Caught a special on TV on Tuesday about The Candies, which was a female super group in Japan in the 1970s, and it reminded me of a time when girl groups in Japan were more than just the music.

A group of citizens at the Sukayu Hot Spring resort in Aomori has mobilized to counter what they see as a threat to mixed bathing in the area — men leering at naked women.

The Konyoku wo Mamoru Kai (Protect Mixed Bathing Association) is urging visitors to the Sukayu Hot Spring resort in Aomori not to stare at women bathers and make them feel uncomfortable.

“It’d be a real shame if we were deprived of the traditional practice of mixed bathing,” a spokesman for the association said.

Sukayu is a hot spring located in a secluded part of Mount Hakkoda and has been frequented by resort lovers for about 320 years. A huge bath of about 260 square meters is covered by a steaming mist brought about by the heat of its waters, whose acidity is said to have therapeutic effects and attracts bathers from across Japan.

Sukayu has signs for men’s and women’s bathing areas, but there is nothing to separate the sexes when they dip into the bath. However, there has recently been an increase in male bathers who have sneaked around to gaze at the naked women there, prompting complaints and putting the practice of mixed bathing under threat.

Spotted by JAPUNDIT reader Jacob in Shinjuku last summer.

Japan’s oldest “modern” robot — the 10-foot, 6-inch GakuTenSoku — has been awakened in Japan. Gone are the inflatable rubber tubes of the original 1928 android build by biologist Makoto Nishimura. The bot now tilts its head, moves his eyes, smiles, and puffs out his cheeks thanks to a $200,000, computer-controlled, pneumatic-servo makeover. While nothing compared to his modern offspring, GakuTenSoku still manages to creep us the hell out. On display at the renovated Osaka Science Museum starting July 18th.

japanese robot nostalgia from engadget.

If you thought that hanami season finished when the last of the cherry blossoms fell, think again. Even though Japan’s most famous blossoms are gone for another year, there are still chances to enjoy a hanami picnic before the sultry heat of summer kicks in.

Following signs off the beaten track to the Hiyoshi shrine in Tamana, Kumamoto prefecture, we found the Yamada wisteria (山田藤). The many vines, some of them reputedly over 200 years old, form a canopy over the shrine’s grounds – a pergola in purple.

Golden Week is a perfect time to see it, occuring as it does right around the start of wisteria’s flowering season, and I’d imagine that that has contributed to the Yamada wisteria’s huge popularity.

The lawns under the fragrant flowers were packed with picnicking folk, enjoying an al fresco lunch on blue sheets.

Thanks to Kurisu,.

As everyone living in Japan knows, this is the season of the koinobori carp streamers that can be seen flying outside the homes of families with male children.

I was surprised to find out via a news report today that some areas in Japan have modified koinobori to represent other fish that are local products.

Some locales in Miazaki Prefecture have taken to flying kujiranobori (whale streamers), because whale products are important to the local economy.

I wonder if Greenpeace plans to protest. . .

The news reports on the Japan leg of the Bejing Olympic torch (which some are calling the “flame of shame”) relay in Nagano made me wish I had been there with a camera.

Large numbers of Chinese “students” were on hand as were groups of free Tibeters, all of whom seemed to be carrying flags and placards. The Japanese right wing also showed up, ready to mix it up with just about anyone, especially the Chinese.

The whole thing reminded me of why I dislike nation-vs-nation sports of any kind so much.

I also had to wonder whether the Olympics might turn out to be a public relations disaster for China.

Any other thoughts on this?

Even dirty laundry can be cute!

Via Hello Kitty Hell

Now extinct Club Bitch in Kamata, Tokyo.

Thanks to Josh