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Crazy Japanese Trends
Our list of the latest and strangest ideas coming out of Japan. We’ve been considering launching a sister BuzzFeed site devoted entirely to keeping track of buzz from Japan.
The Best Buzz
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Train Packing
Culture Buzz In Japan they make sure everyone gets onboard. And I thought NJ Transit was bad. I get pissed off when there's three people in a three-seater. Let's hope I don't get transfered to our Tokyo office.
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Ramune
Food Buzz The Japanese soda features a marble contraption instead of a bottle cap, making it a feat to open. It's not just soda, it's a movement. There's even tons of YouTube videos of people attempting to open the bottle. (Thanks for the tip!)
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Geisha Guys
Culture Buzz CNN writes about the Geisha Guys of Japan, debonair lads who can be hired for an evening of sparkling conversation. At various clubs in Japan, women will pay top dollar to be lavished with the (non-sexual) attentions of men with blow-dried, dyed hair and good manners. To be fair, this isn't exactly a new trend, so we're hesitant to call it "the latest craze" - the Guardian had basically the same article in 2004. Still, we're happy for any look in into the world of Japanese escort clubs.
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The Moffle
Food Buzz A Japanese mochi rice cake in a waffle iron becomes something new: A moffle. Mochi are dense and chewy, but take on a nice texture when toasted a bit. And adding ice cream and chocolate sauce sounds nice, too.
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3-D Table Menu
Food Buzz A Japanese company has created a table with a built in 3-D LCD screen menu. Patrons will be able to see what their meal will look like on the table in front of them. No word on smell-o-vision yet.
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The Boyfriend Pillow
Culture Buzz A giant body pillow with a foam arm that simulates cuddling. Make someone cry this Valentine's Day (out of self-pity and dejection). It makes the perfect gift for that single girl in your life.
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Rice Babies
Culture Buzz Japanese parents send out personalized bags of rice to celebrate the birth of a child. Each bag: 1) has a picture of the child's face; 2) weighs the same as the actual baby. Yes, they're fake babies, but they're not all that realistic-looking, and that makes them somehow less creepy.
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Gyaru Girls
Culture Buzz Japanese girls in black face. When we came across a blog post about Gyaru girls, it was instantly like, "Ohhhh...that's what those Japanese-girls-emulating-Paris-Hilton-but-in-blackface are called." So we assumed you might go through the same thought process.
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Mobile Phone Novels
Tech Buzz In Japan, best-sellers are being composed on cell phones. The combination of good predictive software, the ease of entering Japanese on a phone pad and those long hours on the train have created a new mobile literary genre.
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Eyelash Perms
Style Buzz Japanese eyelash perms last 3-5 weeks and will save you that 3 minutes of eyelash curling every morning. Besides the obvious health hazards, we can't think of any possible embarrassing repercussions that come with most perms.
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Skin Whitening
Culture Buzz Skin lightening is all the rage in Asian countries, especially Japan and India. Remember tanorexia? That was scary. We all want what we can't have.
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Cucumber Pepsi
Food Buzz The latest limited edition soda flavor in Japan: Ice Cucumber Pepsi (thanks for the tip, Matt!) We remember they used to have these weird but strangely delicious green apple milkshakes at McDonald's during the summer in Japan. Mmm, green apple.
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Eyelash Wigs
Style Buzz Over-sized eyelash extensions are getting big in Japan. It's like having a fake beard. For your eyes.
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Japanese Beer For Kids
Food Buzz Foamy, sparkling brews for children. Sangaria's kodomo no nomimono is just one line of Japanese non-alcoholic beers - wine and sake are also available - marketed directly at children. Your three-year-old need never miss out on family binge drinking night again.
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Reversible Destiny Condominiums
Culture Buzz Crazy condominium architecture for the elderly prevents them from becoming senile. (Only in Japan, of course.) These condos keep old people on their toes, with its sloped floors and obstacle-course hallways. Let's hope it comes with a lifetime subscription to Life Alert!
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Love Hotels
Culture Buzz Photographer and "Dwell" Contributor Misty Keasler's new book documenting Japanese "Love Hotels." Do you enjoy masturbating to Hello Kitty, too? Then this book is totally for you!
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Vinegar
Food Buzz Vinegar bars and cafes are the new Japanese craze. Drink up! Vinegar is scientifically proven to lower your blood pressure, reduce acne, and remove moldy spores from hard-to-clean areas. Sure, it tastes revolting and smells like ass, but life isn't a giant bed of cherries and Taco Bell chalupas.
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Japanese Nerds
Style Buzz Anime and manga obsessed geeks are turning virtual reality into real reality. Japanese nerds aren't getting stuffed into lockers, carrying TI-82's, or gadget raping. These social outcasts have an obsessive subculture made up of french maid cafes, role-playing outfits, and dysfunctional gender politics.
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