Review: Films Set In Japan – Silence (2016)

Posted on February 23, 2018 by tokyofox

A couple of foreign guys embark on a journey to Japan in search of something or someone but before you roll your eyes at the thought of yet another fish-out-of-water film please know that this is very different. It’s an extremely unconventional film that rides against the tide of what is the Hollywood norm for this is the latest effort from Martin Scorsese and the setting is 17th century Japan at a time when the suppression of Japanese Roman Catholics was rife.

Two Portuguese priests played by Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver receive disturbing news that their mentor Ferreira (Liam Neeson) has renounced his faith and so they hop in a boat and come to Japan with an alcoholic Japanese fisherman called Kichijiro as a guide. They want to know if he’s still alive and to help other locals who are trying to believe in Christianity whilst facing hostility from Japanese buddhists for their beliefs.

Admittedly, I had no idea about about Christianity in Japan until I Continue reading →

Posted in Review: Films Set In Japan | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The 12 Greatest Foxes

Posted on February 20, 2018 by tokyofox

Unlike all the usual hard-hitting serious posts on here, this is a bit of a “fluff” post. Both Leicester City players and fans alike are often referred to as foxes by the media but this feature isn’t really about either. Instead it is actually a list of favourite fox characters or people called Fox! There are a dozen of them to mark the 12th anniversary of Tokyo Fox which is obviously a commonly celebrated one, right?!! 

Such posts are almost always compiled in no particular order but for once I’ve ranked them in order of preference. No long winded countdown either as it’s straight to the top and you can scroll down to see the rest of the list if you so desire! Continue reading →

Posted in Films, Leicester City, TV Shows | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A Cycle Ride To Dinosaur Bridge (a.k.a Tokyo Gate Bridge)

Posted on February 17, 2018 by tokyofox

When it comes to bridges in Tokyo there is only ever really one that gets a mention and that’s Rainbow Bridge. No real surprise there I guess as it offers a picture perfect postcard view of Tokyo city and is famed for it’s beautiful night scenery. However, just 10 kilometres south-east of there is another interesting looking bridge but many people have never even heard of this one!

 

It’s one that’s fairly new to me too having only noticed it in the distance a year ago when my wife and I went Continue reading →

Posted in Cycling | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Crash ‘N Burn: My Wheels Of Misfortune

Posted on February 14, 2018 by tokyofox

If the ‘Fast & Furious‘ franchise has taught us anything then it’s that humans can survive the most unbelievable accidents and come out of the wreckage with just a few scars to show for it!! Whilst my accident wasn’t quite on that same scale it was something of a miracle that I came out fairly unscathed from the ordeal.

On Monday night (12th February) I finished my job a bit earlier than usual and was mildly excited that I’d be Continue reading →

Posted in Cycling | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Tokyo Daytripper: Japan’s Largest Taoist Temple Is In Saitama!

Posted on February 11, 2018 by tokyofox

 

Given that there is a Russian Cathedral in Ochanomizu, a Turkish Mosque in Yoyogi and many Chinese temples in Yokohama, I’m really not sure why I was surprised to see a Taiwanese temple in Japan. I guess it was more to do with it’s rather out-of-place location up in Saitama prefecture.

Wakaba station is certainly no strange place but this temple, known locally as Seitenkyū, is a very long distance from the station. It’s about 40 minutes away on foot though I’m sure there are buses too as it is located alongside a fairly major road. Feeling at a bit of a loose end one day back in January and ever keen to find new places along the Tobu Toju line, I decided to Continue reading →

Posted in Japan Travel, Tokyo Daytripper: | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Miho No Matsubara – One Of The Best Views Of Mount Fuji

Posted on February 7, 2018 by tokyofox

 

One can never really get tired of seeing this beautiful, solitary, snow-capped symmetrical cone, and there are many great places to view it from. Lake Kawaguchiko, Hakone, Fuji Q Highland and Fuji Shibazakura Matsuri are among the best places in the country to admire what has long been the inspiration for many artists, poets and photographers. Oh and bloggers too!

Admittedly, I had never heard of Miho No Matsubara until a day or two before our trip to Shizuoka city but I soon realised this could Continue reading →

Posted in Japan Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

The World’s Longest Wooden Pedestrian Bridge

Posted on February 4, 2018 by tokyofox

 

Being in the book of Guinness World Records surely means that something is worth seeing right? Of course this is case by case but I was very keen to see this long wooden bridge whilst we were over that way on a short trip to Shizuoka city. However, the bridge’s claim to fame wasn’t enough to tempt my wife to leave the comfort of our bed early for though! Instead, I ventured on alone and headed west to Shimada station which is just under Continue reading →

Posted in Japan Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Interesting Japanese Playground Structures #10 – Momotaro Park

Posted on February 1, 2018 by tokyofox

Many of the parks and children’s playgrounds in Japan, particularly in Tokyo, are quite poor compared to other countries in terms of space, surroundings and a lack of grass. However, a handful of them do tend to possess extremely creative structures and they will be explored in this series.

Nickname: Devil Slide 

Location: Continue reading →

Posted in Quirky Japan | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 38 Comments

On The Trail Of Shin Godzilla #1 – Shinagawa

Posted on January 29, 2018 by tokyofox

In the original ‘Godzilla‘ (1954) movie, the first place on land where the gigantic amphibious bipedal lizard arrived was Shinagawa which he promptly destroyed. Presumably ‘Shin Gojira‘ (2016) was paying homage to that and the 120 minute film features a few minutes of scenes from this ward which lies on Tokyo Bay.

N.B. The time codes given are approximate and may be slightly different to the DVD or blu-ray versions.

 

All the Shinagawa-based scenes occur between 23 and 26 minutes with the main Continue reading →

Posted in Japan Filming Locations | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

TF Flashback: Big Day Out Festival In Sydney (2002)

Posted on January 26, 2018 by tokyofox

This festival was the big one on the Australian calendar (until it finished in 2014) and one that I was lucky enough to attend back on January 26th (a.k.a. Australia Day) in 2002. Before it got cancelled I only really remembered it was Big Day Out when some British bands started to appear in Tokyo for one or two Japanese shows en-route down under where this festival moved around some of the country’s big cities. Thanks to the journal that I kept at the time (available online at afoxdownunder.wordpress.com) we can now take a look back on all that happened 16 years ago on an epic day……

It was an early start (by our standards!) for Richard Richard and I as we caught a train to Olympic Park in anticipation of buying tickets from a tout outside the Sydney Showground. Sadly Continue reading →

Posted in Australasia Travel, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment