Rolly, the world's oddest toothbrush

Smallest, I mean. The world's smallest toothbrush. It's from Italy. So, not actually Japanese, but I did find it in RanKing RanQueen. It looks like a thorny, alien seed spore and feels like an intensely minty toilet scrubber inside your mouth. The idea is that you roll it around inside your mouth with your tongue, discreetly giving your teeth a scrub. I couldn't actually see myself while I was trying it, but from the reaction of my friends, "comically" would be a better description than "discreetly."
It is more discreet than the guy who used to brush his teeth at the desk next to me. I looked up, startled, the first time I heard what sounded like tooth brushing in the office, and he got embarassed and skulked out, brush still clamped between teeth. Later I heard him complaining to someone else that I'd "looked at him funny" while he was brushing his teeth at his desk. 
So. Maybe Rolly can bridge the cultural differences that divide us. Just watch where you spit it out. Ick.

Happy merry Christmas!

A student tattled to me that an American colleague had wished her "a merry Christmas." She watched my reaction, waiting for the laugh. I asked delicately what she thought was wrong with that.
"Well, don't you need a.... an adjective before "merry Christmas? I mean, "merry Christmas" is the full, or... formal name for "Christmas," right? So shouldn't you say "Happy merry Christmas" or "good merry Christmas?"
She's a good sport and thought it was as funny as I did.
So, good happy merry Christmas to all, wherever you are and whatever day it is right now. Please enjoy this playlist of J-pop Christmas songs compiled by my Twitter friend Tim. There are some classics on there, like Christmas Eve, My Lover is Santa Claus, and the one I dare you to get out of your head, Jin-jin-jingle Bells.
No need to thank me! Let me know if you find a favorite.

Caution! Don't do things while walking

We've got the reader, the emailer, the book reader and the drunk, all creating moving hazards on the train platform. I like the drunk the best. He's either cursing up a bluestreak or singing an incoherent little song. Probably the latter.
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Wow, I just almost walked into a platform pillar while writing this on my phone. I guess you teach what you need to learn or something. Anyway, be careful out there.

Thumbs up, Chinly McSuave

 

December's Tokyo Metro manners poster. Tokyo Reporter explained it (and others) rather fabulously. I'll just leave it at a nod of approval for smooth exits and thumbs-up (thumbs-ups?) to strangers. And, is that an ascot?