Awesome Japanese

We first got a peek at Gatchaman all the way back in 2008. Now it looks like the CGI Japanimation flick is finally nearing release. In this clip, the protagonists go up against a giant mecha-bug.

File this one under the “one-trick-pony” category. There’s something just so wrong it’s right about this ridiculous Japanese invention that’s perfect for cooling a watermelon, or maybe a head.

Don’t worry if you missed the life-size Gundam statue in Tokyo. It’s now in Shizuoka; you have until March 2011 to kiss, hug and attempt to take home this epic statue and his beam saber.

This indie from Japan has massive sword fights, space aliens with big pointy teeth, dayglo magenta blood spurts and cheesy Japanese-to-English subtitled dialogue. What’s not to like?

We’re getting hungry just watching this short animated stop-motion flick by Brooklyn animator Lori Samsel. The entire animation was made from Japanese rice crackers. Crunchy and delicious!

Japan’s Shimizu Corporation recently unveiled plans for a self sufficient floating ecotopia covered in vegetation that generates its own power, grows food, manages waste and provides clean water.

20 staffers arranged 2,700 polo shirts in 24 different colors to make a portrait of Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh as part of a campaign by Japanese apparel maker Onward Kashiyama.

The air conditioned bed from Kuchofuku uses quiet, low power dual-fans at the foot of the bed, which you won’t hear while sleeping. The air circulates from behind your head through the mattress.

TY KU, the world’s only sake-based beverage, is a liqueur filled with a bouquet of 20-odd flowers and fruits, including elderflower syrup, yuzu, plum and green tea, packaged in a self-illuminating bottle.

We love the sleek modern styling and multi-function display on Citizen’s limited-edition 80th anniversary timepiece. Too bad you have to go to Japan if you want one. Let’s hope for exports.

We don’t care that it’s in Japanese. This horror / action flick looks awesome. The story centers on a man who loses everything and becomes an iron-celled-metal-man hell-bent on revenge.

Online Japanese shop Blue Lug is offering the simply designed owl backpack. The outer belt is adjustable to offer increased amounts of storage. Made of water resistant nylon; offered in 4 colors.

Normally we wouldn’t consider studding up a pair of kicks, but the truly attention-grabbing Honja high and low top Studs Pack from Yohji Yamamoto’s Y-3 are making us rethink that idea. Out later this year.

We are enjoying the hyper-saturated colors and dynamic perspectives in these vintage monster movie posters by Japanese artist Takayoshi Mizuki. He created this work between 1965 and 1972.

Weird-wonderful combo: a secret live performance in Tokyo from Japanese breakbeat maestros Hifana. In the video they’re playing music with Nike Free Run+ shoes. Dig those shoebox speakers.

This pocket-sized camera looks like a roll of old 110 film, but the Harinezumi 2+ is actually a 3MP digital camera. It won’t beat your Nikon – it’s built for shooting stylized stills and short videos.