Online graffiti a hit for classroom nostalgia

New website Kyokasho.net offers up hundreds of textbook images (“kyokasho” means “textbook”) of great figures of history for your digital defacement pleasure. Using tools such as a grey lead pencil, a red pencil, and a rubber eraser, users can create online textbook graffiti that recalls tedious school days gone by.

Play begins by first choosing from one of five subjects (Japanese language, Japanese history, world history, music, and the arts), then a target figure. For each historical person, a mock textbook page has been created using text from the Japanese version of Wikipedia. Defamers (or the curious) can also browse galleries of user-created characatures. The use of photos is made possible through the GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL).

Since opening in July, Kyokasho.net has already recorded over 10,000 user-generated images. Of the 350 personas up for grabs, the most popular so far is Taisho period novelist Ryounosuku Akutagawa with 930 images created to date. Coming in second is Mozart with 401 and Meiji period writer Masaoka Shiki with 341. No, I’m sorry we have no idea why other than that Akutagawa (pictured above) is the first image in the first subject listed.

In addition to the nostalgia factor, a representative from contents creator Marici explained that he hoped the site would offer a creative and constructive outlet for the frustrations many (especially in the online community a la 2 Channel) feel towards society of late.

Another recent case for the timeless and universal appeal of scribbling anonymously where you are not supposed to is Kokuban.in. Launched in August, Kokuban.in (“kokuban” means “blackboard”) offers users a clean slate and six colors of digital chalk to create their own classroom graffiti masterpiece.

A little over a month after opening, the site already has 400,000 user-generated images. There are a lot of manga-inspired illustrations, but also landscapes, still life etc. Each day Kokuban offers a theme for inspiration and variety.

Looked at together, Kyokasho.net and Kokuban.in are examples of the hit potential of a clever blend of retro/low-tech and web 2.0 capabilities.

Tags: Retro, UGC, Web 2.0
Category: Technology & Gadget Trends
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Kinnikuman goes for gold, Gundam collects ash

While slime and Space Invaders are busy celebrating their 30th birthdays, manga icon Kinnikuman is feting a most important 29 this year. Two in Japanese is read “ni” and nine “ku.” Put them together and you get “niku,” get it?

In honor, Bandai is offering a commemorative premium solid gold figure that comes, fittingly, in a crystal capsule. (It should further be noted that while “kinniku” means muscle in Japanese, “kin” is the word for gold).

The made-to-order items (sorry, the deadline passed on August 21st) will reach collectors on Kinnikuman Day, August 29th. Bandai quotes an estimated cost of ¥49,350 but notes that the actual price will reflect the current market price for gold.

Meanwhile, Gundam needs no anniversary excuse to morph into any number of collectible, occasionally useful, goods. The latest is the Gundam Mobile Ashtray, in the design of the “Zaku” mobile suit.

This key holder model from Banpresto, while not quite solid gold, comes in a “classy metal finish” according to the press release. The mobile ashtray, popularized through the various styles offered at the Mobile Ashtray Museum, is Japan Tobacco’s attempt to marry two well-known local practices, smoking and product design.

See more examples here and here.

Tags: Bandai, Characters, JT, manga, Retro, Smoking
Category: Marketing & Ad Trends
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BBF blackbird, fly TLR camera from Superheadz

In the last few years, the Lomography movement has gained a lot of traction in Japan. First beginning in novelty shops like Village Vanguard, we started seeing pinholes, Holgas, Horizons, LCAs, and other unique cameras popping up in bookstores, cafes, and even major retailers like Yodobashi Camera. Film has become fashionable now that digital cameras have freed up cheap film cameras to be used for fun and experimenting with different films, techniques, and developing methods.

Coming soon from the film lovers at Japan’s Superheadz, the blackbird, fly is a twin-lens reflex camera that fits right into the retro film trend and has great design that would fit right in at a trendy lifestyle store in Tokyo.

Priced at less than $100, these limited edition Rolleiflex lookalikes shoot square images on 35mm rather than 120 (medium format) film, making development costs (and cheap scanning at home) less of an issue.

For those interested, Superheadz is now having the Magic Camera Tour 2008 in Harajuku until August 20th. You can check out the blackbird, fly, as well as other weird and wonderful cameras from around the world.

Tags: Cameras, Film, LOMO, Retro
Category: Fashion & Lifestyle Trends, Technology & Gadget Trends
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Space Invaders invades Tokyo retail

Taito has been gearing up for the 30th anniversary of Space Invaders for a couple of years, taking advantage of the retro gaming trend to release everything from alarm clocks to UFO catcher merchandise. Now they’re going all-out, making the classic game a fashion item for the masses.

While merchandise is fun, it’s not the kind of celebration they’re looking for. Their more interesting collaborations are in the retail space, particularly with HMV Shibuya, Taito game centers, and Harajuku’s Laforet department store. The game centers have been in full Invader-mode and include free anniversary “games” (seen above) that measure how quickly you can push a button, thus gauging your firing speed. Kind of like the carnival’s strong-man game, but for geeks.

Photo via Impress

Until August 22nd, Laforet is welcoming our classic alien overlords with an entire Space Invaders theme, including custom products from a variety of brands offering shirts, dresses, neckties, earrings, and the like. Even Tirol and Kit Kat are in on the game with special edition chocolates.

For digital content, Taito has also created branded Space Invaders World War online games for Diesel, HMV Shibuya, and Laforet, allowing gamers all over the world to compete on national levels. You can play each one by clicking below or, if you’re in Japan, scan the QR codes above to play the classic version on your phone. There are also special Space Invaders audio tracks and phone wallpaper available as free downloads.

Of course, the point of all this isn’t to promote a 30-year-old video game, but Taito itself. Amidst a retro trend, these are ideal conditions to give new life to a classic game. The older set can reflect on their teenage days, and the young ones can take a break from their PS3s to remember where it all came from.

Tags: Fashion, gaming, Retro, Space Invaders
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Showa Era retro snacks at Lawson

Lawson is currently featuring a special summer Showa Fair with a line-up of packaged snacks from the era. The 13 item series, available though August, includes long-selling favorites from the 60s to the 70s in their original package design. Although the Showa period technically lasted from 1926-1989, Lawson’s retrospective, and other similar ones, focus on the latter half.

Some, like Glico’s Pocky look wonderfully outdated while others, like Calbee’s Ebi-sen look pretty much the same as they always do.

Lotte is even bringing back its yellow packaged “Juicy and Fresh” gum, though with a modern update of extra vitamins. The prices are, unfortunately, all modern as well.

The Showa retro boom has been going strong for at least a year now, so it does seem like Lawson is getting into the game a little bit late. Perhaps it took that long to get all the different companies to cooperate. Or marketers who like beating a good boom to death. Either way, there is no time like the summer for nostalgia!

Or a cold glass bottle of cider. Three F is releasing a series of classic, locally inspired cider in seven varieties.

Included in the line-up is “Yokahama Cider,” supposedly where cider made its Japanese debut, and “Ramune Shop Cider,” with a Showa era label in homage to the original ramune, which reportedly first appeared in Tokyo’s Nakano district around Showa 30. Taste apparently differs based on the local water and fruit juices used.

Tags: beverages, Convenience Stores, FMCG, Lawson, Localization, Retro, Showa
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Honda Super Cub 50th anniversary edition

Honda’s iconic Super Cub turns 50 this year and to celebrate the momentous birthday of the top selling motorbike of all time (over 60 million world wide), Honda is releasing a special limited anniversary edition.

The 49cc Cub has undergone numerous updates over the decades and this latest edition will feature the latest engineering and an exclusive color scheme. The Super Cub comes in graphite black with a royal brown seat and the Little Cub in pearl coral reef blue with a reed red seat; both models will feature side covers emblazoned with “50th anniversary.” Available from August 1st, the Super retails for a modest ¥204,750 (about $1,905) and the Little for ¥210,000 (about $1,954).

While Honda’s Cub is used primarily as a leisure bike in the West, in Japan it was originally designed for the service delivery industry. Thanks to its cheap maintenance, easy maneuvering, and high fuel efficiency, the Cub remains a staple of urban life in Japan, perhaps most recognizably as the official mode of transportation of the Post Service.

Tags: Honda, motorcycles, Retro, Transportation
Category: Fashion & Lifestyle Trends
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Gakken Analog Synthesizer SX-150

When it comes to retro gadgets that make us DIY-happy, Gakken’s Otonanokagaku (Science for Adults) never disappoints. Just last week we showed off their still-unannounced 8mm Camera and Projector, which captures the essence of what the retro trends in Japan are all about: Simplicity.

After years of being bombarded with the newest and greatest, 20-30 somethings are yearning for the simpler days, and simplicity is what Gakken is all about.

From vacuum tube cars and amps to Tokyo Tower models (soon to be retro?), Gakken is always coming out with fun gadgets that teach as well.

This week they’re debuting a cool little Analog Synthesizer SX-150 that is battery-powered and stylus driven, and would look really cool next to my Intellivision. Hook it up to the Mini Theremin kit to make your simple gadget life even weirder.

Of course, the best thing about Gakken is that they’re a publisher, not just a fun gadget maker. Each item they sell is part of a kit that is sold like a magazine, so you can pick these up at bookstores for decent prices. This one runs for about $30, which isn’t all the much more than buying a CD in Japan!

Tags: DIY, Gakken, Retro
Category: Technology & Gadget Trends
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Gakken 8mm Camera and Projector Set

Earlier this year, toy and hobby kit maker Gakken released it’s 8mm Film Projector kit as a modern and economical way to experience retro 8mm film without the classic heavy, overheating machinery from the old days.

Now, coming soon, Gakken will be releasing an 8mm Film Camera as a companion to the projector. This is as simple as it gets, but is a great option for aspiring filmmakers to have a low-cost and lightweight camera with no frills. It runs on regular batteries, takes normal 8mm film, and records in all the glory of 8mm with the ease of a disposable 35mm.

While the 8mm Film Projector is available online (product page), the camera is yet to even be announced. Being film nerds ourselves, we’ll be keeping tabs on this one for sure.

Tags: Gakken, Photography, Retro, Toys
Category: Technology & Gadget Trends
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Soda flavors take over convenience stores for summer

Mango and watermelon were strong contenders, but as the flood of summer-themed convenience store products begins to peak soda is the obvious winner in this season’s flavor war.

The item that first caught our attention was Suntory’s Ice Cream Soda carbonated beverage scheduled for a July 1st release. The package has a trendy retro soda fountain look and the drink promises a refreshing blend of ice cream melted in soda.

Next we came across press releases for Tohato’s cream soda and coffee float flavored caramel corn snack, the latest flavor in the popular series (available from June 16th) and Cadbury Japan’s soda flavored Bubblicious chewing gum (available from July 17th).

So we headed to the convenience store to see what else we could find and discovered that soda was indeed the most common flavor in all major convenience stores!

For example Akagi’s new Vanilla Soda Bar Melon Chocolate (exclusive to Family Mart) and Gari Gari Kun Soda popcicles (actually a perennial favorite that has been around for awhile).

Also Dippin’ Dots Cool Soda flavor (available since April) and fizzy drink Calpis bottle ice.

And Glico’s new Papico White Sour bottle ice, Tuwish’s ramune and cola flavored gummy candies, and UHA Mikakuto’s similarly flavored G Fresh soda and cola gummies.

Besides the obvious refreshing qualities of soda on a hot summer day, soda flavored products channel the retro appeal of ramune, the old-fashioned lemon-lime glass-bottled carbonated drink. Not all of these products are new, some of them, like the bottle ices, are decades old but are experiencing a revival following the general retro boom that is still going strong.

Tags: beverages, Confections, Convenience Stores, FMGC, Retro, soda
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Retro bike culture lives, in new magazine

Every so often on a quiet, lonely night, we can’t help but imagine what the streets must have like during the golden era of motorcycles in Japan. The period from the mid-‘70s to the mid-‘90s is considered the peak of this particular boom, when the nosiest followers formed rowdy gangs called Bosozoku who cruised the midnight streets terrorizing ordinary citizens trying to get some sleep for the work week.

While these days are now but a mere twinkle in a middle-aged man’s eye, there remains a significant amount of lingering nostalgia for Neko Bros. Motorcycle Company to wager on a new magazine devoted to the preservation and collecting of the classic old bikes.

Zeppan Bikes (discontinued bikes) debuted on magazine shelves on May 30th with a cover promising indepth information on maintaining classic bikes, where to find parts, and odes to perennial favorites like the Kawasaki’s Z series and Zephyr models and the race replica models popular in the latter half of the ‘80s and early ‘90s.

Zeppan Bikes joins other magazines, such as Lightning, that are devoted to retro lifestyles.

Tags: magazines, motorcycles, Retro
Category: Fashion & Lifestyle Trends
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