More vending machine hijinks

Posted at 7:09 pm by Patrick under Tokyo Summer Vacation

It’s midnight, and you’re not quite ready for bed. A cup of coffee sounds great, but the shops are closed. How would you like a smoldering-hot can of coffee right about now? Thanks to advanced vending technology, you can here in Japan.

This is a can of “American Coffee”, complete with 50s-era roadster, one-kid family, stars and stripes design and best of all, some kick-ass typography on the label. With all of that to draw me in, how could I refuse?

Well, it was served so hot last night that I couldn’t hold the can. Hot coffee on a hot, muggy night was not what I was hoping for (I bought it for the packaging), but it also made for a pretty tasty iced coffee this morning.

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Random celebrity(?) sighting

Posted at 6:50 pm by Patrick under Tokyo Summer Vacation

While we were taking in the Harajuku CosPlay scene on Sunday, we saw this somewhat familiar face.

We racked our brains for a few minutes, and then it came to me: Mac Guy.

Actually he’s an actor named Justin Long, who has also been in movies like Dodgeball: A Ture Underdog Story and the soon-to-be-released Live Free or Die Hard (with Bruce Willis). He really seemed to have fun checking out the scene, including dancing with a guy who was giving a one-man concert by re-enacting Bono’s concert moves for U2’s last three tours.

I’m sure at some point down the line he would like to erase the Mac vs. PC commericals from his resume in favor of the blockbuster films, but for us, he’ll always be Mac Guy.

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Japanese baseball chants

Posted at 6:18 pm by Patrick under Tokyo Summer Vacation

The atmosphere at a japanese baseball game is really quite unique. Each team has organized chanting groups that sit in the outfield (home team and visiting alike) that take turns cheeering for their own team while they are batting. Between innings or during the 5th inning break — it’s a no-rules madhouse.

Strangely enough, we thought the visiting Ham Fighter cheer squad dominated the home teams’s squad, though they were outnumbered 5-to-1. You’ll hear their catchy cheer when you click the link.

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Beer girls in the nosebleed section

Posted at 6:32 am by Patrick under Tokyo Summer Vacation

Though our row 26 seats leave something to be desired, the beer delivery service works just fine up here.

Each brewery has their own beer girls who wander up and (and up) the steep inclines of the upper deck, looking for thirsty fans willing to part with their 800 yen for a 500ml beer. The four breweries (Asahi, Yebisu, Kirin and Suntory) each have their own neon-colored uniform for easy identification in the crowd. What’s more amazing is that they carry small kegs on their backs in insulated backpacks, hiking miles of stairs over the course of the three-hour game.

Amazingly enough, every one of them has a huge smile on their face, despite the burden on their back.

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Branding, and attention to detail

Posted at 5:47 am by Patrick under Tokyo Summer Vacation

Andrea’s soba noodles came in this styrobox, which has the lid textured like the Tokyo Dome’s roof with the dome’s nickname — “Big Egg” — on it. Pretty clever!

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