Dog’s startled reactions to hedgehog pal take over the Japanese Internet【Monday Kickstart】

We can’t really blame the doggo for wanting to stay on guard around the walking pincushion.

Japanese Twitter user @harikai_chiri has some rather unusual taste in pets. While most people are content with a cat or a dog, her house is home to not only a dog, but two prickly hedgehogs as well.

Our first experience with the little guys wasn’t much more than watching a particularly speedy one with a penchant for gold rings zoom across our computer screens over two decades ago. But after seeing these two up close, even our stone cold hearts, which became jaded following the trendy cuteness of hamster butts a couple of years ago, melted just a tad:

 ▼ Meet Hana-chan on the left and Tawashi-kun on the right (Tawashi is albino).

可愛く撮れてたから雑コラだけどツーショットにしてみたで🙆💯 https://t.co/PhQbmWAzLK

—
ちり子 (@harikai_chiri) November 17, 2016

▼ Here they are in an adorable formation:

整列！ https://t.co/yvnwizKVBT

—
ちり子 (@harikai_chiri) April 18, 2017

While @harikai_chiri’s tweets about her spiny friends usually rack up a decent number of likes on any given day, a single video post from last week has since gone viral over the Japanese Internet, propelling its number of likes to over 105,000 as of this writing. This particular video co-stars her pet dog Guu-chan comically bouncing away every time Hana-chan approaches her. Guu-chan must have some unpleasant memories of getting poked!

Check out the clip below for a few laughs to start your week:

▼ “I uploaded this to Instagram but it was cut off in the middle, so here’s a slightly longer version. The scaredy-dog and the chill hedgehog”

インスタにあげたの途中でぶつ切れだったからちょい長めバージョン びびり犬とマイペースはりねずみ https://t.co/gtDbHD74n4

—
ちり子 (@harikai_chiri) April 26, 2017

Japanese net users couldn’t contain their giggles and took to the comments section as below:

“It’s so cute how the dog is super interested but is too scared to get any closer!”
“The balance of power was dog < hedgehog from the start, LOL”
“[dog’s voice] What is this thing?! It’s coming closer…GAH! Stay away!! But I can’t help myself…!”
“The video’s funniest with the sound on so you can hear the dog’s movements on the tatami mat.”
“Ahh…watching this is therapeutic. Even the sound of the tatami is soothing.”

If that adorable scene makes you want to go out and cuddle (er, whatever the proper term is) a hedgehog, you’ll definitely want to check out the Hedgehog Cafe in Roppongi, Tokyo. Just don’t take your pupper along for the ride!

Source, featured image: Twitter/@harikai_chiri

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Bonrama combines Japanese bonsai-style scenery and railroad tracks to spiff up your room

You can now own a little part of Japan to have in your own room!

Trains are the main mode of transport for many Japanese people. In fact, trains are so deeply integrated into Japanese society that the mere image of a sakura cherry blossom tree beside a railroad track will no doubt strike some nostalgic chords.

With this thought in mind, Tetsuo Kawakami, president of the Railway Diorama Studio in Kyoto City, tried combining the concept of bonsai and railroad tracks. Breathing life into the world of dioramas, Kawakami hopes to capture scenes that remind us of simpler times with his “Bonramas” exhibit, now being held in Saitama Prefecture.

These little box-like works of art create snapshots of the everyday lives of Japanese people. Even for those of us who may not fully appreciate the nostalgic kick they may bring to natives, we can at least have a piece of beautiful Japan in our living room. Because the railroad tracks in these Bonramas are sensitive to moisture, model plants are used instead of real bonsai.

They come in all sorts of sizes too. The impressive Bonrama found in the top image is set in a large dish 28 centimeters (11 inches) in diameter, and comes with a movable train! Priced at a steep 43,200 yen (US$390), only six of these are available at the Bonrama exhibition.

The next one below measures 19.5 by 8.5 centimeters. The rock, sakura cherry blossom tree and railroad track are so compact that the piece looks good enough to eat. You can sit your own toy train on the tracks too if you feel so inclined. With eight of these available and priced at a reasonable 3,240 yen (US$29.00), this seems to be the hottest pick.

▼ The Zen is strong in this one.

Crafted in 2.55-inch bowls, the two pieces featured below can easily fit into the palm of your hand! These are 2,160 yen (US$19) each and only 30 of them are available.

If you’re still on the fence about these works of art, the Bonrama exhibition is being held from April 26 to May 2 at the Omiya branch of department store Takashimaya. You can appreciate a range of Bonramas there, as well as take part in a Bonrama-making workshop led by Kawakami himself! The workshops are for only eight attendees and held three times a day at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., lasting 60 minutes each.

Event information
Bonrama Exhibition / 盆ラマの展
Address: Saitama-ken, Saitama-shi, Omiya-ku, Daimoncho, 1-32, Omiya Takashimaya first floor, front hall
埼玉県さいたま市大宮区大門町1丁目32番地大宮高島屋1階　正面ホール
Open: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Website

Source: Takashimaya via Japaaan Magazine
Images: Takashimaya

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Studio Ghibli animator creates heartwarming new anime commercial in Japan【Video】

The special release takes us through the love story of Cassis and Arles, a romance the animator has been developing for ten years.

Yoshiharu Sato is a talented Japanese animator best known for helping to direct and design the 1988 Studio Ghibli anime film My Neighbour Totoro. Having worked as a key animator on other Ghibli films like Porco Rosso and The Secret World of Arriety, Sato has also gone on to work for other greats in the industry, including Walt Disney Japan and game developer Taito.

For the last ten years, however, the experienced artist has been using his talents to help promote a local bread company called Francois. Based in Fukuoka, on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, the bread company has a number of outlets exclusive to the region, and one of their best-selling ranges is the beautiful-sounding Slow Bread series.

The European style bread has been on the market since 2007, and Sato has been there from the very beginning, creating a series of commercials for the brand featuring the characters of 17-year-old Cassis, who works at her mother’s bakery, and the handsome Arles. The relationship between the two main characters has blossomed over the years, and now to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their collaboration, Sato has created a brand new commercial which takes a look back at their heartwarming love story.

Take a look at the beautiful commercial below:

The warm style of animation used in the commercials is reminiscent of a Studio Ghibli film, with stunning environments and beautifully illustrated scenes instantly drawing you into the world of the characters.

▼ There’s also a whole heap of tantalising food images too.

At the very end of the commercial, we get to see the adorable little leaven sprite which makes the Slow Bread so delicious.

While the Sato-produced Slow Bread commercials usually only air on local television stations in Fukuoka Prefecture, this tenth anniversary edition has been made a web-exclusive, allowing for a longer two-and-a-half minute look at the animated characters and their story.

The adventure isn’t over yet, either, as the company has just released a 30-second commercial for television, announcing that new stories will appear in the series.

We can’t wait to see where the newly betrothed couple will take us to in the next instalment! To get up to date with the story of Cassis and Arles, you might want to take a look here to view some of the commercials that have aired in the past, or head on over to the Francois website for more details.

Featured image: YouTube/francoisjp
Insert images: YouTube/francoisjp

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Mr. Sato uses his new hairstyle to clean the bathroom

Our reporter took one look at the top of his head in a mirror and knew what had to be done.

About a week ago, Mr. Sato lost a bet about crackers and had to get a punch perm, a somewhat outdated hairstyle once worn by only the rowdiest boys of Japan.

Readers were largely impressed with how well Mr. Sato sported the punch perm, declaring it an improvement to the ratty-looking Mohawk he had prior. However, that was only the beginning of the benefits this new hairdo would bring.

Being the sharp-eyed investigative reporter he is, Mr. Sato quickly noticed that his head bore an uncanny resemblance to a steel scouring pad. So why not see if it can perform just as well as one when it comes to tackling mildew and soap scum?

First, Mr. Sato began filling the tub for a bath, and passed the time doing professional wrestler poses, just like he usually does around this time.

Then he took his bath like any regular day.

Next, he shampooed his head using a little more than usual to work up an extra amount of lather.

Then he stopped scrubbing his head started scrubbing his stubborn ring-around-the-tub.

Up and down, back and forth, Mr. Sato made sure his hair reached into every corner of the tub for an even clean.

The tub was complete but his head was still quite frothy, so he decided to give the bathroom sink a once over too.

Mr. Sato was overjoyed that he could save time by cleaning his hair and bathroom at the same time.

The bathroom became so clean that he decided to tackle the kitchen sink as well. After all, it was just outside the bathroom door in his tragically cramped Tokyo apartment.

Mr. Sato would like to remind anyone trying this at home to be very careful. Bathtubs are slippery places and rubbing your head on them raises the risk of slipping, so exercise extreme caution.

Also, he figures other hairstyles would probably work, but the punch perm is ideal for this job. The tight curls work up a hearty amount of foam and help protect the head from bumping up against the sides of the tub.

In other words, you’ll likely end up with a headache if you try this with anything other than the super-tight chemically treated curls of a punch perm.

So why not go out and get a punch perm of your own to make yourself look great and be more efficient?

Okay yes, it’s only available in Japan and even here it’s really hard to find someone who will do it nowadays… but give us one more reason not to go out and get one. It’s certainly a lot more practical around the house than Mr. Sato’s Steve Jobs haircut.

Photos: ©SoraNews24

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One Japanese prefecture’s bubbly message to drivers who refuse to use their turn signals【Video】

When you need to get the message across, use more bubble wrap.

Perhaps one of the most annoying things in life is dealing with rude drivers on the road. Whether it be incessant tailgating or reckless cutting in, being on the receiving end of such behavior can make you spew expletives you never knew existed.

Japanese drivers are generally polite, turning on hazard lights when you let them into your lane as a sign of thanks. Even animals sometimes abide by traffic rules. Not every motorist in Japan is so careful, though, and researchers in Okayama Prefecture report an average of one traffic accident occurring every 50 minutes.

As part of a campaign to promote safer driving, Okayama Prefecture teamed up with automaker Toyota to create a video highlighting the importance of road safety, and demonstrating a bizarre, bubble-based measure people could take to protect themselves from careless drivers.

The video tells a story of a man who is heading towards Okayama to find a new home. Driving his car packed with all his precious belongings, he stumbles across an astounding sight.

The city and its residents are covered entirely in bubble wrap! Even pets and children aren’t spared the treatment. It slowly becomes evident that such garments serve to protect the citizens from harm. Specifically, from recklessly-driven cars.

▼ That sure looks fun. Just look at those smiling faces!

Residents get smacked around by cars without any care in the world. Seems fun doesn’t it? For the inhabitants of Okayama Prefecture, such bubbly measures may be necessary indeed. Nevertheless, the message in the video becomes evident if you take away the cushioning: use your turn signals.

Viewers had a few things to say about the video.

“A rare commercial that makes sense.”

“As expected of Okayama Prefecture. I don’t even want to step foot in there.”

“What I got from this video is that I shouldn’t move to Okayama.”

“This may have been over the top, but it does accurately reflect Okayama’s traffic conditions. Bicycles are scary too, running without lights and against traffic.”

▼ The making of the “Bubbletown” video

Whether this resonates with the residents of Okayama Prefecture remains yet to be seen. We can only hope that Japan makes more awesome commercials like this.

Source: Okayama Toyopet Zero Project
Images: Youtube/Toyopet Okayama

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