Candy apple happiness

This image seems to capture the hopes for a lucky new year. A happy face and a candy apple seem like a good start.

Arashi promote Japan’s endless discovery in Seoul

This Seoul bus ad was spotted by a reporter based in Japan, who tweeted the photo with the message, “Just saw this at a bus stop in Seoul. Would these boys make you want to visit Japan?”

Was she joking?! Of course, these heavily groomed boys and their matching outfits will lure foreign tourists and their money.

It’s a two-way street now between Japan and Korea with boy bands being the enticing candy that drives commerce. “Endless Discovery” seems to be a win for the feminine publics!

JR Characters (1 of 3)

JR Nakano station is always a people-watching pleasure. Less self-conscious than Harajuku and less desperate than Shibuya, Nakano’s station attracts the hip, the funky, and the downright strange. This is the first in a 3 part series of JR characters.

I love how nonchalant is this lady wearing a sparkly pink top, fluorescent blue skirt, several handbags, and a hat that will not stop. Japanese are so polite that no one stared, and I was the only one who immediately pulled out my camera.

The hat is a marvelous creation. Perched on top of the main quilted, multi-patterned hat, which nearly obscures her (?) face, there is a blue sequin mini-hat, pink butterfly wings, many feathers, a stuffed lady bug, and an over-sized candy inside a rolled up wrapper.

What other objects do you think would go with this hat?

Adorable candy makers

In an old shopping street (しょうてんがい）in Nakano, there’s an incredibly arty artisanal candy store, Papa Bubble, where buff young guys roll out colorful hard candies in synchronized and theatrical gestures. The children were ga-ga over the candies. My eyes were equally focused on the artisans. Too bad my digital camera did not do the guys justice.

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