Nutty Marketing II

Been too long since checking to see what sort of weird and wonderful products are popular in Japan these days, so flipping back to one of my favorite shop Japan online sites I discovered that the earthquake last March has done little to slow the imagination of product development there. All the old gadgets from the earlier post “Nutty Marketing” are still on sale, but there are a few new ones that deserve some free publicity. There is something so very, very Japanese about these ‘inventions’ that has never been described in books on that country’s culture. Were I recommending a text for a class in Japanese thinking, the catalog for Japan Trend Shop would be required supplemental reading.

EYE SLACK HARUKA • Electric eye muscle and skin stimulation

Excess or sagging skin around the eyes? Just three short minutes a day with the Eye Slack Haruka and Hollywood is just around the corner. Safe and easy to operate, simply place the included pads onto the Haruka and fit it under your eyes. Battery-powered heat and gentle vibrations will immediately begin removing the years and erasing those tell-tale weary signs of age. The Haruka offers two modes to choose from, hard or soft. In hard mode Haruka uses electrical stimulation to activate your skin; the soft mode supplies gentle micro-currents to fight sagging, slack skin and every woman’s nightmare—gravity. At 1.1 ounces, the Eye Slack Haruka is barely noticeable as it works its magic. After a few sessions with Haruka you and all your friends will notice a miraculous difference!

HAPPY SMILE TRAINER • Beauty care accessory

Want to have that perfect smile? Enhance your mouth and jaw muscles with the Happy Smile Trainer and fulfill that lifelong wish. It’s as simple as five minutes a day! Just by biting on the mouthpiece for a short time each day improves the angles and balance of your face and cheeks, at the same strengthening your gums and teeth. Into no time at all you’ll have a movie star smile and be crunching those rock hard rice crackers like they were butter soft biscuits.

JEANPANTS UNDERWEAR

These tight and chic JeanPants are durable and just oozing zeitgeist appeal. More popular with men, the designers insist they are perfect for the ladies, too. The worn denim look is popular all over the world now, and this design adds innovation to that appeal by applying the jeans look to your briefs. Don’t neglect what you have to show underneath—You can say so much about yourself with your choice of underwear. Step out with confidence and panache, certain that what’s underneath is original and funky.

ETIQUETTE CHECKER • Bad breath and alcohol test

Unsure? Wondering if your breath is as bad as you think it is? Maybe you’re uncertain because you’ve had a bit too much to drink. Now, with the amazing Etiquette Checker you can check both the quality of your breath and your alcohol level at one time. Simply breathe into the tester and get instant results. Breath is ranked from 1-6, with 1 being good and 6 horrible. Alcohol level is shown in 0.5 increments. The Etiquette Checker features a backlit LCD screen and an automatic-off function. Make your next night out with that special person a positive one!

Nutty Marketing

There is a crazy side to Japan and it’s the one I miss when the moon is full and the wolves are howling. Could be because I’m no longer exposed to the high energy sizzle of big city life and because things beachside can get a little monotonous. Then it could be because America has no flair for the kooky marketing that is a part of life among the very inventive Japanese. Who else would have thought of square watermelons to save refrigerator space?

To jazz up my own week and to spread the word on the inventiveness of Japanese mad hatters I have chosen to highlight a few of the outstanding items for sale in Japan and also one example of what most of us might call a wacky sort of health spa. So put on your ruby slippers and step into almost-Oz.

BEAUTY LIFT HIGH NOSE • ELECTRIC NOSE LIFT $142.00

Push up that nose of yours to create the perfect profile. The handy Beauty Lift High Nose, is a beauty-aid that applies gentle electric vibrations from the bottom, side and front. Just slip it on, flip the switch and a gentle buzzing will begin to transform your nose into that Hollywood look. Three minutes once a day and soon you (and everyone else) will notice an elegant difference. Batteries included.

NYANTOMO KITTEN HOT WATER BOTTLE $126.00

Here we have a faintly realistic-looking cat with a hot water bottle snuggled inside his tummy. No allergies or scratches but cozy warmth for up to eight hours. A pet can warm your heart, but this one can warm your body. You can easily add hot water to Nyantomo’s bottle-belly through a slotted opening, then re-insert the bottle in the cat. Nyantomo is a comfort on cold days, a blessing on those ‘out of sorts’ days, and the perfect furry bundle for relaxing with.

BEAU BUST ROLLER $105.00

This wonder device uses electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) to promote breast growth and firmness. And the best part is it even works in the bath. Simply sit back and relax in the tub and roll the Beau Bust device over your chest to encourage the results you want. Use the included bust cream to add that oh-là-là sensual enhancement. Comes with 60 grams of bust cream. Notice: The Beau Bust Roller cannot be used by pregnant women, people using pacemakers or other electronic medical equipment.

HEAD KENZAN JAPANESE MASSAGER $54.00

This is a delightful scalp massager with a unique Japanese twist. The shape and structure of the device are inspired by the kenzan, a traditional tool used in Japanese flower arranging to hold the flowers in place. There are ninety-two bristles that strike the perfect balance of hardness and softness as the flexible Head Kenzan molds itself to your head. Using the handles on either side, run the brush back and forth, massaging and energizing your scalp. Is there an easier way to erase troublesome tensions and get those creative juices flowing again?

TOTO TRAVEL WASHLET • PORTABLE ELECTRIC BIDET $138.00

From airplane bathroom to outhouse, say goodbye to the sacrifice of comfort while you’re on the go. Never fear unknown bathrooms again with the TOTO Portable Bidet. Unsanitary bathrooms along exotic travel routes can be hard to deal with. How do you know the toilet paper is clean, or God forbid, what if there isn’t any toilet paper? The TOTO Travel Washlet fits discreetly in any bag or purse making washing easy in any situation. Easy operation and efficient size make it the perfect travel companion. Capacity: enough water for a 23 second spray.

YUNESSUN RESORT AND SPA

Japanese loves spas and hot spring resorts. One of the ‘different’ resorts not too far from Tokyo is guaranteed to tickle the fancy of the most jaded hot spring enthusiast. At the Yunessun Resort bathers splash around in their choice of red wine, sake, coffee or green tea. The sake bath promotes skin beauty while a green tea bath will beautify your skin and boost the immune system. The coffee bath offers relief from fatigue and a wine bath is suggested for body rejuvenation. Expect to find signs next to each of the different pools reading, “Not For Drinking.” The holiday price for one day at Yunessun is approximately $32.00, but that’s in the swim suit zone. For those who prefer to cavort naked there is a nude zone that is only $17.00.

SLIP ON AN EXFOLIATING SLIPPER * ABOUT $25.00 FOR A BOX OF 10

This one is just a little creepy. Baby Foot disposable slippers are lined with a soothing gel that treats tired feet, gradually causing exfoliation of the outer layer of skin. The results posted in this gallery could be called impressive, disturbing, amazing, freaky or downright horrible.