If you’ve been searching for a miracle diet that’s guaranteed to make you eat less – or not at all! – at every meal, your quest for the holy grail has ended! Introducing the “Curry Plate Of Shape Of Toilet.” Yes, this white porcelain plate is a perfect replica of a Japanese squat-style toilet. PairedContinueContinue reading “Dieting Made Easy”
Tag Archives: weird Japanese product
Tools For The Fingernail Challenged
I’ll take one in every color! Congratulating yourself that your spanking new nail art will definitely make it impossible for you to be selected to wash dishes or chop vegetables, you whip out your smartphone to send your ten best friends new shots of your to-die-for talons, the bowl of abura soba you just orderedContinueContinue reading “Tools For The Fingernail Challenged”
Nightmare Or Skin Treatment? You Decide!
Wow, which one do I dread trying the most? It’s so hard to choose! As much as having my face covered in the kind of pond scum I remember eww-ing over in 10th grade Biology, lying there with snail slime perilously close to my nose and mouth might be worse. Both, however, are certainly trumpedContinueContinue reading “Nightmare Or Skin Treatment? You Decide!”
What’s Green and Crunchy and Not The Flavor You Think It Is?
Okay, I know it’s not green tea. I’m not even going to waste a guess saying it might be green tea. Wait, why? Because in Japan most cookies and cakes and other things that ought not ever to be green (except on St. Patrick’s day) are green tea flavor. I’m not saying it’s right, butContinueContinue reading “What’s Green and Crunchy and Not The Flavor You Think It Is?”
Gnomes Of Enlightenment
See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil… Does that include thinking uncharitable thoughts when you see a foreign blond guy trying to rock a Japanese 2-block haircut? Or hating on the person in the upstairs apartment who seems to be hard of hearing and really really really likes enka music? Inquiring gnomes wantContinueContinue reading “Gnomes Of Enlightenment”
Do It Yourself…Acupuncture?
Wow, one can only imagine the mischief some extreme DIYer might get into with this handy plastic head from Village Vanguard. It helpfully details all the points on your head and face where you can poke yourself with sharp needles to cure what ails you. If you see your mom come home with one ofContinueContinue reading “Do It Yourself…Acupuncture?”
Our Lady Of Glow In The Dark
I’m still trying to figure out the pop fascination with Catholic symbols here in Japan. Totally divorced from religious tradition (Christianity never got much of a toehold here, thanks to serious banning of outsiders before 1868), for some reason stylish tough guys wear Our Lady Of Rude Kustoms on the back of their motorcycle jacketsContinueContinue reading “Our Lady Of Glow In The Dark”
Your Very Own Electronic Monk!
Tired of petitioning the Powers That Be every day for world peace, a winning lottery ticket, and for them to still have your size when those purple Fluevog boots you desperately want go on sale? Rest easy! Now you can let the Electronic Monk do your chanting for you! You’re just a couple of AAContinueContinue reading “Your Very Own Electronic Monk!”
Take That, Forces Of Dampness!
Only in Japan would a lack of balconies spawn a whole new category of appliances. Behold the futon dryer! Used to be, you could walk down any neighborhood street mid-day and see every family’s bedding hung over the balcony to air, secured with giant plastic clamps so they wouldn’t slip off the railing and smotherContinueContinue reading “Take That, Forces Of Dampness!”
Cleaning Product I Did Not Buy Because It Was Too Cute
Honestly, could YOU shove this adorable little pup’s nose into the grimy corner behind the toilet, or use it’s fluffy little belly to battle the dust whales that have been lurking beneath your bed ever since you moved to Japan? I thought not. I’m afraid I bypassed this little guy in favor of a scrubberContinueContinue reading “Cleaning Product I Did Not Buy Because It Was Too Cute”
Portaflush
Suddenly, you find yourself in a primitive public bathroom not equipped with a Sound Princess! What are you going to do to cover up unseemly noises, without wasting gallons and gallons of water? Eco-oto to the rescue! Now you can make loud flushing sounds anytime, anywhere, from your very own mobile phone! The first timeContinueContinue reading “Portaflush”
New Weapon In The Battle Against Napping
Napping: destroyer of productivity, enemy of extreme road trips, scourge of procrastinators who left that six-month project until the night before! Fortunately, those tempted to catch a few winks when they ought to be contributing to global productivity now have the Nap Vieeb, a revolutionary product that will keep them alert long enough to dieContinueContinue reading “New Weapon In The Battle Against Napping”
Chair Socks
Today while I was waiting for my watch to be repaired at Seibu Loft, I spent some time browsing the ever-entertaining household product section. I saw these, and my first thought was, WTF, *chair socks*? Little argyle chair socks? Apparently you put them on the bottoms of your chair legs so they slide easily onContinueContinue reading “Chair Socks”
Squid Ink Popcorn
Watching celebs dressed in puffy animal costumes battle it out on TV can give you a powerful craving for just the right snack, but it’s near-impossible to whip up a plate of squid ink pasta before the commercials are over. With this handy kit, you can satisfy all your snack cravings (including some you didn’tContinueContinue reading “Squid Ink Popcorn”
The Battle Against Unsightly Tans
Those cute little skirts on the handlebars of this lady’s bike aren’t the equivalent of doilies on armchairs – they’re to keep the sun off the rider’s hands while she bombs down the sidewalks of Tokyo. Even as fall slides into winter here, and long sleeves replace short ones, women are ever-vigilant against becoming <shudder>ContinueContinue reading “The Battle Against Unsightly Tans”
Only In Japan 