| Web Design for Traditional Artists | | | | "Tachi" means "to stand", "nomiya" is |
| | | | Japanese for "pub". evoked images of grubby |
| | | | little watering holes bereft of seating and |
| | | | lined with wall-to-wall salarymen. A |
| Web Design for Traditional ArtistsI married | | | | consequence of exorbitant rents as much as |
| into a family of artists and have met many | | | | the desperate need for a few drinks after |
| interesting associates of theirs also | | | | work, these tiny spaces offered solace in the |
| involved in traditional Japanese art | | | | form of cheap food and booze at the end of |
| including my other relatives. Some of the | | | | the day. In the tachinomiya of yesteryear, |
| rare artists I have met include a man that | | | | rumpled black suits and chain smoking were de |
| hand makes "Yoroi" which is Samurai Armour | | | | rigeur. Not so in today's standing bars, |
| and another who is a Yuzen painter with his | | | | which typically feature sleek interiors, an |
| own line of clothing that is all hand | | | | array of tempting tapas, and a clientele |
| painted. | | | | dominated by stylish young women. |
| | | | |
| My Father in-law Ken creates and repairs | | | | The tachinomiya revival began a few years ago |
| "Makie" which is Japanese lacquerware made | | | | in the Ebisu area and spread like wildfire |
| with gold, silver and mother of pearl inlay. | | | | across the city. The notoriously shy Japanese |
| Makie can be extremely expensive as I have | | | | are attracted to the standing bar's casual, |
| found some of the prices shocking, but then | | | | relaxed atmosphere, where proximity |
| when I consider the time spent to produce | | | | encourages socializing with strangers. |
| some of the amazing art he creates. | | | | Affordable prices are an added boon; at most |
| | | | of these places, you can get a drink and a |
| Read more articles about Working in Japan | | | | tasty snack for about 1000 yen. By this time |
| | | | last year, tachinomiya were cropping up in |
| Squat Toiletsby Jamie | | | | just about every space that could accommodate |
| | | | 20 upright people. But is the trend finally |
| I must agree with a fellow contributor that | | | | on the wane? |
| Japan has some of the most technologically | | | | |
| advanced toilets in the world. Nevertheless, | | | | Read more articles about Dining in Japan |
| Japan has a two-tiered system. The more | | | | |
| common type is the luxurious toilet-bidets | | | | Gunma Flower Parkby Lauren Hudgins |
| with music (to mask unpleasant sounds), | | | | |
| heated seats, temperature settings for the | | | | In the foothills of Mount Akagi lies the |
| water, automatic flushing, etc... These | | | | fantastic Gunma Flower Park. It is difficult |
| toilets are common in most hotels, department | | | | to reach without a car, but if you are ever |
| stores, and private homes. | | | | driving in the area, head just a bit north of |
| | | | Maebashi city to find this enchanting |
| The other type of toilet is the dreaded squat | | | | landscape. |
| toilet. This style is still very common in | | | | |
| public washrooms (such as parks, temples, and | | | | The park is 18.4 ha of perfectly manicured |
| train stations). All the ferries I took used | | | | gardens. Be sure to allow several hours to |
| them, many bars use them, and even my English | | | | see all of them. The inner gardens of the |
| conversation school had one! Suffice it to | | | | park are carefully laid out spreads flowers |
| say, I was disappointed to learn that I had a | | | | in exciting shapes and colorful patterns. The |
| squat toilet in my apartment. | | | | park is centered around a strip of fountains |
| | | | and an intriguing Park Tower. The view from |
| Read more articles about Living in Japan | | | | the tower is not to be missed and allows an |
| | | | incredible photo opportunity. You can fully |
| Buri: A Long-Standing Traditionby Melinda Joe | | | | see all the dazzling landscape designs and |
| | | | understand the layout of the park. There is |
| Once upon a time, the word | | | | also a lovely view down the valley to |
| tachinomiyaJapanese for "standing bar". | | | | Maebashi and beyond. |