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Tag Archives: Japan

The 1987 Phone Card of the Baristu Society of Japan

The 1987 Phone Card of the Baristu Society of Japan

“I have some knowledge, however, of baritsu, or the Japanese system of wrestling, which has more than once been very useful to me.”

– The Adventure of the Empty House (EMPT)

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Many of the visitors to this website probably recall the days when pay phones were a common site when walking down a city sidewalk or inside a hotel lobby. You would drop a few coins into the phone, dial the number and make your call.  Perhaps you would use a calling card  if you were making a long distance call. In the mid 1990’s, there started to appeared prepaid calling cards by some enterprising companies, such as AmeriVox. These prepaid calling cards would generally have 50 call units that would be redeemed at a fixed ratio as the call progressed, until the card would have no remaining call units.

In Asia, prepaid calling cards are quite prevalent and frequently used to promote products or services. Public phones are equipped with card readers.  A user would insert the prepaid card into the reader, make the phone call and when finished remove the card.  The card reader would punch a small hole into the card, prior to its removal, showing approximately how many call units remain, if any.

This particular phone card was issued in 1987 by the Baritsu Society of Japan and was good for 50 units. Featuring a Sidney Paget drawing in black ink on a green background, it also has printing in white and red inks.

A Sherlock Hound Phonecard

A Sherlock Hound Phonecard

” Holmes the sleuth-hound” – The Red-Headed League (REDH) We discussed Sherlock Hound on these pages before. Between November 6, 1984 and May 21, 1985, 26 episodes of the animated series Sherlock Hound aired in Japan. Based on the Sherlock Holmes stories, the characters were portrayed by anthropomorphic dogs. Sherlock Hound was the title given to the series when syndicated… Continue Reading

Holmework Assignment: The Diogenes Club of Tokyo Medal

Holmework Assignment: The Diogenes Club of Tokyo Medal

“Well, in the Diogenes Club, for example.” – The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter (GREE) On December 17, 2017, the Sherlock Holmes Collection of Daniel Posnansky was sold at auction by the firm of Profiles in History. This post will focus on the medal pictured above. The lot was described as follows: 291. [Sherlockiana.] Vintage silver pendant metal for… Continue Reading

Faces of Holmes: Peter Cushing

Faces of Holmes: Peter Cushing

“… this man here – is an actor.” – The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place (SHOS) John Mills as Watson, Peter Cushing as Holmes in The Masks of Death (1984). This would be Cushing’s last role as Holmes. My first introduction to Peter Cushing was as Grand Moff Tarkin in a 1976 movie Star Wars. I would later become familiar… Continue Reading

Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke on a Phone Card

Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke on a Phone Card

“Thanks to the telephone…” – The Adenture of the Retired Colourman (RETI) Many of the visitors to this website probably recall the days when pay phones were a common site when walking down a city sidewalk or inside a hotel lobby. You would drop a few coins into the phone, dial the number and make… Continue Reading