Category — Japan

Retro Kanban is a fascinating web site dedicated to old Kanban which means “shop sign“. This site carries a collection of enamel signboards, which were familiar from the 1930s to the 1970s and is a fantastic resource for designers, who just pure eye-candy who love the era.

Retro Kanban

Via Retro Thing

Technorati Tags: design, enamel signboards, Japan, Japanese shop signs, retro, Retro Kanban

Love Japanese dogs? Check out this lovely book featuring Japanese breeds of dogs, captured by designers Kazuya Takaoka and Sachiko Kuru. The Akita has got to be my favourite. (Second only to the Siberian Husky.)

“The Graphics of Japanese Dog” by Kazuya Takaoka and Sachiko Kuru

Via NotCot

Technorati Tags: culture, dogs, Japan, Japanese dogs, Kazuya Takaoka, Sachiko Kuru

Origami as just as hobby? You’d be surprised by the talents and acumen of a Dr. Robert Lang, who after practising the art since childhood, went on to use origami principles in the development of his scientific research, such as in creating an oversized space telescope.

Though he is one to look up to, it’s true to say he is no ordinary man. Between his efforts to earn a PhD in applied physics, his job at NASA’s Jet Propulsion laboratory, his eighty technical papers, and his forty-six patents in optoelectronics and lasers, he somehow found time to implement and evolve a number of original origami designs.

Continue reading at The Origami Resolution

Visit Lang Origami

Technorati Tags: crafts, Dr. Robert Lang, Japan, origami

Weird Asia News writes about weird Japanese inventions and the word to describe them: Chindogu. My favourite has to be the Baby Mop!

Read more on Chindogu: Weird and Useless Japanese Inventions

Technorati Tags: baby mop, Chindogu, gadgets, Japan, products, strange products, weird products

What do you do with Nikon’s new digital camera with a built in projector? How about the following:

The projector in the new COOLPIX s1000pj allows users to project their images onto the nearest wall. Naoki Ito (whose work also includes Sony Walkman REC YOU and Uniqlo March) strapped several of the cameras to the bodies of the Helicopter Boyz, a Japanese pop act, during a live performance at Tokyo’s Yomiuri Land theme park.

Via Creative Review

Thanks Stefan

Technorati Tags: camera projectors, COOLPIX s1000pj, Helicopter Boyz, Japan, Japanese pop act, Naoki Ito, Nikon, Yomiuri Land theme park, Tokyo

If you want to take the concept of dolls to the *next* level, you could marry yourself to a robot bride. Seriously, this robot bride is a female humanoid robot created by Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). It made “her” first professional runway appearance at a fashion show in Osaka dressed as a bride.

The bride stands 158 centimetres tall and weighs 43 kg (with her batteries installed). She strolled smoothly up and down the 10-meter runway, struck various poses, and gazed sidelong at the delighted audience.

Apparently, the robot’s “realistic looks” had the potential to draw crowds at amusement parks and promotional events. However, I do think she looks a little bit creepy. Or maybe the bride outfit was just the wrong choice for the day.

Via Pink Tentacle

Technorati Tags: female humanoid robot, Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, robot, robot bride

Pimp My Ride has nothing on these cars. The Japanese show us how far they can go with customised rides.

Via Ubergizmo

Technorati Tags: culture, customised cars, Japan

This figure collection room and owner/cosplayer must be the best looking combination yet! Alodia, who is from the Philippines, is a cosplayer, artist and figure collector, who submitted photos of her room to for a forthcoming book Otacool.

You can see more on her Deviant website or check out a few more photos on DannyChoo.com.

Technorati Tags: artist, cosplayer, figure collection, Otacool, Otaku, Philippines, toys

Here’s another time lapse video – and of Tokyo. “Static: Pulse” is quite well done with some gorgeous colours!

Via The Awesomer

Technorati Tags: Japan, time lapse video, Tokyo, Tokyo cityscape, video

This BBC report from earlier in the year looks into how some homeless young people in Japan are opting to “live” in tiny internet cafe cubicles.

Via Irish Born Chinese

Technorati Tags: internet cafe, Japan, tiny internet cafe cubicles