Japanese Are Weird

Thanks to my friend Paul for sending me the following:


"On a narrow Tokyo street, near a beef bowl restaurant and a pachinko parlor, Aya Tsukioka demonstrated new clothing designs that she hopes will ease Japan’s growing fears of crime.

Deftly, Ms. Tsukioka, a 29-year-old experimental fashion designer, lifted a flap on her skirt to reveal a large sheet of cloth printed in bright red with a soft drink logo partly visible. By holding the sheet open and stepping to the side of the road, she showed how a woman walking alone could elude pursuers — by disguising herself as a vending machine.

The wearer hides behind the sheet, printed with an actual-size photo of a vending machine. Ms. Tsukioka’s clothing is still in development, but she already has several versions, including one that unfolds from a kimono and a deluxe model with four sides for more complete camouflaging.




Ysukioka says her inspiration has been Japanese ninja assassins, who cloak themselves in black blankets so that they cannot be seen in the night.

She says the invention fits in with Japanese sensibility. "It is just easier for Japanese to hide. Making a scene would be too embarrassing."

The designer's other inventions include a manhole bag which unfolds to look like a sewer cover and a backpack which can transform into a fire hydrant to hide a child.

20 hand sewn vending machine skirts have already been sold, costing about $800 each."

As Paul wisely pointed out to me, "But what if the rapist stops to buy a Coke?"

 

Comments

[Ronnie]

It's not just me. That's really dumb, right? RIGHT?

[rkim13]

Did you know that in Japan you can buy beer from vending machines? There are so many odd vending machines there. One disturbing one I saw was for used panties...GROSS!!

I used to live in Seattle and I have to say there is a good sized Japanese population there. And a good number of really hot happas (what you Americans call halfies).

[Heather]

Is it just me or does it seem like a bad hiding mechanism when the person's feet are showing??

[Rob]

I agree with Heather. And also, why display coke? Shouldn't you display something like prune juice to thwart someone that might blow your cover?

[Tiffiny Whitney]

Doesn't the machine look a little....um...fake?

The feet are a little obvious too....

Tiffiny

[Tiffiny Whitney]

Another thought just struck me regarding this. I would assume a good majority of rapes happen at night--not in broad daylight. Sooo...if someone is chasing you at night, and you inflate yourself into a giant vending machine, aren't you a little conspicuous considering the OTHER vending machines have lights in them, and you don't?

Totally a stupid idea. They need to add a light bulb.

Tiffiny

[Tiffiny Whitney]

Last comment, I swear. This story is just too hilarious that I can't help it...

"She says the invention fits in with Japanese sensibility. "It is just easier for Japanese to hide. Making a scene would be too embarrassing."

It's sort of like that Seinfeld piece, where he comments on how the #1 fear of most people is public speaking, with #2 being death...and how that means that someone would be more afraid of giving a eulogy at a funeral than being in the casket.

Doesn't it come accross as odd that someone would rather be RAPED and possibly killed than call attention to their situation by causing an "embarrassing scene?"

Geez....

Tiffiny

[A.N]

um.. is there enough time to get the get up going? I think this is hilarious. It's pretty good even considering the feet but by the time you get this around you--couldnt you have gotten farther by just running?

[EditThis]

I saw this when it was on Gizmodo. Those Japanese...they invent so many cool things, and so much crap at the same time.