When you have a problem, you must...

October 30, 2014 10:57 PM

Fastening Days is a 11-minute long Anime short commissioned by YKK, the mysterious company responsible for the Clasp Locker that helps hold your jeans together.

Japanese audio: Right here

posted by Mr.Encyclopedia (15 comments total)

About 20 years ago I taught English at their head office in Kurobe. It was my first job after graduation. I lived in a house built for Jimmy Carter, who had helped YKK build their first North American plant in Georgia, so the house was built for him to stay in when he visited Kurobe (I don't think he ever did). YKK isn't particularly mysterious in Japan, as they are known for making aluminum architectural products, and there are dealers (usually home builders) in almost every neighborhood.

My students were usually engineers and managers heading off to Singapore or Brazil on expat assignments. YKK is based in the tiny town of Kurobe because of the large hydroelectric dam nearby (working with aluminum takes a ton of electricity) and because traditionally Toyama has a lot of know-how when it comes to smelting and so on (the "tatara" foundry in Princess Monoke is based on similar sites in the mountains behind Takaoka in Toyama, on the other end of the plain from Kurobe).

The winter I spent working at YKK was pretty interesting. And bloody cold. It was where I learned to use chopsticks in Japan, and where I learned how to order a beer.
posted by Nevin at 11:16 PM on October 30, 2014 [5 favorites]

But...why, YKK? I mean, sure, I kinda understand your TV ads for windows, but when it comes to zippers, how much more of the market can you get than 100%?
posted by Bugbread at 11:21 PM on October 30, 2014

I think their market share for "fasteners" is declining.

Besides this video has got to be for shareholder s.
posted by Nevin at 11:24 PM on October 30, 2014

My jeans button. #501sForever
posted by hippybear at 1:26 AM on October 31, 2014 [1 favorite]

They're not based in Waikiki, then?
posted by iotic at 1:49 AM on October 31, 2014 [3 favorites]

In response to the thread title:

WHIP IT!
posted by ShutterBun at 5:11 AM on October 31, 2014 [1 favorite]

(On second thought, that may have been what you were going for. Appologies for stepping on joke)

(Note: my momma's back is just fine)
posted by ShutterBun at 5:13 AM on October 31, 2014

But...why, YKK? I mean, sure, I kinda understand your TV ads for windows, but when it comes to zippers, how much more of the market can you get than 100%?

When I was tearing out a wall in my house, I found a old local newspaper from the 70's with a column from a former zipper making family lamenting the destruction of the US zipper manufacturing industry as it was being replaced by cheaper and markedly (according to the writer) inferior Japanese zippers. it was very heart felt.
posted by ennui.bz at 6:10 AM on October 31, 2014 [1 favorite]

Shouldn't that be "When a Problem Comes Along"?
posted by Naberius at 6:32 AM on October 31, 2014

I guess when you have nothing but zippers, everything looks like...um...er...c'mon people, help me out here!
posted by happyroach at 6:33 AM on October 31, 2014

And here I thought Japan was just ahead of the US in phone and mass transit technology! Now they're winning the day in ziplines as well!

We have a zipline gap!
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 9:41 AM on October 31, 2014

Fastenating!
posted by Small Dollar at 11:19 AM on October 31, 2014 [1 favorite]

This is the year 2014. We should have electronic pants that use an elaborate NFC-based cryptographic system so that you, and only you, can undo the electromagnetic locks that secure your junk. And maybe they have social media integration and e-paper on your butt so they don't just say "Juicy," but instead reflect your current mood.
posted by mccarty.tim at 11:28 AM on October 31, 2014

I'm rather sick this weekend and I can't tell if I just watched a commercial for zippers or if I just had a really weird fever dream...
posted by buriednexttoyou at 4:14 PM on October 31, 2014 [1 favorite]

When you have a problem, you must...solve it
posted by florinn15 at 5:42 PM on October 31, 2014 [1 favorite]