Do you have a longing in your life? A longing for a companion that will sit by you while you read manga and watch anime? She says nothing, does nothing and will submit to your manly will?

Well, it seems that Orient Trading has the product for you. You’ve heard about RealDolls, but here you can get models that look well under the legal age - if that’s what you want.

And now, we have an opportunity to go through a Candy Girl showroom and factory - that’s because we love you, loyal readers. Yes we do - just not in the candy girl way. Thank God.

If you know nothing about learning to drive in Japan, then I’ll have to warn you in advance that this picture is indeed of a standard driving school in Japan. Its the one down the road from me, seen in Google maps. And yes, you have to attend a driving school before you get a driving licence.

It really doesn’t look this insane from the ground. Honestly.

You can also see the original via Google Maps here.

Living in Japan for any serious amount of time may begin to corrupt your view of just how anthropomorphized animals are allowed to be. One only has to see the variety of ways Kitty Chan is used to sell any number of things to appreciate this, and once you’ve seen a cartoon pig wearing a chef’s hat and showing kids how best to prepare a delicious pork curry in a commercial, you’re all set for any further madness that may hap upon your path.

All these adverts with animals talking and cooking their own kind has probably contributed to my latest fad; I have been really enjoying flickr photostreams which feature almost exclusively an animal or stuffed toy doing things they wouldn’t normally do. And I don’t mean putting out on the first date. (Although maybe I just didn’t find those photos…)

It may be a rabbit who can use electronics or it may be a dinosaur dragon thing who eats dessert, either way, this kind of mayhem is exactly what I need when I’m feeling down.

Any more you know of, any explanations, any stories, any reasons as to why the two I have found have both come from Japan - do tell in the comments, or email if you’re shy.

The Herald Sun is reporting a recent scam in Japan where around 2000 women were sold Australian and British sheep and told they were poodles. These pets, valued at around 160,000¥ were sold as fashion accessories by a company called Poodles as Pets. The scam was only uncovered when devastated celebrity Maiko Kawakami was told on a TV talk show that her prized poodle was, in fact, a sheep.

Now, you may ask why these consumers never noticed that their bleating and wool producing new puppies had hooves, not paws? Well, the life of a pampered Japanese pet does not include walking on is own feet, they prefer to be carried…. everywhere.

Caveat Emptor Indeed.

For more on Pet consumption and adoration check out this article in Japan today on the life of a dog in Japan.

Lost your sparkle? Your razzle dazzle? In need of a pick me up?

Its at times like these that a gentleman about town might need to employ the services of a lady.

…but oh, what of the language barrier?

Fear not. If you are so inclined to pay for such things (are you mad?) then you can find translations of Japanese call girl pamphlets at Yenx.

Of course, the rest of us are just curious about what exactly is being advertised on those leaflets. I know I’m intrigued by the euphemistic terminology used to lure the indecisive into making that call, just like with normal advertising. Except not.

The Mainichi’s Wai Wai section turns up another gem from the world of weekly magazines, this time detailing a report in Aera on an apartment building in Tokyo that manages to offer residents the super low rent of 39,000Yen a month (that’s $390 American dollars or 200 pounds roughly).

The reasons the price is so low are astounding -

It is not possible to stand to one’s full height. The walls are so thin, it’s possible to hear anything spoken above a whisper, and privacy is minimal. A futon mattress and coverlet is provided. For bathing and laundry a coin-operated shower (100 yen for each 10 minutes) and laundromat are provided. Residents on each floor share a small kitchenette, living room and common toilet.

Wai Wai doesn’t provide any pictures, but here’s a scan of part of the article -

Link to Wai Wai article.