 |
| Please don't talk on your phone when you're on the bus (as suggested by the cute, silent phone) |
I loved the article especially because one can't go anywhere in Japan without running into countless furry friends representing something or another and here to help us navigate a variety of systems and procedures. "The idols churned out by Ms. Kano, 55, are mascots — the smiling, dancing animals, mutated foodstuffs and saucer-eyed humanoids that promote every conceivable thing in Japan, from out-of-the-way tourist spots to careers in the military . . . So ubiquitous are mascots that last year, Japan’s Finance Ministry suggested that public agencies think twice before creating more, fearing that taxpayer money was being wasted. Osaka Prefecture alone was found to be supporting 92 of them, including two different dogs for separate tax departments and a caped, flying hot-water bottle representing pharmaceutical regulation. The governor ordered a cull."
 |
| Don't try and make the train when the doors are closing (as suggested by the worried, animate gate) |
I've snapped a few photos of inanimate objects like phones, escalators and the like made into cute beings in order to illustrate a rule or prohibit something in a "soft" way. There's absolutely no doubt that I live in anywhere but the cuteness empire and adorable evidence abounds. As for my friend and our constant struggle in creating "soft landings" when speaking, her solution was, "Why don't I just dress up in a furry costume?" She might be onto something.
 |
| This is the furry friend that I met today while on the way to lunch - he was there with a few policemen advertising an anti-terrorism awareness campaign |
Post a Comment