This post at Bedazzled, reminded me that, for some weird reason, we actually bought a couple of boxes of cereal recently. (I generally have a couple of boiled eggs for breakfast, sometimes a full on Ulster fry if I can manage it.)

One thing about the homebrew Japanese cornflakes is that the boxes are pretty cool looking; here’s a box of Ciscorn Frosted -

And the malt choco variety -

Next time I go shopping I might splash out and buy some Frosties, so you can see that Tony the Tiger stays the same, only the writing changes…

I went to a great exhibition last Friday, taking in some really cool artwork that was used to promote plastic models in Japan in the last century. There were a lot of war machines, racing cars, motorbikes, monsters, superheroes, mecha and even some Gerry Anderson. Parts of the exhibition were very meta - art of things that really existed in scenes that never did used to sell something that will then be rebuilt and used to reenact further scenes that never existed. The artwork from the sixties in particular seemed to be very much in the vein of Moah! Moah!

Peruse, if you will, this dazzling scene -

You may notice that the artist finally ran out of things to add, and was probably a little bit upset when he realized there weren’t any guns left to paint going off.

Other parts of the exhibition were just plain cool; I discovered some hidden gems.

Take this guy -

His name is Diamond Eye, and he fights mythical beasts disguised as humans in the manner that Japanese superheroes have been fighting mythical beasts since the concept first appeared: he uses some kind of voodoo and transforms. He also has a Honda motorcycle, like any self-respecting, patriotic Japanese superhero, and a couple of snazzy weapons, as I learned from Japan Hero -

His sole weapon of choice is his [Diamond] Stick, a sword-like weapon, which he carries constantly in hand. In addition to using it as a stabbing and slashing weapon, from the base of its handle Diamond Eye can fire his “Noble Punch” special attack. His “Noble Punch” attack is a beam ray attack of incredible power that can stun and immobilize his enemies.

Sweet.

My favourite piece of art was probably this one -

- which turns out to be from a series named 戦闘メカ　ザブンぐル - Sentou Mecha Zabunguru, which turns up in Wikipedia as Combat Mecha Xabungle, putting me in mind of an anime starring Mike Patton. I’ve never seen or heard of the series before, but this picture is just so beautifully rendered, yet utterly mad - giant mecha on skis?!!!!!111 - its hard not to love it.

You have until the 20th May to pick your own fave, at the Shizuoka Prefectural Art Museum (Link to their website, which is shocking looking, as is the custom with all government websites across the globe.)

Next time you head out to an all night karaoke sesh, take comfort in the fact that we got your back (and your front). When you stagger blinking into the dim light at 5am, all the early commuters will instantly understand what has happened to you -

Available at Cafepress.

(The whole Todd Goldman craze sweeping the internet reminded me about the cat like snack mascot Umaemon, shown here on the far right next to Broadband the FCC (Federal Communications Commission)’s mascot.)

Doraemon is a cat like robot from the future, sent back to help one young boy not completely mess up his life so his relatives in the future have a bit more cash. Umaemon, on the other hand, works for Yaokin, who have perhaps the most brain melting website in the history of machine translation. (Seriously. Check it here.) I don’t know if he has any special abilities other than his freakish copyright infringement powers, unless being able to make no sense whatsoever qualifies as a superpower; from the Yaokin website -

Yaokin produces in total from the plan of pleasant sweets which is full of play feeling to sale. The product which cherishes children’s dream is sent to the children in Japan and the world. With the new popular person who leads a time, children’s rich world is created through safer food.

Doesn’t it though.

UPDATE - the inimitable Crushmonkey pointed out in the comments that Broadband, the lovable catlike character who represents the Federal Communications Commission of America, looks a lot like someone we all know and love. Except he has ears. Picture added above for comparison. Link to their site, which in addition to having a copyright infringing mascot, appears to have been designed by someone with really quite shite design sensibilities.

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.