Godzilla Fan Club

Godzilla was always a champ when it came to the fans. She'd sign anything, and pose for any and every photo - and in Japan of all places!

She also was friends with many of Japan's post WW2 leading ladies.

Know the risks!

A nest of Waifu-sans, particularly thick. Nests like this originated in Japan but over the last 20 years have spread worldwide. There could be a nest in your town right now.

Infection begins with a young man's sexual frustrations channeled into a cartoon, the obsessive watching of which causes full display of the disease, with the purchase and association with a "Waifu", or Anime Pillow Wife. Once infection has reached this stage the victim will lose most contact with society and instead group with others similarly infected, forming nests.

Be on the lookout if your young son has taken an interest in anything Japanese, as that is the hallmark first sign of infection.

Easily strong

What are you looking at?

'Murica at war

What tha?! A giant swastika flying in the sky?! What will those damn NAZI's think of next?!

Oh yeah get Japan to distract America. Right!

See what happens, rest of the world? Take note.

Black Ships in the Harbor

This is a detail from an 1854 scroll that was sent around Japan following the arrival of the American Commodore Perry and his fleet of Black Ships (Japanese term). It's satire, poking fun at Perry and the American war ships. Here's a more artsy, realistic version:

Here's an actual picture:

And here's a classy American drawing of ships (steam powered paddle boats, with sails - it was a confusing time in war ships) of the Fleet entering Tokyo harbor:

Perry's visit to Japan was all about whaling - rescuing lost sailors, buying coal and provisions, a little bit of trade with the whalers. Seems like no big deal, right? But aha! Cuz one thing led to another and here we are today:

Modern Japanese culture. Crazy in so many different ways, some good, some not. And it's all thanks to American influence. Japan was an ancient traditional culture pre WW2, and especially before 1854 - the American visit. But like with the rest of the "Western" world since WW2, America infected Japan with 1960's Hippie Power, and nothing's been the same since.

Sorry Japan.

Gone Bad

Bananas go bad. It's always sad, because you were going to eat that banana, but got distracted, then the next day you missed your alarm, then the next day you went out for breakfast, then like suddenly! Bad. Life of banana crime. Pickle Police had to put this one down - off to the bakery with him. Tragic.

Meanwhile, in Japan...

Buy Dole Bananas! Or else.

Future American Composite

If I were writing this article for the NY Tribune in 1910, I'd have suggested mutton chops would have come back in style... in the FUTURE! Also, Magyar = Hungarian.

But the good folks of the NY Tribune could not have possibly imagined non-Europeans as future Americans, of course. Heck!

Apparently these types of articles were all the rage 1941-1945. So insightful!

Really, though, in 1910 it wasn't even conceivable for a person of non-European descent to be considered American. Now look at us! A large block of non-Europeans got together and re-elected a black man born in Hawaii.  Who of course has 50% European background, like many Americans.

Keep Moving

Citizens! Follow these guidelines so that the next time you can punch that dastardly Jap rather than the friendly Chinese public servant!

Um, yeah, lady? By the wording of the sign, maybe you should be leaving the neighborhood as well? Being a woman and all. But committed to your distrust of Japs!

You see here three very positive trends: 1. This kind of outright racism is no longer tolerated in most places. Sure, it still exists, but pushed down and frowned upon, which is but a step towards elimination. 2. Former enemies can become great friends! Or, at least, geo-politics makes for strange bedfellows. 3. Peace can be made and grown over generations. Arguably, Japan (and Germany) had fairly aggressive and war like societies prior to World War 2. Since, they've been two of the most peaceful countries in the world, and their societies have become much more tolerant and less martial.

We are making huge strides as a species for the most part. An important fact to remember when reading the latest Rightwing slobberings. It's never a settled matter, however. Peace and Justice must be fought for on a daily basis.

Heat Sensitive

Give a man a target and reduce his natural messiness by 75%. It's science, and cool as hell. Go Japan!

At-At Boy

What boy or even girl wouldn't want a fully articulate wooden At-At model, made in Japan? I say thee about 27% of the whole. Losers, in other words.


The At-At doesn't seem to be the most practical way of transporting men o' war when you have levitation devices on everything. Why not just float them Troopers in there, rather than the cumbersome legs and plodding?

Cool factor, that's why.

A Hidden Base

What a fantastic use of escalator space! If I came upon such a sight with the Star Wars opening crawl appearing before me, I would giggle like an anime Japanese schoolgirl. For real - so awesome! Speaking of:

Construction season soon to recommence at Gondolin, or "Secret Rock". Walls rise, rivers tamed, forests tended like gardens. Ulmo has commanded it to be so!

Gun Dam!

This is a Gundam, which apparently is a big deal in Japan. Check it out if you must. To gauge how popular, look above - a real statue in Tokyo. How cool?! Or nerdy. Or both, and so much more.

Here's a subpar photoshop of that OBAMER as a Gundam, menacing/protecting the Capitol - your mileage varies, I suppose.

Realistically, I have a hard time seeing giant robots that walk like people - why go through that hassle? Human bipedal motion is extremely complicated, and what does the giant robot get out of it? A spider form would be way more stable/practical/terrifying. Now, robots that are human sized using bipedal motion, sure. That can make sense for certain purposes, and even the robots can enjoy it. For it will be important to keep our robot overlords well pleased. Here's a gift, Robot Boss!

An ultra rare Thomas the Transformer Gundam.

Ads from a hidden land

A real ad! From Japan, where Hollywood Big Shots are free to sell any old product in all sorts of odd ways. An Ewok-Lucas-Wookie kebab? Why not? Back in the day, no one in America (the only important country in the world, of course) would ever know. For example:

Arnold. This was not the image he portrayed in America in the 80's. What does that say about each country? 

Buy Boss! A scowling Tommy Lee Jones commands you!

Faceless

That's the appeal, right? The anonymity? The faceless soldier in a war far grander than you'll ever gather? The Brotherhood that is losing one's self and taking on the same identity as so many others? Or is it all the chicks Stormtroopers get?

Big in Japan. Oh yeah!

I think the Trooper here is the umpire, which makes no sense. But then, have you ever watched Japanese TV? It's crazy!

Like these dudes. Every bachelor party in Japan has a Stormtrooper.

And every museum has a Stormtrooper exhibit.

I wonder if anyone has written a thesis on the conflation of the Stormtrooper with the Samurai. There's a Grad degree there!

I Think I'm Turning

See if you can identify all the characters here. You should be able to, with a bit of consideration.

So, maybe this is an obvious statement, but since reading Lord of the Rings I've noticed how many other stories seem heavily influenced by it. But then, it could easily be said LOTR is heavily influenced by other tales - Nordic mythology, of course, but also Greek and Roman. Perhaps all stories are influenced by all other stories, and this is our collective mythology - a notion nicely detailed by various Joseph Campbell works.

Three examples from Star Wars: Emperor = Sauron; Death Star = The Ring; Storm Troopers = Orcs.

I can defend these examples verbosely if you doubt me!

Bonus question: Who is this? 10 Nerd points if you get it correct.

Also too:

 

Shogun Star Warrior

Now this is art! Nerd millionaires should fund artists who can produce this quality of fanart. And then hang it on their expensive, tacky walls. Culture!

It seems this scene - Cloud City Father Confessional - has become myth to a large portion of humanity. It's wonderful to see it happen before my eyes, mythmaking in action. How long it lasts is anyone's guess, but the Star Wars mythology is going strong for now.

As a nerd, I must insist on pointing out Vader really had little to do with the various Death Stars - which are central to the entire storyline, including the prequels. He was just a lackey; everything was all about the Emperor.

Home is where you sleep on a regular basis

Osaka Japan. I'm sure it seems fairly normal when you live there after awhile - yah, I'm down over by the Pesky Pole. Or maybe not - as the old koan goes, how can you go home when it's already been stolen?

Also, good zombie proofing potential for a whole town - you'd have lots of internal storage space and good infrastructure (water, sanitation, etc). Just lock up them doors!

Axis of the Past

Germany is a paradise these days - towers for cars, health care for all, at peace within and without.

Hiroshima Japan - and a lesson for the world in many ways. Where there is life, there is hope, and you can always rebuild.

Think of the Children

The baby lions. And hyenas. And crocodiles. Don't these children deserve to live too? To eat, play, thrive? That's why on them nature shows on the TV, I always root for the predators, since they've got families to support and in many ways their lives are far more difficult than the prey they hunt. Who always seem to number in the legions. So, next time a pack of lions is chasing down a cute widdle baby antelope, why not, maybe just once or twice, root for the lion? Maybe even especially here.

Also too - Japanese polar bear bait:

Ya ever watch any Japanese TV? You should. If TV is your thing, that is.