James Bowskill is a British Art Director at A.C.O. Tokyo, where he develops brands on-line.

He also collects Japanese packaging, occasionally writes articles for Tokyo's web magazine PingMag, and is a member of London design team Superblue.

Say Aaaaaah! Oct 05 2004

I did quite well putting off going to a Japanese dentist - 3 years without so much as a wobbly tooth, but during my trip back home last month, teeth chipped, wisdom teeth shifted and fillings un-filled. So 3 weeks ago, with a brave face I took the bus to Kyoko's lifelong dentist Yamaguchi sensei and have had to return every Saturday since.

I can't complain really - he's doing a smashing job and last weekend's 40 minute drill session didn't stop me going to Mika's party that evening. Is it the Japanese tools? Is it the amazing Japanese origami-like skill with small things? Or is it just that he looks good compared to all previous dodgy NHS dentists?

I'd love to say there were loads of amazing things in the surgery, but frankly it was just the same as every other I've ever been in. Still, he was kind enough to take a photo for me, in which you can see the sheet of rubber they plastered over my mouth to muffle the screams.