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Joge-e, or “two-way pictures,” are a type of woodblock print that can be viewed either rightside-up or upside-down. Large numbers of these playful prints were produced for mass consumption in the 19th century, and they commonly featured bizarre faces of deities, monsters or historical figures (including some from China). Only a few examples of original joge-e survive today. Here are a few.

This print by Kuniyoshi (c. 1852) depicts Hotei (Laughing Buddha) and Shoki (a character from the “Romance of the Three Kingdoms“). When viewed upside-down, Hotei becomes Asahina (a character from a popular novel of the time) and Shoki becomes Zhang Fei.

This woodblock print was published by Ezakiya Tatsuzo (c. 1842). Left to right, top to bottom (upside-down image described in parentheses): 1. Small tengu (Gedo, an evil person), 2. King Zhou, Shang Dynasty (Guan Yu), 3. Wind god (Thunder), 4. Nyudo (Pair of frogs), 5. Tengu looking up (Tengu looking down), 6. Tofu Kozo (Mitsume Kozo), 7. Onamuchi-no-mikoto, Shinto god of nation-building, farming, business and medicine (Iruka-no-omi), 8. Cao Cao (Shoki, Zhang Fei), 9. Mikenja (Ghost of Mirin).

This print by Kuniyoshi (c. 1852) shows a Daruma and Tokusakari (a character from a famous Noh play). Viewed upside-down, the Daruma becomes a Gedo (an evil person) and Tokusakari becomes Ikyu (a character from the famous play “Sukeroku”).

Created by Yoshitora, 1861. Left column (top to bottom): 1. Fukusuke, god of merchant prosperity (Frog), 2. Evil man (Ebisu, god of fishermen and good luck), 3. Fukurokuju, god of wisdom and longevity (Tanuki, racoon dog with giant scrotum). Center: 4. Ikyu (Foreigner) , 5. Okame (Dekusuke), 6. Gedo, an evil person (Asahina). Right: 7. Hotei, Laughing Buddha (Yakko), 8. Earth god (Mountain god).

Created by Yoshitora, 1862. Left column (top to bottom): 1. Tadafumi (Gedo, an evil person), 2. Hunter (Frog), 3. Small tengu (Big tengu), 4. Bad guy (Bad guy). Center: 5. Two-horned demon (One-horned demon), 6. Kasane, possessed female character in famous Kabuki play (Ugly man), 7. Daruma (Daruma). Right: 8. Foreigner (Ainu), 9. Nio guardian (A-un guardian).

[Images from: Edo no Asobi-e, Tokyo Shoseki, 1988 (out of print)]

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The deep blue lenses of these diet sunglasses turn off your appetite by calming the urge to eat. They also make you look cool — in a southern-sheriff sort of way.

Diet Sunglasses Turn Off Your Appetite

Originally from Inventor Spot - Inventions, Innovations, and Interesting Ideas for the Inventor in All of Us

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As part of its campaign to attract more foreign tourists, the Japanese government’s newly formed, Cherry Blossom Ballyhoo Board, has declared that every website based in Japan has to make a minimum of two mentions of the famed flowers, or alternatively suffer some sort of sanction.

A decree that thankfully allows photos only,

although combinations of bunnies and bare legs have been deemed discretionary.

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2008 cherry blossom charter #1

Originally from Tokyo Times

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Word-a-day calendars might improve your vocabulary, but unless they’re electronic, they’re not exactly great for the environment. Here’s a more creative and lasting alternative that you don’t have to wait for a new year to try out: the key calendar from Takumi.

I’m not sure exactly how it works, but it seems that you move the key every day to keep track of the date. It would be very cool if turning the keys revealed some kind of secret compartment (you could set it to deliver a love note on your anniversary or something) but I don’t think that’s an option yet.

Apartment Therapy says the calendar “plays upon both the metaphorical and also the innate physical desire to manipulate the mechanical as an effective way to keep track of the days of a month.”

I just think it’s pretty.

Quirky and covetable: Takumi’s key calendar

Originally from Popgadget: Personal Tech for Women

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Link to larger version here.

Here’s a less orderly way to park cars.

Now this is how you park a car

Originally from Neatorama

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A Korean drummer steals the show. Unfortunately, there is no information about the name of the band. Maybe someone else knows?

Link [YouTube] - via Videofeber

Groovy Korean Drummer

Originally from Neatorama

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Jedi Master Jonba Hehol was one of the founders of the UK Church of the Jedi. His friends and family know him as 36-year-old hairdresser Barney Jones. He was giving a TV interview in his back yard last week when a man wearing a Darth Vader helmet and a black trash bag leapt over the fence and began attacking him!

Wielding a metal crutch - his lightsaber presumably being in for repairs - the Sith Lord proceeded to lay about his opponent, whose Jedi powers proved inadequate for the task of defending himself.

After besting Master Hehol in single combat, Vader, who The Sun reports was under the influence of alcohol, went on to assault the camera crew and a hairdresser.

Police are investigating. Link -via Arbroath

Jedi Master Attacked by Darth Vader

Originally from Neatorama

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Found at Wooster Collective: this creative (and non-destructive) street art by a mysterious artist who makes animals out of discarded plastic bags and ties them to subway grates. When the train rushes below, the puff of air makes the animal jump to life!

Link - via Today and Tomorrow - Thanks Lee!

Looks familiar? Maybe it’s because you’ve seen this post before on Neatorama: Shopping Bag + Subway Grate = Art?

Plastic Bag Animal Street Art

Originally from Neatorama

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The other day we got email from renowned Dutch journalist, photographer, and producer Kjeld Duits letting us know that he is a regular reader of JAPUNDIT. He also took the opportunity to alert us to a new blog he has started that is dedicated to old photographs of Japan.

Old Photos of Japan is dedicated to photographs from Mr. Duits’ private collection of thousands of rare photographs, postcards, and maps of Japan. It is a multilingual photoblog with daily uploads of rare photographs and postcards of Japan between 1860 and the 1930’s.

What makes Old Photos of Japan especially interesting for Japundit readers are the Google Maps. They make it possible to find the exact location displayed in the image. Lots of fun if you know Japan well. Often, the entries also feature historical maps showing where the photographer stood some 100 years ago to make the shot.

These images display an abundance of information about the urban settings and customs of Japan. Well-researched articles accompany the images. Many of the articles contain maps and additional illustrations, making them a fun and useful resource on Meiji, Taisho and early Showa Japan.

The photographs can be searched by keyword, period, theme, location, photographer and medium.

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Kjeld Duits: Old Photos of Japan

Originally from Japundit

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Last July, Natsuki Matsumoto rummaged around at an Osaka antique store and made a wonderful discovery- short, silent anime films over 90 years old- the oldest ever found.

The National Film Center in Tokyo has restored both anime films: “Nakamura Katana”- A 2 minute silent film about a samuari and “Urashima Taro” based on an old Japanese folk tale of a fisherman.

Junichi Kouchi and Seitaro Kitayama, the creators of the films, are considered the pioneers of anime.

The two films will be a part of a film festival beginning in April at the National Film Center.

More info

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Japan’s Oldest Anime Restored

Originally from Japundit

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