Japanese Mascot of the Week #3 - Toire-kun the Toilet Boy

A weekly series introducing the strangest yuru-kyara mascots Japan has to offer.

Hometown: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture (Yokohama Resources and Wastes Circulation Bureau, North Office)
2015 Yuru Kyara Grand Prix Ranking: 1429th of 1727

Toire-kun (pronounced toy-ray, the Japanese approximation of "toilet") is the mascot for the Yokohama Resources and Wastes Circulation Bureau's North Office (not the lousy South Office, those jerks.) His one and only job is to inform citizens of the importance of toilet-related counter-measures in the event of a disaster. What that entails isn't included in his official profile so your guess is as good as mine. Please do not sit on Toire-kun.

The Whimsical World of Japanese Playgrounds

Wander off the main road in any Japanese city and into the residential areas and you're bound to find a small, somewhat sad, sandy lot with a few bits of playground equipment, often a couple of animal-shaped rocking horses and a swing set. Look a little harder and you might come across a concrete fantasy land full of whimsical sculptures to excite a child's imagination and stir an adult's sense of nostalgia.

There is perhaps no other country that has such an incredible variety and number of such playground equipment as Japan. Thanks to people like b-spot enthusiast あさみん (Asamin) and photographer Kito Fujio, many of these incredible playgrounds have been thoroughly documented. Here are some of the most interesting.

Japanese Mascot of the Week - #2 Nukamura-kun

A weekly series introducing the strangest yuru-kyara mascots Japan has to offer.

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Hometown: Ogura, Kita-Kyushu
2015 Yuru Kyara Grand Prix Ranking: 1690th of 1727

Nukamura-kun is the embodiment of Ogura's local specialty, nukamisodaki, rice bran-pickled headless fish. Perhaps the busiest half a fish in all Japan, Nukumura-kun is constantly rushing around on trains, traveling back and forth between his hometown and Tokyo to spread the word about nukamisodaki.

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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The stairway to "Heaven's Station" is a hell of a climb

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Nicknamed "Heaven's Station," Uzui Station's platform is a 30 meter climb up 10 flights of stairs, making it the tallest in Japan. Located in Ōnan, Shimane Prefecture, the second least populated prefecture in the country, Uzui Station currently gets less than one passenger a day on average, down from its peak of 4 in 2003. The rural station has no lifts or escalators and no vending machines to replenish your fluids after your agonising ascent. There is, however, a single bench upon which to rest as you wait... and wait... and wait... for one of the four daily services to pick you up.