Alas is a popular fashion model – he walks in Tokyo Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week among others – who we often see around the streets of Harajuku.
His look here features a UNIQLO button up shirt with Gallery Dept denim jeans, UR Jewelry Japan and Chrome Hearts accessories, an IKEA tote bag, and Rick Owens sneakers.
Alas lists Rick Owens as his favorite fashion designer and he likes the music of Santino Le Saint. Follow Alas on Instagram for more of his fashion and Tokyo life.
Hohsui is a wholesaler and distributor of seafood based in Tokyo, that was founded in 1945 and…uh.
That’s all I know unfortunately. I’d research more but I haven’t been able to access the company’s website for days now. Apparently I’m one of thousands of people trying to learn more about Hohsui recently.
It all began on 25 July, Just as the Tokyo Olympics were getting underway, Japan made history by getting the first gold medals in the first-ever men and women’s skateboarding events. In particular, young Momiji Nishiya became the youngest Japanese gold medalist and the second youngest in the world. Nishiya’s male counterpart Yuto Horigome also had the honor of the very first gold medal in Olympic history
However, amid all this history being made the headquarters of Hohsui (whose logo we did our best to recreate at the top of this article) could be seen standing proudly with the medalists as if it too had just pulled off a frontside shuv nosegrind.
It did no such thing however, and is nothing more than a (photograph) poser.
Clearly, using some arcane power of foresight known only in dark seafood distribution circles, Hohsui knew the Olympics were to be held in Tokyo and would host the first skateboarding event in a park in Koto that had a podium facing south at a time when a global pandemic would force medalists to socially distance in such a way that their headquarters would be all too easy to spot on TV all over the world. So, they chose that exact spot to set up shop.
As a result, social media was flooded with comments about the company. It’s the kind of word of mouth that most businesses dream of.
“Hohsui is a kind of seafood business. I tried to go the website but so did everyone else so I can’t get in.” “Congratulations Horigome for landing that Hohsui endorsement deal!” “I’m intrigued by this Hohsui.” “That Hohsui building is really conspicuous.” “Hohsui looks really delicious.” “That company really owes Horigome.” “This event is just one big commercial for Hohsui.” “The real winner today is Hohsui.”
It’s the oldest marketing trick in the book and it worked like a charm. Since the medal ceremony, people from all over were intrigued by that building in the background and took to the internet to find out more about it.
It’s also the kind of web traffic that such a company isn’t accustomed to and its webpage had to close temporarily. A spokesperson told NHK “I was really surprised because I didn’t think we would be seen.”
The company added that this hasn’t caused any problems with their day-to-day work but has done wonders for morale among the staff.
So all’s well that ends well. I know I’ll be going to Hohsui next time I need some of whatever it is they do exactly. I’ll figure it out when I can finally open their site.
Pokéfuta, or Pokélids in English, are Pokémon-themed manhole covers which have so far made an appearance in every single region of Japan. While a few prefectures are still waiting for their Pokélids, Okayama has just received its first set with fan-favorite Lucario taking the spotlight.
▼ The Fighting and Steel type Pokémon has even made a special appearance to welcome Okayama’s inaugural Pokélids.
▼ Aura Sphere!
In total, Okayama will have four new Pokélids to debut, and these unique manhole covers will be installed in Kurashiki, which is the prefecture’s second-most populated city and famous for its scenic, well-preserved historical districts. Kurashiki’s Pokélids will also highlight its sightseeing spots and specialties.
For example, this Pokélid on the left with Lucario in the center has the Seto Ohashi Bridge as its background coupled with twin peaches, which are grown locally. The one on the right, with a frolicking Poochyena, and Beautifly features a gorgeous wisteriatree, perhaps referencing the wisteria housed at Kurashiki’s Achi Shrine.
The other two Pokélids focus on Kurashiki’s historical district. On the Pokélid on the left below, an Eldegloss and a Grookey enjoy a ride down one of the city’s traditional canals. The Pokélid on the right, with a male and female Unfezant, emphasize the city’s unique architecture while the blue markings infer to the city’s traditional textile industry.
Similar to previous Pokélids, the new Pokélids will be converted into PokéStops on Pokémon Go, so be sure to bring your smartphone with you when you visit. Adding these four Pokélids to the official nationwide count, 193 Pokélids are now dotted across Japan.
▼ All 193 of Japan’s installed Pokélids.
Given that there’re over 890 different Pokémon across the franchise’s eight generations, there’s no doubt there will be many more Pokélids to come in the future, and hopefully prefectures which haven’t received one yet will soon be graced with Pokémon in town, or at the very least a parade of dancing Pikachus.
A novel idea for people who have something they want to get off their chest.
Some people who’ve gone to a convention or festival in Japan over the past four years or so, or even just wandered the streets of Tokyo, might have noticed a woman dressed like a construction worker dragging what looks like a black guard shack with “Himitsuya” (“Secret shop”) written on it.
This woman is Ribeka Kimura, an artist who began dealing in secrets in 2017. Customers to the secret shop need only jot down their deepest darkest secrets, things they would never tell another living soul, and hand it over to Kimura. Kimura then pours concrete over the secret, often in fun and unique designs, and sells them at a price of the customer’s choosing.
The notes are anonymous, so even if a buyer decides to jackhammer away the casing, chances are no harm would come of it. However, the simple act of letting a secret out has proven to be a liberating act to those who have taken the plunge.
For buyers too there is an interesting sense of power to holding not only a piece of art, but something that contains information which could greatly affect someone’s life. Prices can vary widely, however, from one yen (less than 1 U.S. cent) to 5 quadrillion yen ($45 trillion).
However, as with most good things, Himitsuya’s event-based business has been stifled by the recent pandemic. Luckily the ground work for an online variation of it began around 2019 with a Twitter account. Even now people’s deepest secrets are posted every few days for the world to see.
▼ “I don’t invite friends and lovers to my home. It’s because, it’s messy.”
“I want to divorce my wife right away, but I think I need to be patient and wait until the kids are grown up. However, in waiting I feel like my life is slipping away bit by bit. What is the right thing to do?”
“When I go to bed, I worry about whether robbers will break in, ghosts will appear, or the world will end and I can’t sleep.”
“Since both my parents are toxic, I seriously hope they get COVID-19 and die soon.”
“I bought cute underwear.”
“This summer I had an affair. I want to do it again.”
“I can’t eat with people. When I sit face-to-face with someone I don’t know what to say and the taste of the food disappears. I feel I’m disgusting when I eat, I’m repulsed by the other person while they eat, and my heart starts to palpitate. Going out to dinner is hell. If I eat alone I don’t have to worry about anything. Recently I try to never talk about food with anyone.”
“I think it’s been five years now, but I’ve been keeping my cut nails. The amount doesn’t seem to increase any more though, and I’m worried that something is going on at the bottom of the pile.”
Kimura also set up an online shop where cement-bound secrets continue to be sold as well as a kit for people to submit their own secrets remotely by mail for Kimura to do her magic with. However, if you want to cut to the chase and skip all the literal foundation work, the Himitsuya website will also accept anonymous secrets that are then posted on the website or its Twitter account.
▼ I’m not sure if she accepts English secrets, but I don’t see why she wouldn’t.
As luck would have it, it seems that this shift to online has helped spread awareness of Himitsuya and the psuedo-business has been doing well as a result. However, Kimura told Yorozoo News in an interview that she would still like to get back out on the streets and festival circuits to interact with people like before.
Hopefully she’ll make it to my neck of the woods soon so I can finally let out this secret I’ve carried for years now… I know the true flavor of Pepsi Ghost.
Paseri and Sio are two 20-year-old Japanese apparel industry personnel who we ran into on the street in Harajuku.
Paseri, on the left with pink hair, is wearing a ripped top from H&M with a velvet skirt, a Killstar bag, Qooza Harajuku accessories, and Jamie Ank platform boots. Her favorite fashion is Sinz and she likes the music of Baby Metal. Follow Paseri on Instagram for more of her style.
Sio, on the right with long black hair, who also works as a model, is wearing a cropped ears hoodie by the Japanese brand KRY Clothing over a Zara fishnet top, a skirt by Sly, an H&M bag, accessories including a spike collar and metal hand armor from Sevens, Funky Fruits, and Thank-You Mart, a Shiro Neko choker, and Jamie Ank platform sandals. Sio’s favorite fashion brand is Sinz and she likes the music of Shiina Hikari. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram for more of her Japanese street style.
︎ (@HippieHoppieSky) 
