Hello Kitty Roomba

Via Hello Kitty Hell

For some reason, I am really happy for the double “L.”

Via Hello Kitty Hell

Just thought we would warn all your Japundits and Japundettes that Sanrio, creator of Hello Kitty, is launching more characters that are so cloyingly cute, they are guaranteed to set your teeth on edge in no time at all.

First are the two ballerina bunny sisters named Sugarminuet.

The older of the two is Ballet Usa (usa is short of usagi, or “rabbit” in Japanese), a make-up loving ballerina with a swan’s grace and pink fur. The younger is Prima Usa, a dreamy and romantic white bunny; both sport sparkly tiaras.

Debuting on August 8th, the pair have already established a line of goods that includes plush toys, stationary, and bags—all in a ballerina-esque blend of white and sugar pink and trimmed with ruffles, ribbons, and roses.

Still not gagging yet? Well how about Sanrio’s Cherinacherine, two little bears who live in a cherry forest?

Makes me want to go out and find something cute. . . so I can stomp on it.

Via CScout Japan

From the amazing and talented Koharu and friend comes the following video of their Tokyo street performance.

If you missed our past posts on Koharu, here is a blast from the past.

More here.

No need to look uncute as your home and the world as you know it is crashing down all around you with this fashionably pink Hello Kitty disaster kit, which includes:

• Disaster hood (covering Body)
• Flame retardant blanket
• Pouch
• Crime-prevention buzzer
• Bandanas

Price: 9,800 yen

I can’t remember where I found this, so if someone would like to claim credit for it, please drop me a line.

A Chinese woman claiming to be from the earthquake-devastated province of Sichuan and who goes under the name of Xiaoyun (Little Cloud) has been posting spicy photos of herself in a bid to encourage people to donate cash for earthquake relief.

Though there is no word concerning the effectiveness of the comely Xiaoyun’s fund raising efforts, they are getting mixed reviews from Chinese netizens: some are calling her a “shameless 90s generation girl”, while others are in awe of her altruistic spirit.

Make up your own mind by viewing more photos here and here.

Via Danwei

A brand new bakery opened in Tokyo on May 5th. The shop is called Shirohige no shou cream kobo (which means White-bearded’ cream puff workshop).

A perfect opening for Kodomo no Hi (Children’s Day), the shop sells cream puff Totoros and sold out of them in the first ten minutes of opening!

The store has the unique recognition as being the only store officially recognized by Studio Ghibli and is filled with illustrations from Miyazaki Hayao’s nephew.

For those in Tokyo, it is advised to call in advance, since the shop sells a very limited quantity everyday and sell out fast.

I hope this is still open when I finally get out to Japan again- I have a soft spot for Totoro (and sweets!)

Via Ghibli World

Shirohige no shou cream kobo Homeage for more pics!

This little piggy rolls out your toilet paper!
Although odd for your bathroom, I think the craftsmanship on the pig is beautiful. Does anyone know what the 931 on his shirt is for?

Spice up your bathroom with a piggy workout via Product Page

It’s been a while since we had any music on JAPUNDIT, so here’s a little something from the Wonder Girls of South Korea.

Not enough Hello Kitty in your life yet?

Well, get ready for more as the mouthless wonder has been named a government envoy.

Japan’s tourism ministry on Monday named Hello Kitty as its choice to represent the country in China and Hong Kong, two places where she is wildly popular among kids and young women.

Officials hope tapping into that fan base will lead to a bigger flow of tourists into Japan and push the country closer to the goal of attracting 10 million overseas visitors every year under the “Visit Japan” campaign.

Last year the number of foreign tourists traveling to Japan hit a record high of 8.35 million, up 60 percent since the government began the marketing effort in 2003.

Arrivals from China and Hong Kong, who accounted for 16.5 percent of visitors to Japan last year, are poised this year to become the second-largest group of tourists after South Koreans.

At a press conference, Sanrio Co. President Shintaro Tsuji, whose company created the toy cat, called Hello Kitty’s new appointment “an honor” and pledged the feline would “work hard to attract many visitors.”

Big thanks to RTN.

If you ever find yourself in Kyushu’s Oita prefecture, I recommend a visit to Takasakiyama (Mt. Takasaki) to see the troop(s) of macaques that have made it their home.

Mount Takasaki is famous for its colony of 1500 monkeys. Tourists can venture as far as the old temple partway up the hill (monorail available for those who’ve already put in some hard tourist hours!).

The colony is actually split into three groups of roughly the same size, and the groups come down to the tourist accessible area (because it’s also their feeding area) at different times of the day, for a few hours.

And while there, they spend their time grooming, playing, and sleeping.

And chilling.

And posing for photographs.

I read this little heartwarmer on CNN today, which is a great break from the normal news.

Yosuke the parrot was found on a roof of a building in Nagareyama, a city near Tokyo. The police took the African Grey in while they investigated and for two weeks the parrot kept quiet. When transfered to a vet, the parrot finally spoke:

“I’m Mr. Yosuke Nakamura,” the bird told the veterinarian, according to Uemura. The parrot also provided his full home address, down to the street number, and even entertained the hospital staff by singing songs.

The vet took the parrot home to the pleased Nakamura family.

Via Cnn

What else is there left to say?

Via Hello Kitty Hell

Hello Kitty Hell has uncovered further evidence, if any were needed, of the evil of Kitty-chan.

“This is what Guatemalan anti-narcotics police found when they seized 1.2 tons of the cocaine on its way to Mexico on April 13th.”

HKH reflects

Cocaine and Hello Kitty display an awful lot of the same properties when it comes to addiction so combining them together probably seemed like the perfect move for Sanrio. If you have ever had to deal with a Hello Kitty fanatic in your life, you already have wondered if they were high on something whenever Hello Kitty is mentioned.

Actually, upon further reflection, this is probably the worst thing that could ever happen. Seriously, can you think of anything more Hello Kitty Hellish that a Hello Kitty fanatic on cocaine…?

There’s a report in the Mainichi entitled Booming popularity doubles accident rate at Tokyo’s Mt. Takao, which tells that “there were 43 reported accidents on the mountain last year, almost double the average number from each year from 2004 to 2006.”

Those who go unprepared come in for a roasting from Kenichiro Maruyama, head of the Takao Police Station’s Alpine Rescue Taskforce who says, “OK, so it’s only a small mountain, but it’s a mountain nonetheless. Not thinking enough about what’s needed for mountain climbing is inviting trouble.”

Quite so.

Police are urging anybody visiting Mt. Takao to take appropriate preparations beforehand, including having a plan on how to get down the mountain, preparing sufficient equipment such as water, rain gear and flashlights, understand that mobile phones won’t always work in the area and make reports on planned hikes on Mt. Takao before setting off.

To further underline this point about lack of preparedness, the report states that “many accidents are reported among [...] women going to the mountain while wearing high-heeled shoes.”

A group of Japanese mountaineers setting out on an expedition, yesterday

If there is a way to make something cute and fuzzy, when it is an everyday, mundane item, Japan finds the way.

These elephant trunk doorstops would make anyone’s day brighter.

3,570 yen each, purchase via Rinkya Stores

Check out this record-breaking train station…

So what record does it hold? Find out after the jump!

From Popgadget comes news of a super-looking little digital camera - the Rolleiflex MiniDigi AF5.0. And the magpie in me is squawking “Want!”

Made by Komomura Corp., the MiniDigi AF5.0 is modelled on the original twin-lens 6×6 Rolleiflex, which debuted in 1929 and is still going.

This is a follow-up to the original MiniDigi, which was hugely popular with toy camera enthusiasts, with the resolution increased from 3.1 megapixels to 5.

The AF5.0 has definite retro chic, though the price is a thoroughly modern ¥41,000. For that price you don’t get much in the way of functions, but that’s unlikely to worry fans and gadget freaks.

remember those blow up jumping castles that you had at your birthday party as a child? well leave it to japan to pervert those too.

boldly going where only ash (satochi) has gone before