Peachy’s

Meet Peachy’s, the first ever “lip synching” idol unit straight outta Japan!

Mystery solved!

While I was walking around the Fuji TV headquarters building in Odaiba during my recent Japan trip I noticed some type of live event was being held at the plaza below at street level. Curious, I got closer to take a better look and see what all the commotion was about. A sizable crowd had gathered in front of a temporary stage where 3 girls dressed in similar flashy 1 piece dress outfits were doing some song & dance routine. In the backdrop on stage was a sign that said “Peachy’s”, which I had never heard of before.

The temporary outdoor stage where Peachy’s had their first public performance was at the bottom left corner of this shot of Fuji TV headquarters in Tokyo

Naturally I whipped out my beat up but trusty camera and aimed for the stage. But I was told by what appeared to be an event staff to keep moving as I was getting ready to take some snap shots that would’ve been worthy of a “Tokyo moment”. At that time I was by the very side of the stage, just outside the fenced off area where the audience was. I thought they just wanted to keep the foot traffic moving so I walked toward the pack and took out my camera again.

Peachy’s – Yuka Kosaka (L), Akina Minami (C) and Rina Akiyama (R)

However as I was adjusting the frame and the zoom once again I was interrupted by some event staff with a badge. This time I heard what he was saying, “I’m sorry but there’s no photography allowed.” I was really puzzled, since right before I got idol-blocked I saw a couple people passing by taking pictures with their cell phones. I wondered maybe it was my lack of understanding of the Japanese language or perhaps they didn’t want me taking pictures from that particular spot and get in the way because I did see a camera crew filming the event. I said to myself, “third time’s the charm” as I moved to the right side of the audience and attempted to snap up some juicy exclusive photos for all you Sleepy John readers.

Sorry guys, in the end I wasn’t able to provide any shots of my own. But this is what Peachy’s first mini concert looked like.

What do you know…this time a dude in a suit came up and rudely idol-blocked me even before I pointed my camera in the right direction! I MEAN WTF?!?! What’s the big friggin’ deal if their objective was to promote the group? I know I wasn’t back home in the States, but common sense would dictate that everything’s fair game out in the public. And I certainly considered this outdoor event by the street to fall under public domain! Am I off on this?

A big F**k Y** goes out to the department of event planning at Fuji TV and Japanese nonsensical trivial practices in general!

I got frustrated and upset about silly little trivial things the Japanese insist on doing like this one so I split without taking any pictures. But now thinking about it maybe I should’ve just played the “dumb gaijin” card and ignored them!

To make sense of all this, the dream idol unit “Peachy’s” consists of Japanese gravure idol Yuka Kosaka (小阪由佳), Akina Minami (南明奈) and Rina Akiyama (秋山莉奈), who also often appear on Japanese TV shows. Peachy’s claim to fame would be, “We’re not singing!” The project was born half jokingly out of Fuji TV’s late night TV show “Jodeki! Pop Company Pop-ya” (～ジョーデキ！POP COMPANY～ POP屋). The cute Japanese idol trio has gained so much following that they’ll release their first single titled “My Baby Boy” later on this summer!

L to R: Yuka Kosaka aka “Kosakana” (コサカーナ), Akina Minami aka Akkina (アッキーナ) and Rina Akiyama aka Oshirina (オシリーナ)

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Sleepy John Hits Tokyo, Part 9

Here’s the last batch of my “random shots collection” from my recent trip to Japan. I hope you’ve enjoyed everything so far and rest assure I’ve got even more interesting photos from the Land of the Rising Sun coming your way soon so hang tight!

I was greeted by the hot and beautiful Japanese fashion model Yuri Ebihara (蛯原友里) aka “Ebi-chan” (エビちゃん) in the form of a McDonald’s poster soon after I arrived in Tokyo.

How could you not be in the mood for a Mac Chicken Wrap with black vinegar dressing after seeing this gorgeous Japanese specimen holding one?

The famous Akasaka Blitz, a medium sized live house venue similar to House of Blues in the States located in Akasaka (赤坂) in downtown Tokyo where so many famous Japanese musician have performed.

Spotted the latest single “Namida no Iro” (涙の色) from popular Hello!Project (ハロー!プロジェクト) unit C-ute on display in the local record store. I don’t know why but their earlier hit single “Tokaikko Junjo” (都会っ子 純情) kept playing in my head as I walked by the display.

Japanese AV promotional posters splashed the walls by the entrance to a store in Akihabara. Stay tuned because I’ve got a juicy special on that in the near future. Here’s a funny side note: As I was about to take these shots a young couple passed by. The girl told her man, “Go check it out. You want to go down there, don’t you?” The guy was actually a little hesitant at first but after being reassured he wouldn’t get into trouble he happily obliged and descended into happy land. How cool is that chick?!

This is the front entrance to the new TBS TV station headquarters in the posh district of Akasaka (赤坂). I was there to have lunch with a friend who works there (lucky bastard! He’s met his share of Japanese celebrities.) and to take in some good view of some fine Japanese girls. I can honestly say Akasaka is crawling with hot OL (office ladies) and other sexy females!

I could barely keep my dick in my pants as I took this stealth shot of some fine Japanese office ladies working at TBS leaving the building!

Sleepy John Hits Tokyo, Part 7

Blasting through the rain on the famed Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway (首都高速) aka “Shutoko”.

4 Japanese “sunakku” (スナック) snack bars, or small individually run establishment that serve alcohol, homemade dishes & finger food and provide good conversation for the overworked Japanese salaryman line up in a row. Inside an able karaoke machine is a must. You can find joints like these around the train station in almost every town in Japan.

This is why it’s so wonderful to be a guy in Japan. Look at all these fine selections of porno magazines that are on display in plain view at any “konbini” (コンビニ) convenience stores! Even manga often include shots of barely covered young girls in bikini doing provocative poses. This is how the popularity of gravure idols get to be so big in Japan…you start them young!

I wanted to grab me a library-ful of these physically stimulating reading material but couldn’t stuff all of them into my suitcase

I ran into this unsightly thing covered by dirty, taped up tarp as I walked down the street near the intersection of a residential area in Tokyo. I wondered what in the world inspired the person to put up such ugly fixture (too big to be a tent for the homeless) and who the hell gave him permission to do so.

I walked around to the other side to find out that it’s a mobile street ramen stall (屋台ラーメン, or “yatai”! xP As much as I love ramen, I’m not quite sure if I’d be down to do my dining in there.

The hilarious part is the dude named this ramen stall “One Dragon”

Sleepy John Hits Tokyo, Part 5

A couple chilling on the steps by the fountains that’s right next to the historic Nihonbashi Bridge (日本橋) in downtown Tokyo.

The new COREDO shopping center (コレド日本橋) right above Nihonbashi Station (日本橋駅) hosts a list of fine restaurants, cafes, retail stores and office space. And I must tell you the office ladies who go there were hot! I actually caught a good eyeful of one of the girl’s panties and creamy inner thighs as we both got onto the escalator heheh! Office ladies in tight skirts showing their panty lines are just too damn sexy!

One of the first things you recognize as you exit from Shibuya Station’s (渋谷駅) Hachiko Exit (ハチ公口) is the Q Front building. Isn’t that just the most ginormous big screen TV you’ve ever seen?!

While walking around in Shibuya I noticed the Japanese were getting ready for summer already. Here are a couple PARCO department store’s (渋谷パルコ) billboards advertising the upcoming season’s bikini. Most of the bikini PARCO carries is supplied by Japanese swimwear giant San-ai / Sanai (三愛) so I was surprised to find out the sexy model on the billboards wasn’t Chiaki Tani (谷ちあき), Sanai’s 2008 Image Girl.

A shot of Dogenzaka Intersection and Dogenzaka Street (道玄坂) in Shibuya as rain began to fall. Check out how many people there are…and that was on a weekday!

Sleepy John Hits Tokyo, Part 4

Today I’d like to focus on one of my all time favorite spots in Tokyo…Kichijoji (吉祥寺). This bustling hip town is filled with students (read – cute school girls in uniform and hot college co-eds) and young adults and is situated just west of downtown Tokyo. It has been consistently ranked as one of the top 3 most desirable towns to reside in!

Here’s a shot of the “main” street that’s directly behind Kichijoji Station, which is filled with restaurants. Notice how narrow it is and I kid you not when I say full sized bus regularly runs through here.

I thought this picture is a great example of one of the many obvious “East meets West” contrasting sights you can see in Japan. Here we’ve got the quintessential American import Starbucks Coffee, or “Sutaba” (スターバー) as the Japanese affectionately call it in the foreground and a Kichijoji landmark and local favorite, the famous Iseya yakitori restaurant (mostly skewered chicken cooked over charcoal) right next to it.

Iseya’s (やきとりのいせや) yakitori is da bomb…I highly recommend it!

Right behind Iseya is the entrance to Inokashira Park (井の頭公園), another Kichijoji landmark . The park actually has a mini zoo built inside!

Inokashira Park is especially popular in the spring time, when cherry blossom bloom. During “hanami” (cherry blossom viewing) season all the trees along the pond in this picture would be pink.

Caught a pretty talented older gent performing his art in the park. He played mostly Blues had his “best of” CDs for sale.

Some of you are probably thinking, “Enough with the lame park and scenery shots already and show us the goods!” Well, I do not disappoint…Sleepy John put in work and got you this shot of a group of babelicious high school girls in their sexy sailor uniform and short skirts congregating in front of Baskin Robbins!

I know you’d love to lick some of them up and down like the flavor of the month!

Sleepy John Hits Tokyo, Part 3

I’m back with more interesting random shots that I took from my recent Japan trip. I’ve got plenty more and I plan on putting them up in succession so you Japanphiles keep your eyes peeled!

This is a shot of Ginza (銀座), a posh district of Tokyo. The Japanese flagship stores of Chanel, Bulgari, Prada and Louis Vuitton are all located in this area.

Ginza is also home to several high class hostess and snack bars that cater to wealthy businessmen. It was early in the evening and I got a shot of a mama-san wearing traditional kimono on her way to work.

Taxis line up along Sotobori Dori (外堀通り) at night in Ginza.

You know being the Japanese female lover that I am, I had to put in a little work and stalk these fashionable and shapely OL (office ladies)! I wish I could’ve had a drink with some of the many hot office ladies I encountered while I was there! I swear, office ladies in Japan are getting hotter than ever and I’d like to taste them all!

Here’s a shot of us riding the taxi en route to our next drinking appointment.

Sleepy John Hits Tokyo, Part 2

I know, I know…many of you are probably thinking, “Show us more photos of Japan that you talk so much about you stingy bastard!” It’s about time I start releasing more pictures from my recent trip to Tokyo. So without further adieu here comes the first of several batches:

P.S. Oh yeah, feel free to fire away with your comment

Here’s a picture of a Japanese public bath house. They exist mostly in big cities like Tokyo but are quickly disappearing in recent years due to the modernization of Japanese housing. No, there’s no hanky-panky business that goes on inside the joint. It’s strictly a place where (mostly elderly) people from the neighborhood come to clean themselves, relax by soaking their tired bodies in hot water and trade stories. Notice the chimney in the back. Bath houses in Japan actually use wood to heat up the water.

Check out the wheel cover on this gramps’ wheelchair! With the over popularization and mandatory conversion of cuteness onto everything in Japan, I wasn’t surprised to see that someone had pimped out his ride Winny The Pooh style!

The recently renovated plaza on the west side of Shinbashi Station is somewhat of a Tokyo landmark and made famous by being featured in several TV dramas, movies and comic books.

Caught this classic Japanese movie poster at a gift shop that specializes in nostalgic Showa period goods. I got a good laugh out of the title, which says “Violent Classroom”. Check out the school girl being violated on the bottom!

Spotted this sex shop tucked away under the railroad track somewhere in Tokyo. You won’t be able to get a good night sleep at “Apple Inn”, but they’ll help you get your freak on at night!

Silly Japanese, Part 2

Here’s more wacky Engrish I ran into from my Japan trip. Enjoy the fobbiness:

Lipps Hair Salon

This sign is rather ambiguous. I’m curious to find out whether I’ll receive grade-A oral service from a lovely stylist or a tongue lashing while getting my hair mowed down there.

Hiroshima Okonomiyaki – BIG PIG

I spotted this restaurant in Tokyo that specializes in Hiroshima style okonomiyaki (kind of like a Japanese pancake or pizza. You know how to work Wiki, right? Look it up!) I wonder if the owner is calling his patrons shameless gluts or himself that.

SHIBUYA STRAWBERRY JAM

I was pleasantly surprised when I came upon this sign slightly off the main street in Shibuya. Who would’ve known they have attractive young females producing yummy fruit jam in the middle of Tokyo! How much per jar? I sure hope they’ve got school girl panties flavor ones!

PINK ROTOR 180Yen – “It’s so fucking cheap!”

Wow, even Nobita Nobi (Doraemon’s master. What? You don’t know who they are? Make Wiki your friend!) is impressed! I’m sure he regrets spending too much on his Valentine’s Day present for Shizuka-chan. Now that he’s broke he won’t be able to take her to a nice love hotel.

But a word of caution…no girl in her right mind should feel safe sticking a $1.80 vibrating object into her vagina.

Silly Japanese

Ahh…our funny fellow Japanese and their goofy Engrish.  You’ve gotta love it!  What would we do without them?  Here are some that I ran into from my recent trip to good ol’ fobby Japan:

BRAIN PARK – “More than a school child”

I came across this sign at an indoor amusement / activity center inside Decks Tokyo in Odaiba. I’m not sure if that’s meant as an insult to grade school kids or an encouragement to the participants. You figure it out.

I LOVE YOU – by Yosuke Ide

I saw this tagged bicycle seat in front of a ramen shop. The overly infatuated boy tagged his favorite subject’s transportation with white out. And it looks like the girl has been smothering her suitor’s proclamation of love with her bottom for the last year and a half.

CREATIVE ROOM – Hotel LiOS Shibuya

It’s obviously the photo was taken in Shibuya. What’s not so obvious is what exactly can the guests staying at this hotel “create”. Go read the fine print and make an intelligent guess.

666…

I walked by this chic bar-like joint in one of the back alleys in Shibuya. Apparently aliens, satan and other degenerates all make this their favorite hang out.

Japanese Cars We Can’t Have…Yet, Part 2

Here are some more cool rides I saw while I was strolling through Tokyo:

This is the new Mazda Atenza, known to the people in the U.S. as the Mazda 6. Our version which is slated to arrive later this year will basically have the same exterior. By the way I saw the sport wagon and it is HOT!

Here’s a car we’ll probably never get to drive. “Kei”, or k-cars like this current generation Honda Life (JB5) is ubiquitous in Japan. Think B-segment subcompacts in the States, but even smaller. To qualify as a k-car in Japan the vehicle must displace no more than 666cc and has only 3 cylinders.

And finally here’s something sexy! The Mazda RX-8 recently received a minor change (M/C) facelift and it’s now looking sexier than ever! Too bad the Renesis engine still lacks punch.

Nice factory RECARO sport seats and optional 19 inch wheels I’d love to bring home with me.

Japanese Cars We Can’t Have…Yet

A few shots of JDM only cars (for now at least) I snapped while I was in Japan. That’s right, I wasn’t always looking at tasty school girls and sexy OLs (office ladies)! Well okay, most of the time I was…

Mazda is eager to join the B-segment market after seeing the success of Scion xB, Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit and Mini Cooper subcompacts in America. The new Mazda Demio that was released in Japan a year ago will eventually make it to Stateside as the new “Mazda 2″, slotted right behind the popular Mazda 3.

Here’s the limited edition Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX wagon we didn’t get in the States. How cool would it be to blast up the mountains in this hot rocket on your way to go snowboarding?! But rumor has it that Mitsubishi is working on bringing a 5 door “sportback” version of the recently launched Lancer Evolution X to the U.S. to combat Subaru’s new Impreza STi.

Yes, this sleek and sportier next generation GE6 Honda Fit will come to the U.S., possibly later this year.

Now wipe the drool off your mouth and go pop in that The Fast and the Furious DVD!

Japanese Trains

A huge part of the Japanese lifestyle revolves around their public transportation system, namely trains and subways. A town is often built around the train station and many subcultures have spawn off the railway. Here are some train / subway photos I took while in Tokyo:

Riding on the Keisei Line (京成線) from Narita International Airport

Tozai Line (東西線), the train that people hate to take during rush hours is a pleasant ride in the early afternoon

Crossing the Old Edogawa River (旧江戸川) into Tokyo

Oedo Line (大江戸線) subway @ Monzennakacho Station (門前仲町)

Tamachi Station (田町駅) looks rather dead right after lunch

Huge and airy Shinagawa Station (品川駅) serves as a major artery and connecting point

Designated smoking area on the platform at Shinbashi Station. You don’t see too many of these left in Tokyo but since Shinbashi is an “oyaji” (old geezer) town they had to leave a couple there.

The iconic plaza on the west side of Shinbashi Station (新橋駅)

Taking the Yurikamome monorail (ゆりかもめ) toward the newly developed Shiodome (汐留) district

I spotted the uber cute and popular TV announcer Aiko Kaito (皆籐愛子) in Akasaka Station (赤坂駅)!

More to come…

Sleepy John In Japan, Part 3

Because it’s Friday, I bring you random snapshots:

Sobu Line train platform

“High school girls” style hostess club. Alcohol + cute girls in school uniform = Win

Random Japanese school girl in sailor uniform with her boyfriend…lucky bastard!

Shoko Nakagawa aka Shokotan on a poster for Japanese karaoke maker DAM

This is how you deliver Domino’s Pizza in Japan. Every 3 wheel scooter has the driver’s name displayed. I bet they’re fun to ride around!

I’ve got plenty more for your viewing pleasure so be sure to stick around.

Sleepy Japanese

I get sleepy quite often but my need for a little shut eye pales in comparison to the Japanese. They seem to have this uncanny ability to fall asleep on command, regardless of where they’re at! Here are a few snapshots I took of them sleeping:

At Narita International Airport…check out the stylish pose!

At a bus stop in the Tokyo business district of Nihonbashi

Spotted this salaryman on my way home along a busy street

Even on the mountain…slope side sleeping at its finest!

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