Impossible motion: Magnet-like slopes

12 May 2010


+ Video

The winner of the 2010 Best Visual Illusion of the Year Contest is "Impossible Motion: Magnet-like Slopes," a three-dimensional object with slopes that appear to defy the laws of gravity when viewed from a certain angle. Created by engineering professor Kokichi Sugihara from the Meiji Institute for Advanced Study of Mathematical Sciences.

[Via: @GreatDismal, @anjkan, @dgroundsel]

Mojibakeru kanji-animal transformers

11 May 2010

Moji-bakeru kanji-animal transformer toys --

Japanese toy giant Bandai is set to release a series of nifty kanji figures that transform into the shapes of the animals they represent. The shape-shifting critters, called Mojibakeru (moji means "character" and bakeru means "to change"), come in six varieties -- 犬 (dog), 虎 (tiger), 魚 (fish), 馬 (horse), 鳥 (bird) and 竜 (dragon) -- and are available in black, white, yellow and blue.

Inu-bakeru moji-bakeru kanji-animal transformer -- Inu-bakeru moji-bakeru kanji-animal transformer --
Inubakeru - The 犬 (inu, "dog") kanji transforms into a dog

Tora-bakeru moji-bakeru kanji-animal transformer  -- Tora-bakeru moji-bakeru kanji-animal transformer --
Torabakeru - The 虎 (tora, "tiger") kanji transforms into a tiger

Uo-bakeru moji-bakeru kanji-animal transformer -- Uo-bakeru moji-bakeru kanji-animal transformer --
Uobakeru - The 魚 (uo/sakana, "fish") kanji transforms into a fish

Uma-bakeru moji-bakeru kanji-animal transformer -- Uma-bakeru moji-bakeru kanji-animal transformer --
Umabakeru - The 馬 (uma, "horse") kanji transforms into a horse

Tori-bakeru moji-bakeru kanji-animal transformer -- Tori-bakeru moji-bakeru kanji-animal transformer --
Toribakeru - The 鳥 (tori, "bird") kanji transforms into a bird

Ryū-bakeru moji-bakeru kanji-animal transformer -- Ryū-bakeru moji-bakeru kanji-animal transformer --
Ryūbakeru - The 竜 (ryū, "dragon") kanji transforms into a dragon

The collectible toys will be priced at 100 yen (about $1) each when they hit shelves in Japan next week.

Want to buy Mojibakeru? Email shop@pinktentacle.com for details.

[Source: Mainichi via dannychoo]

Japanese steamship travel posters

10 May 2010

Here is a collection of early 20th century travel posters for Japanese steamship companies (from the book Miwaku no Funatabi, published by the Museum of Maritime Science, 1993).

Vintage passenger ship travel poster --
Osaka Mercantile Steamship Co., Ltd., 1909

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Osaka Mercantile Steamship Co., Ltd., 1916

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Oriental Steamship Co., 1919 (Chinese poster)

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Osaka Mercantile Steamship Co., Ltd., 1916

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Japan Mail Steamship Co. (NYK), 1910

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Korean Mail Steamship Co., 1918

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Osaka Mercantile Steamship Co., Ltd., 1912

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Japan Mail Steamship Co. (NYK), 1914

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Japan Mail Steamship Co. (NYK), 1940

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Osaka Mercantile Steamship Co., Ltd., 1909

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Osaka Mercantile Steamship Co., Ltd., 1916

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Oriental Steamship Co., 1914

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Japan Mail Steamship Co. (NYK), 1909

Vintage passenger ship poster --
Japan Mail Steamship Co. (NYK), 1928-1930

Maido-kun humanoid robot to the moon in 2015

28 Apr 2010

Japanese robots on the moon --

In an ambitious new project unveiled on April 27, an Osaka-area business group has vowed to put a humanoid robot on the moon by 2015.

The business group, known as SOHLA (Space Oriented Higashiosaka Leading Association), made headlines in January 2009 after their Maido-1 lightning observation microsatellite was launched into orbit. Their new project is to develop a bipedal humanoid robot -- named "Maido-kun" -- which can function in the harsh lunar environment. If all goes as planned, Maido-kun will be ready to travel to the moon in 2015.

SOHLA admits there are a number of obstacles to overcome -- most notably the astronomical development costs (now estimated at 1 billion yen, or $10.5 million) -- but they are optimistic about their pursuit and believe it can help stimulate the local economy by getting small and medium sized manufacturers involved in the development of space technology. At present, SOHLA consists of six local enterprises working in partnership with government-affiliated organizations such as the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

In 2005, JAXA announced bold plans to send bipedal humanoid robots to the moon. However, after recognizing the numerous difficulties that the lunar landscape poses for two-legged humanoids, they decided it would be more feasible to send wheeled robots instead.

Wheels may be more practical than legs, but SOHLA board member Noriyuki Yoshida sees an advantage in robots that look like people. "Humanoid robots are glamorous, and they tend to get people fired up," he says. "We hope to develop a charming robot to fulfill the dream of going to space."

JAXA plans to send their first robot rover to the moon in or around 2015, and SOHLA hopes their Maido-kun humanoid will be able to hitch a ride on the same mission.

[Source: Yomiuri]

Okiku doll

28 Apr 2010

A mysterious doll possessed by the spirit of a child has captured the curiosity of people across Japan for decades. The legendary Okiku doll, named after the girl who long ago used to play with it, is a 40-centimeter (16-in) tall kimono-clad figure with beady black eyes -- and hair that grows.

Okiku doll --
Okiku doll illustration by Shohei Otomo

The Okiku doll has resided at the Mannenji temple in the town of Iwamizawa (Hokkaido prefecture) since 1938. According to the temple, the traditional doll initially had short cropped hair, but over time it has grown to about 25 centimeters (10 in) long, down to the doll's knees. Although the hair is periodically trimmed, it reportedly keeps growing back.

It is said that the doll was originally purchased in 1918 by a 17-year-old boy named Eikichi Suzuki while visiting Sapporo for a marine exhibition. He bought the doll on Tanuki-koji -- Sapporo's famous shopping street -- as a souvenir for his 2-year-old sister, Okiku. The young girl loved the doll and played with it every day, but the following year, she died suddenly of a cold. The family placed the doll in the household altar and prayed to it every day in memory of Okiku.

Some time later, they noticed the hair had started to grow. This was seen as a sign that the girl's restless spirit had taken refuge in the doll.

Okiku doll -- Okiku doll --
Okiku doll at Mannenji temple [via]

In 1938, the Suzuki family moved to Sakhalin, and they placed the doll in the care of Mannenji temple, where it has remained ever since.

Nobody has ever been able to fully explain why the doll's hair continues to grow. However, one scientific examination of the doll supposedly concluded that the hair is indeed that of a young child.

[Note: This is the last in a series of weekly posts on mysteries and urban legends from Japan.]

50 Japanese town logos with kanji

22 Apr 2010

Here is a collection of 50 Japanese town logos that incorporate stylized kanji characters into the design.

Kanji municipal flag, Japan --
Fujinomiya (Shizuoka): The kanji 宮 (miya) inside a cherry blossom with Mt Fuji petals

Kanji town logo, Japan --
Fukuyama (Hiroshima): Bat-shaped 山 (yama) denotes old name of Kōmoriyama ("Bat Mountain")

Kanji town symbol, Japan --
Ibaraki (Ōsaka): The kanji 茨 (ibara) in the shape of a pigeon

Kanji municipal icon, Japan --
Nishino-omote (Kagoshima): The kanji 西 (nishi)

Kanji city emblem, Japan --
Ōme (Tōkyō): The kanji 青 (ao) and plum blossom (ume) signify 青梅 (Ōme)

Kanji municipal symbol, Japan --
Kanazawa (Ishikawa): The kanji 金 (kana) inside a plum blossom, the Maeda clan symbol

Kanji municipal icon, Japan --
Okutama (Tōkyō): The kanji 奥 (oku)

Kanji city symbol, Japan --
Hachinohe (Aomori): The kanji 八戸 (Hachinohe) in the shape of a crane (head and wings)

Kanji town flag, Japan --
Kitami (Hokkaidō): The kanji 北 (kita) shaped like a sash weight

Kanji municipal symbol, Japan --
Yūbari (Hokkaidō): The kanji 夕 () inside a hexagon representing coal

Kanji city logo, Japan --
Hitachi (Ibaraki): A flower-shaped 立 (tachi) kanji inside a circle representing the kanji 日 (hi)

Kanji municipal icon, Japan --
Seto (Aichi): The kanji 土 (tsuchi, or "soil") in a clay pot represents the local pottery industry

Kanji municipal symbol, Japan --
Shibuya (Tōkyō): The kanji 渋 (shibu)

Kanji town logo, Japan --
Yonago (Tottori): The kanji 米 (yona)

Kanji municipal flag, Japan --
Beppu (Ōita): The kanji 別 (betsu), the first character in 別府 (Beppu)

Kanji town icon, Japan --
Akita: The kanji 田 (ta) symbolizing arrows, a reference to Akita Castle

Kanji municipal symbol, Japan --
Azumino (Nagano): The kanji 安 (an), the first character in 安曇野 (Azumino)

Kanji city badge, Japan --
Fujiyoshida (Yamanashi): Mt Fuji and the kanji 吉 (yoshi)

Kanji town badge, Japan --
Shinagawa (Tōkyō): The kanji 品 (shina)

Kanji municipal badge, Japan --
Kōchi (Kōchi): The kanji 高 ()

Kanji municipal icon, Japan --
Funabashi (Chiba): The kanji 舟 (funa, or "boat")

Kanji municipal symbol, Japan --
Kakamigahara (Gifu): The kanji 各 (kaku), the first character in 各務原 (Kakamigahara)

Kanji municipal flag, Japan --
Izumo (Shimane): The kanji 出 (i)

Kanji town logo, Japan --
Ishinomaki (Miyagi): The kanji 石 (ishi)

Kanji town symbol, Japan --
Karatsu (Saga): The kanji 唐 (kara)

Kanji town logo, Japan --
Kōka (Shiga): The kanji 甲 ()

Kanji town flag, Japan --
Shinjuku (Tōkyō): The kanji 新 (shin)

Kanji town emblem, Japan --
Uji (Kyōto): The kanji 宇 (u)

Kanji municipal symbol, Japan --
Nagareyama (Chiba): Seal script style kanji 流 (nagare), representing the Edogawa River

Kanji municipal flag, Japan --
Nabari (Mie): The kanji 名 (na)

Kanji municipal icon, Japan --
Kasuga (Fukuoka): 春 (haru), the first character in 春日 (Kasuga), shaped like local ancient tombs

Kanji city emblem, Japan --
Otaru (Hokkaidō): The kanji 小 (o) inside a six-pointed star symbolizing snow

Kanji town symbol, Japan --
Matsumoto (Nagano): Pine (matsu) needles encircle the kanji 本 (moto)

Kanji town logo, Japan --
Tachikawa (Tōkyō): The kanji 立 (tachi) and 川 (kawa)

Kanji municipal flag, Japan --
Koganei (Tōkyō): The kanji 小 (ko) shaped like a cherry blossom

Kanji town flag, Japan --
Tajimi (Gifu): The kanji 多 (ta) and a Chinese bellflower

Kanji municipal icon, Japan --
Tama (Tōkyō): The kanji 多 (ta) shaped like a pigeon

Kanji municipal symbol, Japan --
Kodaira (Tōkyō): The kanji 小平 (Kodaira)

Kanji town logo, Japan --
Tenri (Nara): The plum blossom-shaped 天 (ten) is similar to the symbol of the Tenrikyo religion

Kanji town flag, Japan --
Yonaguni (Okinawa): The kanji 与 (yo)

Kanji town logo, Japan --
Monbetsu (Hokkaidō): The kanji 紋 (mon)

Kanji town emblem, Japan --
Sendai (Miyagi): The kanji 仙 (sen)

Kanji municipal symbol, Japan --
Suzuka (Mie): The kanji 鈴 (suzu) shaped like a bell

Kanji municipal flag, Japan --
Takatsuki (Ōsaka): The kanji 高 (taka)

Kanji town logo, Japan --
Taketomi (Okinawa): The kanji 竹 (take)

Kanji town icon, Japan --
Yokkaichi (Mie): The kanji 四日 (yokka)

Kanji municipal flag, Japan --
Tsuchiura (Ibaraki): The kanji 土 (tsuchi) represents a flower and the waves on Lake Kasumigaura

Kanji municipal emblem, Japan --
Utsunomiya (Tochigi): The kanji 宮 (miya) looks like a turtle shell, a reference to Utsunomiya Castle

Kanji municipal flag, Japan --
Yamaguchi (Yamaguchi): The kanji 山口 (Yamaguchi)

Kanji municipal emblem, Japan --
Hachijō (Tōkyō): The kanji 八丈 (Hachijō) arranged in the shape of a bird

Related: Hiragana/katakana town logos

[Link: Wikipedia]

Is the legendary Lost Ark buried in Japan?

21 Apr 2010

The fabled lost Ark of the Covenant -- described in the Bible as the sacred container of the Ten Commandments -- lies buried near the top of Mt. Tsurugi on the Japanese island of Shikoku, according to local legend.

Ark of the Covenant in Japan --

The Ark, which was built according to instructions given by God to Moses in a prophetic vision on Mt. Sinai, is sacred to Jews and Christians alike and is said to possess great supernatural powers.

Many people also know it from the 1981 action film "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark," which follows the adventures of archeologist Indiana Jones as he thwarts Nazi efforts to obtain the Ark and harness its powers for evil.

Raiders of the Lost Ark --
Scene from "Raiders of the Lost Ark"

But what really happened to the Ark? According to the biblical book of Kings, King Solomon -- a King of Israel -- built a large temple in Jerusalem to house the sacred object, and it was kept there during his reign (970-930 BC) and beyond. Centuries later, in 586 BC, the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. Some historians suggest the Ark was probably carted off by the Babylonians or perhaps destroyed in battle, but nobody knows for sure. Its fate remains one of the world's great unsolved mysteries.

Since its disappearance, various groups around the world claim to have discovered or obtained possession of the Ark. The list of locations includes Jordan, Egypt, Ethiopia, southern Africa, France, UK, Ireland -- and Japan.

Mt. Tsurugi --
Did a lost tribe of Israel carry the fabled Ark to Mt. Tsurugi?

In Japan, the rumored site of the legendary lost Ark is at Mt. Tsurugi in Tokushima prefecture. At 1,955 meters (6,413 ft), the mountain -- known locally as "Ken-zan" -- is the highest on Shikoku and the second highest in western Japan. Mt. Tsurugi is listed as one of Japan's 100 famous mountains and is considered the most sacred peak on Shikoku. It is also regarded as one of the centers of Shugendo, an ancient ascetic religion that incorporates elements of Shintoism and Buddhism.

Tsurugi Jinja atop Mt. Tsurugi --
Tsurugi Jinja, a tiny shrine atop Mt. Tsurugi

Speculation surrounding the lost Ark at Mt. Tsurugi can be traced back to the work of Masanori Takane (1883-1959), a literary scholar with a deep interest in kotodama (lit. "word spirit") -- a Japanese belief that words and names hold mystical powers. Through his kotodama research, which involved the study of ancient history, philosophy, theology and cosmology, Takane came across a number of uncanny parallels between the Bible and the Kojiki ("Record of Ancient Matters"), an 8th-century collection of myths concerning the origin of the Japanese islands and Shinto kami (spirits).

In addition to suggesting possible links between the Bible and the origins of Shinto, Takane's research points to the Japanese island of Shikoku as the crucial bridge between the two. The Book of Revelation (7:1), for example, describes John's vision of "four angels standing at the four corners of the earth." Takane interpreted this as a reference to Shikoku (whose name literally means "four countries"), which is described in the Kojiki as having "four faces." After an exhaustive study of Shikoku's geography, climate, local names and folklore, Takane concluded that the lost Ark of the Covenant was buried near the peak of Mt. Tsurugi.

Here is a look inside a cave at Mt. Tsurugi, which may or may not be connected to a larger underground structure containing the lost Ark of the Covenant.


+ Video

In 1936, Takane assembled a team of archeologists and began an excavation at Mt. Tsurugi. Over the next three years, they dug up an area measuring about 150 meters (500 ft) long and found stone artifacts, paving stones, a brick arch, and evidence of tunnels. The discoveries helped lend credibility to Takane's theory that ancient people modified the peak of Mt. Tsurugi in order to hide the treasure.

Takane and others conducted excavations on Mt. Tsurugi for the next 20 years. In 1952, a former naval admiral named Eisuke Yamamoto attracted national attention when his excavation team found what appeared to be badly decomposed mummies and evidence of marble corridors. Soon after the discovery, however, both Takane and Yamamoto mysteriously stopped searching for the lost Ark at Mt. Tsurugi.

Another treasure hunter named Yoshun Miyanaka began an excavation in 1956, but the effort was short-lived. In 1964, the Japanese government established the Tsurugi-san Quasi-National Park, a 210-square-kilometer (81 sq mi) nature preserve encompassing Mt. Tsurugi and the surrounding area. Excavations on the mountain were banned for environmental reasons.

The lost Ark of the Covenant was never found at Mt. Tsurugi, but the legend lives on.

[Note: This is the latest in a series of weekly posts on mysteries and urban legends from Japan.]

Musical Nikes vs. Our Park

16 Apr 2010

Japanese breakbeat duo Hifana bang out a funky rhythm on sensor-embedded Nikes that function as sound controllers (sound programming by Daito Manabe, hardware by 4nchor5 la6). [Via: SNOW Magazine]


+ Video

Meanwhile, the homeless residents of Shibuya's Miyashita Park (now known as "Miyashita NIKE Park") are getting the boot as the local government uses Nike money to transform the public space into a private commercial sports facility. "Our Park," a short documentary directed by Emil Langballe, looks at the issues from the perspective of the homeless. [Via: Hypebeast]


+ Video

Ultra Monster art by Takayoshi Mizuki

15 Apr 2010

Here is a selection of Ultra Monster illustrations done by Takayoshi Mizuki between 1965 and 1972.

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --
Ultraseven vs. Aron

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --
Ultraman vs. Gabula & Rigger

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --
Alien Goron vs. Gumonga

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --
Kaiju Ebanashi

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --
Alien Godola, Alien Borg, Alien Baltan, Alien Zarab, Alien Icarus, Alien Bado

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --
Eleking, Dino-Tank

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --
Capsule Monsters: Windam, Agira, Miclas

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --
Ultraseven

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki -- Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --
Alien Baltan // Magular

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki -- Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --
Garamon // Kanegon

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki -- Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --
Litra & Gomess // Peter & Todora

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --
Ultraseven, Alien Icarus, Alien Pega, Alien Cool

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --
Ultraseven, Bostang, Starbem Gyeron

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --
Kaiju Ebanashi

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --
Ultraman vs. Jirass

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --
Seabozu & Zaragas

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --
Peguila & Kanegon

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --
Jamila & Alien Mephilas

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --
Kaiju Ebanashi

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --
Aboras, Banila, Zambolar

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --
Ultraman vs. Jamila

Ultra Kaiju illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki --
Ultraman, Alien Baltan, Bemular

[Link: Takayoshi Mizuki]