Though a lens backwards

Back from the Tokyo Museum of Photography and saw a really funny an touching series of photos by Asakai Yoko as part of the Contemporary Japanese Photography exhibition. She basically went round taking pictures of people engrossed in watching movies. The people above are in Berlin and watching 'The Seventh Seal'. It's a such a shame this image is so small, because the guy's expression in the middle is classic, but click on this link to check out a flash show of her prints.

Obama Japan celebrates

CNN just ran a piece on how the people of the town of Obama in Japan have gone wild for the new president.

Ear drills

Wandering around Tokyo Hands today I came across a display showing the latest in ear cleaning technology. This little device, shaped like a drill, called Scratch Miming claims to clear blocked earwax that normal cotton buds just miss out on. Watch the video on the website for extra eww factor. The same company also makes tiny graters used to remove dry skin from your feet. Cheesy feet topping anyone?

Perfect ice balls

This nifty device, found on TechEBlog, uses hot water to make seamless balls of ice. I don't know if I'm awed more by the ingenuity or the huge amount of time the inventors spent on a rather useless device.

Best Japanese study tools on the internet

To any of you struggling to learn Japanese, I came across the most awesome site the other day. iKnow is designed for both English and Japanese speakers and teaches you loads of new vocab in batches of ten words, so you never feel snowed under. For someone who's struggled with horrible books like Japanese for Busy People, this site is a godsend. I also should mention Jpod 101 while I'm at it, which offers free podcasts which are hugely entertaining and relevant to everyday life in Japan.

Stick on designer stubble

I always thought the designer stubble fashion hadn't caught on in Japan because most people considered facial hair a sign of slovenliness. Browsing in 0101 today though, I found some stick on facial hair in the posh men's grooming section. I'm assuming this product made by Propia is aimed at the follically challenged, not the amateur spy.

Sumo pillow fight

Japan Probe reported recently that the Sumo Association is trying to prevent people throwing cushions into the ring when a yokozuna (highest ranking sumo wrestler) gets defeated. People watching the Kyushu tournament instead be given extra heavy cushions that are more difficult to throw. The reason given was "health and safety issues" although Mainichi noted that there has never been a case of injury involving the cushions. Interestingly though, a friend recently told me that spectators who have seats around the ring have to get special insurance because wrestlers have often been known to take a tumble on top of them. So it's okay for wrestlers to squish the audience but not okay for them to take a few bops with a cushion!