How women can shoot down dessert dates before they’re even invited, according to Japanese Twitter

It’s all in how you answer “What kind of sweets do you like?”

Japan is a country that loves sweets and loves to eat out, and so it’s also a country that’s absolutely packed with dessert cafes. These eateries are particularly popular with young women, and while that’s great for satisfying a sweet tooth, it can also lead to some awkward social interactions.

As Japanese Twitter user @epneur recently mentioned, it’s not unusual for guys to ask women they’re attracted to out on a date if they happen to know a good cafe that specializes in whatever kind of dessert she’s especially fond of, whether it’s cake, parfaits, pancakes, or matcha sweets. Of course, if the woman isn’t attracted to the guy, she’s then stuck having to shoot him down, so it’d be simpler if there was a way to prevent the guy from making the invitation in the first place, which is where @epneur’s tweet comes in.

“If a guy asks a girl what kind of sweets she likes, and she says ‘gummies,’ she can end the conversation without him saying, ‘Oh, then we should go get some at this place I know,’ because there aren’t any gummy cafes.

If you tell him you like cake, macaroons, boba tapioca tea, or something like that, he’ll say he knows a place, and then you’ll have to turn him down, and those kinds of conversations can be a pain.

I just learned about this technique today.”

@epneur doesn’t specify exactly how he learned about this method of indirect rejection (possibly someone used it on him), but in any case, the theory made sense to many online commenters, who reacted with:

“So if she says ‘gummies,’ then I’ve got no chance.”
“You know, recently I’ve noticed that a lot of the girls I meet say they’re really into gummies. Now I know why.”
“I always tell guys I’m really into pickled plums.”
“When it’s a guy I don’t want to ask me out, I tell him I used to like some kind of candy that’s been discontinued.”

However, more than a few commenters pointed out that while gummies are hard to find in Japanese cafes, they’re readily available as pre-packaged snacks, and that a guy might still respond with “OK, let’s go get some gummies together at the convenience store!” In that case, if she’s really not interested in the invitation, she’ll probably just have to bite the bullet and give a rejection that’s firmer than the chewy candies.

Source: Twitter/@epneur via Hachima Kiko
Top image: Pakutaso
Insert image: Pakutaso



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Mr Sato steps inside the Embassy of Afghanistan in Tokyo【Photos】

A number of embassies in Japan are opening their doors to the public for a limited time. 

Tokyo’s Minato Ward is home to a large number of foreign embassies, and while many of them are heavily guarded and off-limits to the general public, there’s now a special offer that lets you step inside their gates for a limited time.

Called the Minato City World Festival, the new promotion is being run as a stamp rally, allowing people to gain entry to several foreign centres and institutes, and a total of 33 embassies from countries like Bolivia, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Lesotho, Uzbekistan, and El Salvador.

▼ Holders of this special stamp rally “passport” will be able to step foot on foreign soil without leaving Tokyo.

As soon as our Japanese-language reporter Mr Sato heard about the campaign, he took a look at the list of embassies on the list and decided he’d like to take a trip to Afghanistan. So after picking up one of the stamp rally passports, which are available at various institutions around Minato, including stores in the Azabu Juban shopping district, he hopped on a train and arrived at the doors of the embassy.

One of the requirements for all visitors taking part in the campaign is to show a form of photo ID upon entry, so after whipping out his driver’s license, Mr Sato was ushered inside and onto Afghan soil. While he was tempted to let his fun and playful side run loose on the grounds of the embassy, Mr Sato decided to compose himself and stay on the right side of the law, given that he was now outside of Japan’s jurisdiction.

Some of the embassies taking part in the World Festival require visitors to call a designated call centre to make a booking ahead of their visit, and attend on certain dates and times. Mr Sato went through this procedure before visiting the Embassy of Afghanistan, which meant staff were ready to give an introductory presentation in Japanese to attendees.

▼ Mr Sato was surprised to learn that New Year’s Day falls on March 20 this year, according to the Afghan calendar.

After learning about Afghanistan and their work at the embassy in Japan, Mr Sato was able to stroll through the halls and a luxurious looking room which had been set up with various display pieces.

▼ Mr Sato was particularly drawn to this interesting page of script attached to an animal pelt.

Everything he saw, including furnishings, decor and national costume displays, really made Mr. Sato feel as if he’d left Japan and gone to Afghanistan.

When he went up to the rooftop area of the embassy, though, he was once again reminded of the country he was really in, as the gorgeous outdoor terrace came with a stunning view of Tokyo Tower.

▼ The other side of the terrace had a beautiful view of the city.

Visitors were also offered cups of tea, which helped to warm our reporter up on the cold winter’s day. Even that was a memorable experience in itself, as it was a tasty brew that Mr Sato wasn’t familiar with.

After enjoying his cup of tea, Mr Sato left no stone unturned in his exploration of the visitors’ access areas, taking a trip to the bathroom, which had an air of foreign charm about it.

With that, he left the embassy feeling like he’d learned a lot about Afghanistan and its culture and people, which is one of the aims of the Minato City World Festival. And as he made his way back to the station, he made another discovery, coming across the Geodetic Datum Origin of Japan, which is the point used to locate Japan on Earth.

The Minato City World Festival is a great way to get out and about and learn more about Tokyo, and the foreign people and embassies that reside within it. While the official website has all the necessary information regarding open times and pre-visit reservation requirements, it is all in Japanese, so you might want to ask a Japanese speaker to help you out with the details. It’s also important to note that the organisers request that people refrain from calling individual embassies in relation to the campaign.

If you do decide to visit the Embassy of Afghanistan, you might want to ask them about the work that the Japanese Embassy is doing in their homeland, and keep an eye out to see if they still have their copy of the Saint Onisan manga somewhere on the premises.

Photos © SoraNews24 



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Giri obligation chocolates seen as power harassment, more Japanese companies ban practice

Survey results indicate that Japan’s Valentine’s Day custom of giri choco may soon become a thing of the past. 

While Valentine’s Day in many countries might spark images of red roses, romantic dinners, and lovers generally spoiling each other, here in Japan it’s a day when women give chocolate to all the men in their lives.

Boyfriends and husbands receive “honmei choco” (“true feelings choco”), while all other men receive “giri choco” (“obligation chocolate”). These days, women give out “tomo choco” (“friend chocolate”) to female friends as well.

Men who receive gifts from women on Valentine’s Day are supposed to return the favour with a small gift on White Day a month later, on 14 March. However, given that women have to lead the way on 14 February, there’s an underlying pressure to ensure that chocolates are given to all the right male colleagues and friends in their circle to save themselves from committing a faux pas and causing offence.

Needless to say, Valentine’s Day can be a stressful and expensive experience for women, making the custom of giri choco a controversial one. In recent years, famous chocolate brands have weighed in on the debate, questioning its relevance in today’s modern world, and now more and more Japanese companies are stepping in to ban the practice from offices.

This increase in companywide bans on giri choco made headlines today, following a survey which revealed that almost 40 percent of male and female office workers see the practice of giri choco as a form of power harassment.

News site ANN reported the findings today, questioning people on the streets to gauge their opinion on the matter, and visiting a workplace where giri choco has been banned for the past six years. Everyone they interviewed all showed overwhelming support for companywide bans on giri choco, saying it helps to ease unnecessary pressure on women and have a positive effect on workplace relations.

As one of the female office workers in the video mentioned, “Before the office ban, we had to worry about things like how much is appropriate to spend on each chocolate and where we draw the line in who we give the chocolates to, so it’s good that we no longer have this culture of forced giving.”

As this notion of “forced giving” or “obligation” becomes increasingly tied to feelings of power harassment, which companies are taking very seriously, it appears that more and more offices might do away with the tradition of ghiri choco in the future. Which, if this Godiva statement is anything to go by, will be something that even luxury chocolate brands can agree with.

Source: ANN via Livedoor News, Hachima Kikou
Top image: Pakutaso
Insert image: Pakutaso



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Want free all-you-can-eat sushi in Tokyo? Revolving chain wants your YouTube video in exchange

Grab your camera and your chopsticks, because Kappa Sushi is making an offer you won’t want to refuse.

As Japan’s best-loved culinary creation, sushi is already pretty awesome, but it’s somehow even cooler when it’s at a revolving sushi restaurant. Being able to see the fish before you choose what to eat, the instant gratification of grabbing it right off the conveyor belt, and the high-tech fun of the technology involved, revolving sushi is an experience that’s not to be missed in Japan.

But you know what else makes sushi great? When it’s free.

Kappa Sushi, one of Japan’s most popular revolving sushi chains, has announced that it’s now offering free all-you-can-eat sushi to people who will make YouTube videos about the experience. You’ll get a full hour to eat as much sushi as you want, and in exchange all that the restaurant asks is that you upload a video about the experience, including footage of your visit to the restaurant, within a month of the massive meal.

▼ As the promotional image shows, Kappa Sushi’s menu goes beyond just sushi, with other options including ramen and desserts.

If that sounds like a good deal to you and your stomach, the next step is to fill out the online application form, which must be submitted prior to your visit (there’s no written stipulation requiring your video to be in Japanese). Applicants who are chosen will then be contacted by Kappa Sushi to set up the specific date and time of their visit to one of the chain’s branches in Tokyo. Anyone with a YouTube channel with 100,000 or more subscribers is welcome to apply, and while that rules out some smaller content makers, but if you’ve got a moderately large online following and a big appetite, the application form can be found here.

Source: Kappa Sushi via Kai-You
Top image: Kappa Sushi
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Ariana Grande “fixes” her 7 Rings Japanese kanji tattoo, but it still says tiny charcoal grill

Throwing another kanji character into the mix doesn’t exactly fix the mistake.

American singer-songwriter Ariana Grande is currently at the top of the music charts in a number of different countries for her new single “7 Rings”. Inspired by the day she bought rings for her seven friends after returning her engagement ring to ex-fiancee Pete Davidson, it’s a song that’s so close to Grande’s heart she decided to get a tattoo in its honour.

Instead of saying “七つの指輪” (“nanatsu no yubiwa” or “7 Rings”), as it does in the official music video, though, Grande opted to leave out the three middle characters, leaving her with a tattoo that read “七輪” (“shichirin”) which, when read separately, translate to “7” and “wheel/circle”, but together, as she has it, they mean “Japanese charcoal grill”.

After posting a photo of her new ink on Instagram, fans pounced on her for the error, prompting Grande to delete the photo. However, it hadn’t completely disappeared from the Internet, as it soon popped up on Twitter, with side-by-side photos showing Grande’s tattoo alongside a shichirin.

Grande hit back with a reply that read:

“indeed, i left out “つの指” which should have gone in between. it hurt like f*** n still looks tight i wouldn’t have lasted one more symbol lmao. but this spot also peels a ton and won’t last so if i miss it enough, i’ll suffer thru the whole thing next time.”

Despite seeming unbothered by the tattoo fail, it looks like everyone’s comments did get under the 25-year-old’s skin in the end, as she took to Instagram to post this image on her Insta story today.

Alongside the image is a message from Grande which says:

“Slightly better. Thanks to my tutor for helping me fix and @kanenavasard for being a legend. And to my doctor for the lidocaine shots (no joke). RIP tiny charcoal grill. Miss u man. I actually really liked u.”

Well, in all fairness, it is slightly better, but only because the new characters she’s added distract the eye away from “shichirin” and cause confusion as you try to work out what’s going on. She hasn’t really said RIP to her tiny charcoal grill, either, as it’s still there in plain sight. Now though, instead of saying “tiny charcoal grill”, her new tattoo reads as:

“Charcoal BBQ Grill
Finger ♡”

It’s as confusing in English as it is in Japanese. Grande’s tutor – who probably wished she’d been consulted before the original tattoo session – was faced with a pretty impossible task when asked to fix the kanji to have it read closer to “7 Rings” rather than “shichirin”.

While the best solution would’ve been to get it lasered off and redone correctly on her other hand, they chose to go another route, instead adding “指” beneath the “七輪”. On its own, “指” means “finger”, but when combined with “輪” it reads as “指輪” which means “ring”.

However, given the position of the new kanji, it reads as “Shichirin Yubi” or “Charcoal Grill Finger” rather than “7 Rings”. Japanese can be read from right to left, so doing that gives us “wheel/circle”, “seven”, “♡”, “finger”. And if we read it in the traditional style of top to bottom, right to left, it reads “wheel/circle”, “♡”,  “seven”, “finger”.

Confused? Exactly. The only way it could be read as something similar to “7 Rings” is if we read it from top to bottom, left to right. That gives us “7”, “ring” and “♡”. The only problem is that neither English nor Japanese is read in that order.

So, although she has all the necessary kanji components on her palm, they’re all laid out in a mixed up, confusing, nonsensical jumble. Plus, she’s still missing the  “つの” hiragana in the middle of it all, which connects the 7 to the rings as a counter for them. Without those in between it all, it still reads “charcoal grill”.

Source: Instagram/ArianaGrande
Featured image: Twitter/@oonamcgee



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