Category — Ideas

Terunobu Fujimori, a professor of architecture at the University of Tokyo, built his boyhood dream hideaway, a teahouse on stilts, in the bottom of his father’s garden.

It doesn’t look particularly safe, especially considering that the first thing I’d think of when building a tree house is to place in the fork of a tree. But then, this isn’t a tree house, and the unstable, stilt look is probably why this is so cool!

The most outstanding feature however, has got to be the little look out platform, which seems to be strategically placed to stay in the shade all day.

Terunobu’s teahouse, completed in Spring, 2004.

Technorati Tags: architecture, Japanese, teahouse on stilts, Terunobu Fujimori, treehouse

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Has Christmas come early?! Here’s an idea to get that lad in your life something that surely will not go to waste. A dart board using breasts as targets..

What better way to focus on the target (or in this case, “targets”) than using an incentive.

Get Sexy Dart Board from Japan

Via WeirdAsiaNews

Technorati Tags: breast dart board, entertainment, gadgets, Japan, toys

Employees at the Takashimaya department store in Osaka have created four reproductions of world-famous paintings using 320,000 old train tickets obtained from the nearby Nankai Namba station!

Here’s their rendition of Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa (2.3 x 1.6 meters) which consists of “pixels” formed by overlapping the black and white tickets in intricate patterns.

About 300 employees sacrificed their breaks and free time for 3 months to complete the masterpieces, which will be on display at Takashimaya until October 16th.

Via PinkTentacle

Technorati Tags: art, crafts, Da Vinci, Japan, Mona Lisa, Osaka, Takashimaya

Check out this video which demonstrates how you can see a group of performing Japanese cheerleaders from all angles.

This seems to be created using the bullet-time technique with many functioning cameras placed around the group, simultaneously recording the cheerleaders. Once the footage is gathered together, this virtual room is created, allowing viewers to zoom around the cheerleaders. Japanese cheerleaders - I guess that was one way they decided to market this technique.

Via Gizmodo

Technorati Tags: bullet time, ideas, Japan, Japanese cheerleaders

How’s this for getting in touch with your spiritual side? Or to bring more calm to those intense, stressful moments resulting from nature’s will?

Constructed from acrylic, this transparent tank features a couple of theme setting pagodas and a buddha.

Click for more transparency on other Toilet Tank themes…

Technorati Tags: Buddha, design, ideas, see-through toilet tank

I looked twice when I saw this, and I’m not so sure it was for a good reason! This Sumo Wrestler table might appeal to some people, I’m sure, but I did give a wry smile thinking that it was a joke at the expense of the sumo professional. I.e. as they begin their charge, someone places a glass top on them and tell them to “hold it right there“!

The table is eye-catching no doubt and I can’t argue that it’s East-Asian inspired. It would take a bold shopper to purchase this, but I just don’t think its as witty as Allen Jone’s table sculpture.

Via Popgadget

Technorati Tags: culture, ideas, Japanese, products, sumo, Sumo Wrestler table

No, these aren’t agitated (restless) chopsticks that won’t stop moving, but chopsticks that conveniently, don’t require a chopstick rest.

Restless chopsticks, or uki hashi, don’t need a chopstick rest, because of their indented shape - the tips won’t touch the table when they’re set down.

They’re made of plastic (unfortunately?) are 9 inches long, and come in black, red, white and mustard (shown below), costing $12 a pair.

If you enjoy your chopstick innovations, see these previously posted inventions:

The Chork : A new eating utensil combining chopsticks and a fork
Three-Legged Chopsticks
Combining Chopsticks and Spoons : Introducing the perfect 2-in-1 Utensil

Now why can’t someone bring all these designers together and combine the whole lot?!

Buy the Restless Chopsticks at Shopmodi

Via NotCot

Technorati Tags: cuisine, ideas, products, restless chopsticks, uki hashi

An excellent idea for a business card for hair and make-up artist Yuka Suzuki. Designed by Kiki Katahira.

Kiki Katahira’s portfolio website

Via SwissMiss

Technorati Tags: design, ideas, Japanese, Yuka Suzuki