Japan has a whole realm of sub-cultures that seem utterly bizarre to foreigners. Tokyology is a recently released documentary that covers some of the most unique aspects of Japanese pop-culture, with a heavy emphasis on the Tokyo and individual regions like Harajuku and Shinjuku.
To supplement the video, here is a list of unique Japanese pop culture features, from manga obsession to elaborate bento boxes, astonishing attractions, incredible innovations and the quirkiest fashions.
Japan was rated as the most innovative country by the Economist Intelligence Unit, ahead of the US, Switzerland and Sweden. What does this mean? It means that Japan is filing a lot of patents; who knows if they will really see the light of day, or if they are of value. There are a lot of companies… [More]
Fashion
Tokyo Street Style is a great site for cool hunting the latest fashions on the streets of Tokyo. The site features pictures of hip Tokyo men and women caught on camera. [More]
Japan is known for its wild fashions, the daring women who are willing to try any trend—no matter how extreme. Some looks they nail right away, and start a surge that carries over into the rest of the world. Other looks are just too over-the-top and never catch on, with no other culture able to p… [More]
Tokyo is recognized as an international fashion capital, but the Japanese are also known for an affinity for all things cute. A combination of the two was evident at Tokyo Fashion Week earlier this month when models walked the runway wearing gigantic rabbit heads. In Japan even adults are fascinat… [More]
Gwen Stefani refers to it’s streets as a catwalk and Sophia Coppola’s Lost in Translation paints a picture of a brighly lit parlour. Many who have been to Tokyo may decribe it as a virtual wonderland of fast paced fashion, titillating technology and tranquility on high speed. From the city that offe… [More]
Like many Western practices and traditions, Halloween has caught on in Asian countries including Japan. Regardless of time of year, Tokyoites in particular enjoy dressing up. The city is one of the best for unique street style or outrageous fashion spotting, so Halloween is an occasion they use to t… [More]
Trend Hunter covered feathered eye lashes long ago, but stylish lash bars have now hit North America! Famed makeup artist Shu Uemura set off the exotic false Eye Lash craze in Japan two years ago and now has branches of his Tokyo Lash Bars in Manhattan and a newly opened Vancouver branch. You have … [More]
As fashion fast conquers the world, even the most religious members of society are utilizing it to spread faith. In an effort to spread Buddhism among youth, as well as win back believers, Japanese monks and nuns staged a fashion show in Tokyo. 40 monks and nuns strutted the catwalk at Tsukiji Ho… [More]
If it’s become almost main-stream to dress dogs in human-inspired fashions, then why not host a fashion show for them? In 2007, we saw Pet Fashion Week take place in New York, but this weekend, Tokyo held a canine-exclusive runway show at the New Year Dog Party. Strutting the catwalk (dogwalk?) wa… [More]
Purses are not just for chicks anymore. Men in Tokyo are sporting purses just about everywhere you go. We are not talking about the “Man Bag” made infamous by the show - Friends. No, we are talking ladies purses. Soft, feminine, designer, worn over-the-shoulder, purses. Why? The explanation given is… [More]
Anime & Manga
Hello Kitty has invaded the world, growing from a pop culture craze in Japan to becoming a world wide icon. There’s are products like the Hello Kitty toaster featured, Kitty shotguns, contact lenses and even an entire air line in theme. The little white, anime cat looks like a children’s cartoon c… [More]
Want to learn more about the war on terror but dislike the way traditional media covers Afghanistan? Try reading Timaking’s Afuganisu-tan a Japanese anime book and former web comic. Afghanis-tan. In the 26-part sociopolitical manga series, Middle Eastern countries are represented by female character… [More]
Potty training is one of the crappiest parts of parenting. Getting your little ones to switch from diapers without raising a stink isn’t impossible though thanks to creative minds who come up with things like this cartoon from Japan. The instructional video features a striped little anime cat who … [More]
Shibuya & Akihabara in Japan are a veritable smorgasbord of anime goodness at every turn. At AsoBitCity in Akihabara, there is no exception to the rule. Robots, action figures, dolls…ah the dolls. How about a 5 foot rendition of your favorite anime heroine? For $4,900 you can get Rei Ayanami, a… [More]
What better way to spruce up your vehicle than to personalize it with your favourite cartoon character? Car fuel-tank doors are being customized with little decals of favourite anime, funky designs and other fun art. The Japanese trend a great way to express individuality and a good outlet for car o… [More]
Lifestyle & Offbeat Services
Japanese businesswomen have picked up on the Geisha concept and are paying up to $50,000 a night for male companionship. They meet their hosts in the hundreds of venues that have established themselves for this type of meeting around Tokyo. The only exchange between the individuals is compliments, n… [More]
A Tokyo school has just begun teaching an innovative new subject called Cosplish, a hybrid of the words “cos-play” and “English.” The strange course focuses on three topics which have become increasingly popular among Japanese culture: the English language, manga, and costume-play. It’s centered ar… [More]
A cafe in Tokyo, called the Cat Cafe Calico, has 14 felines in residence which people can hire to play with whilst they relax over a cup of tea! Sound odd? The shop is not alone in offering this service, there are at least two other cafes offering the same thing. It costs 2,000 yen to rent the ki… [More]
Hot on the tail of their Minister of Animation, “etiquette police” are set to enforce manners on a Japanese metros where the bulk of bad etiquette can be seen. People travelling on Yokohama’s, a port city south of Tokyo, metro transport will soon be told to behave properly in public. Behaving prop… [More]
Realistic silicon dolls are almost everywhere. Perhaps even in your closest sex shop. However, in southern Tokyo you can find these dolls are not for sale but for RENT! Doll No Mori (Forest of Dolls) offers a 2,000 yen membership that lets you “use” your favorite doll for a certain amount of time… [More]
You think you’re hip in your NYC loft, but you’re not. From Sushilog: Most people, in choosing a new home, look for comfort: a serene atmosphere, smooth walls and floors, a logical layout. Nonsense, says Shusaku Arakawa, a Japanese artist based in New York. He and his creative partner, poet Madelin… [More]
If you’ve ever had the misfortune of suffering from hayfever, you know those afflicted will no just about anything to avoid the frustratingly uncomfortable symptoms. Pod-shaped Pollen Robot are being sent out by a Tokyo weather forecasting company to monitor the levels of allergen-causing particle… [More]
In the land of Harajuku girls and sushi now the streets can sing. Well, kind of. The members of the Hokkaido Industrial Research Institute, which work with cryogenic science and research under microgravity environment amongst others, scraped markings along three roads in central and northern Japan … [More]
Appearing across Japan recently is something called the “charity vending machine,” which allows users to donate their change to such good causes as environmental conservation and child welfare at the push of a button. These machines have been well received by consumers, who enjoy being able to contr… [More]
This vending machine near Hachiko square in Shibuya Japan is not an ordinary vending machine; it is actually operated by a charming human operator inside which passes the purchased goods out to you. Complete with upper and lower serving windows depending if it is an adult or a child. This is part of… [More]
Leave it to the Japanese to save the planet by covering concrete buildings in fake plastic. In an effort to help keep Tokyo and other cities green and ease the so-called “heat-island” problem of rising temperatures in crowded metropolitans, Japanese brewer Suntory Ltd. has created an alternative to … [More]
If you’ve visited a petting zoo you’ve probably experienced how the goats love to chew on anything they can get their teeth on, whether it is a jacket, scarf, trousers or a German farmer’s tractor fund. And everybody loves to feed them (except maybe that German farmer.) It is therefore appropriate … [More]
The Central Japan Railway announced they will build the world’s fastest train. The train, which will run between Tokyo and the center of Japan, will have to exceed the current record of 310 miles per hour. The new maglev train will cost $44.7 billion dollars, and the stock is already taking a ham… [More]
You can’t look at the Personal Relaxation Chair without thinking Darth Vader. Toyota Boshoku employees displayed the concept of putting a big old bubble on your head to relax at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show in Chiba on October 25.It has sights and sounds and smells to help you relax. The bobble pods ar… [More]
Police officers in Japan are adding an element of cute to their cruisers with new lights in the shape of rabbit ears. Do they have a real purpose? Is it just to make the confrontation with authorities less intimidating? The Osaka Prefectural Police Department bought 800 of these electric blue bu… [More]
At Trend Hunter, we’ve seen pimp my car, pimp my airbus, and pimp my laptop. This time, let me introduce you to ‘pimp my van’. These hip vans are extremely customized, renovated and airbrushed. Some of them look like spaceships while others are dedicated to the drivers’ idols and anime characters. [More]
Walking through Tokyo’s Ginza district one Friday evening last month I saw an extraordinary sight that will soon become an ordinary one: A businessman was talking into his keitai (the Japanese word for cell phone), holding it out in front of him rather than to his ear. Suddenly, smiling, he raised t… [More]
Marketing & Ads
3-D tongues probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think about a Japanese subway station, but then again, Tokyo is filled with the unexpected. The plastic, human-sized Pepto-Bismol pink tongues were spotted at Ometesando station on glossy boards of the same color, with white t… [More]
The film “The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep” has been causing quite the ruckus in Tokyo Bay. Using a large water screen and some very well timed water fountain effects, the marketing team behind this installation have been doing a very effective job in getting peoples’ attention. This unique… [More]
The latest scent marketing campaign in Japan involves internet ads. NTT has announced its test of the newest aroma-emitting signs in Tokyo. The test will take place from October to December, in the Yaesu Shopping Mall in the JR underground station. The project include internet ads for beer that re… [More]
What better place to plunk an ad than in a subway? Bored commuters pass the same scenes every day, with rarely a new site on the journey. Though there may be the odd car accident in the city or a lucky cow that breaks through a countryside fence, nothing new could possibly appear when traveling thro… [More]
Imagine laying on a cozy mattress under silky soft sheets, propped up by a fluffy pillow. Now imagine the most delicious ice cream you have ever tasted melting on your tongue. You are surrounded by a peaceful energy as those around you are seduced by the temptations of the sweetest summer treats. No… [More]
Entertainment & Attractions
Over a recent holiday week, hundreds of swimmers in Tokyo crowded into the wave pool at Tokyo Summerland and waited for the broken wave machine to start working again. This latest viral video shows something you would never see in a western pool - people swimming elbow to elbow and not trying to dr… [More]
The Jicoo Bar cruises Tokyo Bay with a light show both inside and out. “The floor of the vessel changes colors and the Boat itself supports a unique contemporary design,” wrote Luxury Launches. Panoramic windows allow 360 degree views of the bay and Tokyo skyline while sophisticated lighting bath… [More]
Karaoke bar owners saw a peak in interest in 1996. In an attempt to spark a revival, karaoke bars like Tokyo’s Aria Blu are offering private and themed rooms, each with a different atmosphere. They’re targeting the 20-30 demographic as well as business people looking for an entertaining night out.
… [More]
The Nendo Climbing Wall in Tokyo has undergone a major makeover. They created a climbing wall in Omotesando that fuses rugged outdoor sport with Tokyo’s fashion district. It looks like a scene from one of Jim Henson’s stories, or from Alice in Wonderland’s realm. It is a surreal moment translated i… [More]
Can’t find a parking spot? Try looking in Tokyo. Space is at such a premium that they’ve created a floating parking lot. The creation, called Umihotaru is actually a tourist attraction. Umihotaru also connects to the world’s longest underwater tunnel which connects Kawasaki and Kisarazu. Ch… [More]
Surely this is a new form of child abuse. Tokyo has unveiled the newest trend in branded entertainment: a themepark called Kidzania where adults pay $30 to let their kids “work” in various simulated job environments. According to their website, Kidzania.com, additional locations are either in deve… [More]
Japanese designers are now planning an offshore magacity that could house close to a million people. The design is a giant pyramid in which up to 24 80-story buildings could be suspended from the roof. People could zoom between the buildings in a network of tubes. While the project itself looks a… [More]
I have recently discovered there is an Alice in Wonderland-themed restaurant in Tokyo. Claiming to be a “labyrith of fantasy dining” the food comes with “Eat Me” tags and areas in the restaurant include Glass World and Fantasy Forest. From the same group also comes the Vampire Cafe, with the interi… [More]
Mitsubishi Electric has just recently completed construction of the world’s largest HD TV screen at a horse track in Tokyo. The screen uses Mitsubishi’s Aurora Vision LED technology and measures 37 feet by 218 feet, which is 8 000 square feet for your viewing pleasure. In order to set up the ext… [More]
Shopping
Dunhill has just opened its first “Home of Alfred Dunhill”- where clients are treated like kings with its ultimate luxurious shopping experience. With the brand’s desire to be a home-away-from-home, it is offering a one-stop-shopping experience for the hard-to-please men. Aside from shopping for… [More]
This is Japan’s new flagship store for the world famous Swarovski crystal company located in Ginza, Tokyo. Designed by Tokujin Yoshiok a Japanese designer, the “crystal forrest” facade resembles a cascade of crystals falling down but never reaching the ground. This crystal forrest however, is… [More]
Japan’s ultra hip UNIQLO has opened a t-shirt shrine in the heart of Tokyo. The shrine is a 5,000 square foot space dedicated to t-shirts. The entire experience has been designed in a very modern way. For example, t-shirts are bottled and canned and displayed in very unique ways. UNIQLO is an in… [More]
Gucci in Tokio is the Fashion building with eight floors where you will find retailer, coffe shop, oficces and the sky deck, take a look of this interesting video at their Web Site about Gucci Ginza opening event, you will find there a lot of interesting images about of this magnificent project dev… [More]
Seniors
Live long enough and even Disney gives you a discount. Geezers are used to a dime off their cup of coffee at Mickey D’s, but the Mickey Mouse honchos in Japan decided they needed to do more to attract more seniors. At Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea they are beginning to offer a 22% discount to tho… [More]
74-year-old Yoko Takahashi was on a shopping spree last week, all gussied up in a fashionable gray fedora and glittering little black dress. Takahashi is one of Tokyo’s baby boomers and elderly that are beginning to dominate the Japanese population. The buying power of these generations has also… [More]
Here’s some welcome news: video games are actually good for your brain. And in Japan, older people are increasingly picking the games up to keep their brains sharp. Video game makers are responding to the trend with new games specifically designed to enhance and sustain mental acuity. The games app… [More]
Food & Drink
Tokyoites are adding a little zing to their diets. The Japanese have their fair share of unique foods, but sashimi is tame in comparison to jibachi senbei, or “digger wasp rice crackers.” The snack was invented by a Japanese wasp fan club (yes, there is an entire group of people who have a collectiv… [More]
If you’re ever in suburban Tokyo and you want to try something exotic, pop by the Mayonnaise Kitchen to sip back a “Mayogarita.” Maybe I’m just biased by the culture I grew up in, but a mayonaisse margarita sounds a little too unappetizing for my tastebuds. Usually mixers are intended to tame the … [More]
Our good friends at Kilian Nakamura point us to beer for kids! Sangaria is a Japanese company that markets juice to children by encouraging them to think it’s beer. Everything about the drink convinces kids they are drinking beer, right from the packaging design which is in 6-pack format, the bottl… [More]
Eating snow is the latest dessert craze in Japan. Note: not the yellow type. “A new dessert sold from a roadside stand in Tokyo’s Akihabara electronics district is drawing crowds with its unique taste—exactly like that of freshly fallen snow. Ever eaten really good snow? The appeal isn’t in the… [More]
The only Gucci Cafe in the world has opened in Gucci’s signature building in Ginza Tokyo. The cafe features luxury foods that match the imagery of Gucci’s brand. In addition to the food shown, the cafe also sells a Gucci Pancake, which warranted its own post. The pictures are courtesy of Tabelog. [More]
Believe it or not but Gucci does make pancakes. And you thought pancakes were only for the wild west! Gucci Pancakes are available exclusively at Gucci Cafe in Ginza Tokyo. The pancakes are among a number of luxury treats on the menu. The picture shown here is courtesy of Tabelog. [More]
Brands of tofu with unusual names like “Handsome Tofu” and “Johnny the Tofu Maker, Blowing in the Wind” have been attracting attention on the Internet and around town, not just for their names but also for their exquisite flavor. Though a single pack costs two or three times more than regular tofu, … [More]
Farmers in the southern Japanese town of Zentsuji have figured out how to grow their watermelons so they turn out square. It’s not a fad. The technique actually has practical applications. “The reason they’re doing this in Japan is because of lack of space,” said Samantha Winters of the National Wa… [More]
Hamburgers are a popular fast food, cheap and great for those on the go, with businessmen ranking high among the fans of this meat-based dish. With so many hamburger restaurants dotting the streets, the launch of a new outlet is usually no cause for excitement. But Mamido’s Burger, which opened for … [More]
Bento Boxes
The Japanese bento box, or lunch box, dates back hundreds of years in Japanese history. The contemporary bento box has been influenced by pop culture elements such as movies, TV shows and manga. The bento box is “Comprised of food crafted into visually creative, appealing and recognizable forms, a… [More]
NEXCO ( East Nippon Railway Co.) has has taken the Japanese lunch box tradition to the new level with the debut of gourmet boxed lunches (“bento” in Japanese) for dogs. The boxed lunches called ‘Dora Bento Pochi’ are meant for small dogs and include such sophisticated treats as prime chicken breast… [More]
Bento boxes are a tradition of Japanese cuisine. They are home-packed meals which can be very elaborately arranged and the food is decorated to look like people, animals, or characters and items such as flowers and plants. Obacchi Jacket Lunch Box started selling custom-made Bento boxes designed to… [More]
Edit
Japan Voted Most Innovative Country - It’s The Wah Factor
Tokyo Street Style
Japan Fashion Fetishism - Little Bo-Peep Chic (VIDEO)
Furry Couture - Rabbit Theme at Japan Fashion Week (GALLERY)
Tokyo Style from the Street
Japanese Halloween - Dressing up in Tokyo (GALLERY)
Eye Lash Boutiques (FOLLOW-UP) - Tokyo Lash Bar Reaches America (GALLERY)
Monks on the Catwalk - A Fashion Show To Win Back Buddhist Believers (GALLERY)
Pets on the Runway - New Year Dog Party in Tokyo (GALLERY)
The Man Purse - Tokyo’s Manly Must-Have (GALLERY)
Top 18 Hello Kitty Products - Childish Icons for Adults (SUPER GALLERY)
Sociopolitical Manga - Afuganisu-tan (GALLERY)
Anime Potty Training - Instructional Japanese Cartoon (VIDEO)
Life-Size Anime - Japanese Doll Obsession (GALLERY)
Gas Tank Art - Japanese Cartoons On Fuel Door (GALLERY)
Male Geishas - Women Pay $50,000 Just for Guys to Listen
Cos-Play to Teach Geek’s English - Tokyo Cosplish School (GALLERY)
Kitten Rentals - Tokyo’s Cat Cafe Calico
Etiquette Police - Japanese Smile-Manner Squadron
Rent a Sex Doll in Japan
Hip Japanese Apartment Block / Lofts
Japanese Hayfever Pods - Pollen Robots
Music on the Road - Singing Streets Tested in Japan (UPDATE) (VIDEO)
Vending Machines Enable Users to Donate to Charity
Human Vending Machine
Fake Soil Saves Planet - Japanese Plastic Dirt ‘Pafcal’
Fake Animal Eats Losing Stubs - Japanese Robo-Goat Reduces Litter
Fastest Train Ever - 319 MPH Central Japan Railway
Toyota Inpired by Star Wars? - Personal Relaxation Seat
Japanese Cops Get Cute - Bunny Ear Cruier Lights (VIDEO)
Pimp My Van - Can the Japanese Make Mini Vans Cool? (GALLERY)
Cellphone Kissing Trend in Japan
3-D Tongues - Japanese Subway Ads (GALLERY)
Awesome 3D Movie Marketing - Loch Ness Monster at a Rampage in Tokyo (VIDEO)
Scent Marketing Hits Tokyo - NTT Digital Aromatic Signs
Animated Subvertising – Subway Ads Flicker in Asia (VIDEO)
Ice Cream, Mozart & a Mattress – Haagen-Dazs Debuts ‘Dolce’ Luxury Ice Cream (VIDEO)
Crowd Surfing In Tokyo - Hundreds Horde Japanese Water Park (VIDEO)
Cruising Bar With Light Show - Jicoo Bar (GALLERY)
Themed Karaoke Rooms - Aria Blu (GALLERY)
Designer Climbing Wall - Nendo Makes Sport Stylish
Floating Car Park - When Parking Lots Become Tourist Attractions (VIDEO)
Kidzania - The Adult-Experience Theme Park for Kids (VIDEO)
Offshore Megacity - The Great Pyramid of Tokyo (VIDEO)
Fantasy Themed Restaurants - Alice in Wonderland and The Vampire Cafe
World’s Largest HDTV in Tokyo
King Shopping - ‘Home of Alfred Dunhill’ Store Offers Bently Pickup, Barber and More (GALLERY)
Glimmering Architecture - The Swarovski Store in Japan (GALLERY)
T-Shirt Shrines - UNIQLO Opens Tokyo T-Shirt Super Store (GALLERY)
Gucci Ginza - Eight Floors of Luxury in Tokyo Tower
Disney Targets 60+ Market - Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea Discount Seniors
Targeting “Stylish Elderly” – Trendy Tokyo’s Senior Fashions (VIDEO)
Help the Aged: Video Games Keep Brains Young
Wasp Rice Crackers - Buzzing In Tokyo
Mayo Margaritas - Creamy Japanese Mayogaritas (VIDEO)
Fake Beer For Kids - Japan’s Sangaria Helps Get Your Kids Addicted (VIDEO)
Eating Snow - The Latest Japanese Craze
Gucci Cafe Tokyo (VIDEO)
Gucci Pancakes
Tofu with a twist
Square Watermelons
Mamido’s Burger: Making Hamburgers in Disguise
Edible Cartoons - Face Food Bento Boxes (GALLERY)
Lunch Box for Dogs - Dora Bento Pochi
Edible Album Covers - Obacchi Jacket Bento Meals (GALLERY)
Favorited by Bianca Bartz on May 2, 08
;showNav();changeOption('login');)
Log In ;changeOption('guest');)
Guest
Facebook ;changeOption('twitter');)
Twitter 
