A sketch pad with a cover that looks like an Apple iPad is being sold by a company run by students at the Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences in Ogaki, Gifu Prefecture.

The "Padnote" is a pad of drawing paper. Each page has gridlines and a wide gray border.

Tokyu Hands department stores nationwide have been selling the pad of paper since June. The company that created the iPad-of-paper – Gocco – has sold 2,000 pads by the end of July. Major grocery stores have begun selling the Padnote.

Gocco also plans to release a memo pad that looks like an Apple iPhone.

The Padnote retails for JPY 735.

All Nippon Airways has designated one lavatory for exclusive use by women on most international flights.

Men may use the women-only toilet only when there are few female passengers and in an emergency. Men can also use the ladies-only rest room before taking off and landing before the fasten-seatbelt sign is displayed, and when there is an urgent need due to illness. An announcement about a given flight’s toilet-usage is made at the start of the flight.

A 2007 ANA online survey found women do not like using unisex lavatories because men sometimes leave the seat up. Women also expressed displeasure about waiting in line for the toilet with men after airline meals.

ANA says 70% of male passengers it surveyed say they did not mind the ladies-only washrooms, and some men approved because it means less time waiting for women to finish using the toilet. ANA said demand for a lavatory exclusively for women is especially high among passengers taking long flights.

Funeral-services providers are offering photography services so you’ll have a decent photo to display at your funeral ceremony. Photography studios are also targeting the new funeral-photo market.

A headshot of the deceased is usually on display at the start of funeral ceremonies in Japan. A different photo of the deceased – often a wedding photo – is displayed when the bereaved express condolences.

Kinoshita Inc operates 16 funeral parlors in Fukuoka and Saga prefectures. "Photos are shown at funerals to recall the deceased. If a variety of photos are displayed, participants in the funerals can recognize their personal characters more deeply," Masaru Ishikawa, 56, an executive of the company, told the Asahi Shimbun.

Translation: You have a higher risk of contracting disease as you reach old age. Or contracting a severe illness. You will lose teeth and your face will change. We welcome you to take a vibrant photo at age sixty, in your favorite style. For example, people who like golf can wear golf clothes. Kimono-lovers can wear kimono. And people who like to cook could wear one of their favorite aprons.

This photo studio advises taking a picture every 5 years until age forty, and then every 2-3 years after forty, in order to have an up-to-date photo if you die.

Terukazu Mori, 46, representative director of Kumamoto Resident Funerals, said, "If you prepare the photo (in advance), you can enjoy your remaining life without worry. Taking the photo is one of the things you should do for that purpose."

These suggest you have a picture taken so survivors don’t have to search for a good picture after you’re dead.

photos: Eternal photo; blue kimono; Ikeda Shashinkan; couple; gray suit.

The top ten booms in Japan now.

Forest girl boom. Fashion inspired by Anne of Green Gables. For your fashion life in the forest.

(9)
Tokai region local government mascot character boom. More than 30 municipalities in Tokai have mascot characters.

Calligraphy boom
Influenced by "Tomehane Suzuri High School Calligraphy Club" TV show on NHK-TV. Click here to try NHK calligraphy.

Running boom
A survey by Sasakawa Sports Foundation indicates the number of runners who ran two times or more during the week increased from 2.15 million in 2006 (the previous survey year) to 2.48 million according to the 2008 survey.

(6)
Eco boom
Japanese follow the green theme, from carbon offset mindfulness, recycling clothes, and shorter showers, to eco-cars and eco-bags.

(5)
Castle boom
Influenced by "Taiga" historical stories TV series on NHK-TV.

Sakamoto Ryouma boom
Includes TV programs, books, movies, tours, fairs, restaurant menus, and ramen. The ronin Sakamoto led movement to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate during the Bakumatsu period.
 (3)
History boom
Inspired by television quiz programs featuring questions about Japan history.

(2)
Quiet life boom
Leading a slower-paced, low-stress life. Volunteerism, continuing education, personal growth, cultural pursuits, and contribution to society. Also includes leaving big cities to start a farm in rural Japan. (related:  Slow food life.)

(1)
Fried chicken boom
Started in Oita and is now spreading across Japan. More chicken is consumed in Oita Prefecture than any other prefecture in Japan.

Station cat promoted

Tama-chan, the cat stationmaster of a rural Japan train station, has attained the position of Operating Officer.

The stray cat was found in front of Kishi Station on the Wakayama Electric Railway Co. Kishikawa Line in 2007. Named Tama-chan, the kitty was offered the position of Stationmaster and held that post from 2007 until being promoted to Super Station Master in April 2008.

With the appointment as corporate executive Tama-chan becomes the first cat in the world to hold an executive post of a railroad corporation, a company official said.

Tama-chan, 10, will continue to perform stationmaster duties in addition to its responsibilities as Operating Officer. Those additional duties have not yet been determined.

The cat is responsible for an increase in passenger numbers. The company plans to rebuild Kishi Station into the shape of a cat’s face this summer.

Maron, the 9-year-old Yorkshire terrier stationmaster for the Iwate Galaxy Railway Company died the evening of August 29, 2009. The cause of death was bronchitis. The dog had served as Station Chief at Oku-Nakayama Kogen Station, in Ichinohemachi since September, 2000. A funeral service for Maron was held on September 12, 2009.

Analysis

With Tama-chan promoted, and Maron out of the way, cats are poised to pounce on stations throughout Japan. Cat-blogger and star of the Wii game Sukeban Shachou Rena Wii, "Rena" is likely to take over the position formerly held by Maron. Rena is currently CEO of Cat Queen Inc.

It is rumored CQI is a subsidiary of Virtucon Corporation. Following the mysterious disappearance of CEO "Number 2", leadership of Virtucon was assumed by "Mr. Wigglesworth". Police suspect Wigglesworth was involved in the Number 2 case and the sudden death of Maron. Police also link Wigglesworth to the quick promotion of Tama-chan. "We believe this Mr. Wigglesworth cat is the mastermind of these plots," said one police official.

Station employees had originally protested the latest promotion of Tama-Chan, but they denied they were threatened. "A hairless cat wearing a thick leather collar and flu mask did come to see us late one night after the last train had passed", said one employee who refused to be identified. "But the feline was very polite and did not hiss or scratch us," the employee said.

Police continue to investigate possible foul play among the cats. "It is highly unusual to reach a management position in such a short time. Especially for a cat," the police official said.

Virtucon Corporation did not respond to inquiries. In addition to assigning cats to oversee train stations in Japan, it is believed Virtucon Corporation desires to take over the world.

A new Mcdonald’s TV commercial depicts a 1960’s American scenario that seems to be featuring the witch Samantha from the TV show Bewitched. In the ad, "Samantha" serves a single Quarter Pounder Bacon & BBQ burger to a birthday party consisting of 6 kids. Her husband "Darren" and another woman (possibly nosey neighbor Gladys Kravitz) watches the fun. Everyone claps when the burger is served.

1978 Mcdonald’s Japan TV Commercial

Bewitched in Japan(J) Wiki; Ochiochi wonderland. Bewitched around the world.

Invasion of the Three-Word Ad Slogan — Quiz

These slogans appear in English text on the product's ads in Japan. Match the slogan to the company. (No cheating!)

Instructions: For each company in the far left column, enter in the small box the number of the slogan from the slogan list. If the slogan number you enter is correct, the correct answer will appear in the large box adjacent to the company name after you put the cursor in the next number box. Data cannot be entered in the large boxes. 

The first item is done for you as an example. Some slogans in the slogan list are fake.

This quiz may not function correctly if you are viewing this post in a reader (such as Google Reader). Please access the blog post page link in order to enable the quiz functions. Click here: Invasion of the Three-Word Ad Slogan

Are you tired of scratching your itches? Don’t like applying skin cream throughout the day? Rohto Pharmaceutical’s over-the-counter Tokiinshi Jyo tablets will stop your scratching. Take 4 tablets per day to suppress the itching caused by dry skin or eczema. The pill is intended for non-allergy-caused itching.

Ingredients include Chinese herbs: Dong Quai; Radix Saposhnikoviae; chi-li-tzu; Rehmannia Root; Schizonepetae Spica; Shou Wu Chih.
Korean herbs: Cnidium officinale Makino.
Other: Peony; licorice extract; additives.
price: 252 tablets (three weeks) JPY 4725; 84 tablets (one week) JPY 1680.

Researchers in Japan seem intent on putting an end to unpleasant, sometimes vital, human bodily functions, as previously mentioned here on Lets Japan.

• Piss a little during exercise? See your pee disappear! The pee pad for women!
• You really do not have to piss so often when you use Lady Guard!
• Know you’re going to eat too much? Here’s how to stuff your face without experiencing the onset of that unpleasant full stomach feeling! The pre-party pill! Good for your alcohol-drinking plan too!

WARNING: Do not mix these powders, pills and pads. May be hazardous to your health.

Stylish Masks Cool, Steam, and Fit Lips and Noses

Blue surgical-style face masks are being worn by millions around the world in an effort to prevent contracting the swine flu H1N1 virus. In Japan, masks are a common sight anytime people are suffering from a cold, hay fever or other allergies.

The world news reporting of the global swine flu situation indicates the wearing of masks in places other than hospitals is rather uncommon. Japanese have years of experience with mask-wearing, and we’ve gathered the best mask fashions. Choose from the nose-fit models, the form-fitting model with wire, the masks that won’t fog up your glasses, the designer masks, the menthol masks, the tea-filter masks, the masks that feel like a steam facial, and the masks that look like bra cups. Now you can fight the flu in style!

(more…)

Ladies who might inadvertently urinate during sports activities or other strenuous activities can now feel protected with the new Natura pee pad. Natura is worn like a sanitary pad and absorbs urine like a mini-diaper.

There are plenty of urine-catching pads, plastic panties, panty inner-sheets and liners for menopausal conditions, elderly ladies, women post-childbirth, and others who suffer from temporary or long-term incontinence. But Natura is specifically targeting accidental urination caused by sports and activities.

Natura is aimed at new moms and women who suffer from conditions necessitating a "more/mole pad" (leak out pad). Natura also seems to target ladies who might be caused to pee by: the sudden movement of a train; being groped by a tennis instructor; stress after experiencing her grocery bag ripping and spilling dozens of potatos; or by standing up from a seated position. Natura pads are available in various sizes up to the 26cm version, which will absorb 60cc of pee. 

Kao makes Freeday, a similar product which is advertised for use by women suffering from menopausal conditions or who have recently given birth. Freeday also can be used to prevent urination triggered by sports activities or lifting heavy loads. The Freeday advertising material says women do not have to worry about light urination caused by coughing, frequent sneezing due to hay fever, or laughing to one’s heart’s content. The information goes on to explain the physical reasons that women are more likely than men to have this activity-induced piddle problem.

Customer comments on the Freeday website include how Freeday was useful when dancing, playing volleyball, jumping on a trampoline, hiking, skipping rope, at the batting center, swimming, tennis, badminton, aerobics, dodgeball, and landing from a very long slide at the playground.

Together with Lady Guard, the piss prevention pill, ladies in Japan will be totally relieved of the need to pee while participating in sports and leisure activities, during long trips, working long hours without a break, sleeping, chatting at the cafe, and peeling daikon.

Lets Japan is not aware of any products in Japan for ladies who suffer from Sudden Movement Excrement Leakage Syndrome.