Odd

Jan 14 2007 2 Comments

Top Cat

With Japan’s declining population raising fears of a large influx of foreign workers, officials at the Wakayama Electric Railway Company have hit upon a novel way of avoiding such a problem — employ animals instead. An idea that it has put into practice at Kishi Station in Kinokawa by promoting Tama the tabby to stationmaster.

Resplendent in an official railway cap, the 7-year-old Kinokawa native will be expected to welcome passengers, and to avoid any feline-related friction, the two deputy stationmasters are also cats — the three of them being ‘housed’ at the station shop.

A solution that not only helps avoid any potentially awkward cultural misunderstandings, but makes perfect economical sense, as the three officials are ‘paid’ in cat food. Details regarding health insurance and pension payments however were not disclosed.

Jan 12 2007 3 Comments

Foible focus

With the likes of latex love dolls, manga and latent Lolita complexes occasionally sharing common ground, one resourceful Japanese trio has cleverly combined elements of all three – creating a product/service that potentially triples its target audience.

A bona-fide stroke of genius that is possibly even worthy of several strokes — for some.

(image via the FG forums)

Jan 05 2007 8 Comments

Upskirt peeking product

Like television the world over, Japan has its fair share of programmes dedicated to the apparent delights of a brilliant new blender or the latest weight loss wonder; however it also caters for more specialist needs — like upskirt panty peeking for example.

Yes, for those whose preference is seeking a peek up a young girl’s skirt, help is finally at hand (so to speak), with the aid of an elaborate costume and some relatively advanced balancing skills.

And it works too, as after being set the task of confirming the colour of the schoolgirl’s panties, the show’s intrepid sex pest succeeded — a fact happily confirmed by the young lady herself.

The footage itself is a little on the cheeky side, but apart from a partial posterior peek like the one below, it’s relatively safe for work.

Jan 02 2007 5 Comments

New Year nibbles

For those still feeling a little queasy after some overly exuberant end-of-year excess, indulging in the delicacy of Bizen, Okayama Prefecture, probably wouldn’t be the best of ideas. As quite bizarrely, the mollusc loving maniacs have mind-bogglingly decided to create kaki soft — a heady mix of an ice cream cone topped with two fried oysters.

Whether vanilla, strawberry or even the slightly more daring mint choc chip flavour goes best with the soy sauce drizzled oysters wasn’t disclosed, although on a good day around one hundred of the concoctions are apparently consumed.

Tempted?

Dec 31 2006 3 Comments

Dandy dogs

â€œJapanese are maniacs for booms, but people forget here that dogs aren’t just status symbols. They are living things.â€

Toshiaki Kageyama, a professor of veterinary medicine, commenting on the current canine fad in Japan, and the uncontrolled inbreeding practiced by many unscrupulous breeders in an attempt to produce the ‘perfect’ pooch.

An issue however that doesn’t seem to bother Japan’s growing number of dog lovers, as whether a newly purchased puppy has a brother for a father or a sister as a mother appears to be irrelevant — the cuddly little canine being as cute as a button the main concern.

And as prices for a Chihuahua with a blue hue or a poodle that’ll fit in one’s pocket reportedly go all the way up to the 1 million yen mark (4,350 pound), proud owners are prepared to pamper their new pooches like never before. A fact not lost on Pet Esthe, a business whose dog dye now seems sadly defunct, but its other products cater perfectly for the crowds of crazed canine lovers.

Like this doggy mud bath for example, designed to replenish the little one’s skin and coat. A treatment that may also be cleverly combined with company’s aromatic essential oil series.

And if that’s not enough, relaxed and replenished Rover can then be spoiled further with a spot of nail treatment. A choice of ten colours enough to please even the most discriminating of dogs.

A product that not only looks pretty but helps protect the animal’s nails when the little fella is out and about. And it washes off easily too, which is reassuring.

Sort of.

Dec 29 2006 2 Comments

Hidden depth

A quick glance at any video sharing website would probably lead the casual observer to conclude that Japanese TV veers from mind numbing tosh to mere titillation — with next to nothing in-between. Yet a rummage through the nooks and crannies of night-time commercial television reveals a slightly different picture, with some shows taking a decidedly more serious approach.

Like the one below for example, whose fearless guests attempt to get to the bottom of the day’s important issues.