Awesome Japan

How would you describe the experience of chewing gum? We’re not sure we’d go beyond “meh.” But Lotte thinks that their long-lasting Fit gum will make you feel like you have your own Catbus. So… what’s in the gum?

English Words That Don’t Appear on Tests (試験に出ない英単語) is a series of Japanese books that teach English through hilarious sentences accompanied by silly illustrations. They’re available at Amazon Japan and E-Hon.

Swordsman Shozo Kato Sensei has attained 8th Dan in Kyoshi Kendo and 7th Dan in Kyoshi Iaido. Here he describes the heart of both martial arts. A short film that’s part of Mercedes-Benz’ The Avant/Garde Diaries.

Comedian Toshiaki Kasuga ends up on the receiving end of a cruel prank from the Japanese TV special Dokkiri Award. According to Kotaku, Kasuga got drunk the night before the prank, sleeping through the elaborate setup.

This insanely intricate wood veneer box from Japan requires its owner to remember a sequence of exact steps in order to open it and access its contents. Unfortunately, it’s not impervious to sledgehammers.

(NSFW) Takayo Kiyota aka Tama-chan talks about her sushi art. Amazingly, she is not a trained chef. The humble and funny artist started her hobby because “very few Japanese know how to make sushi these days.” More here and here.

In Japan, it’s considered bad form for women to open their mouths wide to eat. Freshness Burger came up with a simple solution to this problem – a wrapper which lets them hide their big mouths while they chomp into their giant burgers.

Daredevil Yves “Jetman” Rossy recently completed his latest flight, this time buzzing by the incredibly majestic sights of Mount Fuji in Japan. We still can’t imagine how loud it must be to have four jets strapped to your body like that.

(Gore) Beyond Outrage is a Japanese action film about two yakuza clans taking their power struggle to a national scale. Starring, written by and directed by the legendary Japanese entertainer Takeshi “Beat” Kitano.

In celebration of Tokyo’s selection for the 2020 Summer Olympics, World Order continues to work their slow-mo choreography, while giving us a brief tour of Japan’s biggest city in their trademark blue business suits.

A peek at the insanity that is Ski Jumping Pairs, a pachinko game that was ported to the PSP and PlayStation 2. The game was made by Riichiro Mashima, who would later go on to make the even more insane Japan World Cup games.

This animated commercial for a Japanese lighter and USB drive has so many mind-boggling aspects. First off, it’s over two minutes long. Second, it looks like it was made two decades ago. Third, everything else.

(NSFW: Language) Riichiro Mashima revitalized horse racing arcade games in Japan with Japan World Cup, a nonsensical horse racing betting game that combines CG animation with bizarre comedy. More here and here.

A Japanese matryomin ensemble plays a boogie rendition of Beethoven’s Symphony no. 9. Who the what now? A matryomin is a theremin inside a matryoshka doll, aka a Russian nesting doll. Here’s a solo matryomin performance.

A Japanese company called Sagawa Electronics claims that it has developed a powered exoskeleton for teenagers. It has lots of recreational potential, but it’s probably not an actual product. Why? Just watch the video.

Add a dash of life and humor to your meals with Manga Plates. Made by Comicalu, the plates look like frames from a Japanese comic book, complete with sketches that accentuate food. More on Comicalu’s online shop.

A popular Japanese cooking show on YouTube, Cooking with Dog stars an anonymous chef and a dog named Francis. Each episode Francis sits beside the chef and narrates in English. Naturally. It’s confusing and educational.

The Japanese TV show Masquerade challenges contestants to recreate real-world scenarios using dance, acrobatics and inexpensive props. Here, one team simulates baseball player Ichiro Suzuki swinging at a ball. More examples here.

(NSFW) A sampling of the Land of the Rising Sun’s punishing brand of slapstick and twisted take on Western culture. And also indescribable imagery like this human poodle. Oh Japan, you make us nervously happy.

YouTuber Takaske “dances” to Paranoia Revolution in DanceDanceRevolution X3 on the highest difficulty level and the mode that uses both dance pads. Somehow his lightning-fast feet were still no match for the game.

Art Gimbel shot this video of wild Japanese macaques bathing at the Jigokudani Monkey Park in Japan. Also known as snow monkeys, the primates are used to the presence of humans. View live images of the park here.

Don’t bother wearing underwear ladies and gentlemen, because Gonzo is about to melt them right off. This man’s insane tambourine skills are matched only by his sense of fashion. Keep rocking man.

Patrick W. Galbraith’s fascinating look inside Otaku culture, which is best described as a combination of avid collecting, hoarding, and some sort of an OCD. Features interviews with 15 of these über-fans.