We love Japan, and this is where we show it. From gadgets to toys, live-action to anime, hillsides to cities and cars to architecture, JHYPE loves it all.
The 70s, 80s and 90s see Japanese cars flirting with new technologies and modern looks. I am sure they also experimented with drugs and illegal substances, from the looks of some of these cars.
As usual, there are WAY more photos after the jump. Relive your youth aspirations and dreams, or just be horribly embarrased by the cars that you used to adore. Read the rest of this entry »
Japan may not be the first word you think of when you think of stylish cars, but they surely have come a long way since the mass production of cars took off courtesy of Ford Motor Company and the Industrial Revolution of the 1920s.
Whichever words you use to describe them – Cheap, expensive, cheerful, copycat, unique, reliable, unreliable, fast, economical, boring, exciting – I am sure they have played a part of your lives at some point.
So here are a selection of Japanese concept cars from the past 50 years. By no means definitive, but an interesting look nonetheless at the evolution of car styling over the decades. A LOT more photos after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »
If you have always wondered how good Japanese design and architecture can be, look no further than this offering by Shinichi Ogawa and Associates. Located in a suburb of Hiroshima, Japan, ‘warehouse’ is the creation of the local architecture firm Shinichi Ogawa and Associates.
This visual tour de force captured the essence of Japanese design perfectly. It’s simplicity meets zen meets modernism. A lot more gorgeous photos and information on ‘Warehouse’ after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »
The video provides techniques and tips for the entire spectrum of bows, from the commonplace shallow bow (for casual apologies) to the various forms of ojigi (for serious apologies) — including the long ojigi (used when apologizing to the public for a scandal or product recall) and the perpetual ojigi (to express determination). Also explained is the kneeling bow (used predominantly by ninjas), the grovelling dogeza bow (used when you are unequivocally in the wrong, such as when “caught red-handed in an orgy of evil”), the momentous doge-fuse bow (for the ultimate apology), and the doge-umari bow (the final straw).
Have USD$3400 lying around? Feel the utmost urge to blow the cash on something completely stupid, yet uber cool? Not sure what to do with all that family inheritance? Neighbours next door just bought a new car and you need to keep up? Need a big toy to keep your 1:1 scale MGS Solid Snake company? Wonder no more as Bandai unveiled the Hyper Hybrid Model RX-78-2 GUNDAM for sale.
It’s a 1/12 scale version of the RX-78-2 Gundam and based on another 1/12 Gundam model Bandai introduced in 2006. Bandai said that the older model sold a solid 1,500 units, which begs the question – Where do these mad cashed up people come from? The new replica will be shipped with a beam rifle, a beam saber, and a shield. Completely bonkers, completely Japanese, we love it.
Let’s face it, clipping your toenails isn’t quite up there at your list of “things that I like to do at my free time”. It’s a chore, just like ironing your shirt and sorting your socks. Trust the Japanese to come up with the quick and easy solution to our toenail woes. Seriously, what would we do without you?
So that’s what the Kai Group just did. They look at the way we cut our toenails and reverse engineer the humble toenail clipper. More info and pictures after the jump.
Aren’t these some of the coolest toys that you ever come across in life? It’s both educational and fun, it’s form follows function. It’s modern mecha meets cultural roots.
Japanese toy giant Bandai is set to release a series of nifty kanji figures that transform into the shapes of the animals they represent. The shape-shifting critters, called Mojibakeru (moji means “character” and bakeru means “to change”), come in six varieties — 犬 (dog), 虎 (tiger), 魚 (fish), 馬 (horse), 鳥 (bird) and 竜 (dragon) — and are available in black, white, yellow and blue.
Pictures of EVERY awesome transformation and information after the jump.
If you break down the formula of any successful Japanese anime, you essentially have the following (in no particular order):
1. Swords and/or Supernatural powers
2. Robots
3. Even bigger robots
4. Catchy opening and ending song
5. Transformation of some sorts
6. Boobs
So what do you do when the Japanese got hold of the license to remake/revise the ever popular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? That’s right, they added some giant robots, super powers and take this shit to the next level. It’s like they said “Pizza loving mutated turtles that studied ninjutsu with a rat in the sewers? That’s not good enough! We need more dragons! A Phoenix armour! A crab turtle thing! A homage to the white power ranger turtle! Shredder that transforms into a mecha dragon! Flying turtles!”
So as the subtitle in the video says “What you see here is the result”. It may be heartbreaking for the TMNT purists, but you gotta admit that it’s strangely appealing.
So what happens when your dog is desperate for a walk and it’s been raining heavily for the past few days? Dogs usually don’t like the rain and like its human owners, most dogs don’t like wearing raincoats either.
The solution could be in this umbrella for dogs — it faces downwards instead of up and has a leash attachment to it so that it automatically opens up over your dog as he walks. Interesting!
Not sure how it’ll work with your cat though. You can buy the product here.
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