The role of trains in Japan, funny observations on society here, and Christmas comes early

Japan is a very rail-centric place compared to the U.S., and trains are a much larger part of society than they are back home, at least from the point of view of this California yank. Trains are more convenient the closer you live to a large city, of course, and you can get anywhere in Tokyo in a short time thanks to its complex network of rail and subway lines. Trains are nice to have when you're out drinking with friends, since you can all get home safely without worrying about driving. Out in the "inaka" (ee-NAH-KAH, i.e. the boonies) where we live, trains are only used to get from one city to another, and are only convenient if you happen to be going somewhere near your target station. Still, even in small cities like ours, train stations play a large role in defining the commercial and cultural identity of a city. Nearby Takasaki is a commercial hub for our prefecture, and their station is gleaming white, with many shops located right inside the station for convenience. Our own home of Isesaki is famous for having the lowest "cultural level" of any city in the area, as defined by membership rates in groups like the Japan Rotarians and the Lion's Club or something like that (it's all quite over my head), and our run-down, ugly train station reflects our city's mediocrity.

It's funny how east mirrors west sometimes. Many people from Europe and the U.S. are taken with Japan, with the mystery of the place and the many ways it delights us by never being predictable. In a similar fashion, the Japanese have had a fascination with the West ever since Commodore Perry sailed his black ships into Yokohama Bay in 1853. You can see Japan's tendency to look culturally to Europe when you look at iconic buildings like Tokyo Tower (an exact replica of the Eiffel Tower) and Tokyo Station (a recreation of the Amsterdam Centraal Station). Similarly, it's interesting to see the way they define their own land in relation to the West, declaring the seaside in Chiba to be the Dover Cliffs of Japan, the main mountain range in the country the Japan Alps, and so on. If I want to get out and feel like I've travelled the world I can go to Kronenberg, a replica of a German village complete with beer, sausages and embarrassed-looking Germans standing around; visit Western Village, an old west town that features cowboys and a miniature version of Mt. Rushmore looking down on the freeway; or even go see the replica of the Statue of Liberty down by Rainbow Bridge in Tokyo (it's quite a "date spot"). Comparing cultures is so much fun!

Christmas came a little early to the kids at a preschool near J-List as "Santa-san" dropped in for a visit this morning. It was really me in that suit (ssh, don't tell the kids), fulfilling my annual role as the cheerful St. Nick as I handed out presents to everyone. Christmas is a very bright and happy time in Japan, and no Christmas Party would be complete without a real live gaijin Santa Claus there to make everyone laugh. There was a question and answer time, where the kids asked me such questions as, "Where do you live?" (er, Norway), "What is your favorite color?" (red) and "What is your favorite food?" ("reindeer hamburg steak"). As usual, I made sure not to break character by speaking Japanese, and it was great to see them using the universal English phrases "Thank you," "How are you?" and "What is your hobby?" with me, so happy to be actually using English for communication.

We're still rolling out the new features to the J-List website. The (still beta) J-List Wish List is shaping up nicely, and we've added the ability to move items in your shopping cart over to your Wish List for later purchase, so you won't forget about it if you want it get it later. Wish Lists can be made public so you can tell friends or family what you'd like them to get for you, post it on your blog, or just show off your list of cool items for anyone who wanders in. One small warning though: many items at J-List are limited in stock, and if you leave an item in your wish list for too long, it might not be available next time you go to get it. Feedback on the new system

Here are today's "really cool products" that I thought were especially noteworthy. Note: the J-List links below may be for adult products and should probably be considered "not safe for work." To see all the J-List products, check out J-List or the JBOX.com updated products link.

	Bejean Aug 2006 vol. 154. New issue of Bejean. As always, I love the photography that uses Japanese-style rooms, tatami and what not.
	Gothic Lolita Bible 2006 Spring vol. 20. The new issue of Goth-Loli Bible is great as usual. Lots of pictures from a wide range of GL genres.
	Jun Bright -- Jun Natsukawa. New photobook by Jun Natsukawa, the cute girl who was burn in June by a river in the summer, or so her name seems to indicate. (Actually 'Jun' means 'pure.)
	Living Dead. I am a fan of this artist, she draws beautiful ero works with real love and emotion in them. And her covers are always to die for.
	Bride for a Week -- Mitsu Amai. Mitsu Amai's name means Sweet Honey, and it's an apt name, trust me. She will become your sweet bride for a week.
	Nihongo Journal Nov. 2006. New issue of Nihongo Journal is in, for students.
	High School Girl's Uniform ~ Jyoshikou Seifuku Zukan. This is a really cool book, a "catalog" of girls' high school uniforms from many famous schools in Tokyo. Useful for cosplay fans or those who like the look.
	Erotic Woman -- Marina Fujimoto. We've chosen Marina-chan as the JAV [which means Japan Adult Video in case you didn't know] Girl of the Month. Man that pouting expression is cool...
	Dengeki Comic GAO Jan 2007. I wish I had more time to sit around and read this THICK volume of manga, with more than 500 pages and some great stories inside. Since this is a monthly the paper quality is much nicer than, say, weekly Shonen Jumps you might have seen.
	Mayura *rmp002* -- Range Murata Pinky Street. I cant' say enough good about the Range Murata Pinky Street figures. Fabulous.
	*White* Retro USB Game Pad -- Super Famicon Type ~ Elecom. Cool retro USB game pad from Elecom.
	Flat Style Figures -- Set of 7 *Full Set + 2 Rare Items* ~ Pocket Theater DX. What is is about these figures? They're basically beautiful anime girls subtly inviting you to come make love with them. Fabulous.
	Ignis 1/7 Scale Figure -- Max Factory Ver. ~ Magai Makyou. All I can say is, wow. This figure is very large and nice.
	Real Man's Tofu Tenugui -- Full Set *Set of 6* ~ Otokomae Tofu Ten *Dandy Tofu Shop*. What's manly about tofu? I can't quite put my finger on it, but the package design and cool "Symbol of Japan" attitide of this real tofu company are great. These are small capsule toy tenugui towels.
	Frog *Sex Style* Ashtray. Our Sex Style products, featuring the 48 traditional sexually positions in Japan as performed by frogs and pandas, is off to a strong start. This is an ashtray with the same art.
	Hello Kitty Pill Case. Keep track of your pills, vitamins and other stuff with this cool Hello Kitty pill case.
	Totoro Stamp -- Fight!! I don't know why, but these Studio Ghibli stamps are a huge seller for us -- they're so nicely made, with real wood and they feel good in hands. I am quite happy with the new crop of designs (all, incidentally, penned by Mr. Miyazaki himself).
	Flag Picks Set. In Japanese restaurants, they put little flag in kids' meals, and it's fun to see what flag you'll get. Now you can do this for your own kids.