You get the weirdest commercials on Japanese TV. Sometimes they get Hollywood celebrities to endorse their products (e.g. Brad Pitt and Cameron Diaz for Softbank telecom). Suntory Boss, a kan kohi (canned coffee) company got Tommy Lee Jones.
Check out this ad. Really weird.
I wonder how much Suntory pays him just to stand around. Apparently this is just one of a series of ads. Tommy Lee Jones is actually an alien (all thanks to MIB) researching life in Japan. Besides an onsen (hot bath) employee, he was also an electronics salesman, a flyer distributor and a male club host among other things. Search "Suntory Boss Tommy Lee Jones" on YouTube if you wanna see more.
Space create
There is a chain of internet cafes that is becoming very popular in Tokyo. 'Space Create' is a really cool place where for a few hundred yen an hour, you can rent a cubicle space or a private family room and do whatever you want in there. Among the facilities are:
1) Fast-speed Internet connection
2) PS3 or Xbox consoles and a wide selection of games
3) Hundreds of the latest magazines and manga
4) Karaoke rooms
5) Ping pong, billards and darts
6) Free flow of drinks
7) Shower facilities
Furthermore, for 2000 Yen (SGD$26) you can stay in your cubicle for 6 hours. This beats staying overnight in an overpriced hotel in Shinjuku or Ginza. It is an ideal place to spend the night if you miss the last train home.
Apparently many people have the same idea. A recent newspaper article estimates that there are 50,000 such Internet cafe "refugees" around. They are often low-wage office employees or the unemployed who come from various parts of the country to work and cannot afford the high rent of homes.
Vending machines II
I've mentioned in previous posts how vending machines seem to dominate the Japanese suburban landscape. Winter is coming soon and they've modified the vending machines to accommodate hot drinks as well. Quite cool, nothings beats having a hot can of cocoa in your hands on a cold winter's day...