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Love gesture has Kobe in a tizzy
The Daily Yomiuri ^ | October 11, 2002 | No byline

Posted on 10/10/2002 5:20:42 PM PDT by altair

Love gesture has Kobe in a tizzy

Yomiuri Shimbun

Hundreds of padlocks bearing messages of love and affection have been attached to a railing at Venus Bridge in Chuo Ward, Kobe, much to the consternation of local authorities.

Attaching padlocks to the railing became popular after an Internet site and several youth magazines said doing so would guarantee couples everlasting love.

The padlocks pose a dilemma for the local government. An official said the railing could not be repainted as long as the padlocks remained, but realized the government would be criticized as unfeeling if it removed them.

The bridge, near Suwayama Park in northern Kobe, is near a hill used by French astronomers to observe Venus in the early Meiji era (1868-1912).

Built in 1971, it has become a popular dating spot because of its convenient location, its unobstructed view of Kobe city and port, and the fact that it is named after the Roman Goddess of love and beauty.

It is not known when the first padlock appeared, but by May 2000 there were about 60 attached to the railing. The number has soared to about 800 in the past two years.

They carry such messages as: "Together forever," and "We want to have children."

Copyright 2002 The Yomiuri Shimbun


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Japan
KEYWORDS: kobe; love; padlocks; weird
This, I have to see.
1 posted on 10/10/2002 5:20:42 PM PDT by altair
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To: mhking
Hold my padlock and watch this ...
2 posted on 10/10/2002 5:21:18 PM PDT by altair
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To: altair
I love Kobe, too, and Shaq and Derek and Rick and Robert and Devean and Samaki and Brian and Slava and Mad Dog...
3 posted on 10/10/2002 6:03:00 PM PDT by Hebrews 11:6
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To: altair
One of the problems with the Japanese is they are superstitious about too many things.Bear gall bladders and Rhino horns,they are really strange sometimes.
4 posted on 10/10/2002 6:33:20 PM PDT by Rocksalt
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To: Hebrews 11:6
Go Lakers!
5 posted on 10/10/2002 8:40:58 PM PDT by altair
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To: Rocksalt
And hamsters. My latest cellphone has several screens of hamsters for screen savers. I am told that Japanese women like hamsters on their birthday if their age ends in "4" -- 4, 14, 24, etc. I really, really, really don't want to know why.
6 posted on 10/10/2002 8:43:23 PM PDT by altair
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To: altair
Hamsters-that is really strange,complete with weird numerology and everything.They are full of strange customs and superstitions.Is our culture missing out on something? I doubt it.
7 posted on 10/11/2002 8:45:48 PM PDT by Rocksalt
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To: altair
I like this, it is very Japanese.
8 posted on 10/11/2002 8:51:44 PM PDT by tet68
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