At a love hotel, you can “rest” – check in for a few hours – or “stay” – spend the night. Rates vary between establishments, a sign outside will usually have hours and rates.

Entrances are discreet and interaction with staff is minimised, with rooms selected from a panel of buttons and the bill settled by a pair of hands behind a pane of frosted glass.

Following is a list of ten decorated love hotel room themes where you can have your own sexual misadventure by living out your kinky, erotic and naughty fantasies.

1. The Space Odyssey

To infinity and beyond!

2. Hello Kitty S&M Room

The kinky side of Hello Kitty. If you thought the Hello Kitty vibrators sounded fun, maybe you should try the Hello Kitty S&M room.

3. The Chikan Express

Tired of the “Please do it at home” poster campaign? Frustrated you can’t ride in the women-only passenger car? Live out your chikan fantasies and dodge the anti-groping laws in this train carriage themed room.

4. The Classroom

Time for school you naughty boys & girls!

5. The Gyno Chair

Perfect for the amateur gynecologist and aspiring medical students.

6. The Hentai Anime Room

Lovers of ero manga can live out their ‘ecchi’ fantasies.

7. The Office

Need some extra RAM for your IBM PC?

8. The Japanese Whaler

Bring your harpoon for a bit of humpback.

9. The Library

Do the Dewy and book it with a librarian.

10. The Supply Cupboard

Indulge in your forbidden ō eru (office lady) fantasy.

If you intend to visit a Love Hotel in Japan an essential companion is The Japanese-English Guide to Sex, Kink and Naughtiness. It contains an exhaustive collection of over 500 sexy, kinky and naughty words and descriptions not found in ordinary dictionaries or language guides.

Sources:

1. Satellite of Love: Vanishing Beauty of Japanese Love Hotels
2. Misty Keasler

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Image source: Wikipedia

Yoshitoshi's The Ghost of Okiku at the Dish Mansion

As the tale goes, Okiku was a beautiful servant maid who worked for the samurai Tessan Aoyama. Aoyama attempted to seduce Okiku making amorous advances, which she rejected. In anger, he hid a precious ceramic plate that belonged to a treasured collection of ten heirloom plates. He then ordered Okiku to fetch the plates and count them in front of him. She counted only nine plates. Aoyama blamed the loss of the plate on Okiku however, as a concession, he offered to overlook the small matter of the missing heirloom if she relented and became his mistress. Okiku again refused and so an enraged Aoyama killed her, disposing her body down a well.

The vengeful spirit of the hapless Okiku tormented and tortured her murderer as a ghost from the afterlife. Each night she was heard from the depths of the well obsessively counting from one to nine, after which she gave a heartrending wail. Desperately trying to find the missing tenth plate she would begin counting again.

As well as being famous Japanese folklore, the story of Okiku is also a popular subject for ukiyoue artists. Probably her most famous depiction is her appearance as one of the New Forms of Thirty-Six Ghosts by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (print above). She was also included by Katsushika Hokusai (check out The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife) as one of the ‘kaidan’ entitled ‘Sarayashiki’ in his One Hundred Tales (Hyaku Monogatari) series (print below).

Image source: Wikipedia

Hokusai's Sarayashiki

The story also forms the basis for a number of books and movies. Most notably the story is also the inspiration for the 1998 Japanese horror mystery film, Ring (リング Ringu) adapted from the novel of the same name.

Fast fact: In 1795, old wells in Japan suffered from an infestation of a type of worm that became known as the “Okiku bug” (Okiku mushi). This worm, covered with thin threads making it look as though it had been bound, was widely believed to be a reincarnation of Okiku.

This article is a submission for the Japan Blog Matsuri hosted by Mazikeen.

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1. Firefoxy

2. Sexy Starbucks Siren

3. Hentai Inside

4. Fonda Honda

5. Booble

6. Oakley: Otaku for the eyes

7. NBA Anime

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Following is a list of ten things for wine lovers to do in The Hunter. Obviously the list can never be exhaustive so all feedback and suggestions on extending this list is welcomed.

Image source: flickr

1. The Boutique Wine Centre

Located in the heart of the Hunter Valley wine country on Broke Road in Pokolbin is The Boutique Wine Centre, a cellar door style showcase for the tasting and sale of some of Hunter Valley’s leading boutique wine companies and an ideal place to begin your exploration of the region.

2. Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard

Perched atop a foot hill of the Brokenback Mountain Ranges in one of Hunter Valley’s best locations is the Audrey Wilkinson Cellar Door with breathtaking views, award-winning wines and a museum.

Image source: flickr

The vineyard is the oldest planted site in Pokolbin set high on 270 acres in the historic “Oakdale” Vineyard with the Brokenback Range just west of the estate.

3. Peterson House

At the gateway to the Hunter Valley vineyards is the Peterson House Cellar Door. Peterson’s are the only producer of sparkling wines in the Hunter Valley and are also one of the few producers using méthode champenoise in Australia.

Image source: flickr

Whilst it is well worth a visit when in the Hunter Valley the sparkling just doesn’t compare after visiting France’s Champagne region

4. Scarborough Wine Company

Situated on a stunning 30-acre hillside vineyard on Gillards Road in Pokolbin the Scarborough Wine Company grows chardonnay and pinot noir.

5. Hunter Valley Gardens

Take a break from the wine tasting and explore the Hunter Valley Gardens. Spanning over 60 acres it has many outstanding features including 10 differently themed garden areas with over eight kilometres of pathways.

Image source: flickr

6. Moorebank Vineyard Estate

Moorebank Vineyard Estate is a boutique vineyard estate that produces an extensive range of sustainably grown wines.

7. Roberts Restaurant

Need lunch or dinner? Situated on Tower Estate at Pokolbin, Roberts Restaurant is one of the Hunter Valley’s most celebrated restaurants located amongst the vineyards in a National Trust slab cottage dated circa 1876 filled with rustic antiques.

8. Constable Estate Vineyards

Constable Estate Vineyards is a boutique family vineyard cradled against the backdrop of the Brokenback Ranges, the vineyard of 15 acres includes the classic grape varieties of chardonnay, semillon, verdelho, cabernet and shiraz.

9. Bluetongue Brewery Cafe

Mix it up with a visit to the Bluetongue Brewery Cafe, the Hunter Valley’s first boutique brewery, located in the Hunter Resort.

10. Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop

The Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop has a fabulous selection of local and imported cheese and a comprehensive range of delicatessen products.

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Murder exposes world of hired marriage wreckers

A murder case in Tokyo exposed Japan’s custom of hiring marriage wreckers. Businesses that specialise in breaking up relationships are known as “wakaresaseya” (“splitter upper”) where undercover operatives are paid to seduce people into an affair in order to provide divorce grounds. Read more.

Winter Hike in Nikko National Park by Mike’s Blender

A lonesome hiker escapes the bustling Tokyo megapolis to embark on a winter adventure. Trekking through deep snow along Lake Chuzenji and Lake Yunoko in the Nikko National Park he searches for solitude with Mount Nantai providing the backdrop. Read more.

Japan Plans to Ignore Any Ban on Bluefin Tuna

Japan opposes plans to list the Atlantic bluefin tuna, which is highly prized in sushi and sashimi, as a most-endangered species and to ban its international trade. Japan consumes about 80 percent of the bluefin tuna caught in the Mediterranean. Read more.

Ex-Japanese now skates for Russia

Figure skater Yuko Kawaguchi (now known as Yuko Kavaguti in Russian) gave up her Japanese nationality to acquire Russian citizenship in order to fulfill her long-cherished dream of skating on the Olympic stage and participate at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Read more.

33 Must See Japanese Scenes by Muza-chan

A mega-list of thirty three recommended “must see” unique scenes that can be found only in Japan that ranges from traditional festivals, traditional theater, religion, pop culture, architecture, transport, food, clothing, martial arts and games. Read more.

« January 2010 Gekkan J-News Review

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1. Yakitori 「焼き鳥」

Skewered chicken pieces that are grilled over hot charcoals.

2. Sukiyaki 「すき焼き」

Thinly sliced beef and vegetables simmered in a shallow iron pot in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar and mirin.

3. Ramen 「ラーメン」

Noodles in broth garnished with small pieces of meat and vegetables. Check out two of my favourite ramen shops Ippudo Ramen and Kyūshū Jangara.

4. Okonomiyaki 「お好み焼き」

A savoury pancake containing a variety of ingredients. Okonomi, meaning “what you like”, and yaki meaning “grilled”. My favourite okonomiyaki was at Kiji (in the basement of the Umeda Sky Building) in Osaka.

5. Sushi 「寿司」

Cooked vinegar rice commonly topped with raw fish, or put into rolls.

6. Kushikatsu 「串カツ」

A deep-fried cutlet of meat or vegetable skewered on bamboo skewers and eaten with a tonkatsu dipping sauce. I had some good kushikatsu at a store called Daruma located at the base of Tsūtenkaku in Osaka.

7. Yakiniku 「焼肉」

Thinly sliced beef and vegetables grilled over a charcoal or gas burner and eaten with a tare (sweetened, thickened soy sauce) dipping sauce.

8. Yakisoba 「焼きそば」

Ramen-style noodles stir-fried with pieces of pork and vegetables and flavoured with yakisoba sauce.

9. Tempura 「天ぷら」

Thin strips of vegetables and seafood lightly dipped in batter then briefly deep-fried in hot oil and eaten with a tentsuyu dipping sauce or sprinkled with sea salt.

10. Nikuman 「肉まん」

A steamed pork bun.

Check out 10 Weird Japanese Foods for more tasty morsels of Japanese culinary goodness such as raw horse meat, poisonous puffer fish, grasshoppers and more.

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The format of the publication usually combines soft news like scandals and affairs, some international rumours and relations, an occasional golf tip, a few comics that are a little erotic in nature and swimsuit models (usually on the front and back of the mag). The publication is generally targeted to Japanese salarymen.

As you can see in the image below provided by nateola from PinkNihon, it is full of high-quality content. This particular image is an advertisement that promotes a Japanese Adult Video (JAV) about a promiscuous orgy with the tagline “Sex–it’s supposed to be raunchy”. Here is the NSFW link to the vid イグイグ大乱交 (don’t click if you are easily offended).

Do you find it bizarre that, in Japan, these types of full-page advertisements appear in popular mainstream publications? I mean, are we too prudish in the West?

The International Mankini Challenge

“What Borat started we will finish” is the catchphrase for The International Mankini Challenge. Started by Mankini Malph with a dream of taking the Mankini to iconic locations all over the world! Are you up for the challenge? Check it out.

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Mark ‘Danger’ Mills, self-confessed goldmember, free willy lobbyist, polisher of Vader’s helmet and sometimes referred to as ‘Lethal Weapon 4′, contributes this guest post providing remarkable insight into a size issue that concerns most men.

I saw this report on the BBC web site and it peaked my interest. That is to say my interest was peaked; I did not actually ‘peak’ myself. Anyway, the article basically suggests that the majority of condom wearers are being supplied with goods that do not fit properly, having the knock on effect of increased breakage rates and a higher risk of infection. It all seems quite reasonable really except for the comment that, and I quote, “Men are twice as likely to take the condom off midway through sex due to a poor fit”.

Twice as likely as whom exactly? Is there a whole different category of condom wearers we are not generally aware of, other than men, and this mystical category of johnny users prefer a looser fitting raincoat?

It also makes me wonder how we know that the condoms are ill-fitted. Are there a bunch of guys out there who’s mother is checking the fitting for them, and checking the fitting ‘during’ intercourse? “Don’t stop son, just tucking your sleeve in!” Maybe the family dog is responsible, coming in half way through and ripping this loose dangly condom off of the end of men’s knobs. Perhaps even there’s a condom hit squad out there breaking into family boudoirs, rulers and calipers in hand, checking size and fitting.

Frankly, the mind boggles.

Then I got to thinking about what you could do about this phenomena of ill-fitting condoms. Mark’s and Spencer have trained specialists for bra measuring, so perhaps the logical extension of that is a condom fitting service? Can you imagine walking into a chemist to buy a packet of condoms and the assistant pulls out a measuring device, much like the Brannock foot measuring device found in shoe stores, and asks you to unzip.

I once read an article in a womans magazine (yeah, I know, but I only read the smutty bits, honest lads) about penis shapes and sizes and it basically broke them down into 7 distinct categories. I won’t go into that here but I wonder if the condom makers of this world really have the infrastructure in place to create all of these different shapes sizes and, yes I really must say it, angles.

Can you really see men going into their local chemist and asking for a small size pack of prophylactics? Size will always be exaggerated upwards even when ordering on the internet. It is an inbuilt primal instinct of men; like how we don’t like asking for directions. The small size franger packs would end up on the chemist shelves gathering dust whilst guys super-sized themselves.

Personally, I think us lads are doomed to having a bad fitting glove on our extremities. For me, I’ll just have to put up with them feeling tight all of the time.

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Please laugh, we’re risking our lives

The Tokyo Shock Boys are a group of four Japanese entertainment stunt men who gained worldwide notoriety performing self-abusive and self-mutilating stunts. In Japan they are known as Dengeki Network (電撃ネットワーク ).

The group formed in Tokyo in 1990 when the four members put together some funny stunts for Japanese TV while working as roadies on Paul McCartney’s 1990 tour of Japan. They are the forefathers of dangerous, crude and self-injuring stunts coming well before groups such as Jackass and Dirty Sanchez. This year is their 20th anniversary.

The Tokyo Shock Boys are (in left to right order of the above photo):

• Nambu Torota: Lights firecrackers in his pants and also staples money to his head
• Danna Koyanagi: Breaks objects with butt muscles, expresses milk through eyes
• Sango Jugo: Puts out cigarettes with his tongue
• Gyuzo: Plunges his head into hot wax and plays with scorpions

Below is a short video featuring some of their acts:

And a few more feature acts:

They even appeared in an Australian Listerine commercial from the 90s:

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Moët et Chandon marker stone

Grapevine

We stayed at a small champagne house called Ployez-Jacquemart that also offered a bed and breakfast. It is located in Ludes, about a 10-minute drive from Reims. It was a great base for exploring the rest of the region.

The B&B offered very reasonably-priced room rates. The inclusive breakfast included a selection of fresh cheeses, several meats, fruit, yogurt, breads, pastries and cereals. We were also escorted on a private tour of the Ployez-Jacquemart cellars and the production area.

The Champagne House Ployez-Jacquemart

We spent a lot time relaxing on the grounds of Ployez-Jacquemart

Relaxing at Ployez-Jacquemart

Oh, and drinking the lovely champagne produced by the house too.

Ployez-Jacquemart Champagne

We visited the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Reims. Famous for being the cathedral where Kings of France were once crowned. Also popularised by Joan of Arc attending the coronation of King Charles VII of France in 1429.

Joan of Arc statue at Reims Cathedral

Reims Cathedral

Statuettes on the Reims Cathedral exterior

zoomz, my wife, was particularly fascinated with Marc Chagall’s stained glass in the cathedral’s interior.

Marc Chagall's stained glass

We embarked on a number of tours of the more famous Champagne Houses. First stop was Moët et Chandon in Épernay.

Moët et Chandon

Moët et Chandon

I stopped by for a quick snappie with Dom Pérignon, the Benedictine monk who is erroneously credited with the invention of sparkling Champagne.

Dom Pérignon

We also did a tour of the Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin champagne house.

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin

Another interesting place that we visited was the quaint village of Hautvillers. This place had a fantastic view of the Vallee de la Marne, the Marne River and the vast vineyards of the region. It was also home of the Abbey of Hautvillers. Dom Perignon was the cellar master of the Abbey until his death in 1715. He is now buried in the Abbey.

View from Hautvillers

View from Hautvillers

The only downside to the trip was, on our last day in Reims, someone did a ‘hit and run’ on our rental car whilst we were in the supermarket shopping. The police were contacted so that I could fill in an accident report.

It was funny because a small Renault turned up with 5 police officers squashed inside. They all hopped out wearing latex gloves and began to inspect the perimeter of the vehicle. One police officer picked up a piece of broken tail light and began to have a conversation in French (i.e. inaudible to me) with another police officer. The only words I could make out were ‘CSI’ and ‘crime lab’.

I was then asked to ‘come downtown’ where I spent the next 3 hours in the Reims Police Station trying to explain in English to someone who spoke French what had happened. They finally finished writing the report, in French, printed it and asked me to sign it. By this time I was over the whole incident and pining to get back to the champagne house that we were staying in so that I could crack open a bottle of vin, so I signed my life away.

Damaged Peugeot 407

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