Google’s auto-complete feature attempts to find the question users want to ask about Japan. And you’ll find all the answers to the above on JHYPE … (^_^)
Sorry for the slow updates as of late. The team at JHYPE had been in great demand outside the internet world for a change (i.e. working hard to pay off our christmas indulgences). We will eventually return to normality with more wacky and wonderful Japan.
To make up for it, may I present you the wonderful robots at last year’s IREX (International Robot EXhibition) at Tokyo Big Sight. Here are a few photos from the event. Enjoy!
In a salute to luxury brand Chanel, artist Tetsuya Noguchi has created some concept samurai armour suits designed to appeal to the fashion-conscious warrior. Made from resin, cashew lacquer, cloth and glass, the exquisitely crafted protective suits sport the iconic double-C logo, allowing the wearer to flaunt his superior social status while crushing the enemy on the battlefield.
More pictures of the luxe armour after the jump.
Gyaruru - Natsuko Sone (centre)
You may be wondering why a group of nubile young Japanese Pop (J-Pop) stars make it to Jhype. Rest assured Jhype is still the place to be for all things worth hyping about from Japan. To be specific, we are only interested in one person in the group, Natsuko “Gal” Sone, or better known as Gal Sone.
Sone is known for her bleached chestnut hair, high-pitched staccato voice, thick makeup and girlie fashion, which make her a thoroughly trendy Tokyo “gal.” So what makes her “Jhype” special you may ask?
Let’s see, the fact that she can eat 6KG (no typo, it’s kilograms) OF CURRY SOBA IN 23 MINUTES. Or eat 10 plates of bacon and cheese pasta, 10 plates of gyoza (a staggering amount of 50 dumplings) and 10 plates 0f sushi (a mind blowing 100 pieces of sushi) against a group of 11 (ELEVEN!) people. More after the jump.
If ever you need proof of Japan’s pervasive mecha culture, you only need to look at the latest EXILIM EX-G1 from Casio. The styling is almost derived from the latest Gundam or Evangelion anime.
The EXILIM EX-G1 is Casio’s first foray into shock-resistant, waterproof, freezeproof, and dustproof digital cameras.
The EX-G1 claims to be the world’s slimmest shock-resistant camera, too, offering an interesting combination of rugged design with sleek lines to satisfy the taste of any intermediate camera lover – mecha fan or not. More info and pics after the jump.
What is this? Why, it’s a guest post by JHYPE friend, Jasmine! – van
Hello Kitty. At a glance, she’s a black outline of a cat with six whiskers, two beady black eyes, a little button nose – and no mouth.
The official word from Sanrio is that Hello Kitty speaks from the heart; and as Sanrio’s global ambassador, she is not bound by language.*
Beyond that, there’s no pinning her down; she’s been everything from princess to witch to black egg (hello, Hakone!) and sumo. She has travelled all around the world, and even beyond.
Her merchandising is possibly even more diverse than Kitty-Chan herself. According to the London Times, there’s an estimated 12,000 Hello Kitty items on the market, with some 600 new items introduced each year.
I, for one, welcome our capsule overlords
When in Japan, you absolutely have to set aside time (say, about 9 hours) to have this particular unique experience at least once.
No, I’m not talking about buying used girls underwear from a vending machine – I’m talking about staying overnight at a capsule hotel.
Three years in the making, the 9h Capsule Hotel (designed by Design Studio S) is named that because you’re supposed to only stay there nine hours, and each room is so small you can’t even stand up in it. That’s right: it’s a capsule.
It was only ever a matter of time before the catwalks (you see what I did there) were dominated by real cats.
Well, Japanese fashion house United Bamboo has begun seriously designing for cats.
To kick it off, United Bamboo has created a line of ready-to-wear (haute CAToure?) items for cats, designed to match their women’s fashions for the Fall and Winter season 2009 – 2010.
Jump through for a preview of what’s on offer…
Chances are good that even if you know only a little about Japan, you would have heard of Hello Kitty.
The fictional feline character from Sanrio is Japan’s answer (and eternal nemesis?) to Disneyland’s Mickey Mouse. And like Mickey Mouse, the merchandise range brandishing the Hello Kitty image is enormous.
This time around, Dr. Romanelli (trendy streetwear and fashion designer), Sanrio, and Medicom Toy Co, have come together to release three limited vinyl figures in the “Anatomy” series.
We’ve all read the books and – for those for whom books are anathema – the websites about the zany Japanese inventions designed to improve day-to-day life.
Butter in a glue stick, slippers with a retractable rod in the heel to squash cockroaches from a distance, double-headed jugs so you can pour two glasses of water at a time, and my absolute favourite: the hardhat with a suction cup on the back, so you can attach yourself to the train window on the way home and fall asleep without your head falling into your chest.
The problem with these inventions is that they seem to ignore one fairly major factor in the success of a new product: will it embarrass me?
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