The Bakemono Zukushi handscroll, painted in the Edo period (18th-19th century) by an unknown artist, depicts 24 traditional monsters that once used to spook the people of Japan. Oyajirome (親白眼) has a bulging eye on the back of its head and a claw on its one-fingered hand. Daichiuchi (大地打) is a mallet-wielding monster with a […]
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Maido-kun humanoid robot to the moon in 2015
28 Apr 2010
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 […]
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. Fujinomiya (Shizuoka): The kanji 宮 (miya) inside a cherry blossom with Mt Fuji petals Fukuyama (Hiroshima): Bat-shaped 山 (yama) denotes old name of Kōmoriyama ("Bat Mountain") Ibaraki (Ōsaka): The kanji 茨 (ibara) in the shape of a pigeon […]
‘Kaikidan Ekotoba’ monster scroll
07 Apr 2010
Here is a look at the Kaikidan Ekotoba, a mysterious handscroll that profiles 33 legendary monsters and human oddities, mostly from the Kyushu region of Japan (with several from overseas). The cartoonish document, whose author is unknown, is believed to date from the mid-19th century. It is now in the possession of the Fukuoka City […]
Human-faced dog
24 Mar 2010
Animals with human-like faces have long been rumored to exist in Japan. In recent decades, countless people have reportedly encountered human-faced dogs (jinmenken) around town and on the highway. The modern-day explosion of alleged human-faced dog encounters began in the late 1980s and early 1990s. According to numerous stories, human-faced dogs are most frequently seen […]
Custom scooters from Japan
23 Mar 2010
Here's a look at a few stylish custom scooters straight from the streets of Japan. Honda Zoomer [via] Yamaha Maxam [via] Honda Forza MF08 [via] Suzuki Sky Wave 43 [via] Honda Fusion [via] Yamaha Majesty [via] Honda Fusion [via] [via] [via] Yamaha Maxam [via] Suzuki Gemma [via] Yamaha Majesty 4D9 [via] [via] Yamaha Maxam [via] […]
Tokyo terror: Severed samurai head in Otemachi
10 Mar 2010
A severed samurai head buried in central Tokyo has struck fear and awe in the hearts of locals for over 1,000 years. The head that refused to die The head -- supposedly buried in the Otemachi district -- belongs to Taira no Masakado, a rebellious warrior who led an insurgency against the central government in […]
Urban legends from Meiji-period Japan
24 Feb 2010
In the Meiji period (1868-1912), Japan ended centuries of isolation and entered a period of rapid modernization after opening its doors to the world. The ensuing social and technological changes inspired a number of interesting urban legends. - Phantom trains Railroads played a key role in the modernization of Japan. After the first trains started […]
Dance, kappa, dance
18 Feb 2010
Japan's legendary kappa grooves it up in the new animated music video by electropop group Omodaka. + music video orchestra For more kappa coolness, check out the video for "MOGU MOGU" by Chinza Dopeness, directed by Fantasista Utamaro. (Thanks, chee!) + 鎮座DOPENESSの｢MOGU MOGU｣ by EVISBEATS