Can’t help feeling there might be better ways for Yamagata’s deputy governor to promote his region’s cherries. pic.twitter.com/xVq6dOSVDv

— Mulboyne (@Mulboyne)’s twitter | April 21, 2014

Yamagata’s deputy governor must be a relative of former Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshio Sakaurauchi who famously introduced himself to the Washington press corps by saying, “My name is Cherry.”

..

Google books: Beyond Public Speech and Symbols: Explorations in the Rhetoric of Politicians and the Media
by Christ’l de Landtsheer, Ofer Feldman
Greenwood Publishing Group, Jan 1, 2000; pg. 167, para. 3

With a measure of whimsey, “Elizabeth“—the Phalanx gun system of the JDS Kirishima (DDG-174)(Wiki) protected the Saturday Open House at Yokusuka Naval Base in Tokyo Bay.
The Kirishima was one of five Kongo-class guided missile destroyers of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) gathered at Yokusuka in preparation for a crucial mission…

That “crucial mission” was Saturday’s navy curry contest.

MSDF armada masses; first order is curry contest
The Japan Times | April 18, 2014
One key mission of a group of 15 Maritime Self-Defense Force warships, including four of the nation’s six state-of-the-art Aegis destroyers…gather Saturday at the MSDF base in Yokosuka …[for]… a curry-cooking contest.
More…

“Elizabeth” is of course much more than just a Phalanx gun of a Close-In Weapons System (CIWS).
From the popular manga and anime series “Gintama” (Wiki), Elizabeth is the alien companion “animal” of Katsura, the hero of the series. Elizabeth is actually a general of:
The Renho race of mercenaries that specialize in covert operations, and who act as pets for numerous Earthlings in order to prepare Earth for an invasion (gintama.wikia.com).

Because of its resemblance, the Japanese navy has decked out their Phalanx as “Elizabeth” in much the same way the US Navy has nicknamed it “R2D2″ and the Royal Navy calls it a “Dalek” after the alien villains of the “Doctor Who” TV show (reference).

Japanese bio-terror comes in seaweed, red bean and mayo flavors

(3Yen / 2013-06-15)

full view

It’s Easter Sunday and…
            …Yellow Goranger has died for your sins.
That is, Yellow Ranger—Gokai Yellow (ゴーカイイエロー Gokai Iero) is shown being crucified in the first Goranger movie.
Learn more about the strange history of the Sentai and Crucifixion at Sean Akizuki’s Super Sentai Blog.

Gokai Yellow, R.I.P.

Meet Japan’s Rust Man—the true nemesis of Iron Man.

 
 
@nakareco2’s twitter
最弱ヒーロー登場＼(^o^)／ http://youtu.be/C3laYJZIVzM pic.twitter.com/I3sjTDq1o2
 
 
 
 

(translation)
Japan’s Spectrum Man:
The weakest hero who ＼(^o^)／ ( w00ts )!

Thinkbay®’s Cute Dog Handbag ↑, which they refer to by the more-than-a-mouthful term, Crossbody Clutch Purse Shoulder Bag Cartoon Puppy Satchel, is quite remarkable.

More remarkable is the alien bag hag (urban dictionary) shown below modeling their Boston Bull (Wiki) bag.

Thinkbay® Cute Dog Handbag Crossbody Clutch Purse Shoulder Bag Cartoon Puppy Satchel
Available on Amazon.com.

Although Thinkbay®’s designs appeal to Japan tastes and their advertising features Japanese text, Thinkbay describes themselves as,
a little team with five young guys who are full-time working on eBay, out of Hong Kong. Therefore the alien bag hag could just be an example of over-the-top Chinese plastic surgery.

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Other 3Yen reports on bizarre bags include:
   • Chainsaw Bag Hag Halloween, from Japan (3Yen / 2011-10-25)
   • ‘Heartful’ purses (3Yen / 2010-05-29)
   • Brand destroyer-handbag ↓ (3Yen / 2006-08-26)

Hey, it’s Good Friday — Antonio Inoki has gone on the Cross for your sins.

The Easter-ish looking MMA–Mixed Martial Arts entrance is by Antonio Inoki, the first pro-wrestler in Japan to be elected to the Japanese parliament (3Yen 2005-07-11). Details are explained by the blog, Playing Ricky Morton…

 
…a New Year’s Eve MMA cards from Japan, Dream Genki Desu Ka… this was an evening of MMA.
After a worked match between Josh Barnett and Hideki Suzuki, Inoki was carried from the entrance ramp to the ring tied to a cross. Upon reaching the ring, he was let down from the cross and picked up a bucket of paint. Inoki begins to paint some Japanese symbol in the ring while cutting a promo simultaneously, possibly to mark another one of his retirements. This is interrupted by a run-in committee of guys in turbans who start beating Inoki down with kendo sticks, apologize, raise his hand in victory and then give him a kendo stick before leaving the ring peacefully.
  —Via playingrickymorton.wordpress.com/2012/01/05

Wo0t!~ I have gotta experience the thrill of barreling down this three meter long section of maglev train track!

Maglev center to offer new high-speed experience
The Asahi Shimbun | April 15, 2014
–Visitors to the Yamanashi Prefectural Maglev Exhibition Center will soon be able to view the world’s fastest "floating" train and experience the thrill of a simulated ride…more…

Today’s creepy Japanese mascot is Shizuka-chan (wiki) who is shilling for Toyota’s new “fuel-sipping Passo +Hanna” eco-car model (Japan Times 2014apr14) that promises to sip your brrrains!

Look closer at her,
if you dare …m0Ar!~
 
  
 
  

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Japan’s special form of costumed creepiness, the kigurumi (), are covered in other 3Yen reports including:
   • lil’ Big Bo Peep (3Yen / 2014-04-02)
   • Old McDonalds had a farm… (3Yen / 2014-02-01)
   • Still time to stop ‘em! (3Yen / 2009-03-21)
   • New face for the new year (3Yen / 2006-12-27)

H5-type bird flu discovered at two Kumamoto farms
Japan Times | Apr. 13, 2014
The agriculture ministry announced Sunday a suspected outbreak of bird flu that killed at least 1,100 chickens at a farm in Taragi, Kumamoto Prefecture, prompting the prefectural government to order the culling of 112,000 chickens…more…

As shown in the scandalous photo below, Kumamon (3Yen / 2013-11-13) the mascot bear of Kumamoto Prefecture must have caused this outbreak of H5 Avian Flu.

No doubt that Kumamon consorting in unnatural ways with young Kumamoto chicks like “Hiyoko-chan” (R), packaged Chicken Ramen mascot.

Also refer to the previous 3Yen report about Nissin Corporation’s Chikin Ramen®:
Hot, quick, [sic] chikin ↓(3Yen / 2011-08-26)
..

  
Japan’s Ministry of Silly Walks* offers for your pleasure…

Yesterday was the grand Oiran/Hooker Parade of Tokyo’s Asakusa temple–cum–pleasure district.
The cosplaying ladies shown below are pretending to be Oiran (Wiki), or high-class courtesans/hookers, and they reenact the grand Oiran Dochu, the parade around the pleasure quarters of Tokyo’s Yoshiwara district (Wiki).

Ok, let’s get a close-up of the hooker’s Cruel Shoes (3Yen / 2012-06-06)…

View videos of yesterday’s hooker parade and the cinematic version of the Oiran Parade in our COMMENTS section…

See more Japanese Cruel Clogs (3Yen / 2012-05-27) , and learn about how Japanese girls are short but really…(3Yen / 2009-10-09).