Japanese Mascot of the Week - #1 Jinenja

The first installment of a weekly series introducing the strangest yuru-kyara mascots Japan has to offer.

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Hometown: Shiroi City, Chiba Prefecture
2015 Yuru Kyara Grand Prix Ranking: 1070th of 1727

Jinenja is the Jinenjo (wild yam) Ninja from the Underground Kingdom of Neba Land (Sticky Land) in Shiroi City, Chiba Prefecture. When the Grated Yam Princess, Tororo Hime, was kidnapped, the brave Jinenja chased after her mysterious and formidable kidnapper but was attacked and ran away. After barely escaping with his life, Jinenja found himself in the jinenjo fields of Shiroi City where he was saved by a kind farmer. The farmer awarded Jinenja the City's strongest weapon, the jinenjo, and Jinenja began his special training to rescue the Grated Yam Princess. This training is ongoing and, by the looks of it, Grated Yam Princess better not hold her breath.

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu's "Cute, mysterious, super exciting!" XR ride opens at Universal Studios Japan

The Kyary Pamyu Pamyu XR Ride opens today at Universal Studios Japan, Osaka. The ride's soundtrack has been written by Kyary's producer, Yasutaka Nakata of electronic duo CAPSULE who is also the man behind girl group Perfume.

Kyary promises that no matter where you look, for 360 degrees around you and as far as the eye can see will be "CUTE! MYSTERIOUS! SUPER EXCITING!"

The Unbelievable Paper Cut-Out Art of Akira Nagaya

Summer sparkler made from paper
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Akira Nagaya is a kiri-e (cut-out art) artist who creates incredibly delicate and intricate works of paper art with a concentration so sharp and a hand so steady he could perform neurosurgery on an ant.

Well, close enough.

Miniscule paper ant
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