A visit to statue of Tokyo comedian and COVID casualty Ken Shimura still brings smiles to hometown

Ken Shimura put Higashimurayama on the map, and now Higashimurayama has put up a statue of him.

Like a number of other train stations in Japan, Tokyo’s Higashimurayama Station has a special chime that plays on its platform when trains are arriving or departing. The tune is Higashimurayama City’s local theme song, “Higashimurayama Ondo” (“Higashimurayama March”), but it’s not familiar only to nearby residents. People across Japan know the song, largely thanks to a cover performed by Ken Shimura, one of Japan’s most popular comedians, who was born and grew up in the area.

▼ The Higashimurayama Station chime

However, after nearly 50 years in show business, Shimura passed away in March of 2020 at the age of 70, becoming arguably Japan’s highest-profile loss of life to COVID-19. Recently, Higashimurayama saluted its hometown hero by erecting a life-size bronze statue of the comedian, and we took a ride out to see it for ourselves.

The statue is east to find. Right outside the station’s east exit is a traffic rotary, and on one side of it is a row of three Japanese zelkova trees which were planted in 1977 as Shimura’s cover of “Higashimurayama Ondo” was sweeping the nation. They’ve become known as the “Ken Shimura Trees,” and practically within the shade Of their boughs is where you’ll find the Ken Shimura statue.

One early concept had been to portray Shimura wearing the jeans and Yokosuka jacket that were his preferred fashion in his day-to-day life. Ultimately, though, the designers decided to dress his likeness in a kimono instead. The statue is going to be a permanent part of the neighborhood, and so they wanted to give a more Shimura timeless look than a Yokosuka jacket, a garment that’s gone in and out of vogue multiple times over the past 50 or so years. Seeing a comedian wearing a kimono isn’t so shocking in Japan either, as formal traditional dress is often worn for TV specials at the end of the year or on other important occasions.

Of course, with Shimura having worked in comedy for roughly half a century, a certain amount of silliness is entirely appropriate, and so the statue has him doing his trademark “aiiin” pose with which he regularly punctuated his gags. To get his proportions as close to Shimura’s as possible, the sculptor asked the comedian’s older brother, who’s of a similar build, to act as a model during the design phase.

Behind the statue, which was created after a crowdfunding campaign that raised 27 million yen (US$244,000) from 6,600 donors, is a wall with a composite photo of Shimura, plus a message from the city saying “Thank you for all the smiles and good feelings.”

Being located right outside of a station that runs into Tokyo’s downtown district, there’s a steady flow of people walking by, but on our visit, many of them stopped to appreciate Shimura’s warm smile and snap a photo.

Since we’d come all the way here, we decided to extend our time in Higashimurayama by checking an udon noodle restaurant called Kosegawa, which Shimura had visited as part of a TV program highlighting local sights and businesses.

You can tell right away that the visit was a big day for the restaurant, as they’ve got photos, a screen grab of the program, and even Shimura’s autograph hanging on the wall.

The udon tastes great, but as we happily slurped the noodles, we couldn’t help but realize that if it weren’t for Shimura’s unabashed love for his hometown, we wouldn’t have known about Kosegawa, and if not for being in the neighborhood to see his statue, we wouldn’t have had any occasion to step inside and give them our business. Odds are we’re not the only people that holds true for either.

So even if he’s passed on, Shimura is still here in spirit, and still giving the neighborhood something to smile about.

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Fish wholesaler’s HQ crashes Tokyo Olympic medal ceremony

Hohsui gets gold in photobombing.

Hohsui is a wholesaler and distributor of seafood based in Tokyo, that was founded in 1945 and…uh.

That’s all I know unfortunately. I’d research more but I haven’t been able to access the company’s website for days now. Apparently I’m one of thousands of people trying to learn more about Hohsui recently.

It all began on 25 July, Just as the Tokyo Olympics were getting underway, Japan made history by getting the first gold medals in the first-ever men and women’s skateboarding events. In particular, young Momiji Nishiya became the youngest Japanese gold medalist and the second youngest in the world. Nishiya’s male counterpart Yuto Horigome also had the honor of the very first gold medal in Olympic history

However, amid all this history being made the headquarters of Hohsui (whose logo we did our best to recreate at the top of this article) could be seen standing proudly with the medalists as if it too had just pulled off a frontside shuv nosegrind.

It did no such thing however, and is nothing more than a (photograph) poser.

Clearly, using some arcane power of foresight known only in dark seafood distribution circles, Hohsui knew the Olympics were to be held in Tokyo and would host the first skateboarding event in a park in Koto that had a podium facing south at a time when a global pandemic would force medalists to socially distance in such a way that their headquarters would be all too easy to spot on TV all over the world. So, they chose that exact spot to set up shop.

As a result, social media was flooded with comments about the company. It’s the kind of word of mouth that most businesses dream of.

“Hohsui is a kind of seafood business. I tried to go the website but so did everyone else so I can’t get in.”
“Congratulations Horigome for landing that Hohsui endorsement deal!”
“I’m intrigued by this Hohsui.”
“That Hohsui building is really conspicuous.”
“Hohsui looks really delicious.”
“That company really owes Horigome.”
“This event is just one big commercial for Hohsui.”
“The real winner today is Hohsui.”

It’s the oldest marketing trick in the book and it worked like a charm. Since the medal ceremony, people from all over were intrigued by that building in the background and took to the internet to find out more about it.

It’s also the kind of web traffic that such a company isn’t accustomed to and its webpage had to close temporarily. A spokesperson told NHK “I was really surprised because I didn’t think we would be seen.”

▼ Oh, you were seen alright.

The company added that this hasn’t caused any problems with their day-to-day work but has done wonders for morale among the staff.

So all’s well that ends well. I know I’ll be going to Hohsui next time I need some of whatever it is they do exactly. I’ll figure it out when I can finally open their site.

Source: NHK, Twitter/#ホウスイ
Top image: ©SoraNews24
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Okayama prefecture to receive its first Pokémon-themed manhole covers【Pics】

Okayama? More like Pokéyama!

Pokéfuta, or Pokélids in English, are Pokémon-themed manhole covers which have so far made an appearance in every single region of Japan. While a few prefectures are still waiting for their Pokélids, Okayama has just received its first set with fan-favorite Lucario taking the spotlight.

▼ The Fighting and Steel type Pokémon has even made a special appearance to welcome Okayama’s inaugural Pokélids.

▼ Aura Sphere!

In total, Okayama will have four new Pokélids to debut, and these unique manhole covers will be installed in Kurashiki, which is the prefecture’s second-most populated city and famous for its scenic, well-preserved historical districts. Kurashiki’s Pokélids will also highlight its sightseeing spots and specialties.

For example, this Pokélid on the left with Lucario in the center has the Seto Ohashi Bridge as its background coupled with twin peaches, which are grown locally. The one on the right, with a frolicking Poochyena, and Beautifly features a gorgeous wisteria tree, perhaps referencing the wisteria housed at Kurashiki’s Achi Shrine.

The other two Pokélids focus on Kurashiki’s historical district. On the Pokélid on the left below, an Eldegloss and a Grookey enjoy a ride down one of the city’s traditional canals. The Pokélid on the right, with a male and female Unfezant, emphasize the city’s unique architecture while the blue markings infer to the city’s traditional textile industry.

Similar to previous Pokélids, the new Pokélids will be converted into PokéStops on Pokémon Go, so be sure to bring your smartphone with you when you visit. Adding these four Pokélids to the official nationwide count, 193 Pokélids are now dotted across Japan.

▼ All 193 of Japan’s installed Pokélids.

Given that there’re over 890 different Pokémon across the franchise’s eight generations, there’s no doubt there will be many more Pokélids to come in the future, and hopefully prefectures which haven’t received one yet will soon be graced with Pokémon in town, or at the very least a parade of dancing Pikachus.

Source, images: PR Times
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Japanese artist sells people’s darkest secrets encased in concrete

A novel idea for people who have something they want to get off their chest.

Some people who’ve gone to a convention or festival in Japan over the past four years or so, or even just wandered the streets of Tokyo, might have noticed a woman dressed like a construction worker dragging what looks like a black guard shack with “Himitsuya” (“Secret shop”) written on it.

This woman is Ribeka Kimura, an artist who began dealing in secrets in 2017. Customers to the secret shop need only jot down their deepest darkest secrets, things they would never tell another living soul, and hand it over to Kimura. Kimura then pours concrete over the secret, often in fun and unique designs, and sells them at a price of the customer’s choosing.

The notes are anonymous, so even if a buyer decides to jackhammer away the casing, chances are no harm would come of it. However, the simple act of letting a secret out has proven to be a liberating act to those who have taken the plunge.

For buyers too there is an interesting sense of power to holding not only a piece of art, but something that contains information which could greatly affect someone’s life. Prices can vary widely, however, from one yen (less than 1 U.S. cent) to 5 quadrillion yen ($45 trillion).

However, as with most good things, Himitsuya’s event-based business has been stifled by the recent pandemic. Luckily the ground work for an online variation of it began around 2019 with a Twitter account. Even now people’s deepest secrets are posted every few days for the world to see.

▼ “I don’t invite friends and lovers to my home. It’s because, it’s messy.”

Other revelations from Himitsuya include:

“I want to divorce my wife right away, but I think I need to be patient and wait until the kids are grown up. However, in waiting I feel like my life is slipping away bit by bit. What is the right thing to do?”

“When I go to bed, I worry about whether robbers will break in, ghosts will appear, or the world will end and I can’t sleep.”

“Since both my parents are toxic, I seriously hope they get COVID-19 and die soon.”

“I bought cute underwear.”

“This summer I had an affair. I want to do it again.”

“I can’t eat with people. When I sit face-to-face with someone I don’t know what to say and the taste of the food disappears. I feel I’m disgusting when I eat, I’m repulsed by the other person while they eat, and my heart starts to palpitate. Going out to dinner is hell. If I eat alone I don’t have to worry about anything. Recently I try to never talk about food with anyone.”

“I think it’s been five years now, but I’ve been keeping my cut nails. The amount doesn’t seem to increase any more though, and I’m worried that something is going on at the bottom of the pile.”

Kimura also set up an online shop where cement-bound secrets continue to be sold as well as a kit for people to submit their own secrets remotely by mail for Kimura to do her magic with. However, if you want to cut to the chase and skip all the literal foundation work, the Himitsuya website will also accept anonymous secrets that are then posted on the website or its Twitter account.

▼ I’m not sure if she accepts English secrets, but I don’t see why she wouldn’t.

As luck would have it, it seems that this shift to online has helped spread awareness of Himitsuya and the psuedo-business has been doing well as a result. However, Kimura told Yorozoo News in an interview that she would still like to get back out on the streets and festival circuits to interact with people like before.

Hopefully she’ll make it to my neck of the woods soon so I can finally let out this secret I’ve carried for years now… I know the true flavor of Pepsi Ghost.

Source: Himitsuya, Marchel (Online shop), Twitter/@himitsu_yasan, Yorozoo News
Top image: YouTube/Ribeka Kimura
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Voice of Metal Gear Solid’s Solid Snake/Big Boss completes Tokyo coronavirus vaccination mission

Veteran voice actor orders everyone to stay safe during state of emergency.

There’s an odd dual-reality to the mood in Japan these days. On the one hand, the Tokyo Olympics finally being underway, even without spectators, is contributing to a sort of “We did it!” atmosphere. That feeling, coupled with proceeding vaccinations, is no doubt instilling a sense in some people that the country is past the worst of the pandemic.

On the other hand, Japan is seeing its highest daily numbers of new coronavirus infections ever, and much of the country’s population is yet to get its first vaccination shot, let alone its second. Tokyo is currently under a government-declared state of emergency, and that status is expected to be expanded to other prefectures that are experiencing infection surges.

But with the festive energy that the Olympics and summer vacation season are providing, some people are finding it hard to abide by social distancing recommendations. So here with a reminder is veteran voice actor Akio Otsuka, whose roles include video game series Metal Gear Solid’s Solid Snake and Naked Snake/Big Boss, with a reminder.

“Second vaccination shot complete.
Do not forget that we’re currently in a state of emergency.
Repeat – state of emergency now in effect!”

Dutiful Twitter followers were quick to reply with the respectful decorum due to their commanding officer.

Yes sir! Boss (“｀д´)ゞ
“Yes sir, Big Boss!”
“Great work, Boss! The rest of us are ready to carry out our part of the mission next, so get some rest.”
“This is HQ. Understood. Stand by for further vaccination squad deployment. Commence Mission Destroy the Coronavirus!”
“The mission is to maintain social distance, keep your mask equipped, and return home safely with the vaccine inside of you.”

Others posted fond reembraces that even in-game, Big Boss was a proponent of vaccines.

Stay safe, Japan. Boss’ orders.

Source: Twitter/@AkioOtsuka
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Olympic athlete’s journey from onigiri newbie to onigiri expert wins hearts at the Tokyo Games

Unwrapping a convenience store rice ball turns out to be one of the biggest challenges at the Olympics.

If you’ve ever had an onigiri rice ball from a convenience store in Japan, you’ll know how incredibly tasty they are. The rice is soft, the filling juicy, and the whole thing is wrapped up in a layer of seaweed that’s delightfully crispy, making it feel as if it was just freshly handmade.

Ensuring the seaweed stays crisp until you open the rice ball requires some special packaging, though, and working out how to open the unique package without tearing the seaweed to shreds can be a bit tricky for a first-timer.

It’s a rite of passage every convenience store onigiri eater has to go through to get to that perfect rice ball, though, making it an experience even old dab-hands can relate to. So when Canadian two-time Olympic speedskater and current reporter for national broadcaster CBC Anastasia Bucsis (@anastasure) recently shared her first encounter with the rice ball and its confusing packaging, onigiri lovers around the world fell in love with her plight. 

▼ Bucsis’ first attempt at opening a convenience store rice ball.

As the above video shows, Bucsis’ first attempt at opening a tuna mayonnaise rice ball from 7-Eleven didn’t go so smoothly. Although she did follow the instructions to pull the first tab down and then tab two and three on the sides after that, the first tab needs to be pulled further, so that it rips through the back of the package as well. That way, the sides of the package will come away more cleanly, leaving the seaweed intact.

Following her plea for help on Twitter — the Japanese message in her tweet translates to “please help” — Bucsis was inundated with helpful tips and hints on how to unwrap the rice balls. And being the intrepid reporter she is, Bucsis reported back a couple of days later to let everyone know her progress.

▼ Bucsis’ new onigiri level: expert

Bucsis is now unwrapping rice balls with the ease of someone who’s been here forever, and she acknowledged the help of her newfound friends in Japan with a message in Japanese that reads: “Thank you to the wonderful people in Japan. You helped me out.” 

At the end of the video, Bucsis can be heard saying “Oishii!” (“It’s delicious!“) and “Nihon daisuki” (“I love Japan“), and Japan responded by returning the love in spades, with comments like:

“Thank you to you too!”
“Awesome! My mom still can’t open it even though she was born and raised in Japan.”
“Thank you for sharing this video. I’m glad that you like Japanese onigiri. I hope you enjoy Japan!”
“I’ve never thought seeing somebody eating onigiri makes me happy. Enjoy your OISHI time during your stay!”
“Your video really touched my heart!! Congratulations. Please enjoy the rest of your stay in Japan.”
“Thank you for taking the time to write that tweet in Japanese!! So glad and thankful.”

The common love for onigiri shared by Bucsis and the people of Japan has created a touching bond that looks set to continue well past the Tokyo Games. And Bucsis is continuing to add Japanese messages to her social media posts for her new friends online, with this latest update showing where she’s at today, on Day 7 of the Olympics.

▼ The Japanese here reads: “I ate a rice ball before the broadcast. Thanks again to the wonderful people in Japan.”

We always thought rice balls were the food of champions, and now we have proof that they really are. They’re certainly more filling than the lunch pack sandwiches that recently surprised reporters at the Olympics, and as her colleague Devin Heroux will attest to, they’re just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to award-worthy convenience store goods!

Source: Twitter/@anastasure via Net Lab
Featured image: Twitter/@anastasure
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Pokémon’s impossible-to-buy-bike now exists in real life, still can’t be bought, must be won【Pics】

The one million-Pokémon Dollar bike that drove you crazy as a kid is back.

By the very nature of their gameplay, the Pokémon video games attract people with a compulsive collector mindset. If you’re enticed by a game that wants you to catch ‘em all, you’ll probably not only want to get your hands on every species of Pocket Monster you come across, but also to obtain every possible inventory item.

So for anyone who plays Pokémon Red and Blue, the first-gen Game Boy games that started the entire franchise, it feels like a slap in the face when you walk into the Bike Shop in Cerulean City and want to buy a bike, only to find out they cost an unbelievable one million Pokémon Dollars! Making the price-gouging even more painful is that the amount of money you’re allowed to have in the game maxes out at six digits, meaning you will never, ever have enough cash to buy the bike.

With Red and Blue originally coming out in 1996, it’s been a bitter memory for fans for a quarter century, but now Pokemon’s impossible-to-buy-bike is coming to the real world!

▼ “Do you remember that bike that everyone wanted?” asks the teaser video.

In honor of the official Pokémon Information Bureau/Poké Times Twitter account reaching a million followers, the Pokémon Company took some numerical inspiration and created an actual bicycle modeled on the in-game graphics and official illustrations of the Pokémon Red and Blue one.

It’s got a number of cool little details, too, like silhouettes of Pikachu and Snorlax on the inside of the wheel rim…

…and a Poké Ball pattern to the tire tread.

▼ Even upgraded versions like the Great Ball and Master Ball are represented.

▼ Poké Balls can also be found at the outer edges of the handlebars.

However, in a display of fidelity to the source material, you can’t buy the bike. This isn’t because it costs more money than any one person in the real world can hold, however, but because only one is being made, and in another parallel to the game, instead of purchasing it outright, you’ll have to perform a task in order to have it given to you for free.

Thankfully, you won’t have to go to Vermillion City and sweet-talk anyone into giving you their bike voucher. Instead, all you have to do is follow the Pokémon Information Bureau Twitter account (@poke_times) and send out any tweet containing the hashtag #ポケモンの100万円じてんしゃ (which translates to “Pokémon 1 million-yen bicycle) before the end of the day on August 3.

The randomly selected winner will be contacted in mid-August, at which point they can start plotting a cycling route for a pilgrimage to Japan’s Pokémon manhole covers.

Source: Pokémon official website via Twitter/@poke_times via IT Media
Images: Pokémon official website
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