Hot Meal Vending Machines

In 1968 (perhaps even earlier), an inventor had the notion of serving hot meals from a vending machine.





Lo and behold, today his dream is a reality. Would you sample such fare?

Posted By: Paul - Mon Nov 07, 2022 - Comments (3)
Category: Food, Technology, 1960s, Asia

Kinki Nippon Tourist

The Kinki Nippon Tourist Co. was founded in 1947. By the 1970s it had become Japan's second-largest travel agency. But trouble began to emerge when, during this same decade, Japanese tourists showed up in Europe and America, often carrying bags emblazoned with the name "Kinki Nippon Tourist." Naturally, this attracted some attention.

London Daily Telegraph - Oct 25, 1972

Saffron Walden Weekly News - July 1, 1976

The name 'Kinki' referred, of course, to the Kinki region in the south of Japan. Also known as the Kansai region. It had nothing to do with the sexual preferences of the tourists. But in a possible case of truth in advertising, the Kinki Nippon Tourist Co. was, in fact, involved in a scandal in 1979 for having arranged sex tours abroad for Japanese businessmen.

Vineland Daily Journal - Nov 28, 1979

The company quickly learned what its name meant in English, so when it opened a branch in America in 1974 it didn't use the Kinki name. Instead, it called itself Kintetsu International Express (it's still in business).

Likewise, the name Kinki has become a problem for other organizations in the Kinki region that have an international presence. For instance, in 2016 Kinki University changed its name in English to Kindai University, in order to spare the staff and students embarrassment when they traveled abroad.

Posted By: Alex - Mon Oct 10, 2022 - Comments ()
Category: Innuendo, Double Entendres, Symbolism, Nudge-Nudge-Wink-Wink and Subliminal Messages, Odd Names, Asia, Mistranslations

Toshi Ichiyanagi, RIP

The avant-garde composer was Yoko Ono's first husband, with, apparently, a similar flair for the experimental.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Oct 10, 2022 - Comments (1)
Category: Music, Avant Garde, Obituaries, Asia, Cacophony, Dissonance, White Noise and Other Sonic Assaults

Burma Blockade Deodorant

Nothing like naming your product so that it sounds like a military operation, then touting it with a stereotyped "Oriental" gal.

Of course, we'd have to relaunch this as "Myanmar Blockade" today.

Bonus video: the same gal touting the more famous Burma Shave.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Aug 12, 2022 - Comments (1)
Category: Ethnic Groupings, Hygiene, Stereotypes and Cliches, Advertising, 1960s, Asia

Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

Here is a shot of the ancient fortress city of Sigiriya, followed by pictures of parts of the staircase you must ascend to visit the place. Please let us know if you would be eager and happy to make this climb, or prefer to remain down below.

Videos follow the still shots.

Posted By: Paul - Wed Jun 29, 2022 - Comments (1)
Category: Statues, Monuments and Memorials, Travel, Danger, Risk, and Peril, Asia

“Kuzu” by Iimura Takahiko

‘Iimura films the cadavers of daily objects (junk) and animals without heads, cats, dogs or birds. While boats float calmly in the distance and children run along the beach, all kinds of larvae and insects move from old tatamis to old bottles under a “rain” of scratches caused by the numerous projections that the original film underwent.

His Wikipedia page.

Posted By: Paul - Tue May 03, 2022 - Comments ()
Category: Garbage, Trash, Waste and Other Detritus, Movies, Avant Garde, 1960s, Asia

Pigeon

Pigeon | 비둘기 from Tadoh | Sang Joon Kim on Vimeo.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Apr 01, 2022 - Comments ()
Category: Anthropomorphism, Surrealism, Cartoons, Asia

Obscene Chinese Money

The portrait of Confucius is expressing his opinion with his fingers of the occupying Japanese army.

Posted By: Paul - Wed Mar 16, 2022 - Comments ()
Category: Innuendo, Double Entendres, Symbolism, Nudge-Nudge-Wink-Wink and Subliminal Messages, Money, War, 1930s, Asia

Follies of the Madmen #525

Posted By: Paul - Wed Feb 02, 2022 - Comments ()
Category: Sports, Advertising, Junk Food, Dogs, Asia

Follies of the Madmen #524

Posted By: Paul - Thu Jan 27, 2022 - Comments ()
Category: Robots, Technology, Advertising, Cats, Asia, Pregnancy