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Osaka (Page 31)
Register Rage: Osaka City Official Arrested for Allegedly Punching Out Register’s LCD Display
- Master Blaster
Feb 11, 2013 - Tweet
On 6 February, Osaka Prefectural Police announced that a 45-year-old man working for the Osaka City Construction Bureau had been arrested on suspicion of destruction of property.
In what could best be described as “register rage” the man was upset with the speed of the cashier and took his aggression out on the store’s age verification check with his fist.
- Japan
- (convenience store • crime • Osaka)
Need Motivation to Lose Weight? How About Cheaper Rent?
- Jessicaocheltree
Oct 10, 2012
Anyone who’s ever tried to shed a few pounds knows how hard it can be to stay motivated. Sometimes you just can’t reach down and find the fortitude deep inside to put down the doughnut and pick up your dumbbells without a more immediate payoff.
A recently opened rental property in Osaka has come up with a novel idea to help dieters keep their motivation up: a discount on rent for weight lost.
- Japan
- (dieting • motivation • Osaka • weight loss)
Japanese Thieves Steal Thousands of Lottery Tickets, “Hardly Won a Damn Thing”
- Master Blaster
Oct 7, 2012
For those of you who enjoy playing the lottery, here’s a story that should help put your odds of winning in perspective.
Last December, painter Shigeru Aikoh was arrested from robbing a Kushikatsu (deep fried snacks) restaurant in Settsu, Osaka. However, prefectural police later discovered he was a part of a four man group responsible for a year-long crime spree around the prefecture totaling 4.5 million yen (US$572,000).
However, much to Aikoh’s dismay a fair chunk of that loot had turned out to be totally worthless.
Namba Parks Gets Rave Reviews from Overseas
- Master Blaster
Sep 8, 2012
Some photos recently posted on reddit of a shopping mall in central Osaka surprised those not living Japan some of whom wanted to live in the mall. This, in turn, surprised Japanese people who didn’t know it was that amazing to others.
The mall, aptly named Namba Parks certainly looks beautiful from this angle but there is actually function as well as form at work here.
- Internet, Japan
- (architecture • green roof • heat island • mall • Namba Parks • Osaka • reddit • shopping)
Danish Variety Store “Tiger” in Osaka Can’t Keep Up With Japanese Shoppers, Shuts Down Soon After Opening
- Danielnishina
Aug 21, 2012
Danish variety store, Tiger, had recently opened up its first store in Osaka, Japan, in the shopping area known as American Village. Little did they know about the propensities of the Japanese shopper.
Or maybe they just didn’t give them enough credit. In this case, it was the intensity of Japanese shoppers that resulted in the store having to unexpectedly shut down. Despite having the experience of managing stores in 16 different countries, Tiger underestimated the insatiable drive of Japanese people to shop, even if it meant queueing in line for hours and hours.
All this trouble for the European answer to the 100 yen shop... Read More
- Europe, Japan
- (100 yen shop • business • Osaka • shopping • tiger • tiger store)
Osaka Temple Offers Visitors Visions of Hell, Tasty Sweets
- Jessica
Jul 13, 2012
At the moment there’s a picture book that’s very popular in Japan called “A Picture Book of Hell.” It’s intended to teach kids good manners, and it’s become something of a hot topic, if you’ll excuse the pun. Popular illustrator Akiko Higashimura even mentioned it in her manga series “Mama wa Tenparisto”, loosely translated as “Momma With a Short Fuse”. As you can imagine, there’s been a lot of interest among mothers and educational professionals.
I suppose terrorizing your kids with two-dimensional representations of hell is OK, but did you know there’s a place you can take them to experience it in real life? Read More
We Check Into the Cheapest Hotel in Japan, US$6 a Night
- Master Blaster
Jul 5, 2012
Located near the center of Osaka City is an area called Kamagasaki which was once known to be a gathering place for day laborers. Now, it’s a rather charming place where street cars run that kind of takes you back half a century. On the other hand, beneath the surface runs some violent energy as this area is often ground zero for riots and other acts of civil disobedience.
It’s here that I went in search of the cheapest hotel in Japan, The Kimiya, where it is said one could spend the night for a mere 500 yen (US$6).
Remember When Your Mom Said “You Could Lose An Eye”? She Forgot the Part Where You Could Also Get US$150,000
- Master Blaster
May 11, 2012
Back in 2008, at an Osaka elementary school there was an incident involving a 3rd grade student who smashed two bottles of milk together during lunch time. As a result, the bottles shattered sending a shard of glass into the child’s eye and leaving him disabled. It’s certainly a terrible accident but what followed had turned the public’s sympathy into outrage.
- Japan
- (education • milk bottle • Osaka • school)
Japanese City on the Verge of Bankruptcy Puts Name Up For Sale
- Master Blaster
Mar 23, 2012
They say the only thing you have after losing everything is your name. Not so, says the Izumisano City officials who in the dying moments of their failing economy are considering a plan to sell their naming rights off amongst other ideas.
Residents of the Osaka Prefecture city will be pleased to know that they wouldn’t be selling it to just anyone with money, so the threat of the name becoming Poopiehead City is minimal. From June till the end of November they will be accepting proposals from both foreign and domestic businesses interested in unique ways to advertise using their city’s government and resources.
- Japan
- (entertainment • Izumisano • Osaka • politics)
Hello Kitty Hotel Rooms Ensure Sweet Dreams on the Road
- Master Blaster
Feb 27, 2012
So you’re taking a vacation to Japan via the Hello Kitty Jet to buy some Hello Kitty stationary, knick knacks, clothing, and accessories, but you don’t have a place to stay? The Shinhankyu Hotel in Osaka has got you covered!
Starting March first they are making Hello Kitty themed Prince Kitty Rooms available, each decorated wall-to-wall with the infamous kitten along with her childhood companion Dear Daniel. Everything in the room from the curtains to the sheets to the cushions is touched with the pink and white essence of Japan cutest cultural icon, all of which are exclusive designs for this hotel.
- Japan
- (anime & manga • cute • Hello Kitty • Osaka)
WTF is a Fuckin’ Sale?
- Yoshio
Jan 18, 2012
Recently, a lot of fuss was made over an advertisement spotted near the Amerikamura (American Village) area of Osaka. Although overlooked by most Japanese who walked by, the posters hit English speaking foreigners like a slap in the face. It read: “Fuckin’ Sale — All 20% Off”.
This poster and the ensuing controversy surrounding it raises more questions than it does answers for both Japanese and Western people.
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