Jezebel: Japan

What Dark Secrets Has Hello Kitty Been Hiding?

Cassie Murdoch — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:20:00 EST

She may look innocent, but Hello Kitty could be a lot sneakier than we could have ever dreamed. The tiny white cat—whose iconic cheerful face is plastered on everything from notebooks to vibrators—has invaded our consciousness to such an extent that we accept her unquestioningly. More »

Japanese Wendy's Is Way Classier Than American Wendy's

Margaret Hartmann — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 09:30:00 EST

Don't let Wendy's impress you with its "Baconator" hamburger. While we only get to choose how many beef patties we want on the troublingly named Dave's Hot 'N Juicy burger, the chain is saving the good stuff for customers in Japan. Two years after leaving the country, the company has opened a new restaurant in Tokyo, which has a $16 foie gras burger and truffle-topped chicken sandwich. We'd actually rather go with chicken nuggets and a Frosty, but we're offended on principle. More »

Doesn't Your Butt Deserve A $130,000 Crystal-Covered Toilet?

Margaret Hartmann — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 23:44:00 EST

No matter how great your holiday was, we can guarantee you didn't get the one thing you really needed: A $130,000 toilet encrusted with 72,000 Swarovski crystals. The Japanese company Lixil put the luxury toilet on display in its showroom earlier this month, and it isn't for sale. You see, this device is too wonderful to be hidden away in Kanye West's spare bathroom. "2011 was a really tough year for Japan, with the earthquake and tsunami disasters," says a company spokesman. "We wanted to do this to cheer everybody up just before Christmas." More »

Lightning-Fast Jump Rope Champ Makes The Sport Look Positively Orgasmic

Dodai Stewart — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:50:00 EDT

Wow, lady. Wow. Obviously, first and foremost, this is an insanely amazing display of athletic skill. But also, it seems like jumping rope is incredibly… stimulating? More »

Indigo Girl

Erin Gloria Ryan — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EDT

Tokyo, Aug 20: Model Kikka parades during a show at the Tokyo Fashion Fuse event. The event is a merger of music and fashion featuring top models and international DJs and, if you look closely, some pretty epic sideeye. (AP Photo/Greg Baker) More »

Introducing The Wearable Menstruation Machine

Jenna Sauers — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:55:00 EDT

A Japanese artist who goes by the name Sputniko! (punctuation included) has designed and built a machine that simulates the experience of menstruation, for use by those who don't spend a week dripping blood and uterine lining out of their genitals by dint of biology. The device includes electrodes to induce abdominal cramps, and, from the looks of this video, some kind of slowly released red fluid. More »

What Japan's Women's World Cup Team Means For The Country

Irin Carmon — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:18:00 EDT

Okay, here's a silver lining if the U.S. doesn't win the Women's World Cup finals on Sunday: Japan could use all the happy news it can get after this year's earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster. More »

Lady Gaga Sued For Scamming Her Own Charity

Dodai Stewart — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EDT

&utmLady Gaga is being sued for $5 million, with the lawsuit alleging that she deliberately raised the cost of shipping and handling for her We Pray For Japan bracelets so that she could earn a profit. Did she scam her own charity? The dude suing is with Michigan-based 1-800-LAW-FIRM, which is, uh, interesting, and it seems that he is not a Gaga fan. Quoth he: "I'm suing Lady Gaga simply to hold her accountable for giving the money that she was raising for charity to the cause that she was trying to raise it for." [Radar, Showbiz Spy] More »

Would You Rather Have Sex With An Elephant, A Horse Or An Eagle?

Dodai Stewart — Mon, 16 May 2011 14:50:00 EDT

We often use critters to describe sex. He's a tiger in the sack. She's a hellcat in bed. They were fucking like bunnies. And the penis is often called a trousersnake, or a one-eyed worm. But is there anything sexy about eagles? More »

9 Bizarre Japanese Beauty Gadgets To Build A Better You

Dodai Stewart — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EDT

Beauty Nose

Tokyo's Host Clubs Cater To What A Woman Wants

Sadie Stein — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:07:00 EDT

By now you've probably heard about Japanese venues where women cater to male customers. But it's a two-way street, and in Tokyo, female tourists can head to the red light district and one of the city's many "Host Clubs." More »

The Reunion Of A Dog Lost In Tsunami And Her Owner

Whitney Jefferson — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:43:00 EDT

Here's tear-inducing video of the grand reunion between Ban, the dog rescued from a pile of debris in the Pacific Ocean last week, and her loving owner. Despite being adrift in the ocean for the three weeks after the tsunami, the dog had plenty of energy to happily wag her tail after finally returning to her owner's arms. Ah, crap, there's something in my eye... More »

Baby Dolphin Rescued From Field After Tsunami

Margaret Hartmann — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 20:29:00 EDT

Today in Japan, a baby dolphin who had been caught in the tsunami was found in a flooded rice field about a mile from the coast. Ryo Taira, a pet-shop owner who's been rescuing animals, tried to net the struggling dolphin, then waded into the field and carried it in his arms. "It was pretty weak by then, which was probably the only reason we could catch it," he said. Taira and his friends wrapped the animal in wet towels and took it to the shore, then watched it swim into the Pacific. "I don't know if it will live, but it's certainly a lot better than dying in a rice paddy," said Taira. More »

80-Year-Old Woman & Grandson Rescued After 9 Days In Tsunami Rubble

Margaret Hartmann — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 21:42:35 EDT

The official earthquake death toll has passed 8,000 and more than 12,000 people are still missing, but a dramatic rescue shown on Japan's NHK television has given many hope that their loved ones may still be found. On Sunday in Ishinomaki, 16-year-old Jin Abe called out for help from the rubble of his home, and told rescue workers his 80-year-old grandmother Sumi Abe was trapped inside. The two survived on food they had in the refrigerator, but it took the teen nine days to crawl out of the building. They were both taken to the hospital, where they were reunited with Jin's father, who told reporters, "I always believed they were alive." More »

Rush Limbaugh Makes Fun Of Japanese Refugees

Margaret Hartmann — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 23:46:00 EDT

As if the devastation in Japan wasn't horrifying enough, in the U.S. we've been subjected to idiotic jokes about the disaster and wingnuts' ridiculous suggestions that the Japanese brought this on themselves. Since Rush Limbaugh is both an idiot and a wingnut, we aren't too surprised to find he's been laughing at the Japanese — but it's still disgusting. More »

How We Can Help Japan

Anna North — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EDT

As the situation in Japan grows more dire, there's a lot of argument about how — and even if — Americans should donate to the disaster-ravaged country. Below, we break down some of the advice. More »

Elderly Woman Found Alive in Tsunami-Hit Home

Jessica Coen — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 08:53:00 EDT

Amid all of the horrible destruction and human tragedy in Japan following last week's earthquake and tsunami, finally a bit of good news: A 70-year-old woman was found alive in her home in Iwate prefecture by rescuers after it had been washed away in the tsunami. She is suffering from hypothermia, but remains conscious in a hospital. Hopefully she's able to recover quickly. [Gawker] More »

Our Lady of the Gaga Helping Japan With Prayer Bracelets

Erin Gloria Ryan — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:59:13 EDT

Express your fandom and your empathy in one gesture! If you've already donated to the Red Cross and want to do something else to help Japan, Lady Gaga has designed prayer bracelets (which actually look a lot like Lance Armstrong Livestrong bracelets) that she's selling through her Twitter site. All of the proceeds from the bracelet sale go toward Japanese disaster relief. More »

Japan Headline Update: Thousands Missing, Dead

Lane Moore — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 11:20:00 EST

According to reports, the number of deaths resulting from yesterday's powerful earth quake and tidal wave is feared to have exceeded 1,700. Additionally, nearly 9,500 people from one town (more than half of its population) have been reported as missing, over 200 fires have flared up, thousands of buildings, homes, and business have been destroyed, and an estimated 6 million people have been left without electricity, gas, or water. More »

Haunting Images From The Tsunami And Earthquake

Irin Carmon — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:31:08 EST

People watch the aftermath of tsunami tidal waves covering a port at Kesennuma in Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, after strong earthquakes hit the area Friday, March 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Keichi Nakane, The Yomiuri Shimbun). You can donate to the Red Cross's efforts in Japan here. We'll be continuously updating this gallery.

Japanese Women Refusing To Be Buried With Husband's Families

Sadie Stein — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:25:00 EST

In what some are terming "the final frontier for women's equality in Japan," some are refusing to be buried traditionally with their husbands' families. More »

Japanese Women Fight For Right To Keep Their Maiden Names

Margaret Hartmann — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST

Four women and one of their husbands filed a lawsuit yesterday in Tokyo to challenge the law that forces almost all Japanese women to take their husband's last name, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Japan's Civil Code, which was written in 1898, requires that married couples share the same last name. It's extremely unusual for a man to take his wife's name, unless she's from a noble family. More »

$1.5 Million Shipment Of Condoms Goes Missing

Margaret Hartmann — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 12:36:00 EST

Keep an eye out for 700,000 ultrathin Japanese condoms! A shipment worth $1.5 million disappeared while being transported to Tokyo from Sagami Rubber Industries' factory in Malaysia, AFP reports. More »

Glee On Ice

Erin Gloria Ryan — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 17:45:00 EST

Astana, Kazakhstan, Feb 5: Japan's Haruka Imai and Kanako Murakami, Korea's Min-Jeong Kwak smile as they pose with their silver, gold and bronze medals after the 7th Asian Winter Games figure skating competition. (Image via AP)

LED Fronts Give You A Really, Really Bright Smile

Dodai Stewart — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:46:00 EST

No one tell Kanye West: Gold fronts are out. Diamond teeth? So 2010. Hot for 2011: Electronic grins. More »

Japanese Government Worries Teens Aren't Horny Enough

Anna North — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST

A new study purports to show that Japanese people are increasingly uninterested in sex. And people seem especially concerned about undersexed young men. More »

Fame, Glam, Glitz, "Scripted Reality," Tokyo-Style

Sadie Stein — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:30:00 EST

With Shibuhara Girls, Reality TV comes to Japan. (With a little help from MTV.) More »

As Another "Comfort Woman" Dies, The Window For Reparation Grows Ever-Smaller

Sadie Stein — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 18:10:00 EST

Jung Yoon-hong, one of the few remaining "comfort women" — Korean women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II — has died, leaving only 79 women to fight for their long-denied compensation. More »

Learn To Smile By Jamming Rubber In Your Mouth

Margaret Hartmann — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 16:57:00 EST

Learning to curl the edges of your mouth up slightly can be SO HARD! Thankfully, Japanese inventors have come up with a solution: The Beauty Smile Trainer. Your unnatural grimace will be gone in no time! More »

In The Future Pop Stars Will Be Replaced By Singing Robots

Margaret Hartmann — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 19:20:00 EDT

When we met HRP-4C last year she was walking the runway, but now she's pursuing her real passion: music. In this video of "Divabot" singing at Japan's Digital Contents Expo she displays real talent... for freaking us out. More »

Japan Doesn't Want Paris Hilton

Dodai Stewart — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 09:00:00 EDT

Paris Hilton has basically been kicked out of Japan. Not hot.

Not A Euphemism: Female Ninjas Battle Foes With Vagina Bubbles

Margaret Hartmann — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 16:50:00 EDT

The couple having telepathic sex actually isn't the weirdest part of this clip from the 1993 Japanese film Female Ninjas: The Magic Chronicles. That would be when the woman spews deadly "vagina bubbles from hell." More »

Japanese Children Subjected To Teachers, Chalkboards, Note-Taking

Margaret Hartmann — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EDT

Yokohama, Japan, September 6: Pupils take notes during math class at Honmoku Elementary School. Alarmed that its children are falling behind, Japan is adding 1,200 pages to elementary school textbooks, bringing the total to 6,100. Image via AP.

Ubiquitous Bono Models For Vuitton With Wife Ali Hewson

Jenna Sauers — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:50:00 EDT

Bono and Ali Hewson star in the newest of Louis Vuitton's "core values" ads. The couple, who were shot in South Africa, wear clothing by Edun, Hewson's sustainable fashion line. LVMH owns 49% of the brand. [WWD]

The Cove Town Mayor Defends Dolphin Hunts

Katy Kelleher — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EDT

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Japanese Mayor Kazutaka Sangen spoke recently in defense of his town's decision to continue hunting (non-endangered) local dolphins, despite recent Hollywood attention: "We are not going to change our plans for the town based on the criticism of foreigners." More »

Most Expensive Beer Comes In Taxidermy Package

Katy Kelleher — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:30:00 EDT

Scottish Brewery BrewDog are selling what they claim is the most expensive beer ever created. The beverage is 55% alcohol and comes packaged inside a dead animal. It also costs over $700.

You Too Could Own A Miniature Michael Jackson!

Katy Kelleher — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:11:00 EDT

[Tokyo, July 15. A model shows off a 1/6 scale figure of pop legend Michael Jackson at the International Tokyo Toy Show. The figure is sold at 24,000 yen (US$270). Image via AP]

Little Girl Stuffs The Ballot Box

Katy Kelleher — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:15:00 EDT

[Tokyo, July 11. A girl helps her mother casting her vote in Japan's Upper House parliamentary elections at a polling station. Image via AP]

Hawaiian Governor Shoots Down Marriage Equality

Katy Kelleher — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 17:32:00 EDT

• Gov. Linda Lingle announced yesterday that she has vetoed Hawaii's same-sex civil unions bill. Lingle's action came on the final day she had to either sign or veto the bill, which the Hawaii Legislature had approved in late April. More »

All Wound Up

Katy Kelleher — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:10:00 EDT

[Caracas, June 30. Japan's Mika Someya pitches against Venezuela during the Women's Softball World Championship game]