Photogenic mask

When you wake up on the wrong side of the bed and your hair's a mess, it's understandable to plonk on a big hat to hide the hideousness. Or if you've been growing a huge pulsating spot overnight on your conk, it's okay to slap on a bit of concealer. But for those who've woken up to the fact that they're just butt ugly, other than shoving a paper bag over your face, there really aren't any other sane options... until now. This beeeyewtifuel photogenic mask is now available to cover up a multitude of sins, so you can walk down the street sporting your slightly oversized and expressionless face with pride. Created by Japanese doll maker Natori Satio "for anyone who wants to become a girl", the mask fuses doll and real person to make something even creepier than Chukie. Check out the website and the very disturbing video on it.

Kaiba

This is the most innovative anime I've come across in, well, ever. Currently airing on WoWow, the illustrations are so different in style to typical anime that the closest comparison might be Junko Mizuno's manga. The story is as bizarre as the illustrations: in the future bodies and memories can be traded. As you might imagine lots of body swap wackiness ensues.

Ha ha ha happy tune!

You'll either love or hate me for introducing you to this tune. The aural equivalent of devouring a stick of cotton candy in 5 minutes, it's a veritable sugar-rush of sound. Made by Swedish group Caramell in 2001, the song got internet fame in the latter part of 2006 when it was released as a short animation with characters from the novel Popton doing the trademark rabbit ear dance. I really love the Speedycake remix (see below) which can be heard practically everywhere in Akihabara right now. Uwa Uwa Uwa Uwa!

Deerhoof to play Japan

Back in the UK I had a monthly night in Brighton called Nihongogo (geddit) where I used to DJ Japanese music. As well as Plus Tech Squeezebox, Pizicatto Five, Puffi Ami Yumi et al, I'd occasionally slip in a Deerhoof track - they just about qualify because their singer, Satomi, is Japanese. Anyway, the great news is that they are coming to Japan to play a few dates. And they've got new material and a new member. If you want to find out details please read my interview with the band's guitarist, John Dieterich for Japan Times. I loved writing this article because I'm such a huge fan.

Here's my pic of what was on offer at last weekend's desgin festa:

Yukikoi does the most fantabulous 60s-inspired design:


Kim Kangdoo makes postcards...
... that can be transformed into little box creatures with some scissors, glue and a good sharp knife:For some really annoying reason, I can't seem to load up their website but on their meishi it appears as: kangdooman@paran.com

Funppy were selling the cutest t-shirts that come in their very own box for only 500 yen. What an, er, life affirming motto:

And Dali's Art Work made this groovy construction from wooden bricks. Excuse the sideways video!

Erokawa mobile phone strap

Erokawa - the fusion of erotic and kawaii (cute) style - is the current craze sweeping the Japanese female population, according to the Strapya, makers of cell phone straps. Embodying this style with their new sexy lingere range of straps, they explain that the whole concept is dead classy: "To attracted him today, don't show off your bra and shorts as a show girl. Real underwear miniature cell phone straps can support you taking his attention to you..." And here I thought, opening up my barely-covered legs on a crowded commuter train and giving the man of my dreams a pantyshot was the way to his heart, when all along there was a more subtle way to give him an idea of what saucy undies I was wearing.

Free Polysics gig

The latest Polysics album, 'We ate the machine', just came out on 23 April. I'm a huge fan of their hyper new-wave sound and am bouncing up and down with glee about the fact that they'll be playing a free live date at Tower Records in Shibuya this month on Friday 23, B1F stage 1 starting at 7pm.