Unknown Nichigo

Learn more about the lesser-known aspects of the Japan-Australia relationship.
日本とオーストラリアの関係に隠れた、あまり知られていない側面についてもっと知ってみよう

  • An Aussie Touch to a Landmark Japanese TV Show

    Australia provided an (admittedly unacknowledged) touch to Monster Prince (怪獣王子), one of Japan’s most popular TV shows in the late 1960s. Monster Prince told the story of Takeru Ibuki, a boy left stranded on a tropical island while a baby when his family is caught in a volcanic eruption and subsequently raised by dinosaurs living there. Together with his brontosaurus friend, Nessie, Takeru defends the island, and by extension the Earth, from invading aliens. And that’s where the Australian touch comes in…Takeru’s weapon of choice is a boomerang! The show ran for two series and was made by Nihon Tokusatsu Kabukikaisha. The role of Takeru was shared by twins, Yoshinori…

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    Little Girl’s Story Opens Door to Aussie Animal Boom in Japan

    Back in the early ’80s Australia did not command a great deal of attention in Japan (to be honest, it still doesn’t command that great a presence to this day…) Things changed, however, with the launch of Lucy-May of the Southern Rainbow. Lucy-May of the Southern Rainbow was an anime by Nippon Animation that aired weekly from January 10 to December 26, 1982. The cartoon told the story of Lucy-May Popple and her family, who had emigrated from Yorkshire to live in Adelaide, Australia. The story was based on a book called Southern Rainbow by Australian author Phyllis Piddington. The anime would be translated into numerous languages and aired in…

  • Arse Wind?

    Walking along Route 246, I was surprised to look up and see the katakana script reading アースウィンド！ 　びっくり仰天だった！ アースis, in English, arse…or, so I thought. Arse wind, then, could only mean one thing….surely a company couldn’t have named itself after a fart? Of course it didn’t. In fact, アース is also the reading for earth. That makes Earth Wind a little easier to comprehend, even if the English is still a little awkward.

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    Rainbow Over Allah And Putting A Tiger In The Tank

    Work slowed down and it was a little easier to enjoy life, which allowed for stopping to smell the roses and capturing such opportunities as a rainbow shining above the Tokyo Mosque and beefing up Bargearse the bike. Mrs. Kangaeroo and I also got to visit an exhibition by the delightful Kyoichi Tsuzuki, who has been chronicalling Japan’s quirky side for decides. He was showing displays from hihokan, the now vanishing but once almost ubiquitous sex museums across Japan. Bargearse, meanwhile, my erstwhile fat bike, got an upgrade with tiger decorations, taking over from a predecessor pedallar that piqued my interesting in pedalling.

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    Pigging Out On Pie Face And ‘Ello Elton

    It was a bit of a landmark month as Aussie meet pies went on sale in central Tokyo as Pie Face opened a store in Shibuya, while down the road in Yokohama I got an unexpected chance to see Elton John live. The pies were tasty, but a bit pricey, yet my workmates humored me with a visit there to dine together as the restaurant is within short walking distance of our office. Elton, meanwhile, wasn’t someone I was overly keen on seeing, but I was pleased to get the chance. He was basically going through the motions, though, and didn’t really put on a dazzling display. Having received a…

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    Crafted Kangaroos and Tiger Shoes

    I was delighted to discover an arty ceramic kangaroo being sold at a store near the office, but the asking price put it out of my range despite my desire to possess anything marsupial. I also got to witness the upshot of a drunk driver who rammed into a Shinjuku restaurant, incurring the wrath of another bystander when I took a photo of the carnage (with no human casualties). And a workmate and I crafted a pair of tiger striped shoes! (She did most of the work, and ALL of it that required any dexterity).

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    An Australian Christmas

    Australians have a special way of spreading Christmas cheer Ploughing snow is a big no-no, we have sun over here Christmas pud is a pav instead, while lunch is on the beach Cold ham replaces turkey, And we have three servings each Kangaroos help Santa out, ‘Cause reindeer just won’t do For they don’t know the bush so well, roos just bound on through Forget the fur lined boots this year, thongs are what we need Rudolf will have to sit it out, while Skippy takes the lead But don’t you worry, have no fear, Santa’s used to us down here! NSFW (or kids) Classic Australian Christmas Song A Little-Known,…

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    くたばれロルフ・ハリス！日本人に任せ！

    50代以下オーストラリア人及びイギリス人であれば、間違いなくロルフ・ハリスという芸能人の存在が分かるはずだ。1950年代後半以降同人物が子供を中心にイギリス在住でありながら出身国であるオーストラリアのことを全身全霊でPRし続けた。イギリス・オーストラリアを中心にものすごく愛され、両国のほとんどの人にとって「大好きなおじさん」のような存在だった。しかし、明るい表向きの顔の裏面は暗く虐待的な性格を隠したようだ。今週、小児虐待罪として5年9か月の実刑判決が下れた。虐待疑惑が浮上した2012年末頃からほぼ誰でも信じられなかったが、徐々にハリス受刑者の行動パターンが明確となり、約30年間に渡り自分の実娘のベスト・フレンドをはじめ数多くの未成年女性を性的に虐待した事実が明らかとなって有罪判決に至った。考えRoo自身をはじめ、ハリス受刑者を愛した何百万の英・豪人がこの事実にショックと痛みで受けた。 今では、ハリス受刑者が日本で知られていないと言っても過言ではないと思う。でも、いつもそうじゃなかった。1960年代前半、ハリス受刑者の多数中の最も大きなヒット曲「Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport」が日本でもひそかなファンを集めた。それほどヒットしなかったがザ・ピーナツ及びダニー飯田によって原版のオーストラリア動物の言葉遊びの歌詞をもてない男の話をコミカルに替えてシングルとして発表された。 　いずれにせよ、子供大好きなキャラとして売れたハリス受刑者が今84歳。今からイギリスの刑務所で禁固生活が始まる。何とも言えない複雑な感情だが、日本語の替え歌のように悲しい気持ちでいっぱい。が、曲と違って、コミカルな味気がない。