Zookeepers at the Tama Zoo and the Ueno Zoo, both in Tokyo, undergo annual training in what to do if an animal escapes. Although the training is serious business, it appears ridiculous to onlookers because they cannot use real animals. This year’s escaped animal drill at the Ueno Zoo featured a papier mâché rhinoceros. It appears to be the same fake rhino they used for the drill in 2008. Link -via Arbroath

See also: the Ueno Zoo’s zebra drill and the tiger drill at the Tama Zoo.

Hooters, the chain restaurant that is built around showing off women’s *ahem* assets, is getting an extremely unlikely crossover in their Japanese restaurants as they introduce Hello Kitty elements just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Apparently, the Japanese don’t feel like characters intended for children should be kept separate from adult and sexually suggestive merchandising, which makes me wonder-where do they actually draw the line?

And were those Hello Kitty “personal massagers” I saw online actually licensed by Sanrio? Ewwwww!

Link

Michel Gondry produced this ad for Sunshine Sakae, a Japanese department store. The store connection will eventually become clear, although you may be giggling too much to catch it. (via The Daily What)

Think of them as snowy versions of the Weeping Angels. During the winter, you can find snow-covered trees in northern Japan. They are called juhyou and are known for a ghostly appearance.

Link -via Oddity Central | Photo: Casa di Cina

Personally, I love clam chowder and I like to try new things, so although I don’t have much faith in the flavor of Clam Chowder Doritos, I would still give them a shot. Surprisingly though, they actually are described as being pretty tasty and actually tasting like clam chowder.

So, I ask again, would you try them?

Link

Seventy years ago today, the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor Naval Base brought the U.S. into World War II. Franklin Roosevelt announced a declaration of war on Japan the next day. Wired has a synopsis of what happened. Link

Today, about 120 survivors of that attack have returned to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii for a commemoration service, including a moment of silence at 7:55AM local time. In previous years, thousands of veterans attended such events. Fewer veterans remain each year, and age has caused many to forgo the trip. Link

You can also read more about the attack on Pearl Harbor in the Neatorama archives:

The Truth About Pearl Harbor

Dustbin of History: The Pearl Harbor Spy

The Pearl Harbor Spy, Part II

Doolittle’s Raid

Man, that looks like a lot of fun! I would ride this playground slide, which is somewhere in Japan, but only once unless I could drive back up the hill. -via College Humor

In Japan, snowball fighting isn’t just a pleasant winter pastime. It’s a serious competitive sport known as Yukigassen or “snow battle.” Two teams square off on a field about the size of a hockey rink. Victory comes through annihilating the other team or capturing its flag. See more photos and a video at the link. This particular photo, I should note, is from a match in Alaska, not Japan.

Link | Photo: Roy Neese, Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau

One way to sell Christmas cards is to create an outlandish story about their origin. Brad McGinty III tells about his father’s failed 1955 business venture with a Japanese artist whom he shot in the face during World War II. The artist’s “misinterpreted” idea for a greeting card is now for sale at his site. Whatever you may think of the cards, the story behind them is priceless. Link -via Metafilter

You would think that Japan’s overpopulation problems would force them to hang on to every bit of inhabitable land they own, but these images show otherwise. Hashima Island, nicknamed Ghost Island, was abandoned entirely after the mine which had been running for over 80 years was closed in 1974.

The black and white photos add a sense of despair to the abandoned cityscape, and although Hashima Island has been covered before here on Neatorama, I think the beautiful photographs in this gallery warrant a second look.

Link

(YouTube Link)

This guy is known for making some serious head choppers. Artisans like Korehira Watanabe are fading into history, as their creations are no longer in demand and the inherent secrecy of their craft makes passing on the legacy virtually impossible. Watch this master in action and see the skills that may someday be lost to antiquity.

–via BuzzFeed

Jimmy crack corn, that's a big rice cracker! A Japanese team (really) called The World's Largest Rice Cracker Committee in Kioroshi, Tokyo, has broken the world's record for baking the largest rice cracker:

"We made it. It's sweet revenge," he said, after a failed attempt to get into the record books last month with a cracker that fell three centimetres short of their target.
The group started making dough with 33 pounds of powdered rice on Tuesday and baked it for about an hour on Wednesday over an open fire, turning the giant snack every few minutes.

Link

Japan takes its subcultures very seriously and while many of them, like rockabilly, goth and lolita, have some sort of equivalent in the U.S., Dekotora (the lavish decoration of a semi) doesn’t. You can find out more about this culture and see some amazing pictures of these blinged out trucks over on Flavorwire.

Link

(YouTube Link)

This production of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is not a fan film, nor is this a parody trailer meant strictly for the interwebs. This is a big budget motion picture, directed by Takashi Miike (Ichi the Killer, Audition) and based on the Nintendo DS game series by Capcom.

Maybe the Japanese can make a decent movie adaptation of a video game series, since Hollywood never seems to get it right.

–via ComicsAlliance

Colonel Doolittle (second from left) and his flight crew.

The following is an article from the book Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Salutes the Armed Forces.

After Japanese air power struck a stunning tactical blow to the U.S. military forces at Pearl Harbor, a retaliatory strike against the Japanese was a priority for president Frankin D. Roosevelt, who challenged his general staff to devise a way to attack the heart of Japan.

PAYBACK PLANS

By mid-January 1942, a carrier-based air strike against Japan was accepted as the most plausible solution to FDR’s request. When Admiral Ernest J. King, chief of Naval Operations, was asked to evaluate the possibilities, he passed the idea to General Henry H. “Hap” Arnold, commander of the Army Air Forces, who then asked Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle to work out the details with the Navy. In the days immediately after Pearl Harbor, service rivalries took a back seat to striking a blow against the enemy.

B-25s specially modified for this mission are ready to go.

After preliminary test flights, the North American B-25 Mitchell bomber was selected for the mission. Eighteen B-25s flew from their Oregon home base to Indiana for modifications. The range of the unmodified Mitchell was only 1,300 miles on a favorable day, so additional internal tanks were added to allow for more fuel. At the last second, 10 five-gallon cans of gas were stowed in the radio operator’s seat. The heavy guns were removed, along with the highly secret Norden bombsight, whose classified technology couldn’t fall into Japanese hands. In the planned scenario, the Norden bombsight wouldn’t have been very accurate at the low altitude that would be flown anyway, so it was replaced with a simple metal aiming sight. Aircraft radios were also removed, since the mission would be executed under strict radio silence. These changes allowed each aircraft to carry just over 1,100 gallons of usable fuel, which under typical flight conditions would allow for a range of 2,400 miles. After all of these radical modifications, four 500-pound bombs barely fit into the bomb bay.

The Army and Navy finally agreed on a near-dusk takeoff and night raid on Tokyo as the plan that stood the best chance of achieving complete surprise. he plan depended on a fast carrier run-in at night to get as close to the mainland as possible just prior to launch. After the planes were away, the fleet would make an immediate turn back toward Hawaii and run for waters beyond the range of Japanese land-based aircraft to preserve the limited fleet that remained in the Pacific. On April 13, Naval Task Force 16 gathered near Hawaii and proceeded toward the Japanese mainland with 16 ships, including Vice Admiral William F. “Bull” Halsey’s flagship, the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise.

THE BEST-LAID PLANS

Doolittle’s plan was to lead 16 planes with five-man crews ahead of the rest of the aircraft, to attack Tokyo with incendiary bombs, and to set fires that the others could follow to the city. But the B-25 crews were forced to launch early when the nighttime attack plan was disrupted by Japanese picket boats that spotted Task Force 16 early on the morning of the 18th. There were no other acceptable options; the mission had to launch immediately.

Owing to the added distance at the takeoff point, there was no plan for how or where to land these aircraft when Doolittle took off at 8:20AM. Doolittle recognized that the mission was already in jeopardy and might end with a parachute bailout at sea. Halsey and Doolittle shared the responsibility for the launch decision, with the clear intention of completing the mission.

OFF WE GO INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER

A B-25 just before the raid.

The USS Hornet steered into the wind while the deck pitched in heavy seas. Engines roared to life and Doolittle taxied his plane forward a few feet onto three cork pads that provide enough friction for the tires to hold the B-25 s the engines were pushed to full throttle. Minimum-distance takeoff procedures practiced on dry land in Florida worked as advertised on the deck of the ship.

After traveling more than 700 miles, miniscule errors in heading control were amplified, putting the pilots many miles off course. Several of the B-25 crews were totally lost when they finally made landfall around noon. Doolittle himself flew well north of his planned route, but quick work by his navigator steered him back on course. Those following him were much relieved at the rapid course correction. The sun was shining brightly about half past noon when Doolittle became the first pilot to bomb the Japanese homeland in fulfillment of FDR’s orders.

DOOMED FROM THE START

Unknown to Doolittle’s Raiders, the aircraft carrying the homing radio beacons for the landing fields in China had crashed, and with it any chance of finding the strips at night and in bad weather. Fortunately, the original targets planned for night recognition and attack were large industrial zones, so hitting at least part of the complex would be much easier in broad daylight.

The attack was not intended to do maximum damage; rather, it was intended to make a spectacle. The attack was designed do that the Japanese people would clearly know that a foreign enemy had bombed Tokyo. In the original plan, Doolittle had hoped to set fires to serve not only as beacons to the following 15 B-25s, but also to dramatically -and undeniably- announce that the capital city had been bombed. An order forbidding the bombardment of the radio towers near Tokyo indicated that immediate dissemination of the news by Japanese radio was desired and expected.

TRIUMPH FROM TRAGEDY

Taking off for Tokyo.

In almost every case, primary targets were bombed. The damage done far exceeded expectation largely as a result of highly inflammable Japanese construction, the low-altitude attack, the clear weather over Tokyo, and the careful target studies that the crew had done. All 16 planes had descended to extremely low altitudes, attacked, and egressed the target area at high speed. All 16 crews began to calculate how much fuel they had left and how far they could fly. Initial calculations were not encouraging. Navigator Lieutenant Eugene F. McGurl halfheartedly joked, “Hey, I don’ t think we’re gonna have to swim more than one hundred miles.”

Doolittle’s Raiders got another lucky break that evening. A stiff tailwind had developed between japan and China and, much to the surprise of the navigators, several of the planes appeared to be getting pretty good gas mileage and making good time. Only one bomber had insufficient fuel to make the Chinese mainland and diverted to Russia instead. That plane’s five crewmen were interned in Russia until they managed to escape into Iran in May 1943.

Once the raiders made landfall over China, luck ran out. The Chinese, fearing air raids by the Japanese and not knowing of the timing of Doolittle’s raid on the Japanese capital, extinguished all ground lights when the B-25 engines were heard. In addition, bad weather over the China coast made safe landings impossible and all of the planes either landed in the water near the coast or the crews parachuted out. Four were killed during bailout or ditching and eight were captured by the Japanese. Four of those who were captured survived until they were freed by U.S. troops in 1945.

Doolittle's Raiders in China.

FIRST TIME’S THE CHARM

The Tokyo raid was the first, and at that time, the only combat mission flown by these 80 men. In the weeks following the raid, American morale soared. For the planning, execution, and leadership during the raid, Doolittle received the nation’s highest military award. On May 19, 1942, President Frankin D. Roosevelt, the man who had ordered the mission, personally decorated the newly-promoted Brigadier General James H. Doolittle with the Medal of Honor in a private White House ceremony.

__________

The article above is reprinted with permission from Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Salutes the Armed Forces.

Since 1988, the Bathroom Reader Institute had published a series of popular books containing irresistible bits of trivia and obscure yet fascinating facts.

If you like Neatorama, you’ll love the Bathroom Reader Institute’s books – go ahead and check ‘em out!

As the name suggests, cell phone novels are written entirely on handsets and posted on sites like Maho no i-rando (Magic Island), the first and largest mobile novel portal in Japan. The site has a million titles, 3.5 billion monthly visitors and six million registered users, according to the company. Mobile readers instantly see new chapters as they are added, often adding comments about the direction they think a novel should take.

The diary-like stories are written and read mostly by young women in their teens and 20′s. Many authors use pen names and claim their stories are at least partially autobiographical. The novels often center on themes that are rarely discussed aloud in Japanese society — drugs, sex, pregnancy, abortion, rape and disease.

Link – Thanks, Norma! | Photo: Flickr user .curt

The E-KomiBus (which, for reasons unknown, bears the nickname “MAYU”) is a totally electric and tiny little bus. It’s only 173” long (shorter than a 2012 Honda Civic), and runs on lithium ion batteries, which have a range of about 25 miles after charging 8 hours. With a top speed of 12mph, it’s ideally suited for driving through the narrow back streets not covered by conventional bus routes.

The university hopes that senior citizens and tourists (the two groups least likely to own driver’s licenses in Gunma) will use the E-KomiBus, which seats 10.

Link

(Image source: Yomiuri Online)

Now this is super-sizing! Behold the Pizza-Size Burger from Burger King of Japan:

Wide is what you get with Burger King Japan's 8.8 inch (22cm) diameter Pizza-Size Burger. Note that only the buns are extra-wide, in between are four regular Whopper-sized beef patties arranged in a four-leaf-clover pattern. The fillings and toppings are also normally sized but at least they're provided in abundance.

Link

Beatific’s basic ear este service takes 70 minutes and costs ¥8,400 (about US$100). It begins with an ear wash, followed by massage of the ears, neck and shoulders. Then comes a meticulous ear cleaning, followed by more massage.

Other services include additional massage, facial, shave and “ear fortune telling,” in which, by looking at an ear’s unique characteristics, Takahashi claims to be able to divine a person’s past and personality in order to advise them about the future. [....]

Some Japanese are lucky enough to have their own in-house ear cleaner: among a Japanese mother’s many duties, keeping her children’s and husband’s ears clean is common.

Some unmarried women perform the task for their beaus, a few of whom may even return the favor.

Link -via Oddity Central | Photo: Beatific

Previously: Scrape Those Ears Clean!

In Japan, the goal of a TV game show is not so much to win, but to entertain the audience. This show that challenges players to climb a slime-ridden staircase is a case in point. Commenters at YouTube assure us that the stairs are made from a relatively soft material, so it doesn’t hurt as much as you’d think to fall on them. -via The Daily What

Can't get a girlfriend or a find a spouse? Maybe you're too perfect. That's the logic behind this strange Japanese fad of getting yourself some crooked teeth:

Dental Salon Plaisir says its Tsuke-yaeba -- or Stick-on Crooked Teeth -- will impart that desirable “imperfect” look to men and women alike, making them more attractive to the opposite sex.

The theory behind that slightly odd approach is that classic beauty tends to scare away timid suitors, whereas a more down-home look is easily approachable.

Link

See also: Zombie Teeth

We’ve posted art from more than one person who takes everyday paintings or iconic images and adds fantastic monsters to them. It’s neat, but it’s not new. Back in the 1970s, Yokopro in Japan published postcards that did the exact same thing. The monsters are called pachimon kaiju. See a collection of them at How To Be a Retronaut. Link -via Everlasting Blort

Japan is well-known for its fascination with pop culture icons, which is why it’s not too surprising that even their subway posters feature immediately recognizable characters including Jesus, Superman, Marilyn Monroe and more. The one above reminds commuters not to forget their umbrella. See more at Flavorwire.

Link

Glen Milner produced this short film about the ritualized life of a modern-day Geisha in the city of Kyoto, Japan. -via Nag on the Lake

Christopher Poole went to Japan in 2006 and shot this video clip of trollin' Japanese style. It's the best 3 second clip you'll ever see (after the Dramatic Chipmunk one).

Ha ha ha ha!

A new sushi restaurant in the Aichi Prefecture of Japan has taken to making some outrageously massive rolls and nigiri. They also serve up some absolutely tiny pieces with each order to absolutely mess with the minds of anyone enjoying their treats. In the picture above, regular sushi has been included to give perspective to the other trays. You can watch a video of it at the link, but be warned the dialogue is in Japanese.

Link Via InventorSpot

Got a spoiled brat? When scoldings and time-outs don't work, scare 'em straight with the horror train.

Yes, that's right: here's the Yokai Train, a scary summer "attraction" in Kyoto, Japan, featuring creepy monster aboard a train.

As the Yokai Train leaves the station, a spooky sounds can be heard coming from the speakers, and the monsters make their entrance. Some are dressed in white kimonos and wear white masks and triangular white crowns (which means they are dead), while others sport creepy masks and torn rags. Some of the older kids react pretty well to the yokai, but the younger ones cry and scream while their mothers and the other adults watch and smile. It sounds a bit cruel, but by the last station of the tour most children make friends with the monsters.

Actually, this explains a lot about Japan: Link

We’ve all heard of the kitty and puppy cafes sweeping through Japan, but for those of you who like more cold-blooded pets, there’s now a reptile cafe to satisfy the desires of those who live a petless lifestyle but still want periodic cuddling with their favorite critters.

Link

Who needs a generator when you’ve got the Nissan Leaf, an 100% electric car that can power your house for 2 days via the “Leaf-to-home” system, a converter that attaches to your home’s electric panel and allows for the car’s lithium-ion battery to provide power when it may be otherwise unavailable.With the people of Japan still recovering from the recent disasters, Nissan feels that a symbiotic relationship between electric car and home may be just the thing to keep the lights on when everything else around you is falling to pieces. Link -via PopSci Image via Tom Rafferty at Wikimedia

(YouTube Link)

A robot that can learn, think and act for itself might make some people lose sleep over the possibility of a Terminator-esque robotic revolution, but scientists in Japan feel that this advancement in the field of robotics is a good thing, and may revolutionize how our mechanized workforces handle the tasks they’re designed to perform . Watch as this robot figures out how to do something it was never taught to do-pour a glass of ice water. Utterly fascinating to watch? Perhaps not, but this leap forward in artificial intelligence means science fiction is rapidly becoming science fact. Link -via Wired

Developed by the Riken research center and Tokai Rubber Industries, the new Robot for Interactive Body Assistance can now lift patients weighing up to 176 pounds, better than its previous load limit of 134 pounds.

It can also bend down and deposit or pick up patients on the floor. This is useful in Japan, where people often sleep on futon floor bedding or relax on floor tatami mats.

Riken says caregivers on average lift patients from floor bedding into wheelchairs 40 times a day, adding that the elderly nursing-care population in Japan will hit 5.69 million by 2015.

Link

These mechanical marvels are examples of Karakuri, centuries old puppets from Japan that can perform simple tasks powered only by clockwork mechanisms. Their lifelike movements and beautiful look make them breathtaking to behold in action, especially considering they were made hundreds of years ago. A short video accompanies the article on Laughing Squid, showing one of the last remaining Karakuri builders in action. I’m off to build an army of puppet archers to defend my house!

Link

Take a 150-year-old British story, soak it in the culture of cute Japanese anime, and run it through the technology of Vocaloid audio recording and animation software, and you end up with a cartoon production that resembles a Broadway musical! -Thanks, Daniel!

Shiro loves small baskets the way Maru loves boxes. And 9-year-old Shiro has a patient zen attitude for wearing hats and other materials on his head, which leads to many photo and video opportunities. See photos and videos of Shiro and his feline family at the Basket Cat Blog. Link -via Metafilter

Naoshima is an island town which is home to some of Japan’s finest museums and architecture, yet those who have shaped the face of the island have made it less touristy and more like the Japan of yesteryear, albeit with a modernist twist. Simplicity is key in the construction and aesthetic of the island’s two biggest attractions: Chichu Museum, which incorporates installation pieces into the very structure of the building, and Benesse House, the hotel with no TV or internet access but loads of visual interest and a modern art style. Read more about it at the Guardian.

Link

In the aftermath of the devastating Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995, the Japanese city of Kobe needed something to symbolize its recovery and inspire the masses. Enter Tetsujin-28-go! (or his English-translation counterpart, Gigantor) to the rescue. The city banded together to raise funds for design and construction of the much-loved comics character, created by Kobe-born Mitsuteru Yokoyama in 1956. WebUrbanist has the history of the project, along with the inspiring story and lots of images of Gigantor’s construction. Link

(Video link)

Do you enjoy watching giant rubber monsters destroying cities and fighting with spandex clad superheroes who ride color coordinated motorcycles? Or the good old cinematic days of Giant Lizard vs. Giant Moth vs. Giant Gorilla vs. Giant Robot vs. all of Japan? If the answer is yes, then you are a Kaiju lover, and you probably didn’t even know it! Check out this great video from Kaiju Big Battel which will explain all you need to know about Kaiju culture at the link.

Link

Extreme body modification has taken an interesting turn in Japan. These lovely people above have had saline pumped into their foreheads for about two hours, a process that creates a rather, um, well… it makes a lump. And if you press your thumb into your forehead while the saline is pumping in, it makes a bagel, which is awesome? I don’t get it. There’s an interview with the intrepid Ryoichi “Keroppy” Maeda, who introduced the technique to Japan over at Vice Style. Lots more pics, but probably NSF-the needle-sensitive. Link

[T]he bill that criminalizes the creation or distribution of computer virus was finally enacted last Friday by Japan’s parliament. The law also includes provisions regarding punishment that will be meted out to people who have been caught sending pornographic images to random people.

These laws are meant to crack down on the dirty web of cybercrime; however, some parts of the law border on infringing the privacy of communications as it allows data to be obtained or subpoenaed by authorities from servers for investigation when necessary.

Japan is the first country to enact and implement such a law. Hopefully, we’ll be able to gauge the effectivity of passing the law a few months down the line.

Link | Image: Dvice

Nothing remains of Gulliver’s Kingdom today but a rough concrete scar, and even this basic foundation is gradually being subsumed by dirt, dust and windblown sand. Was it all a dream? Perhaps it was… and if any lessons can be learned by Gulliver’s Kingdom’s rise, fall and disappearance it’s that if one must dream, at least dream big.

Link

Panasonic has announced plans to create a green community for around 1000 residents, built from the ground up in Japan. The eco-friendly Fujisawa Sustainable Smart Town should be available by 2018 and hopes to keep carbon output low.

Green building is certainly nothing new, but the thrust of Panasonic’s plan is to start from scratch rather than retrofit existing structures and communities with eco-friendly technologies. The idea is that existing technologies and town planning strategies can be brought together harmoniously from the start, for maximum effect and efficiency. And Fujisawa SST will have it all: a smart power grid; solar cells and batteries in every home; roads designed for bikes, walkers, and electric vehicles; networked public lighting, and more.

In the wake of the catastrophic earthquakes in Japan, the project has also taken on several aspects of disaster response. Fujisawa SST will boast self-sustaining power generation, as well as safety planning and mobility. And with so many devastated Japanese communities looking to rebuild, Fujisawa SST could be a blueprint to model their rebirth.

Link

Japan has at least two stationmaster dogs, with the latest being a shaggy off-white Akita named Wasao. Already somewhat of an animal celebrity in Japan for his “busa-kawa” (ugly-cute) characteristics, Wasao was the ideal choice to be Tourism Stationmaster of Ajigasawa station in far-northern Aomori prefecture. Get that? TOURISM Stationmaster… they aren’t big on subtlety up in Aomori.

Read about all of them at WebEcoist. Link -via Fark

While we are busy trying to create and market the perfect electric car, the Japanese have gone the extra mile and plan to mass produce a car which runs primarily on water. What do you think, will this car be a viable alternative to gas and electric vehicles?

Unlike other electric cars, the Genepax car does not require that batteries be recharged and has no emission. The water electrical generator is located in the back of the car and when water is poured it is then broken down in order to create electricity to power the car. Imagine what such a generator could do to the oil industry, the nuclear plants and the electrical grid.

Link

There are countless superstitions involving cats, most of them focused on the bad luck that they supposedly bring. In Japan and other Asian countries, however, the cat is a symbol of good fortune.

THE BECKONING CAT

If you’ve ever walked in to a Chinese or Japanese business and noticed a figure of a cat with an upraised paw, you’ve met Maneki Neko (pronounced MAH-ne-key NAY-ko). “The Beckoning Cat” is displayed to invite good fortune, a tradition that began with a legendary Japanese cat many centuries ago.

Naotaka Ii

According to legend, that cat, called Tama, lived in a poverty-stricken temple in 17th-century Tokyo. The temple priest often scolded Tama for contributing nothing to the upkeep of the temple. Then one day, a powerful feudal lord named Naotaka Ii was caught in a rainstorm near the temple while returning home from a hunting trip. As the lord took refuge under a big tree, he noticed Tama with her paw raised, beckoning to him, inviting him to enter the temple’s front gate. Intrigued, the lord decided to get a closer look at this remarkable cat. Suddenly, the tree was struck by lightning and fell on the exact spot where Naotaka had just been standing. Tama had saved his life! In gratitude, Naotaka made the little temple his family temple and became its benefactor. Tama and the priest never went hungry again. After a long life, Tama was buried with great respect at the renamed Goutokuji temple. Goutokuji still exists, housing dozens of statues of Beckoning Cat.

Gotokuji temple still has a calico cat, as well as many Maneki Nekos.

(Image credit: Flickr user Shoko Muraguchi)

LUCKY CHARMS

Figures of Maneki Neko became popular in Japan under shogun rule in the 19th century. At that time, most “houses of amusement” (brothels) and many private homes had a good-luck shelf filled with lucky charms, many in the shape of male sexual organs. When Japan began to associate with Western countries in the 1860s, the charms began to be seen as vulgar. In an effort to modernize Japan and improve its image, Emperor Meiji outlawed the production, sale, and display of phallic talismans in 1872. People still wanted lucky objects, however, so the less controversial Maneki Neko figures became popular.

Nang Kwak

Eventually the image of the lucky cat spread to China and then to Southeast Asia. How popular did the Beckoning Cat become? In Thailand, the ancient goddess of prosperity, Nang Kwak, was traditionally shown kneeling with a money bag on her lap. Now she’s usually shown making the cat’s raised-hand gesture and occasionally sporting a cat’s tail.

In Europe and North America, images of Maneki Neko can be found in Asian-owned businesses, such as Chinese restaurants. And back in Japan, a new cat icon adorns clothing, toys, and various objects: Hello Kitty -a literal translation of Maneki Neko, or “Beckoning Cat.”

MANEKI NEKO FACTS

* Sometime Maneki Neko has his left paw up, sometimes the right. The left paw signifies that the business owner is inviting in customers. The right invites in money or good fortune.

* Most Maneki Nekos are calico cats; the male calico is so rare it’s considered lucky in Japan. But Maneki Neko may be white, black, red, gold, or pink to ward off illness, bad luck, or evil spirits and bring financial success, good luck, health, and love.

* Maneki Nekos made in Japan show the palm of the paw, imitating the manner in which Japanese people beckon. American Maneki Nekos show the back of the paw, reflecting the way we gesture “come here.”

* The higher Maneki Neko holds his paw, the more good fortune is being invited.

___________________

The article above was reprinted with permission from Uncle John’s Unstoppable Bathroom Reader.

Since 1988, the Bathroom Reader Institute had published a series of popular books containing irresistible bits of trivia and obscure yet fascinating facts.

If you like Neatorama, you’ll love the Bathroom Reader Institute’s books – go ahead and check ‘em out!

Japan has been developing an alternative source of energy using wind power, however instead of traditional windmills this giant wind tower can utilize wind from different directions.

Japan-based ZENA Systems is working on developing a new type of wind energy generator that will dwarf anything before it. The 50 meter-tall hexagonal building essentially acts as a huge scoop that compresses wind from all directions and then runs the rushing air through a series of ground-based generators.

Link

Q: How hard is it to get a cat into a bowl?

A: That sounds like a skit for a Japanese variety show!

-via Metafilter

Through emails and Internet research it was established that the owner of the dogs was a breeder in Minami Soma. The group contacted the Fukushima city branch of the Japan Collie Club, tracked the owner down by phone at a shelter and got her go-ahead to rescue the dogs.

In the wee hours of Sunday morning, seven volunteers left Tokyo and drove over broken roads and past demolished houses to meet three other volunteers in the ghost town that Minami Soma has become. Some had prepared radiation suits and others wore simple vinyl raincoats.

The group found the dogs waiting for their owner. A few ran off, but the group was able to remove twenty dogs from the area. Some of the dogs are being boarded at a veterinary clinic; others at the homes of volunteers. See more pictures at the MSNBC Photoblog. Link -via Arbroath

(Image credit: Tamiko Nakamura/Sheltie Rescue)

In old Japan, myth has it that earthquakes are caused by a giant catfish (namazu). After the Great Ansei Earthquake of 1855 which hit Edo (now Japan Tokyo), a new type of color woodblock print blaming the fish became popular. Pink Tentacle explains:

These prints featured depictions of mythical giant catfish (namazu) who, according to popular legend, caused earthquakes by thrashing about in their underground lairs. In addition to providing humor and social commentary, many prints claimed to offer protection from future earthquakes.

Link

While you may not be able to understand exactly what they are saying, it’s pretty easy to see they are commands regarding his voice volume.

Video link

In the end, the auction ended up pulling in over $15,000 in bids…unfortunately, the winning bidder refused to pay up and the second place winner wouldn’t take the Second Chance Offer. That left Morgan with tons of free stuff that wasn’t really his to keep and left the Red Cross out of a huge donation.

In order to correct the problem, he has opted to host a massive charity raffle for the prizes. Tickets are only £2.50 and the prizes total more than $1000. The only down side is that this time he’s only giving 70%, apparently because the raffles cost more to run and he needs money to fix the exhaust on his car.

Even so, it’s still a good chance to donate money to a good cause and possibly win a boatload of free stuff. Plus, included in the raffle prize is the opportunity to hang out with Morgan and a bear (presumably someone in a bear suit, not an actual bear).