Wally Nes’ Blog

After the last post concerning all odd things Japanese, a follow-up had to be made. There are, after all, many many more weird things happening here everyday. Right in front of my eyes. I just have to open them and see, like I have never lived here.

We will start, with an every-day item. Because in everyday items we can often find the goofiest stuff. I give you: The toilet.

OK, it’s a hole in the ground lined with some poercelain. The Japanese were not content to hover above these. (As sitting is not really an option)

So being Japanese they invented a better one.

If you think this is largely similar to what you have at home, you’re right. Largely is the key-word here.

It comes with a control box

Sometimes evern remote controlled

And yes, there is a button on there for the flush sound. Honestly, you think toilets make those naturally? One has to provide these things. A good engineer thinks of this when designing something. Good Job Japanese Engineer. A bidet is built in. So is a read end shower (no, these are different things). And then there are 1,2,3,4,5,6 . . . euhm . . A lot of other buttons which will give you something to do while you do your business on the toilet. Reading all that should take 5 minutes at least. And during that time you will be most comfortable on your heated toilet seat, perfectly heated to your specifications.

Ohright and euhm . . .

Vending Machines, yes we have them. Some Coke, a bag of crisps, of course we have them. What are we, living in the dark ages?
Yes, we have Vending machines, but not like the Japanese have vending machines. Do we sell beer and Cigarettes in Vending machines? I don’t think so! (I have one in my dorm, VERY usefull)

Ok, we actually do have those. But they’re not in public.
How about something a bit more odd.

Yes, the first one has vegetables and the other one has Books and Videos.
Right, sorry. My bad. Porn Books and Videos. Again: On the street.

How about a Live Lobster vending machine

Or the ever pupular Used schoolgirl underwear vending machine

We may have vending machines, but we don’t have vending machines like the Japanese do. The original entrepeneurs that started stocking the machine shown immediately above have been arrested and tried btw because they did not receive written statements from the original owners. Used means someone had them before, ergo it is antique. Antiques are serious business in Japan.

http://www.quirkyjapan.or.tv/index.htm

But, “everyday items” includes food. Let’s take a look a famous chocolate bar

Back home we have gone to staggering heights of originality by adding the Kit Kat Chunky AND the white chocolate version of this.

How about Kit Kat Apple, Kit Kat melon, Kit Kat green tea, Kit Kat . . . well, I’m not sure what that last one is, chestnuts? Edit: Thanks to my lovely assistance Sharon (For that is a fitting name for an assistant) It has been shown to be a Azuki Kit kat

Kit Kat strawberry

Kit Kat Macha

Kit Kat Fruit Parfait. (You know what else everybody likes? Parfaits. Have you ever met a person, you say, “Let’s get some parfait,” they say, “Hell no, I don’t like no parfait”? Parfaits are delicious.)

Cherry blossom Kit Kat

And the watermelon flavoured Kit Kat which is one of those chocolate bars that has actually survived 1 week on my desk

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 29th, 2008 at 12:25 pm and is filed under Japanese (Culture). You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.