Half of the Beatles may way well be six foot under, but in Japan they're five feet over (just).

In a little corner of a little bar in a little back street in little Osaka, you can see what all the fuss was about back in the 60s as the fans go mop-top crazy over the Japanese Beatles - or Bricks, as they're called. It's not such a good name, but it's probably what they were shitting the day they first took to the stage in Osaka in front of tens of fans.

So may I introduce to you,
The act you haven't known for all these years,
Sergeant Bricks Lonely Hearts Club Band!

John Lennonomoto

Paul McCartanabe

George Harrisonoda

and the drummer bloke, Ringo Staradakara



See The Bricks giving it their all in this 30 second video..........



And anyone who knows anything about The Beatles will have their own opinion about the identity of the so-called fifth Beatle. Stu Sutcliffe, Pete Best, Simon Groom....whatever.

What we do know for sure is the identity of the sixth Beatle. Because I saw him. And here he is, playing She Loves You....


The sixth, and possibly seventh, Beatles.

Running time: 30 seconds

Well it's been quite a week in the world of Japanese politics. Two major events took place.

The first centred around the country's (former) finance minister, Shoichi Nakagawa. He was in Rome at a G7 summit trying to help sort out the world economic crisis.

At a press conference held last weekend, Nakagawa appeared to be half asleep and slurred his way through a number of answers.

He denied having had any alcohol prior to the press conference.

He put his bizarre performance down to the 'medicine' he'd taken for his heavy cold. And I suppose he bought it from a 'pharmacy' just like this one.....



Wright's Liquors, for all your medicinal requirements.



The press conference had started promisingly. I mean, he was awake....




But when it came to answer the first question, it was obvious all was not well....




Then suddenly there was a glimmer of hope. It looked promising. A word was uttered.

Reporters sat up in their seats. Some leaned forward a little, eager to learn about how the man in charge of the world's second largest economy was going to deal with the global turmoil affecting tens of millions of jobs......




......but seconds later......





And then came the big yawn....




....before finally he settled down for the night.....


Nakagawa considers the next step in dealing with the economic crisis.



You can watch a bit of it here:






Nakagawa's Guide to Getting Better


Ailment: Cold.
Dosage: Two glasses of Baileys, twice a day.
Take first thing in the morning and last thing at night.







Ailment: Sore throat.
Dosage: Half a bottle of Malibu, three times a day.
Take before breakfast, during breakfast and after breakfast.







Ailment: Headache.
Dosage: One bottle of vodka, once an hour.
Take on the hour every hour.









Ailment: Unemployment.
Dosage: Whisky.
Just drink till the pain goes away.
Refill: Frequently.






Oh, and Bill's wife was in town, too.

Japan has more salons and barbers and hairdressers and cutters of hair than just about any other country in the universe. Including Mars.

They're everywhere - on street corners, as well as the places between the street corners, and on both sides of the street too.

And when I saw Koizumi on telly the other day, I realised that he needs to get down to one of these hair places as soon as possible. He's really let himself go recently.


Koizumi's hair may soon be taken to a barber's.


Because there are so many of these places, they've run out of obvious names, which can make a walk along a shopping street much more interesting than it otherwise might be.

This is Japan's first ever barber's. As it was first in the door, it could choose a simple name. So it did....


A place not suitable for women's hair.


In the early days, people's names were a popular source of inspiration for naming salons. Just think, this place could so easily have been called Steve or even Pete....


I suppose it's possible that there's a Phil-san working here that does your barnet.


It's hard to tell whether this place is having a laugh or simply issuing an honest and straightforward warning to potential customers....




....in which case, this place is far more reassuring....


It's good to know that it won't be too badly wrecked if you go here.


If you're the kind of person who looks down on the cheaper salons, perhaps this place will be more to your liking....




This place looks after not just one but all!




More recently established salons have realised that all words for shop names have now been used up and so have taken to inventing their own....




And finally, the scariest name of all. I mean, would you dare enter this establishment for a quick short back and sides?


The pie shop on the first floor was doing brisk business when I passed by.

Valentine's Day is fast approaching, which means aptly named chocolate will be sold by the ton in the coming days. It also means that the nation's love hotels can expect their busiest weekend, with couples - married, not-yet-married, and adulterous - making their way to these popular establishments.

A love hotel is, as the name suggests, a place where people go to be lovely to each other. This may involve serving your partner a cup of tea with a slice of cake, or perhaps giving a compliment such as: "That's a really nice shirt you're wearing."



A really nice shirt.


Because Japan is generally not an openly compliment-giving society, the love hotel is used as a place for discreet mutual exchanges of such behaviour.

Many Japanese houses are small with paper walls, so an overheard compliment could be cause for embarrassment. Fortunately, in a love hotel, couples can talk as loudly as they like, without fear of others overhearing them as they give praise. As the well-known Japanese proverb goes: "In a love hotel, a loud compliment is a nail that can stick out happily for a change."

Love hotels are usually equipped with various appliances to enhance lovely behaviour between couples. For example, many rooms can be found with vacuum cleaners - a perfect opportunity for a man to exhibit loveliness, as in: "You take a rest, dear. I'll clean the room."


A room being lovingly cleaned.


Some love hotels even have large mirrors in the rooms, enabling the man to watch himself as he indulges in a spot of light dusting, while his partner compliments him on his style, for example: "You really know how to dust, don't you."

The woman will also want to please the man. She sometimes does this by cleaning the bathroom, which the man can actually watch from the comfort of his bed, as some hotels have not a wall but a window between the two rooms. It's these unique touches in the design of the rooms that make love hotels so popular.

And should you be planning on spending some time in one of these places, don't forget to take a box of tissues with you. With all of that compliment giving, things can get quite emotional. So there'll be plenty to mop up.

OK. Here's a photo quiz.

Can you guess what this is a photo of....



Got it?


No, it's not a black hole...