 KENJI KAWAKAMITranslated by Dan Papia101 Unuseless Japanese InventionsFrom the land of the rising sun, strangely practical and utterly eccentric inventions for a life of ease—and hilarity.
In Japan Kenji Kawakami is famous for his tireless promotion of Chindohgu: the art of "the unuseless idea." This book collects the very best of his inventions, inspired devices designed to solve all the nagging problems of modern domestic life—including ones you may not have realized you had. For example . . .
Walk 'n' Wash Ankle-attachable Laundry Tanks: Now you can wash your clothes while taking your daily walk, a perfect solution for the problems of inadequate exercise and hygiene.
These thought-provoking inventions have taken Japan by storm. Every item in 101 Unuseless Japanese Inventions has actually been manufactured to the highest standards, fully tested by pioneering members of the Japanese public, and tastefully photographed. It is only a matter of time before Americans succumb to their charm, logic, and utility.
Kenji Kawakami began his creative career in the Sixties writing scripts for animated TV series, and went on to arrange media events, becoming an avid opponent of such Japanese institutions as karaoke. After designing the Tokyo Bicycle Museum in the mid-Eighties, he became editor of a popular home shopping magazine, in which the concept of Chindogu was first born. The author of four books of unuseless inventions, and founder of the 10,000-strong International Chindogu Society, he is famous throughout Japan for his bizarre gadgets and his tireless work for the better understanding and appreciation of the tenets of Chindogu. Dan Papia gave the Tokyo Dome its official name ('Big Egg') and introduced Chindogu to the world outside Japan. He currently runs a video distribution business, writes a media column for the Mainichi newspaper and a humorous column for the Tokyo Journal and appears irregularly on Japanese TV. 
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1995 / paperback original / ISBN 0-393-31369-7 / Over 100 full-color drawings / 160 pages / Humor | |||||
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Duster Slippers for Cats: Now the most boring job around the house becomes hours of fun. Not for you, but for your cat! With these dust-dislodging foot socks, cats can play their part in easing the pressure of domestic chores.
Backscratching Tee-shirt with Grid: Erase the phrase "lower . . . to the right" from your vocabulary with this wonderful aid to getting scratched precisely where you itch.
