The Unlikely Success Story of a Man Who Gets Paid to Do Nothing
A 37-year-old Japanese man has built a successful career by renting himself out to do nothing. For some reason, he is inundated with requests from people who just want him by their side. In just two years, Shoji Morimoto has gone from being just another unemployed middle-aged man in Tokyo, to a minor Japanese celebrity, […]
Alien Dumplings – A Downright Scary-Looking Dish
The world is full of unappetizing dishes, from fermented fish dishes to the dreaded Kiviaq, but few actually look scary to get near to, let alone put in your mouth. These Japanese dumplings definitely fall in the latter category. Last year, we published a story on one of the world’s most bizarre looking fish, the […]
This Ninja-Like Face Mask Promises to Give You a Non-Invasive Face Lift
People nowadays pay lots of money for youth-maintaining facial plastic surgery, but one Japanese company claims that its’ face mask can deliver the same results as a lift, so you don’t have to go under the knife. Japanese company Ya-man claims that its MedLift silicone mask can keep you looking young by sending electrical signals […]
Japanese Company Launches Ultimate Electrically-Heated Gaming Onesie
If you’re an avid gamer who would rather freeze than risk overheating their PC while playing on Ultra graphics settings, you may want to check out this weird-looking electrically-heated gaming onesie. Japanese company Bauhütte specializes in gaming accessories, from comfortable and ergonomic gaming chairs, to innovative gaming desks and cable management tools. But their most […]
Japanese Family Has Been Sharing Their Home With 7-Foot-Long Crocodile for 39 Years
Some people wouldn’t get anywhere near an adult crocodile for all the money in the world, but one Japanese family in Kure City, Hiroshima, has been living with one for almost four decades. Nobumitsu Murabayashi bought “Caiman-san”, his pet crocodile, from a pet store, after his young son begged him to. He never thought he’d […]
Japanese Fruit Farmers “Employ” Owls as Pest Control
Japanese field voles can seriously impact the profits of apple orchard owners, if left unchecked. For centuries, many farmers have relied on owls to keep vole numbers to manageable levels, and research has shown the night predators to be incredibly efficient. Ural owls have been setting up their nests in orchards with high rodent populations […]
Japanese Artist Carves Whimsical Worlds into Tiny Tree Leaves
Japanese self-taught artist Rito (@lito_leafart) spends hours painstakingly carving tree leaves to create stunningly detailed scenes that capture viewers’ imagination. Rito’s leaf cutouts are impressive enough by themselves, but the story of what inspired the artist to take up leaf art in the first place makes them even more so. Apparently, the Japanese artist suffers […]
Rare Grape Variety Is Larger Than a Chicken Egg
Pictures of giant grapes, larger than the average chicken egg, have been doing the rounds on Vietnamese social media this week, raising questions about their authenticity and origin. Novelty fruits are particularly popular in Japan, where specialized shops can sell certain varieties of apples, peaches, melons or grapes for mind-boggling prices. However, the popularity of […]
Japanese Company Wants to Buy Your Face and Sell It as a Hyper-Realistic Mask
Would you ever sell your face? If the answer is yes, there is a Japanese company that wants to hear from you. It’s in the business of buying the rights to people’s faces so it can sell them in the form of hyper-realistic 3D-printed masks. Ever since Kamenya Omoto, a Tokyo-based specialty mask maker and […]
Japan’s “Coupon Man” Has Been Living Almost Exclusively on Coupons for 36 Years
We all love coupons and vouchers, but can you imagine living on them almost exclusively for almost four decades? A Japanese man claims to have been doing it for the last 36 years, adding that he hasn’t spent a yen of his own money during that time. 71-year-old Hiroto Kiritani is a minor celebrity in […]
Boat Shaped Like Giant Zip Puller Looks Like It’s Opening the Water
Japanese designer Yasuhiro Suziki has created a unique boat shaped like a giant zipper puller that looks like it’s opening up the water when sailing. Unveiled as part of the Designart Tokyo 2020 event, the zipper puller boat – officially known as ‘Zipper Fastener Ship’ – is the brain child of Japanese designer Yasuhiro Suzuki, […]
Japanese Boy Masters the Art of Makeup to Become Female Cosplay Goddess
Makeup is an incredibly powerful tool in the right hands, and if you’re wondering just how powerful, this Japanese young man has been using it to cross the gender barrier and become a female cosplay idol. Looking at the photos posted by @Makina_Jeanne, a popular cosplay enthusiast from Hokkaido, you could swear she was a […]
Microfishing – When the Tiniest Fish Becomes the Biggest Catch
Catching fish as small as a penny would be nothing short of embarrassing for the average fisherman, but in Japan it’s a source of pride, as in the old art of Tanago Fishing, the smaller the fish is, the bigger a catch it represents. Most fishermen believe that the bigger the fish they catch, the […]
Researchers Develop High-Tech Device That Simulates Holding a Girl’s Hand
If you’ve ever wanted to hold a girl’s hand and take long romantic walks in the moonlight, but could never actually find a girl to do that with, there’s now a high-tech device you can try. Developed by a research team at Gifu University, in Japan, “My Girlfriend in Walk” is an ingenious device that […]
The Exquisite Soap Sculptures of Tomoko Sato
Japanese artist Tomoko Sato honed her carving skills as a food sculptor, but has since transitioned to soap sculpture as well, creating some of the most eye-catching soap bars you’ve ever seen. From elegant geometrical patterns to impressive flora motifs and traditional Japanese designs, there is nothing Tomoko Sato can’t etch into her medium of […]