Tenjō Sajiki

A small sampling of the avant-garde theater of the troupe named Tenjō Sajiki. Their Wikipedia entry.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Sep 11, 2023 - Comments ()
Category: Theater and Stage, Avant Garde, Asia, Twentieth Century

“Lucky” Fluckey:  The Only Submarine Commander Ever to Blow Up a Train

So long as submersible vessels are in the news...

His Wikipedia page.

In one of the more unusual incidents in the war, Fluckey sent a landing party ashore to set demolition charges on a coastal railway line, destroying a 16-car train.[4] This was the sole landing by U.S. military forces on the Japanese home islands during World War II. Fluckey ordered that this landing party be composed of crewmen from every division on his submarine. "He chose an eight-man team with no married men to blow up the train," Captain Max Duncan said, who served as Torpedo Officer on the Barb during this time. "He also wanted former Boy Scouts because he thought they could find their way back. They were paddling back to the ship when the train blew up."[5] The selected crewmen were Paul Saunders, William Hatfield, Francis Sever, Lawrence Newland, Edward Klinglesmith, James Richard, John Markuson, and William Walker. Hatfield wired the explosive charge, using a microswitch under the rails to trigger the explosion.

Posted By: Paul - Sat Jun 24, 2023 - Comments ()
Category: Daredevils, Stuntpeople and Thrillseekers, Military, Oceans and Maritime Pursuits, War, 1940s, Asia

The Body/Hair Paintings of Xie Rong

The artist's home page.

Posted By: Paul - Wed Apr 26, 2023 - Comments (2)
Category: Art, Performance Art, Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Sticky, Messy, Sloppy, Drippy, Treacly Things, Asia

Skina Babe

Skina Babe, produced by Mochida Pharmaceutical Co., has been a popular brand of baby bath oil in Japan for decades. Mochida trademarked the name in the U.S. However, I don't believe it ever tried to introduce the product in an English-language market, which seems just as well.



Incidentally, Mochida also sells "Skina Fukifuki," which is a skin cleanser for senior citizens.

More info: mochida.co.jp

Posted By: Alex - Thu Dec 08, 2022 - Comments ()
Category: Babies, Odd Names, Asia

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