Handy tablet thumb stylus, pointy stick-on teeth and other gadgets and products that look like body parts help Japanese have a convenient and happy daily life. All thumbs not the same A thumb-shaped slip-on stylus extender that provides more thumb and makes it easier for small hands to navigate the new big-screen smartphones
A "chubby chubby boom" of popular fat female celebrities in Japan has led to the debut of Japan’s first fashion magazine for plus-sized women. The chubby lady models of La Farfa magazine are called "Marshmallow girls." A new idol group of heavyset female models/spokespersons called "Chubbiness" has been assembled by CanCam woman’s magazine and
A company that makes fashions for dogs has created the "Patent DIsaster Cape" earthquake and fire protection suit for dogs. The silver flame-retardant outfit is padded on the top to protect the dog’s head and back from falling objects. The wind-resistant cape is trimmed with reflective piping and comes in a compact flame-resistant storage bag.
The shape of women’s breasts when their handbag strap is draped across their cleavage has become known as the "breast slash" (in Japanese "pai sura" or "pai slash.") Some women say the look resembles an alligator. Photo collections of "oppai sura street women" have been published, there are blogs dedicated to the breast-handbag-strap-look, and
The traditional Japanese men’s underwear “fundoshi”, a loincloth made from a stretch of white cotton, and which reveals the buttocks, is making a comeback in other fabrics and with contemporary designs, and these fundoshi are gaining popularity with both men and women. Traditional white fundoshi have been mostly worn by boys and men in Japan
Japan Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama met with 10 parents and their kids in an informal gathering to discuss the government’s child allowance payments, child care and other child rearing issues. The 80-minute meeting Feb. 14 was held at the Prime Minister’s residence, in a room dubbed the "Pigeon Cafe". The Japanese word "hato" means
The top ten booms in Japan now. (10) Forest girl boom. Fashion inspired by Anne of Green Gables. For your fashion life in the forest. (9) Tokai region local government mascot character boom. More than 30 municipalities in Tokai have mascot characters. (8) Calligraphy boom Influenced by "Tomehane Suzuri High School Calligraphy Club" TV show
Stylish Masks Cool, Steam, and Fit Lips and Noses news item – Slowly but surely, swine flu continued to spread Friday, including to the ranks of the United States military, and across the globe the number of confirmed cases rose from 257 to 331, the World Health Organization in Geneva reported.(New York Times, May 1, 2009
Posters promoting longer skirt lengths in Niigata high schools are causing a controversy. A group of high school teachers who also act as guidance counselors made the posters and distributed them to all high schools in Niigata prefecture in December 2008. At the end of January, school principals started the "Proper dress all at once
More Barack Obama tee shirts available from ClubT, a design-your-own tee shirt and goods website in Japan. Obama City, Japan: website; news and photo. Obama impersonator. Also see Obama Instant Tee Shirts.
A watch with an oversized digital display depicts train station names on the Yamanote train line in Tokyo. The Yamanote Line watch has an Organic Light Emitting Diode display. The functions of the watch are: date; time. When the time is displayed, the display reads "Train is coming". The date display shows "Through train –
Can You ID The Badge? The number of badges and pins on Japan Prime Minister Taro Aso’s suit lapel varies daily. The purple pin with gold center indicates "membership" in the Japan government House of Representatives. In the photo above, Lets Japan is unable to confirm the memberships associated with the blue ribbon badge, the
A tiny dog is the honorary stationmaster at Oku-Nakayama Kogen Station, in Ichinohemachi, Iwate Prefecture. Maron, a tiny 8-year-old Yorkshire terrier, wears a tiny uniform and tiny hat and serves as a tourist attraction for the Iwate Galaxy Railway Company. Since 2000, the dog had been accompanying its owner to work at the then-named Oku-Nakayama Station. In June 2008, the president of IGR officially proclaimed the dog as stationmaster
Baby in Belly Maternity marks are desirable in Japan. The so-called "maternity mark" tags and buttons worn by expectant mothers alert bystanders to their condition. Japan Airlines now offers maternity mark tags to pregnant women flying domestic routes. JAL is the first airline in Japan to offer the baby-in-belly tag. In 2006, East Japan Railway
