Category Archives: Sport Hobby Pastime

Humour, Mirai 1-085, Sport Hobby Pastime

Fukuwarai – a game like pin-the-donkey

01/04/2013 lamihome Leave a comment

fukuwarai ふくわらい

fukuwarai ふくわらい

fukuwarai ふくわらい

fukuwarai ふくわらい

fukuwarai ふくわらい

Customs Culture, KD 5-012 Pachinko, Sport Hobby Pastime

Pinball machines パチンコ　Pachinko

22/05/2012 lamihome Leave a comment

パチンコ　pachinko

It is very difficult to write something positive about something that you just don’t like. In our case: pachinko. These pachinko parlours are everywhere and every night (and day) they are packed with people of all ages who can spend hours there at the slot machines. To us it seems like the nasty version of Las Vegas. Having said that, we couldn’t think of a more unpleasant entertainment place on earth than Las Vegas. However, millions of people love it. So, take no notice of us and make up your own mind.

パチンコ　pachinko

In essence, pachinko is a pinball machine, which has been adapted for Japanese tastes. These days most machines are automated, so the player doesn’t even have to aim or to take a personal interest: tip in the bucket of pinballs and set the knob and smoke a fag – that seems to be about all. The noise is deafening! When you walk past a parlour you are overwhelmed by the noise.

パチンコ　pachinko

Lots of Japanese people like to do something mindless and simple after a really stressful day: get a bucket of pinballs and tip them in! It could be something to do before you catch the train home, or something to do, if there is no one to go to… Or maybe you are bored, or maybe you think that you have cracked the code and you’re going to become rich. You wouldn’t be the first one to have thought that. Some of those thinkers are already sleeping on park benches.

パチンコ　pachinko

Gambling is prohibited in Japan, but via a loophole in the law and a reciprocal arrangement with a neighbourly establishment one can collect small amounts of money, while the Japanese Government still collects its revenue.

Hmmm…, so much for standards. On the other hand, they are grown-up people, so if they want to sit there?! Why not?! You can read more about it on the Wikipedia website below.

パチンコ　pachinko

The word Pachinko comes from

the sound “pachin!” and “ko” means “ball”.

パチンコ　pachinko

For more technical information on Pachinko:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachinko

04 LA 034 Dogs, City Life, KD 1-083 Cuddle the Cat, KD 3-038 Amusing, Obentō 02-019, Sport Hobby Pastime

Cuddle a Cat and Take a Snap.

22/04/2012 lamihome Leave a comment

And now for something wacky? Weird?

Well… maybe OK. Just odd. Maybe just a little…

It can only happen in Japan.

You be the judge.

For 1000 yen an hour an adult may play

with the cats and even take photos.

Every additional half an hour is 400 yen.

(I am reaching for my tranquilizers at this stage…)

Children at this point…

Those below Junior High School…

(I am reaching for my cheque book at this stage…)

If the cat is in the mood, you could dress it up.

NEKO TO PASHA

cat with snap

Cat Café Open

Suggestions:

A dog café

A giraffe café
A monkey café

This is a growth business.

Why didn’t we think of it?!

Oh well, one more tick on the bucket list:

Play with Cat R

CAT

02 ED 092 Fishing, 07 JW 007 Fishing, KD 6-013 Sport, Sport Hobby Pastime

Fishing 　つり

12/04/2012 lamihome Leave a comment

Art, Obentō 01-047, Presents, Sendai 仙台, Sport Hobby Pastime

Kokeshi Dolls 　こけし

11/04/2012 lamihome Leave a comment

Kokeshi Dolls 　こけし

04 LA 034 Dogs, Akita 秋田, Animals, City Life, KD 4-011 Animals, Obentō 02-019, Sport Hobby Pastime

Akita Inu and Shiba Inu あきたいぬしばいぬ

10/04/2012 lamihome Leave a comment

This is a difficult topic. We love dogs! We have always had dogs, but we actually know very little about dogs, so we don’t want to say too much here.

Although we can say there are quite a lot of dogs in Japan. More in the countryside of course, but even in the cities people do have faithful companions. In the city one tends to see more “cultured” pooches, while in the countryside we saw lots of what turned out to be typical Japanese dogs.

Our first impression is that these so-called Akita and Shiba Dogs have a dingo-look about them. (There must be people cringing in the aisles, but there you have it! Sorry, no offence intended.) We added links so that you can follow it up by yourself.

秋田犬　あきたいぬ Akita Inu

For some real dog information:

Akita Inu

Hachikō, the dog in front of Shibuya Station was an Akita Dog.

柴犬　しばいぬ Shiba Inu

For more information:

Shiba Inu

Dogs about town

Dog is man’s best friend,
if man is dog’s best friend.

PS: For crying out loud: Japanese people don’t eat dogs!

It’s illegal! OK?!

Art, Sport Hobby Pastime

Doraemon cartoon character

09/04/2012 lamihome Leave a comment

The name “Doraemon” was made up by the author. “Dora” is from “dora-neko” (nora-neko is a stray cat; ドラねこ rhymes with のらねこ). えもん, “emon” sounds like the end of a man’s name as was common, say, about 150 years ago. As a character Doraemon travels from the future to the past and back again. His character became so popular, because he is modern and new-age, yet he upholds timelessly true character-building values from the past.