Archive for April, 2009

Japanese kid has a very long eyelash

Believe it or not, this video of a kid with a 3.5 centimeter eyelash beat out the super-freakin-awesome beetle mech for the top prize money on Wednesday night’s episode of “Nanikore Chin Hakkei“:

• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
• Kirainet.com – A geek in Japan (Subscribe)

Taro Aso & the Tokyo charm offensive

The International Olympic Committee was in Tokyo yesterday, and Prime Minister Aso was taking part in the charm offensive on behalf of the city’s 2016 Olympic bid:

Aso, who represented his country in shooting at the 1976 Montreal Games, said Tokyo deserved to be the frontrunner in the race to host the Games.

Tokyo, the first Asian city to host the Olympics in 1964, faces competition from Chicago, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid. The IOC will select the winner in Copenhagen on Oct. 2.

“I will begin the process now with a firm commitment on behalf of the government of Japan,” said Aso, addressing the IOC delegates in English.

“Whatever needs to be done, will be done. Whatever needs to be built, will be built. Whatever needs to be financed, will be financed.”

• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
• Kirainet.com – A geek in Japan (Subscribe)

Dolphins defeat pirates

Japan’s MSDF may have cool sound weapons it is using against Somali pirates, but I’m afraid they aren’t quite as impressive as the Chinese navy, which can summon dolphins to defeat pirates:

The Chinese merchant ships escorted by a China’s fleet sailed on the Gulf of Aden when they met some suspected pirate ships. Thousands of dolphins suddenly leaped out of water between pirates and merchants when the pirate ships headed for the China’s.

The suspected pirates ships stopped and then turned away. The pirates could only lament their littleness before the vast number of dolphins. The spectacular scene continued for a while.

[via Foreign Policy Passport]

• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
• Kirainet.com – A geek in Japan (Subscribe)

The ultimate Japanese dog toy

Quite possibly the coolest chew toy in Japan:

[via w00kie’s ramblings]

• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
• Kirainet.com – A geek in Japan (Subscribe)

Funny Japanese tea commercial

A great Suntory Goma-Mugi Cha commercial:

[hat tip to Danny Choo]

• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
• Kirainet.com – A geek in Japan (Subscribe)

Video: Giant Japanese beetle robot

Bow, puny humans, before the might of this gigantic beetle:

Designed and built by an Ibaraki man in his garage over the course of eleven years, the “Kabutom MX-03″ looks like a prop from a Power Rangers spin-off but is an actual working vehicle. Why build it? Because owning an eleven meter long, fifteen ton robot beetle makes you a mack daddy — in Japan or anywhere else.

Shaped like a kabuto-mushi (rhinocerous beetle, a favorite design of Japanese toymakers and, uh, candymakers), it can be remote controlled or piloted from the cockpit (visible on the left side), and is capable of carrying passengers inside its shell. Alas it more “shuffles” than walks — the legs pull it along the ground, while the weight is supported by wheels

More details can be found at AltJapan.

• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
• Kirainet.com – A geek in Japan (Subscribe)