Tag Archives: japan probe

There are a lot of cats in this car 01.17.11

Mr. Hiraga, a taxi driver in Wakayama City, drives patrons around in a car adorned with more than a handful of cats and cat characters. As this video (viewable after the jump) posted by Japan Probe highlights, Mr. Hiraga is … READ MORE
Really unconvincing fake anime/Disney mascots invade Chinese festival 01.11.11

Head over to Japan Probe to read their article about some mascot infringement going on in China, complete with some news coverage of the event. Apparently, there was something called the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival in China … READ MORE
Hikaru Utada sings in French with some Pepsi bottles 10.06.10

Check out this short commercial featuring Japanese singer Hikaru Utada in which she sings in French, accompanied by a band of bouncing Pepsi bottles: That’s a lot of special effects money spent for such a short commercial…and why in French? … READ MORE
Shimura Zoo provides too much cuteness 07.28.10

Japan Probe is always posting interesting videos on their site, and this one is no exception. It’s footage from a playdate between a baby tiger cub and a small baby monkey on “Shimura Zoo”. Observe: monkey tigersUploaded by jpnbot55. – … READ MORE
Hayao Miyazaki wants you to put down that iPad 07.15.10

Japan Probe tipped me off to an article about Hayao Miazaki, the legendary animator/filmmaker responsible for such classics as Ponyo, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro, and Kiki’s Delivery Service. Excerpts from an interview with IT Media, translated by the cool … READ MORE
Get your Hatoyama resignation shirts! 06.03.10

Japan Probe posted these pictures of some novelty t-shirts that are now for sale in the wake of  Yukio Hatoyama’s resignation as the Prime Minister of Japan this week. Leave it to people on the Internet to instantly capitalize on … READ MORE
Cute little dog likes cleaning up 05.25.10

This video is cute…this little dog in the Fukushima prefecture apparently learned how to detect and pick up trash on the street…. I don’t know if he/she was taught this skill, or if he/she just figured it out on his/her … READ MORE
I normally hate when dogs were clothes, but this is fun 05.25.10

Japan Probe, in its infinite wisdom, posted this short video recapping a recent “pet expo” in the Chiba prefecture of Japan that featured a dog fashion show. A “Western-style” Cowboy outfit won the top prize, which is cute. For some … READ MORE
Cows act like humans to sell…beef? 04.15.10

This offbeat commercial was posted by Japan Probe…apparently these are “cows” (I used quotations since they’re freaky-shaped things disguised as cows) and in this short commercial they golf, ride a water ride and go shopping…and then at the end there’s … READ MORE
Golfers/Bowlers/Tennis players BEWARE…. 04.08.10

The LAST thing I’d want to have happen if I was golfing, bowling, or playing tennis would be a silly yellow mascot thing crashing in and yelling “PEEE” at me and ruining my game. Apparently, this Pachinko mascot, named “P-kun”, … READ MORE
Asashoryu’s vacation is over, apparently 03.02.10

…And now the former Yokozuna has returned home to Japan, where camera crews follow him around incessantly, not unlike those TMZ crews that stake out restaurants in order to catch a few seconds of Lindsay Lohan or one of the … READ MORE
Backstreet Boys fans in Japan talk to Mezamashi TV 02.23.10

Something that always amazes me about Japanese culture is just how HUGE the Backstreet Boys still are in the country. We’ve posted a few BSB in Japan-related things in the past, and Japan Probe just posted this video recently themselves….in … READ MORE
Bluegrass music in Japan?? Sounds pretty cool to me 02.04.10

Japan Probe recently posted an article about the search for Japanese Roots music in Japan. One of the videos that surfaced in the search is this video: A group of Japanese men playing Bluegrass music? Bluegrass is typically a Western … READ MORE