In consumer crazy Japan, where shopping is a religion and brands are the new gods — what better name for a store than My Lord?
Apart from Vuitton or Prada of course.
Photographs from a small group of islands
In consumer crazy Japan, where shopping is a religion and brands are the new gods — what better name for a store than My Lord?
Apart from Vuitton or Prada of course.
For gentlemen lacking a date, or those unlucky enough to be left high and dry at the local dance club — help is finally at hand. The Partner Ballroom Dance Robot may not be much of a conversationalist, but it is quite a mover. Never refusing a dance, no matter how many times its feet wheels are stood on, or beer is spilt down its dress.
The robot was developed at Tohoku University, and using a variety of sensors is able to analyze its partner’s movements; figuring out how best to accompany him with its waist, shoulders, elbows, and neck. Its wheels allowing it to glide across the dance floor in any given direction.
Despite this dancing dexterity, the robot is actually part of a plan to develop a machine that can take care of the elderly. The goal being to create a robot that can make an educated guess about what a patient wants, or is about to do. Research leader Kazuhiro Kosuge explaining, “Machines or robots would be able to preempt trouble if they can find what their partners want from what is heard and seen.â€
In the meantime though it’s dancing all the way. Plus for any ladies lacking a partner, there’s no need to fret: a male version is in the works. However rumours that it will be programmed to continually try and cop a drunken feel and then insist on going out for a kebab or curry have yet to be confirmed.
There’s no denying that it’s considerably bigger than the ubiquitous iPod, but when it comes to playing your favourite tunes, the Tasting Music table pictured below takes some beating. Both in the cool and ease of use departments.
How the machine does what it does is beyond my meagre comprehension, but by simply placing a CD — that’s still in its case — over the sensor in the middle of the table, the album’s track list appears. Allowing songs to be easily selected and played. Plus this illuminated list can be moved around the table’s surface, making it viewable wherever people happen to be sitting.
Unfortunately such a poor explanation doesn’t do this ingenious device justice, but by clicking here you can see a video of it in action.
As for its uses and the idea behind it, the designer of the table says this of his invention:
It is almost impossible to talk about a sound of a piece of music with your friends if you can not hear the sound of the music played. This table is meant to be situated in a cafe or a music shop, where people can eat, drink and chat with friends. These are all comfortable situation, and listening to music also helps to create a comfortable situation.
All well and good, but forget cafes and music shops; how cool would it be to have one these little beauties at home?
When it comes to big sporting events involving Japanese teams, there is generally a distinct lack of passion — at least of the genuinely felt and involuntary variety. Too often, anything approaching real fervor appears heavily orchestrated, and is only apparent on the day of the game itself. Or at the most a day or two before.
Thankfully though there are exceptions, and 28-year-old Satoshi Ochiai is a prime — if not exactly ideal — example. The football (soccer) fanatic recently boasting, “I broke up with my girlfriend to save on expenses as most of my savings and salary go on traveling abroad to watch Japan play.â€
Yet the spurning of a young lady is only one incident among many that prove the company employee’s dedication to the sport. For Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against bitter rival North Korea, Ochiai-san is traveling to Bangkok to see the game. A trip that admittedly doesn’t sound especially extreme, but it is when you consider that the match is being played at a neutral venue and behind closed doors; a move prompted by crowd trouble amongst North Korean fans at a previous game.
The fact that no supporters are allowed into the stadium however is only a minor hindrance to the original Ochiai. The resourceful chap has booked a hotel room near the stadium; allowing him to watch the game through a telescope from the balcony.
Real passion for sure. With, it has to be said, the addition of a fair bit of fanaticism.
There are classic cars, classic films, and even classic video games. Now, perhaps rather surprisingly, we can tentatively add underwear to the list; as after going out of fashion decades ago — and only kept alive by old men — the humble loincloth (fundoshi) is set to make a bottom baring comeback.
This most traditional of undergarments is now being sold in decidedly untraditional tartan and paisley patterns. Plus it’s also available in a wide range of colours and materials. Including silk for the more adventurous and extravagant fundoshi fan.
The expensive Mitsukoshi department store coined the term classic pants around 10 years ago, but it’s only recently that sales have started to take off. Pensioners may still be regular customers, but now young ladies are also joining them. Men’s clothing section manager Yoshimi Shuma claiming, “Women seem to be buying them for their boyfriends.†Yet salary men are also jumping on the fundoshi bandwagon, with many purchases made when good results are needed at work. The lowly loincloth being upgraded to power underwear. I kid you not.
Loincloth expert and author of “Tales of Fundoshiâ€, Masatoki Minami, claims that the garment’s connection to militarism hastened its fall from grace. Yet western prudishness may also have played a part. Many foreign dignitaries that arrived in Japan during the Meiji Era (1868-1912) were appalled by the numerous labourers dressed only in their underwear. Complaining that the sight of barely concealed buttocks was far from appropriate.
All that’s in the past though, and it goes without saying that Minami-san is ecstatic about the revival of his favourite underwear; proudly claiming that, “some people consider the fundoshi to be cool.†The loincloth lover excitedly adding, “Japanese culture remains alive in that metre of cloth.â€
Which, if true, means that it’s only a matter of time before Hello Kitty loincloths hit the stores.
Similar to most places around the world, tennis ace Maria Sharapova is a huge celebrity in Japan, although arguably the Russian star is more popular for her panties than she is for her powerful serve. Yes, whenever the teen sensation plays in Japan, her every move is closely followed (and photographed) by hordes of camera wielding panty perverts.
Such unsavoury behaviour has led one local company to try and take the focus away from her undergarments. Instead moving the attention on to her, erm, breasts. The Sharanpowan taking sporting spin-offs to new and previously uncharted depths.
Plus for more delicate forehand play, the sports top (which comes in three different colours) can be easily removed.
Ideal for cleaning too, should any, ahem, shots go astray.
[Via Japundit]