Review: Films Inspired By Japan – Pearl Harbor (2001)

Posted on December 3, 2020 by tokyofox

Now I have to hold my hands up and admit that when I first watched this back in the early days of Tokyo Fox (that’s 2006 by the way!) I said that “I actually quite enjoyed it despite being an overlong Hollywood film (albeit one full of amazing battle scenes) overflowing with cliches.” I gave it an incredible 7/10 rating at that time but I wasn’t exactly a regular watcher of films then not that it means I’m an expert now that I do watch more than the average person!

As a British person, one of the main gripes I have with this film is the lack of the letter U in the title’s second word! If that was the only problem I had then the film’s producers would no doubt be delighted. However, there are quite a few other flaws in this ‘Titanic‘ of the skies-style epic.

One of them (as referenced in the opening paragraph) is it’s Continue reading →

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The Best Place In Tokyo To See A DeLorean Car (& For Free!)

Posted on November 30, 2020 by tokyofox

 

Men and motors are two words which often go hand-in-hand but that rather clichéd view of what males like doesn’t apply to me as I’ve never really had any interest in cars. That doesn’t mean I don’t watch ‘Top Gear‘ (or ‘The Grand Tour‘ in later years) but that’s more down to the travelling and adventure part of certain shows. Vehicles with a movie connection is another thing though!

My colleague James (of Mr Kanso and Mr X. fame) told me about this museum in Odaiba and, knowing that I loved all things relating to Continue reading →

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TF Top 10……Songs About Japan From The 1980s

Posted on November 27, 2020 by tokyofox

 

For many decades now, international artists have often felt the need to put pen to paper and write some lyrics about their Japanese experience, particularly visiting Tokyo. Most of the songs are far from being their greatest work but for Japanophiles they can offer an interesting insight into a culture which used to be a mystery to many people in the western world. Without further ado, here is the Tokyo Fox top ten……songs about Japan from the 1980s…

10. My Private Tokyo – Vicious Pink Phenomena (1982) – This synth-pop tune was the first single by the English new wave duo, and it manages to shoehorn all kinds of Continue reading →

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“Tails” Of A Cycling Adventure To Edogawa Ward: Lock Gates, Towers, Architecture, A Free Zoo & A Burger Vending Machine!

Posted on November 24, 2020 by tokyofox

Those who have been following my ‘Cycling to all Inari Shrines in Tokyo’s 23 wards‘ adventures this year will know that these trips are usually solely focused on the shrines but the location of the following “sights” fit in nicely with my route to and from Edogawa Ward.

Shrines and foxes were not on my mind for the start of this cycling trip but the latter is exactly what I first encountered by way of ‘Tails Ale House’ (3-16-5 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku) and it’s fox-themed signage. I will have to return one day at a more suitable time when it’s actually open!

Cycling in Japan is something I’ve moaned about on this site a fair bit in the past (‘Room 101: Japanese Cyclists Special‘ details most of my gripes!) but Continue reading →

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Dark Tourist (Japan Special) Vol. 02

Posted on November 21, 2020 by tokyofox

The 2018 Netflix series ‘Dark Tourist‘ featured New Zealand journalist David Farrier visiting eight different countries (including Japan) on a mission to visit all manner of places relating to humans suffering in some sort of way whether it be victims of crime, tragic events or natural disasters. Of course, this kind of morbid traversing is nothing new, and people have been visiting these places for many decades but this TV show did help promote the idea of such tourism.

Having visited some famous dark historical sights in the likes of Poland, Germany, Australia, England and Cambodia (to name a few), I have to admit that I am slightly fascinated by such tourism. Japan has a fair number of places historically associated with death and tragedy, and Tokyo Fox has collated them into a series. Each volume will show a mix of relatively unknown places alongside the far more famous (or infamous in some cases!) ones.

1. The only war Continue reading →

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This Place In Tokyo Is Very ZOOtable For Families With Young Kids, Animal Lovers & Budget Travellers!

Posted on November 18, 2020 by tokyofox

The likes of Ueno and Tama naturally take the glory when it comes to zoos in Tokyo but there are a few smaller and less well-known ones dotted in and around the capital. To my knowledge there are also little zoos in Kichijoji, Itabashi and this cosy, admission-free zoo in Edogawa ward which I came across completely by accident when cycling around the area a couple of months ago.

It’s located within Gyosen Park in Kitakasai (one kilometre north of Nishi Kasai Station on the Tozai Line) and I only really went in to check out if it might be a place of interest to take our Continue reading →

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TF Top 10……Films To Feature “Japan” Very Briefly!

Posted on November 15, 2020 by tokyofox

 

It’s long been my belief that a movie must feature a substantial and fairly important amount of footage “set” (though not necessarily filmed) in Japan to be included in the long-running Tokyo Fox series of reviews. Admittedly, I don’t really have an exact idea of what percentage of a film should be in Japan but to give you an idea ‘Jackass: The Movie‘ (2002) contains only 13 minutes of Japanese footage and ‘Gung Ho‘ (1986) has just Continue reading →

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Dining Out: The 100 Yen Burger Vending Machine Restaurant

Posted on November 12, 2020 by tokyofox

There was a time when this ‘Dining Out’ feature included normal restaurants but in recent years it’s just become a trawl through some of the least glamorous places in Japan, with a particular fondness for vending machines which dispense food. I first heard of this one about a decade ago, and actually planned to do a cycle ride to it with a friend back then. That never happened though and I promptly forgot all about it until a few months ago.

I was looking forward to posting this but then YouTuber EricSurf6 uploaded this video 10 days later on the same place. You snooze you lose I guess! Two different platforms too so probably Continue reading →

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Foxed In The Head: Cycling To All Inari Shrines In Tokyo’s 23 Wards – #6 Kōtō

Posted on November 9, 2020 by tokyofox

#6. Kōtō

Cycling may be something that I love to do but I’m not really one who goes for a ride without some kind of aim whether it be to a restaurant, a sight or just my workplace. With that in mind, and desperate to get out on my new bike, I decided to cycle round ALL the Inari Shrines in Tokyo taking each of the 23 wards one at a time.

Inspired by recent interest in tiny shrines, this idea seemed like a good way of Continue reading →

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The Ewoks Cartoon Challenge – Binge Watching The 1985 Star Wars Cartoon For As Long As Possible!

Posted on November 6, 2020 by tokyofox

Think of the Ewoks and most people will (quite rightly) think of ‘Return Of The Jedi‘ (1983) where their appearance in the Battle of Endor scenes was quite divisive amongst Star Wars fans. What is less known is that the mid-eighties heralded something of a spurt in other Ewok-related content by way of two made-for-TV movies and a cartoon series.

As part of ‘The Ewoks and Droids Adventure Hour‘ on weekend morning TV in America, the former lasted two years and the latter ran for one season of 13 episodes plus an hour long special in 1986. These characters were naturally chosen for their appeal to Continue reading →

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