*Real names are omitted to protect privacy of participants, oh yes, and the staff too*

One fine evening…

Four Otakus: (Exits XXX Station, asks beautiful ‘moe’ staff with purple hair :O) Where can we find good food?

Airu Haneda: There is a new cafe nearby, A87 Cafe, a new concept of maid cafe in Singapore~!

Otakus: Alright, thats cool, why not we give it a try?

Airu: Yeah I will bring you there then~! (Hey wait, ain’t she still on duty? But heck we have more people joining~!)

The Menu~!

The order list~! Alright lets not disturb Airu-san, she still got work to do at the station~

Yes, Obasan’s Magical Stew, with a magical blessing by the staff. Remember, DUN LAUGH~!

Remember, you can have wordings, but the default will be…

Okay the answer will come next but first, four tall Akibanana Smoothies~!

Nekos (cats), right. Rounds the sentence.

Yup, no flash, and these are the small snacks.

Mini personal-not-so-critique Review:

This my first visit to a Japanese otaku culture-themed cafe. (Cause I have not tried the ‘real-deal at Akihabara, but will one day and I must take the Tsukuba Express Line train to… Yes Tsukuba) Pretty amazing including the smell of Japanese stuff in Singapore, namely the Sunshine Plaza smell (or does the smell come from KKnM exclusively, you get the drift).

Service is amusing and entertaining, well pretty much to a cafe style. However some points did gave me a heart attack;

1. Do you include a closing date for your business? Its like knowing when your life will end. October 1st 2011, written on the menu’s event page, how horrible it is of me to remember the date now and digging at the wound… But well Miki, you can take the date off at least, sounds nicer right~

2. Some basic Japanese language (usage) knowledge? I heard someone saying ‘irashaimase’ (いらつしゃいませ) when we were leaving the cafe. Well for starters, that would mean ‘Welcome’, should be said when entering a shop/cafe/7-Eleven. When customers (not ご主人様/Goshujisama, thanks) leave, it would be ありがとうございます/Arigatou-Gozaimasu. Snippets of stuff are like what I love to look out for and sadly someone’s tail have been stepped on by me again. -_-”

3. OMG to the points system, plus thermal bills. Well I guess that needs sorting out but its been a few months after opening, should it already been settled?

Some funny stuff, this cafe is all about having fun~!

I vaguely remember the Bachelor’s Challenge, the best part is about writing ‘I am Hentai’, using red lipstick, by one of the staff, and then standing at the window and wave to passer-by for 87 seconds. Serious, everything about the cafe has to associate with the number 87. They should have discounts for people born in 1987, right?

Second level, nothing much set up yet and I don’t seem to catch sight of console machines that I supposedly saw on the papers… Nice Macross Frontier twist poster at the staircase area though.

The toilet smells okay, sadly no Japanese style bidet toilet system. I have yet to ask local TOTO dealer if they have the most advanced, bidet/wash-ass/warmer (I need a cooler here in SG) toilet cover system.

Stuff are generally okay priced, well priced for that area. I only had the drink (A87 Smoothie in case you missed it) but the other folks who ate, wow…

Staff are friendly, though a bit quiet. Its had to be niche in Singapore and well, I wish them all the best. And remove the October 1st 2011 please. I don’t wish to see a business going towards a countdown…

Overall I give 8/10 for A87 Cafe. Good job~!

And thanks for not calling me ご主人様/Goshujisama, my bones will fail catastrophically if the brain catches such an electric signal generated by…

Extra: Airu Haneda is a character from the Tetsudo-Musume series 6. Modeled after female staff uniform of Tokyo Monorail (東京モノレール), she is one of the characters in the series focusing on Japanese railway company uniforms. She is a station staff and helps commuters find their way among the railway system in Tokyo.

A tour on the Mercedes-Benz O 405 and Dennis Dart was organized by Bus Culture group on 30th January 2010. SBS278S and SBS8009A were chartered. Some photos of the event as follows.

First day of 963R as passengers ask for directions

A clear sky as the Dart is being caught attention of

The side views

The upright inline-6 of the Dennis Dart (Cummins 6BT)…

to the horizontal inline-6 of the Mercedes-Benz O405 (OM447h, 447.908)

Letterings on the original Cummins product

On the way to cross the Yishun Dam

One generation apart; the Mercedes-Benz O 405 G Euro 1

Square butts

Under the Winter Skies

Strong wall of reporters

The unique shape of gear selector on the Dennis Dart

A service that it will probably not run in the future

Flatted factory unit at Bukit Batok St 23 catches fire

SINGAPORE: A fire broke out in a unit at Bukit Batok Street 23 on Tuesday morning.

The ground floor unit of a flatted factory at Block 2019 was in flames when civil defence officers arrived at the scene at around 10am.

The unit deals in electrical products.

No one was injured in the fire, which was brought under control in 20 minutes.

- CNA/yb

A fire occurred at Blk 2019 Bukit Batok Industrial Estate yesterday (26 Jan 2009), 0958 hrs, destroyed two warehouses and damaged another one.

Following photos are taken around 1800 hrs.

The fire gutted at least a vehicle outside the warehouse

Large amount of black smoke darkened the exterior walls and windows of units above

Note the melted office structure

Spent extinguishers in the attempt to put out the fire

Water constantly pumped into the scene of the fire

Extinguishing extends into the night as the Light Tender comes

Three Toyota forklifts and several crates of electronic goods were the only items saved from the fire. No one was injured in the incident.

Trapped outside the shutters and the train left… Due to some oversleeping staff?

JR Kobe Station. December 2005 Japan Tour. (Admin)

Article from Yomiuri News.

当直の駅員寝坊、始発に８人乗れず…ＪＲ関西線

大阪市東住吉区のＪＲ関西線東部市場前駅で１８日、午前５時前になっても駅出入り口のシャッターが開かず、同４時５９分発の王寺発難波行きの始発電車に客８人が乗れなかった。

シャッターは同５時過ぎに開き、客は約１５分後の後続電車に乗ったという。

ＪＲ西日本によると、同駅に当直勤務していた４８歳と２１歳の男性駅員２人が寝坊したため。当直駅員は同４時２５分に起床し、４５分までにシャッターを開けることになっていた。同駅を管理する天王寺駅からの起床確認の電話も約２５分遅れたため、２人は同５８分に目を覚ましたという。

（2010年1月18日12時34分 読売新聞）

8 passengers missed the first train at 459 am from Ōji to Namba due to a closed shutter at Tōbushijōmae station, JR Kansai Line.

The shutter opened after 5 am and the passengers took the next train which came 15 minutes later.

JR West says that two staff aged 48 and 21 who stay-over at the station overslept. The staff are supposed to wake up at 425 am and open the shutters at 445 am. The station’s managing department at Tennōji station made the confirmation wake-up call 25 minutes late, and the staff woke up at 458 am.

☆

Hilarious right? This is not the first time some staff overslept and caused passengers to miss the first train. The previous one that I could recall and made to the news was last year involving a JR Tokai staff. But JR West is a notorious company for ill staff treatment so expect this two oversleeping staff and the wake-up call fellow to be assigned to reform lessons… Zzz.

~

The time when I met sleep-over staff (who is not oversleeping) at a station in Japan is at Engaru, where I snapped a picture of the Kiha 40 featured in this post. The express train (Express Okhotsk 9, midnight service run now withdrawn) from Sapporo reaches the station slightly before 4 am and the station staff (at least two of them) in thick pajamas and company coat comes out to check tickets and check the train (standing on the platform and do safety recognition) upon turn-around. They went back to sleep after the train left, but have to wake up again after 530 am for the first train out of the station. Although the station is rural and not of big importance, the staff hold pride in their job and wake up before dawn to serve passengers and ensure safety in sub-zero temperatures.

After two months of hard work the BusInfoHub MiniMag 2009 (Year-end edition) is finally out!

Covering bus happenings in 2009, photos of new buses, ‘cameo’ appearances and bus outings, it is one of the most comprehensive local (Singapore) bus enthusiast magazine in the new-media (Internet) published to-date!

Among the articles is one on Overseas Buses, contributed by your friendly site admin! It covers the new Heisei 22 Emission Regulation in Japan in-force this year for vehicles with GVW > 3.5 tons.

The link to download the publication is here and also in the download section of this site!

The MiniMag is a quarterly publication available on the BIH site as well as Minibus Group.

Minibus Group, as its honorary affiliate, wishes BIH all the best in the upcoming MiniMag publications!

Oh ho-ho thats when engines go ‘afterburn’ with some extra ‘fuel’… Images copyright Yomiuri News

３日午前１１時７分頃、新千歳発神戸行き日本航空３３０２便（ボーイング７６７―３００型機、乗員乗客２３１人）が、新千歳空港を離陸直後の上空約６０メートル付近で、左エンジンの排ガス温度が急上昇する異常表示が出た。

機長は左エンジンを停止し、約１５分後に新千歳空港に緊急着陸した。乗員乗客にけがはなかった。

日本航空によると、左エンジン内部に鳥を吸い込んだ「バードストライク」のような痕跡があり、エンジンの交換が必要なほど内部が破損していたという。

同空港で飛行機の離陸風景を撮っていた札幌市東区の会社員西藤公起さん（３１）は、偶然、バードストライクの瞬間を撮影。「トンビのような鳥が見えたのでシャッターを切っていたらエンジンに吸い込まれ、直後に火を噴いた」と話した。
（2010年1月4日01時09分 読売新聞）

3rd January 1107 am, Japan Airlines (JAL) flight 3302 (Boeing 767-346, 231 passengers and crew) took off from New Chitose Airport bound for Kobe, encountered sudden high exhaust gas temperature (EGT) in the left engine shortly after take-off (60 meters above ground).

The captain shutdown the left engine and did an emergency landing 15 minutes later at the same airport. No one was injured.

JAL said that the left engine had sucked in a bird with marks of a ‘birdstrike’, with damaged internal components necessitating a engine change.

A photographer (31-year old) who was taking pictures of aircraft taking off at the airport managed to snap the moments when the ‘birdstrike’ occured. He said ‘I pressed the shutter when I saw the bird and it got sucked into the engine, immediately after fire ejected out’.

☆

Oh ho-ho another bird to ‘bird heaven’.

Isuzu Gala from Nakanoshima Kotsu. Information courtesy of folks on 2ch. Photo copyright Yomiuri News.

２日午前１０時４５分頃、群馬県渋川市赤城町勝保沢の関越自動車道上り線で、初詣でツアーの大型観光バスが中央分離帯を突き破り、下り線に飛び出した。

乗員と乗客計４６人のうち新潟県南魚沼市上原、パート桐生千代さん（６５）、新潟市西区浦山、主婦長橋悠子さん（７２）の２人が腰の骨を折るなどの重傷、３１人が軽いけがをした。現場は緩やかな下りカーブ。群馬県警は、バス運転手の大崎修さん（３５）（新潟県燕市花見）から自動車運転過失傷害容疑で事情を聞き、原因を調べている。

この事故で、下り線の渋川伊香保―赤城インター間が約５時間、通行止めとなった。

乗客らの話によると、バスは貸し切りで、新潟から埼玉県川越市に初詣でに向かう途中だった。後部に座っていた新潟市の女性会社員（５１）は「突然、ガクンガクンと振動した」と話していた。
（2010年1月2日19時53分 読売新聞）

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/news/20100102-OYT1T00233.htm

http://www.niigata-nippo.co.jp/news/pref/7566.html

Video: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xbpqep_yyyyyy-yyyyyy-100102_news

2nd January, at Gunma Prefecture on the Kanetsu Expressway, a share-bus (chartered coach) traveling on the Up (towards Tokyo) direction collided with the center divider, broke through and landed on the Down direction.

Out of 46 persons, two were seriously injured to the hipbone. 31 were slightly injured. The location of the accident is a smooth curve. Gunma Police is investigating the accident from the driver Okasaki Oki (35-year old) suspected of dangerous driving causing injuries.

The accident caused a 5-hour traffic standstill on the section of expressway.

Passengers said that the bus was chartered from Niigata to Kawagoe City (Saitama Prefecture) for the first-shrine visit of the year. 51-year old OL (office lady) from Niigata who was seated at the rear said ‘Suddenly there was a vibration and ‘Gakun-gakun’ sound’.

☆

http://business4.plala.or.jp/m_takasi/newpage140.html

The website of the company with the actual bus involved in the accident, a 2008 Isuzu Gala Super Hi-Decker (いすゞ・ガーラ (スーパーハイデッカー) PKG-RU1ESAJ) with Hino E13C (460 PS), rego (okay for those who really want to buy 4D or just-to-know) 長岡200 か ・538. Its one of three buses of the same model in the company.

深夜急行バス, ‘Night Rapid Bus’ which a ride would cost 400 to 1900 yen or more in Tokyo. But in Singapore, its just 170 to 270 yen equivalent (SGD 2.50 – 4). Remember, a cab ride of 18 kilometers can cost JPY 6000 (SGD 90), so bus is still as cheap as here!

The oldest Mercedes-Benz O405 (Pre-Euro) on a sponsored night bus from Tiger Beer.

Two Mercedes-Benz O405 Euro 1 on respective Night Rapid services.

31st December 2009 was also the last day of operations for TVMobile.

Moove Love with fireworks.

Mercedes-Benz OC500LE Euro 5 waiting for clearance to return to depot.

Some trips of the Night Rapid Bus was operated by Bendies, as demonstrated by TIB1202K, a Mercedes Benz O405G Euro 2 ‘Habit’.

Night Rapid = NightRider.

キハ４０　８００番台 (Diesel Car type 40 sub-type 800), one of the oldest type of diesel cars operating in JR Hokkaido. (11th December 2005, Engaru (遠軽) Station)

列車が除雪車に衝突、１５人が病院へ…富良野駅

２８日午後９時４０分頃、北海道富良野市のＪＲ富良野駅で、滝川発新得行きの快速列車が除雪車に正面衝突した。

この事故で、除雪車の作業員を含む１５人が同市内の病院に搬送された。ほとんどが負傷しているが、いずれも軽傷とみられる。

道警富良野署やＪＲ北海道などによると、同駅のホームの約２００メートル手前で快速列車が除雪車両に衝突した。快速列車の運転士は道警の任意の事情聴取に対し、「前方にライトは見えたが、同じ線路上に（除雪車が）いるとは思わなかった」と話しているという。

旭川地方気象台によると、事故当時は上川南部に大雪・風雪注意報が発令されていたが、同市内で視界不良となるような吹雪は発生していなかったとみられる。

（2009年12月29日09時13分 読売新聞）

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/news/20091228-OYT1T01402.htm
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/affairs/disaster/091228/dst0912282315013-n1.htm

940 PM (2140 hrs) on 28th December, a rapid service train (3441D, キハ40-1741 (Kushiro)) from Takikawa (2036 hrs) to Shintoku (2326 hrs) collided head-on with a snow plough diesel train (DE15) at Furano Station.

15 passengers and crew of both trains were sent to hospital, all were slightly injured.

Hokkaido Police Furano Branch said that both trains collided 200 meters before Furano Station platform. The rapid service train driver told police that “I saw lights in front, but did not expect it to be the snow plough train on the same line”.

Ashaikawa weather service said that there were heavy snow and wind warnings during the accident, but there were no snow storms that affected visibility.

The rate of delays in railways in Tokyo has been going up through the years… And this year, it breaks through 40000 cases with over half being suicide. Other reasons include driver mistake, train problems, railway signal problems, stone-placing and natural causes. Image copyright of Yomiuri News.

鉄道遅れ４万本、半数超が自殺原因…首都圏

首都圏の鉄道の運休や遅れの本数が昨年度、４万６００本に達し、その半数以上が自殺に起因することが、国土交通省の調査で明らかになった。

同省は２１日、ＪＲ東日本や東京メトロなど首都圏の主要１２社を集め、自殺防止に有効とされる「青色照明」の検証などを呼びかけた。

調査は、東京、神奈川、埼玉、千葉の１都３県で、列車の運休や３０分以上の遅れにつながった輸送障害のデータを原因別にまとめた。

全国の輸送障害は２００８年度、０７年度から１０００本ほど減ったものの、首都圏だけで見ると４４００本も増加。首都圏での原因トップは「自殺」で、０７年度から２９００本増えて２万１１００本に上った。自殺に次いで多かった「信号設備などの故障」によるものは７２００本だった。

トラブルそのものの件数は、０５年度をピークに徐々に減っており、０８年度は前年度より２０件少ない６７９件だった。ただ、自殺の場合、０８年度は前年度より１９件多い３０７件となるなど、ほかの原因によるトラブル件数が減る中で唯一増え続けている。

私鉄関係者は「自殺の場合、発生後の対応に時間がかかり、影響本数が多くなってしまう傾向がある」と話している。
（2009年12月22日04時52分 読売新聞）

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/news/20091222-OYT1T00039.htm

Cancellation and delays of railway services in Tokyo has risen up to 40600 cases for the previous year, of which half of them involve suicide, the Transport Authority says in a survey.

The Authority, on 21st December, urges 12 railway companies of the capital, including JR East and Tokyo Metro, to install ‘blue lights’ to deter suicides.

The survey included operators from Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba. Data are taken from troubles causing 30 minutes or more in delays.

Delays and troubles have went down by 1000 cases nationwide, but there is an increase in 4400 cases in Tokyo alone. The top cause of delays in Tokyo is ‘Suicide’, up 2900 cases from 2007 to hit 21100 cases in 2008. Signal problems is number two at 7200 cases.

Cases that include trouble had gone down from the peak, in first half of the year 2008, there were 679 cases with reduction in 20. On the other hand, suicide has gone up 19 cases to 307 for the same period. Its the only cause that has risen from 2005, while all other causes are reducing.

Private railways personnel say that ’suicides causes more time loss after the incident and tend to affect more train services’.

☆

Well its obvious that suicide cases are much more difficult to recover from. ‘Diagram chaos’ (schedule problems) can occur long for the rest of the day.

Due to safety, all cases of trouble (ie. crossing after gates are lowered) at railway crossings require full braking to stop, safety recognition and checks before starting off again. Delays such as these would cause domino effects to many other trains behind.