poker, you should see it. In fact, if you’re someone who likes poker, likes movies, especially movies about poker, and you haven’t seen The Cincinnati Kid, what the [...]

For the last several years, I’ve renewed my visa at the Yokohama Immigration Office in Motomachi. While the process was fairly painless for me until last year, I was always disappointed to receive a one-year visa each time. Several friends and acquaintances had received three-year visas through the Shinagawa office by that time and I [...]