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Is the wicked witch of the west
having a garage sale??? Not likely! You can get these kinds
of brooms just about anywhere. There must be some kind of
trick to it too, because for me, sweeping with one of these
brooms is like trying to rake leaves with a bamboo stick.
It just doesn't happen. These brooms are really cool, though.
Whenever I pass an old woman sweeping her porch with one of
these brooms I am reminded,
"I'm in JAPAN".
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To the right is a "Pachinko Parlor".
Pachinko is sortof like vertical pinball but with no chance
of winning (well, it's impossible for me to figure out anyway).
The goal is to direct ball bearings into tiny little slots
via manipulating knobs. Pachinko is the fastest way to lose
money besides throwing it away on the street or flushing it
down the toilet. It is a major source of revenue for gangsters
("yakuza"). Pachinko parlors are literally everywhere in Japan.
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In Japan, anything which has English on it is
cool. Very few people will actually understand it, but nobody
cares that they don't so it all works out. People walk around
openly with shirts which brandish the "f---" word, insults to
other people or themselves, or just incomprehensibly convoluted
English. Here is a sticker that I peeled off of my new trash
can !! I wish my trash can could really do all that for
my life. |
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You
said a mouthful!
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Here's another classic which I got
out of a picture frame. I have no idea what it means! Do you??
If you can't read the fine print, click on the picture to
see what it says... it's a riot!
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Here's something interesting. I'm pretty sure
it's Buddhist. Sure thing you won't see this kind of thing back
in the States, eh? |
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Another point of interest in Wakayama
is the "Eel Man". He has a shop near Burakuri Cho and offers
a contest of sorts. For about 20 bucks, he offers you the
opportunity to try and catch one of the eels he keeps in this
huge tank. If you are successful, he chops it up right there,
cooks it and lets you eat it! Lots of Japanese people go nuts
over eels.
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Culinary Delights!
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Everyone
knows that the Japanese eat a lot of seafood, after all, they're
on an island. But I'd never dreamed that I'd see stuff like
this. This picture was taken in a local supermarket. |
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was taken at a little carnival-type celebration next to my apartment
building. Mmmmm... I can still smell that squid. Makes my mouth
WAAATTAAHHH!! (well, not exactly) |
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Check
it out, everybody. Alcohol's in vending machines! Sometimes
right alongside the coke and sprite! Some come in bottles, some
in small jars, some even in cartons!! There are age limits,
but it's like the laws for cigarrettes, no one really cares.
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