Bushcat's Japan bits

Japan's full of stuff which is tasteful, well-designed and written in pretty good English. So here's some of it.

"Version Up BOOING Blue Cola gum Super Brain Panic !!" ("blue cola"?) has just been improved, so like Japanese software it's been "version upped", or upgraded. Yes, BOOING Cola Gum 1.1. Brought to you by Kanebo, who usually make cosmetics and have the wonderful motto "For Beautiful Human Life". There's also a "Straw Cherry" flavour.

Pocari Sweat Refreshment Water: What's a pocari? Why does it sweat so much? Who thought about bottling the stuff??

Kirin Post Water: (90kB) "Rapidly moistens your body and gently softens your soul. Post Water is Life Water for us all." Oh, it's Newly Tasty Improved Enhanced, too.

Is your auto not quite cool enough? Need a little textual content to REALLY show people where you're at, grooving and ho! wo graby baby? Then you need this tire cover for your Toyota RAV4. "It's a outdoor sport which began to shine lately. To choose sports for fashion or your personality, the basic idea is to enjoy yourself which is important. Outdoor sports is the science to raise spirits." Well gag me with a chopstick.

A bit of a blast from the past, this one, hailing from 1991. Yes, it's Desert Storm, made by the wonderfully-named Cheerio Company, which turned out to be a somewhat prophetic analysis of their market share. "New carbonated beverage for active people with fighting spirit." Just what our brave guys and gals needed when facing up to Saddam.

How about the O-Belt, to remedy bandy legs? Simply strap the legs together and, I suppose, just stand there for weeks or months. There's also a smaller below-the-knee belt which can be used either independently or together with this above-the-knee version. (Sorry about the fuzzy picture.)

Another gum. This time, Bergamot. Yes, it tastes like minty Earl Grey. With the reverse half-Vulcan splash greeting "Long Live" and the snappy "A light and mild sweetiness coupled with lasting flavor. Portable chewiness", who could resist this recent addition to the Lotte range?

The inner wrapper presses the point home with "Yes, Chewing!". The catchy Japanese underneath translates roughly as "Gum's nice, innit?". Hmmm, "portable chewiness". This suggests there are some products that have to be chewed in situ because they're nailed down or something.

"We proudly offer you our nuts". I can't think of anything to say, other than it's very nice of them.

You can never have too many David Beckham products in Japan. Especially David Beckham chocolate-covered almonds. Not only are these David Beckham chocolate-covered almonds in a tin, they're David Beckham chocolate-covered almonds in a tin with a full biography ("DAVID ROBERT JOSEPH BECKHAM born in London on May 2, 1975") and in-depth discussion of the level of cooperation achieved between the manufacturer, Meiji, and the world-famous Beckham ("Dream-team collaboration by Meiji and David Beckham. Almond Chocolate is now launched by a Japanese confectionary and one of the world's top soccer players.")

Smeg-brand refrigerators, found at a local store. "Actually, mine's a Smeg." Good brand recognition; I won't forget it any time soon. Smeg. Smeg smeg smeg.

Up to my home page.

"Version Up BOOING Blue Cola gum Super Brain Panic !!" ("blue cola"?) has just been improved, so like Japanese software it's been "version upped", or upgraded. Yes, BOOING Cola Gum 1.1. Brought to you by Kanebo, who usually make cosmetics and have the wonderful motto "For Beautiful Human Life". There's also a "Straw Cherry" flavour.
Pocari Sweat Refreshment Water: What's a pocari? Why does it sweat so much? Who thought about bottling the stuff??
Kirin Post Water: (90kB) "Rapidly moistens your body and gently softens your soul. Post Water is Life Water for us all." Oh, it's Newly Tasty Improved Enhanced, too.
Is your auto not quite cool enough? Need a little textual content to REALLY show people where you're at, grooving and ho! wo graby baby? Then you need this tire cover for your Toyota RAV4. "It's a outdoor sport which began to shine lately. To choose sports for fashion or your personality, the basic idea is to enjoy yourself which is important. Outdoor sports is the science to raise spirits." Well gag me with a chopstick.
A bit of a blast from the past, this one, hailing from 1991. Yes, it's Desert Storm, made by the wonderfully-named Cheerio Company, which turned out to be a somewhat prophetic analysis of their market share. "New carbonated beverage for active people with fighting spirit." Just what our brave guys and gals needed when facing up to Saddam.
How about the O-Belt, to remedy bandy legs? Simply strap the legs together and, I suppose, just stand there for weeks or months. There's also a smaller below-the-knee belt which can be used either independently or together with this above-the-knee version. (Sorry about the fuzzy picture.)
Another gum. This time, Bergamot. Yes, it tastes like minty Earl Grey. With the reverse half-Vulcan splash greeting "Long Live" and the snappy "A light and mild sweetiness coupled with lasting flavor. Portable chewiness", who could resist this recent addition to the Lotte range?
The inner wrapper presses the point home with "Yes, Chewing!". The catchy Japanese underneath translates roughly as "Gum's nice, innit?". Hmmm, "portable chewiness". This suggests there are some products that have to be chewed in situ because they're nailed down or something.
"We proudly offer you our nuts". I can't think of anything to say, other than it's very nice of them.
You can never have too many David Beckham products in Japan. Especially David Beckham chocolate-covered almonds. Not only are these David Beckham chocolate-covered almonds in a tin, they're David Beckham chocolate-covered almonds in a tin with a full biography ("DAVID ROBERT JOSEPH BECKHAM born in London on May 2, 1975") and in-depth discussion of the level of cooperation achieved between the manufacturer, Meiji, and the world-famous Beckham ("Dream-team collaboration by Meiji and David Beckham. Almond Chocolate is now launched by a Japanese confectionary and one of the world's top soccer players.")
Smeg-brand refrigerators, found at a local store. "Actually, mine's a Smeg." Good brand recognition; I won't forget it any time soon. Smeg. Smeg smeg smeg.