In this video, a camera crew follows a city official to a trapdoor hidden in a Tokyo sidewalk, which opens to a narrow stairway leading to a giant underground warehouse stocked with emergency supplies. (Watch it.)

Located 20 meters (65 ft) underground, the 1,480 square meter (16,000 sq ft) space contains emergency supplies to be distributed to the public in the event of a major earthquake. Items include 5,000 blankets, 8,000 rugs, 4,000 candles, 300 cooking pots, 200 t-shirts, and emergency medical supplies. A conveyor belt system is installed to help transport the supplies up to street level.

The underground warehouse is connected to an unnamed station on the Oedo line, Tokyo’s deepest subway. Apparently, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government maintains more than one of these warehouses, but the locations are kept secret.

With winter in full force, now is the perfect time to explore the frozen wilds of the Japanese web in search of happy fun snowmen.

Arguably the best place to see snowmen is the annual Sapporo Snow Festival, one of Japan’s most celebrated winter events. This photo (by Flickr user kozyndan) shows a sea of snowmen (yuki-daruma) built by visitors to the festival, who attach written wishes for good luck.

The week-long festival held in early February is home to Japan’s largest snow and ice sculpture competition, and all sorts of wacky snow creations can be seen at venues around town — like this giant chihuahua and Asimo.

Or your favorite anime character. (Photo from Jonas’s Travels in Sapporo website.)

Or much more impressive creations like these dinosaurs. For more pictures from the festival, try a Google image search for “札幌雪祭り” (Sapporo Yuki Matsuri).

Of course, the Sapporo Snow Festival is not the only place to encounter snowmen — they appear wherever there is snow.

This photo, taken in the town of Kuroishi (Aomori prefecture), shows what is proudly labeled as Japan’s largest snowman. The 31-meter-tall (100 ft) monster has a face composed of local agricultural products, such as charred apple trees for the eyebrows, seashells for the eyes, rice for the cheeks, apples for the mouth, daikon radishes for the ears, and carrots for the collar.

This Namahage folk demon was spotted at last year’s Lake Tazawa Snow Festival.

These glowing snowmen were seen standing watch at Kanazawa castle.

And this one. Haven’t we seen this somewhere before?

Sometimes happy snowmen can be found where there is no snow — like in Tokyo. For this year’s Kanda Yuki-Daruma Fair in late January, organizers trucked in 70 tons of snow from rural Gunma prefecture and built 30 large snow creatures on the sidewalks of Kanda.

Here is a snowy incarnation of Baikinman, an evil character from the Anpanman anime series. (Photo via Mycom.)

And here are Kurohige Kiki Ippatsu (Pop-up Pirate game) and Shiisaa (a mythical Okinawan creature). For more from the Kanda Yuki-Daruma Fair, see these photos.

From Frederic Gautron’s Urbano-vegetal series of digital photomontages.

[Link: Made in Tokyo]

This 1998 news report shows urban climber Alain Robert (a.k.a. “Spiderman”) scaling the exterior wall of a Tokyo skyscraper bare-handed. The video begins with Spiderman requesting official permission to climb a building. After being denied, he heads over to the 54-story Shinjuku Center Building, which stands 223 meters (732 feet) tall, and he quickly scurries up the side before anyone can stop him. When he reaches the roof about 38 minutes later, Spiderman is detained by police who, according to his website, roughed him up for 5 days until the French Embassy negotiated his release. Spiderman has scaled more than 70 giant structures around the world, many without the use of climbing equipment. [Video]

In Tomoyuki Sakaguchi’s night photos of suburban Tokyo, familiar landscapes of densely arranged middle-class prefab homes, tightly parked cars, small gardens and anonymous street corners are somehow rendered strangely unfamiliar under the artificial glow of street lights. Check Sakaguchi’s website (or his book) for a huge collection of high-res images.

[Link: tsaka.jp]

Unlucky gamblers at the Edogawa Kyotei boat race course in Tokyo have a new way to ease their frustrations after botching a bet — they can feed their losing tickets to a robotic goat. Edogawa Kyotei enlisted the help of the ticket-munching robo-goat at the end of last month in an effort to reduce litter inside the facility. The 1.6-meter tall Rocky Mountain goat, which has a thick coat of white fur and ticket-detecting sensors in its mouth, devours about 500 tickets per day — many of which would otherwise end up on the floor. The goatkeeper says, “It eats up your frustrations so that you will have better luck with the next race.”

[Source: Asahi]

In recent days, Japanese automakers have been releasing the details of concept cars to be unveiled at the upcoming 2007 Tokyo Motor Show (October 26 to November 11). Here is a roundup of some of the more fantastic designs.

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- Toyota RiN

(Toyota RiN)

Designed to promote harmony with nature and evoke a warm, fuzzy feeling inside, the eco-friendly Toyota RiN concept car features heated ergonomic seats, an oxygen level regulator, a spot humidifier, a “mood training” steering control system that monitors the driver’s psychological state, and greenish glass that protects against UV and infrared light while enhancing the natural beauty of the view outside. The exterior design was inspired by Japan’s old-growth Cryptomeria trees known as yakusugi, which are found on Yakushima island, a natural World Heritage Site known for its pristine, ancient forests.

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- Toyota Hi-CT

(Toyota Hi-CT)

The Toyota Hi-CT, billed as a cool and fun next-generation urban assault vehicle, is built specifically for narrow city streets and features a hybrid engine you charge by plugging into a wall outlet. Batteries are stored under the floor for a more compact, upright design, and interior 100V AC outlets provide passengers a convenient way to power their portable electronic devices. The rear deck is big enough to haul bicycles and surfboards, or it can be outfitted with a detachable luggage trunk.

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- Mazda Taiki

(Mazda Taiki)

The hyper-aerodynamic Mazda Taiki is the fourth vehicle in Mazda’s Nagare series of cars based on the concept of “flow.” Inspired by Japanese koinobori (decorative carp-shaped streamers), Taiki’s design is meant to visually express the flow of air (incidentally, taiki means “atmosphere” in Japanese). With outstanding environmental and driving performance, Taiki’s next-generation rotary engine and front-engine rear-drive layout may well figure into Mazda’s future sports cars designed to help achieve a more sustainable society.

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- Honda PUYO

(Honda PUYO)

The eco-friendly design of the Honda PUYO fuel-cell vehicle is meant to create a soft, friendly impression and entertain the occupants as well as the people around it. The “seamless soft box” design gives PUYO a spacious interior and the charm of a cute pet that begs to be touched. PUYO’s “gel body” made from soft materials is designed to enhance safety, while embedded headlights and other illumination shine through the soft, translucent skin in the hope of fostering a more tender relationship between human and machine.

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- Nissan Pivo 2

(Nissan Pivo 2)

Like Nissan’s original Pivo, the electric-powered Pivo 2’s four individually-powered wheel units turn 90 degrees to move the car in any direction, while the 360-degree rotating cabin allows the driver to face forward at all times. Pivo 2’s most notable upgrade is the dashboard-mounted NEC Papero robotic agent who can carry on conversations and read facial expressions to monitor the driver’s condition. In addition to assisting with basic vehicle functions, Papero can help navigate streets and look for parking spaces, suggest where to stop for coffee if the driver looks sleepy, and lighten the mood by nodding and acting happy. (Watch video of Pivo 2.)

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- Daihatsu Mud Master-C

(Daihatsu Mud Master-C)

Daihatsu worked with mountain bike star Raita Suzuki to design the Mud Master-C, a compact and lightweight transporter ideally suited for MTB support duty. The Mud Master-C features a tough body-on-frame construction, an innovative hub reduction system and 16-inch off-road tires that provide more than 37 cm (14.5 inches) of ground clearance, allowing it to venture deep into mountain bike territory. Three giant gull-wing doors make it a snap to load and unload cargo.

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- Mitsubishi i MIEV Sport

(Mitsubishi i MIEV Sport)

A pair of in-wheel motors drive the front two wheels of the eco-friendly Mitsubishi i MIEV Sport electric minicar, while another motor drives the rear wheels. The i MIEV Sport has a range of 200 kilometers (120 miles) and is powered by lithium ion batteries, with extra juice provided by auxiliary solar cells mounted on the roof, a generating fan mounted in the front grille, and a regenerative braking system that recovers energy as the car slows down. Further efficiency is achieved with power-saving LEDs and heat-absorbing window glass, and the interior features lots of bioplastic components.

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- Suzuki X-HEAD

(Suzuki X-HEAD)

The versatile Suzuki X-HEAD crossover utility vehicle is built for off-road adventure and city cruising, and can be outfitted with a variety of load-bed units suitable for different situations. The “Camper” unit can be attached to provide sleeping space for two adults, the “Fashion” unit allows for stylish urban mobility, and the “Rescue” unit is ideal for emergency rescue operations in extreme environments.

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- Suzuki Sustainable Mobility (PIXY + SSC)

(Suzuki Sustainable Mobility (PIXY + SSC))

Suzuki’s Sustainable Mobility concept vehicle consists of two units — a low-speed personal transport pod called the “PIXY” and a minicar-based mobility unit called the “Suzuki Sharing Coach” (SSC). Ideal for short trips around town, the PIXY is designed to transport individuals along sidewalks and into buildings. The PIXY fits inside the SSC for longer trips, and a shared control system allows the driver to operate the SSC from inside the PIXY. The PIXY can also be coupled with a sports car unit called the SSF and a boat unit called the SSJ.

Shuetsu Sato is a Japan Railways employee known for making complex, stylish signs and maps from strips of colored duct tape. For years, his work graced the walls and construction barriers at Shinjuku station while it underwent extensive renovations. Sato’s creative use of tape has earned him quite a following, particularly online, and recent blog buzz has prompted some Japanese TV networks to take notice. This video from an NHK news magazine program profiles Sato and his work at Nippori station on Tokyo’s Yamanote line, where his most recent work is currently on display.

The video begins with commentary about the online popularity of Sato’s work. (At the 30-second mark, a screenshot of Pink Tentacle appears while the narrator describes the attention Sato’s work has received on “overseas” blogs…!?!) From 1:00 to 2:00, Sato shows how it is done — this is the highlight of the video, as it shows the degree of complexity involved in shaping tape into beautiful kanji. From 2:00 to 2:40, Sato laughs off some criticism he has received for the way his “イ” character looks, and from 4:30 to 5:00, Sato demonstrates his techniques for creating rounded corners. At 5:30, one of the hosts tells Sato that bloggers have honored him by naming his font style “Shuetsu.” He looks almost as if he might be impressed.

Here are a few photos of Sato’s work at Nippori station:

In these video stills from a Japanese TV news report, law enforcement officers engage in hand-to-hand combat with a mock terrorist armed with a curry-rice banner — the kind commonly placed on sidewalks in front of restaurants. The training exercise was designed to test the response to an invasion by foreign terrorists coming ashore at Tokyo Bay. It is unclear whether curry restaurants are considered a likely terror target, but the fact that the enemy obtained his deadly weapon in a part of town where restaurants are scarce shows a remarkable level of sophistication. We can all take comfort in knowing that law enforcement agencies recognize the potential threat and are training appropriately. Either that, or these images are fake.

[Link: Netamichelin via Korokoro Zaeega]

Here are ten time-lapse videos shot in Tokyo…

1. 35 years of Shinjuku construction: 1969 to 2004 in 10 seconds.

2. Roppongi Hills construction: April 2001 to July 2003 in 35 seconds. (Watch the slower version here.)

3. Yamanote Tour: Circle the Yamanote Line in under 4 minutes. (Watch the slower version here.)

4. Lightning Tokyo: Electrical storm strikes Higashiyama, Tokyo.

5. Tokyo En Lapse: Quirky moonwalking, Yamanote Line footage, and a great sunset.

6. Stop Go Tokyo: The granddaddy of Tokyo time-lapse videos on YouTube. Awesome.

7. Tokyo Skyline: Cool time-lapse footage for the first minute.

8. Timelapse Video From Around The World: The Tokyo scenes begin at 1:47.

9. Tokyo 24-Hour Timelapse: 24 hours of webcam footage shot from a high-rise apartment near the Sumida River.

10. Turbulence — Stop Motion Series (via Grow-a-Brain): Tons of stop-motion photo animations that explore the body language of Tokyo train passengers.