Artist Atsushi Fukunaga gives shape to Japanese giongo (onomatopoeia) in playful sculptures that have the zing of manga sound-effect graphics gone 3D.
The airplane says “WWRrrOUuuuughh”
The sound of colored pencils breaking
BIRIBIRIBIRIRIRI: The sound of electricity
CHUUU: The squeaks of mice below the floor
Ame no oto (Sound of rain)
Much more at Fukunaga’s website.
An octopus with nine tentacles was spotted at the Marusan Seafood Shop in Marugame, Japan (Kagawa prefecture) on October 26, one day after it was caught in the Seto Inland Sea. Masa Koita, the 60-year-old shop manager, noticed the abnormal Common Octopus (Octopus vulgaris) after he had boiled it in preparation for market. “In 40 […]
The Osaka Prefectural Police Department this year has reportedly purchased 800 rabbit-shaped roof-mount strobe lights for use on special patrol cars that cruise the streets around schools. Custom-built by warning equipment manufacturer Patlite, the blue bunny beacons are designed to win the admiration of children while they send the bad guys packing.
Here is a […]
As Japan’s population continues to age and shrink, more and more people are looking at robots as a way to improve productivity and support the nation’s changing lifestyles. With human-robot interactions on the rise, and with the recognition that much of human communication is nonverbal, researchers at Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology […]
Here are a few links to photo collections of Japanese manhole covers.
- Okachin Manhole Cover Gallery: This collection of 1,000+ manhole cover photos is organized by prefecture. Use the links on the left side of the page to navigate the site.
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- Flickr Pool — […]
Over the past few years, Hitachi’s finger vein authentication technology — which identifies individuals based on the unique pattern of blood vessels inside their fingers — has appeared in everything from ATMs and computers to building entrances and cardless payment systems. Hitachi’s latest development puts the biometric security technology inside the car steering wheel […]
From character goods maker JUN Planning comes a series of mammary-shaped plush toys known as Funwari Milk-chan (”Fluffy Milk”) and friends. According to the official Funwari Milk-chan website, these mildly naughty plushies are modeled after the palm-sized inhabitants of Milk Village, a quiet southern hamlet the size of Tokyo Dome.
Each character has a distinct personality […]
NTT Communications (NTT Com) has announced plans to begin testing its latest aroma-emitting digital sign technology, called “Kaoru Digital Signage,” in Tokyo. The tests, which will take place outside the Kirin City Beer Hall in the underground Yaesu Shopping Mall (JR Tokyo station) from October 21 to the end of December, will involve internet-controlled signs […]
Psychedelic J-rock trio Yura Yura Teikoku’s video for “Beautiful,” the lead single from their recently released “Hollow Me” album, is an enchanting, if not disgusting, toilet-room tale of tortured poo painter meets saintly statuesque giantess, directed by mangaka Masakazu Amahisa (see his Denki Groove videos) and Yasuyuki Yamaguchi (see his previous Yura Yura Teikoku videos). […]
Japan’s first building-mounted free-fall amusement ride, called Yabafo, will be integrated into an exterior wall of Osaka’s 12-story namBa H!PS entertainment complex scheduled to open in December. From 74 meters (240 feet) up, the 6-person ride will provide passengers a panoramic view of the city before dropping them 60 meters (200 feet) down the side […]
