Fast Food + Film Firm = Promotion
Mamachari Bicycles to Be Sold in London
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The first shipment of Japanese mamachari bikes has arrived in the UK, Japan Today reported on 22 July. The London firm Mamachari Bikes imports refurbished second-hand mamacharis, of which they have over 400 in stock. Prices for the convenient and affordable bicycles range from £100 for a simple, single speed model to £300 for a deluxe model.
Warships Visit Portsmouth The Wolverine, planned for release here on 13 September, is set in modern-day Japan.
Hunger Breaks has teamed up with Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation for a competition that offers the chance to win a samurai experience in Tokyo, Talking Retail reported on 18 July. The food manufacturer will feature the promotion on over 700,000 packs of Hunger Breaks Hot Pots and bean meals. The competition is running in conjunction with the release of The Wolverine film, which was released in the UK on 25 July.
The winner will receive five nights in a four-star hotel in Tokyo, a Shinkansen excursion to Mount Fuji, dinner for two at a ninja restaurant, as well as an actionpacked samurai experience in Tokyo, which includes a demonstration of Japanese sword fighting and the chance to try on authentic samurai armour. The promotion is part of a wider investment plan for the Hunger Breaks brand that has expanded its product range by adding to its variety of bean meals.
Monument Marks Couple’s Kindness A monument to University College London (UCL) Professor Alexander Williamson and his wife has been unveiled at a London cemetery, The Japan News reported on 4 July. Over a century ago, the Williamsons supported young Japanese students at the university. Recipients of their largesse include the Choshu Five, who arrived in the UK 150 years ago, in November 1863.
After studying at the UCL, the five students returned to Japan and contributed to the Meiji government’s modernisation of the nation. Following the unveiling, UCL President Malcolm Grant read a letter of appreciation from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in which he praised Williamson and his wife for their contribution to the creation of modern Japan.
Suzuki Swift 4x4 Heads to UK Suzuki Motor Corporation has announced plans to offer the Swift 4x4 in the UK, Autotrader reported on 8 July. The five-door hatchback has an increased ride height of 25mm. That makes it an ideal choice for those living in rural areas, according to the automaker. In the UK, the car will be offered exclusively with a 1.2-litre petrol engine. It will cost £11,516 for the entry-level Swift 4x4, and £13,116 for the upmarket SZ4 variant.
The Suzuki Swift 4x4 is ideal for country dwellers.
The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force Training Squadron has visited Portsmouth as part of its global deployment, reported The News on 22 July. They visited the training establishments of HMS Sultan in Gosport and HMS Collingwood in Fareham, while many of the ship’s officers went into the city to meet civic leaders. Members of the public were allowed to board one of the ships.
Former Beatle to Perform in Japan Paul McCartney plans to tour the country for the first time in 11 years, Japan Today reported on 19 July. McCartney is scheduled to perform at Fukuoka Yafuoku Dome on 15 November and Tokyo Dome from 18 to 21 November. The tour is part of his Out There! world tour that began in May. McCartney will be the oldest solo artist to have performed at Tokyo Dome.
Celebration Marks Town’s Twinning History A Japanese children’s choir has visited Derbyshire to perform in a long-standing international twinning celebration, the Burton Mail reported on 19 July. Derbyshire County Council, Derby City Council and South Derbyshire District Council were officially twinned with Toyota City, Japan, in 1998. A yearlong programme of celebratory events is taking place to mark this year’s 15th anniversary of the link, Toyota Motor Corporation established its first European factory in Burnaston, South Derbyshire, in the 1980s with help from the county council.
AUGUST 2013 | BCCJ ACUMEN | 13