Japanese Human Slip 'N Slide

Okay, I don't know about you, but if I were a contestant on this Japanese game show I would probably lock-up on girl number four, at least, due to the density change in my swim trunks.

New Japanese Electronic Music Toy Can (and Will) Be Used For All Sorts of Perversion

Yup. It will.

Gotta Shock 'Em All, Gotta Shock 'Em All

I did not know this.

I know. I don't know a lot of things, but this is one of them.

Anyway, I did not know that back in 1997 an episode of Pokemon aired on Japanese television that caused hundreds and hundreds of little kids to be rushed to hospitals. The children had experienced seizures! When I read this, I was like WTF? Here's a link to the report.

So anyway, if you're too lazy to click on the link, here's the rundown. There is a scene in the episode containing rapidly flashing colors during a missile attack; specifically blue and red. This particular strobe effect was just crazy enough to F up more than 600 little ones who happened to be watching. The episode — which became known as the "Pokemon Shock" episode — was pretty much banned and later altered with slowed-down frames of animation.

And now — for the first time ever — here is your chance to watch the ORIGINAL, seizure-inducing scene from the infamous "banned from TV" episode of Pokemon. Just remember I am not legally responsible if your head explodes like in Scanners, okay? Watch at your own risk.

Bizarre Japanese Game Shows You Will Not Believe: Evil Treadmill!

omg this is hilarious.

All Your Base Are Belong To Us

If you're not familiar with the phrase, click here and congratulate yourself on living in the year 2009!

If you ARE familiar with that phrase but have yet to watch the legendary video remix, check it out below. Good stuff.

Bizarre Japanese Game Shows You Will Not Believe: Round And Round!

Damn, theys some ugly people in this world.

Bizarre Japanese Game Shows You Will Not Believe: Marshmallow!

Okay, what in the --

Bizarre Japanese Game Shows You Will Not Believe: Moving Wall!

One part moving wall, one part human Tetris. Pretty funny.

Hilarious (And Admittedly Bizarre) Arcade Game Lets You Flip Over A Table In Anger

Yes, it's a tad odd. Yes, it is destined for revenue failure. And yes, it is funny. It's called Cho Chabudai Gaeshi and by god if it isn't a new level of strange. Even for a game in Japan. If you're wondering about possible North American distribution, don't hold your breath.



Thanks, Kotaku

Bizarre Japanese Game Shows You Will Not Believe: Conveyor Belt Butts!

This might be the most messed up Japanese game show ever created for television. For real.

Bizarre Japanese Game Shows You Will Not Believe: It's Nuts!

Guess what happens when you screw up on THIS Japanese game show?

Bizarre Japanese Vending Machines

When it comes to putting stuff in giant metal boxes and charging people money, Japan is the undisputed king. There is reportedly one vending machine for every 26 Japanese citizens. Do the math. That's a hell of a lot of machines.

But it's not the sheer number of vending machines in Japan that is amazing -- it's the variety of things you can purchase from them! Below are some examples (believe me when I tell you, I saved the craziest ones for last!)

Ice cream vending machines

We start off with a great idea for a vending machine. Who doesn't like ice cream?

Umbrella vending machines

Kind of odd, but I guess it makes sense

Battery vending machines

Sometimes the batteries in the display are visibly corroded, but usually the ones you buy are fine

Fresh flowers vending machines

After a heavy night of drinking, this machine is a godsend to the salary man (term used to describe a typical Japanese office worker)

Newspaper vending machines

There are tons of these at train stations all over Japan

Porn magazine vending machines

Even though the Japanese government does not allow genitalia to be depicted in print media (tax dollars go to pay for the removal of the offensive material), porn is still very popular. I guess you take what you can get!

 Fried food vending machines

Hot dogs, dumplings, french fries... it's all available. Not saying it tastes good, just saying it's available.

Fortune vending machines

Usually found near shrines and places of worship

Beer and liquor vending machines

Yes, beer and liquor can be had at the touch of a button -- and there's no one to card you! You would think these machines would cause some sort of mass delinquency of minors, but apparently that's not the case

More beer and liquor vending machines

Canned beer and bottled whiskey! Even two-liter jugs of the stuff! Can you believe it?!

Fishing supply vending machines

Fishing line, hooks, lures, and even live bait can be purchased on the spot

Egg vending machines

Pretty weird

Dry ice vending machines

If you have a long ride home from the grocery store, you can pack your food in a bag of dry ice

Toilet paper vending machines

For about $1 U.S., you can buy a small package of TP for your bunghole

Energy drink and condom vending machines

Get energy and vitamins fast! Stop the Aids!

Live lobster vending machines

Some kids try to win stuffed animals... others catch dinner for the night

Rhinoceros Beetle vending machines

Believe it or not, there are many children in Japan who keep real, live beetles as pets! The most popular kind is the Rhinoceros Beetle. Guilt-ridden fathers can now buy one for their kids after they stumble out of the hostess bar at 3AM

"Slightly Used Girl's Panties" vending machines

No, this is not some sort of mythical legend -- what you heard is true! You can actually buy "slightly soiled" panties from a vending machine for between $10 and $30 U.S. Some machines actually display photos of each of the original owners (yeah, right) near the item numbers. The machine pictured here used to vend cigarettes

"Squishy Boob" vending machines

Now you can cop a feel without getting slapped across the face. This is plain silly! I want one! I mean two!

So what's your favorite? Can't wait to hear your comments...

Special thanks to Photomann.com!

Resident Evil 5: American Launch Vs. Japanese Launch

Here's what the line looked like in Japan, as people waited for Resident Evil 5*:

Here's what the line looks like tonight in the U.S., as people wait for Resident Evil 5:

Actually, I'm messing with you. That's just a gang of rotten hillbillies. Hawhaw

All kidding aside, in case you were not aware, the video game retail environment in Japan is a hundred times more dynamic than it is here in America. When a hot new game launches in Japan, retailers in the Akihabara district (the country's electronics mecca) pull out all the stops. 

I struggled to find any pics of people waiting in line here in the states, but I did find a whole mess of completely awesome photos from the Japanese launch earlier this month. Just look at these photos!

The bottom one is actually from a different game launch (Namco's Tales of Vesparia), but I wanted to show you just how dedicated Japanese gamers can be.

More Resident Evil 5 coverage to come...

* Referred to as Biohazard 5 in Japan