Japanify Me - Cool and Sexy Japanese News

More on the iPhone, this time in China

Yesterday I wrote about how Softbank is giving away the iPhone in Japan (check Danny Choo's post for more details about pricing plans).

But it seems like Japan is not the only Asian nation making iPhone news these days, as China looks poised to be the newest member of the iPhone club very soon, according to our sister-site, "Cool Stuff from China". While Apple looks to be struggling in Japan, they might be able to pick up the slack in China. 1.3 billion people is certainly a market that every manufacturer covets.

Apple is no exception.

For more news and other fluff from China, be sure to check out Cool Stuff from China (RSS).

photo source

Very Cool: Ice Hotel in Japan [photos]

Apologies for the cheezy headline.

But this is indeed one very cool hotel, and not just because of the temperature. While I don't know if I would ever want to stay there overnight, I'd definitely be interested in a visit. The baths look very inviting, at the very least.

It must be amazingly difficult to contruct a place like this. I'm not sure where in Japan this is, but if anyone knows please let me know in the comments.

Check out the photos, courtesy of News.com.au. Does anyone else think it looks like Superman's fortress of solitude?












Related: Harbin Ice Festival in China

Hot Japanese Idol of the Day: Megumi Kagurazaka

Free iPhones in Japan. (i.e. out with the old, in with the new?)

As if giving away free iPhones wasn't news enough. Couple this with the fact that Apple has been buying up memory left, right & center, and I think we can safely say that there will be a new iPhone upgrade coming sometime this summer.

From Apple Insider:

In a bid to possibly clear inventory, combat slumping sales, or both, SoftBank Mobile's new "iPhone for Everybody Campaign" is offering customers in Japan a free iPhone 3G with a two-year contract through May.

That's definitely good news for anyone in the market for a new phone in Japan. It remains to be seen if Japanese consumers who, like the rest of the world, are tightening purse strings in these trying times.

Hot Japese Idol of the Day: Manami Hashimoto

Japan's got your Lucky Charms: 'Ageman' Women

Here's a pretty fascinating video about "ageman," a type of Japanese woman who is supposed to bring you good luck if you are with her. Thanks to Michael Downey for pointing this video out, which shows a 77 year old researcher/author explaining what qualifications must be met in order to be an "ageman" woman.

According to him you must have:

1. ears higher than your eyes
2. a big round nose
3. a tight mouth

I'll let him explain what those points are thought to represent. Be sure to click the bottom left corner of the video player to toggle the subtitles:

Hot Japanese Idol of the Day: Eiko Koike

Japan's Naked Bucktooth Mole Rats: Naked as Advertised

I'm not entirely sure why these naked mole rats are called "naked" bucktooth mole rats. I mean, does that mean that there is a variant of mole rat somewhere out there walking around in a little sweater and a pair of jeans? Crazy stuff, to be sure.

These naked more rats are on display at Ueno Zoological Gardens in Tokyo, 16 of them in total. According to this story on yomiuri, the rats were not very popular at first. However, they began to get quite a lot of attention after the cartoon Kim Possible began in 2003. The show features a mole rat as one fo the leading characters.

I'm not sure if this falls under the category of "kawaii," because to me this looks like a face that only a mother mole rat could love. It's certainly better than the rats in China. Note the massive bucktooth:



Now check out the Naked Bucktooth Mole Rat toys. Slightly cuter, right?



and even cuter still:

Hot Japanese Idol of the Day: Manami Ono

Japanese Film "Departures" wins Best Foreign Film at the Oscars

For those of you keeping tabs on the Oscars, you might be interested to see that Okuibito (English title Departures) walked away with Best Foreign Film.

For those who haven't had a chance to check it out yet, have a quick preview and check out the following trailer:

Hot Japanese Idol of the Day: Miyabi Isshiki

Japan's High Tech Bicycle Parking

I don't have a bike, but I think now I want to buy one just so I can park it in this parking garage.  Well, technically It's not so much a parking garage as it is a massive bicycle filing robot.

This is amazing stuff! Has anyone tried this yet?

Damn, I need a bike..


Source

Hot Japanese Idol of the Day: Yuka Kosaka

Obama Sushi

Many thanks go out to the ever-so-awesome Tofugu for the tip on this story. Apparently some sushi master in Japan has taken it upon himself to create Obama Sushi.

Obama-mania has taken Japan by storm, with English students studying his speeches, and vendors using his face to sell different kinds of products. Maybe this is just another example of the latter. But they sure do look cool! And tasty too!

Click on over to Tofugu's site to view the entire photo set.



Related:
Japanese Blackface Obama
Obama Sells iPhone in Japan
Barack Obama in Japanese Adult Magazine

Hot Japanese Idol of the Day: China Fukunaga

Japanese Breast-Enhancing Ring Tone

Here's an interesting field of study. This Japanese scientist claims that a ring tone her developed, appropriately called "Rock Melon" can increase a woman's breast size if listened to regularly. Sound crazy? Surprisingly, the logic behind the technology makes a lot of sense.

The key? Subliminal baby cries.  Check out the video.



Tricking a woman's body with subliminal baby noises is pretty ingenius. And the Discovery Channel doesn't lie, does it? Has anyone out there tried this.


Maybe this girl has:

Hot Japanese Idol of the Day: Ourei Harada

Funny Japanese Commercial (WARNING: This will get stuck in your head!)

This is arguably the most annoying and catchy commercial you'll ever see, all rolled into one. Well, technically there are three commercials in this clip -- but they're all awesome, so check them out.

But I warn you, you're going to have this song in your head for a really long time.

♫ Kame Kame Kame Kame♫ Sours ♫ Kame Kame ♫

This is so cool!

Hot Japanese Idol of the Day: Eiko Koike