Category Archives: Cute to the nth

November 20

The Shrine Maiden Vending Machine

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Are ya feelin’ lucky? Because this vending machine dispenses fortunes, just like the ones you can buy at Japanese shrines! But that’s not all – it’s delivered by a little animatronic shrine maiden, who fetches if from the inner precincts and deposits it in the offering box for your future-divining pleasure. If you’d like to […]

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October 28

Insanely Detailed Sculptures Made From Japanese Snack Packages

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From the nation of insane Japanese modelmakers, this. The artist known as “Karabako Shokunin Harukiru” (That’s “Empty Box Craftsman Harukiru” to you), snips and folds and glues the unlikely medium of Japanese snack food boxes into unbelievably intricate sculptures, and right now there’s a killer exhibit of his work at the Ikebukuro PARCO museum. And […]

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July 14

Is This Mameshiba Cake Too Cute To Eat?

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I was in the Matsuya Ginza food hall stocking up on peanut snacks, when I saw this. I tried to walk past it. I tried. To be honest, I was sort of worried that a baumkuchen cake in the shape of a tiny shiba inu might be too cute to eat. But my curiousity got […]

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June 26

The Cat Shaming Vending Machine

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How did you guess that the moment I caught a glimpse of this vending machine filled with cat shaming gachagacha, all my laundry coins would be history? There was only one problem… I got the first four before running out of coins, but how could I not come back to try for the mystery cat? […]

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June 09

Dinosaurs Delightfully Invade The Real World

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I hope you’re in Japan right now, because dinosaurs are invading the Marui Annex in Shinjuku! These delightfully believable photos of the archaic denizens mingling with the good people of Earth (and their pets) will be on display for your infinite enjoyment from June 12 – 23 (2019). These photos are from artist/scientist Ken Tsuchiya of the Gunma […]

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June 08

Japanese Gift Boxes of Overwhelming Cuteness

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Gifting in Japan requires that the wrapping be nearly as precious as what’s inside, but I can never remember how to tie a traditional silk furoshiki without the book that reminds me how to fold and tuck the corners so it doesn’t turn out looking like I’m offering someone a wad of laundry. But even […]

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May 31

Move Over, Monkeys! See-no Evil, Hear-no-Evil, Speak-no-Evil Cats Are Here

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Sticking to the straight and narrow has never been cuter, thanks to these adorable kittycat gacha-gacha toys, and the vending machine that dispenses them on the Yanaka Ginza shopping street. But most of all… This series may be sold out by the time you’re next in Tokyo, but there will be plenty more to take […]

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