MetaFilter posts tagged with Japan and humor

Works on low-talkers too!

scalefree — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:59:33 -0800

Having confronted the problem of how to walk past someone without running into them, it's time MetaFilter dealt with another pressing social issue: How to deal with slow walkers (SLYT).

Welcome to the Evil Federated Empire of Europe

desjardins — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:05:57 -0800

Europe according to... is a project to map stereotypes of European countries according to other countries and groups of people. Similarly themed, less pretty: The World According to... America Americans (another) The United States of America George W. Bush Ronald Reagan (another) France India Canada Finland Singapore Taiwan China Australia The United States According to... Europe The Rest of the World (another) Japan Californians New Yorkers Utahns Miscellaneous North America According to Canadians Europe According to Sweden How Americans See Europe How Americans (?) See Australia Africa According to the Rest of the World

“Toro is junk food for low income earners.”

zarq — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:26:09 -0800

"The Japanese Tradition" was a series of nine short, parody "How To" videos that gently mocked the formality of Japanese culture, from comedy duo Rahmens (ラーメンズ) and Japan Culture Lab. They're available on DVD, but nearly all of them can be seen on YouTube, including Sushi and Ocha (tea). They're impeccable pastiches of cultural instruction videos -- How To guides to the correct use of chopsticks, paper-folding, sparring, the etiquette of family holidays, how to make rice balls, the way of tea, the rituals of apology, the eating of sushi and how to clap in time.
The Japanese Tradition 1. Sushi 2. Ocha / Tea 3. Dogeza / Apologizing (Also.) 4. Tejime 5. Origami 6. Hashi / Chopsticks 7. Rice Balls Similar series from Rahmens: * Love Relationships Part 1: Theory * Love Relationships Part 2: Theory * Love Relationships Part 3: Practice * Love Relationships Part 4: Practice Rahmens were also responsible for the Japanese versions of Apple's "Get A Mac" ads. "The Japanese ad scripts are almost unrecognisable, because bragging about your strengths is considered stupid and rude. Instead, the Mac shows class by remaining sophisticated, humble and controlled in the face of the PC’s increasing overconfidence and excitement. The punch lines, it’s safe to say, are lost in translation."
1. Nicknames 2. iLife 3. Viruses 4. Nengajo - New Year's Cards 5. Pie Chart 6. Restart 7. Security 8. Steps 9. Microsoft Office 10. Home Movie 11. Artist 12. Bloated

Our insect is in another casserole

artifarce — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:28:25 -0800

Sure you consider yourself a retro 8-bit gaming geek, but have you played Udon Boy in Ramen Land, or Kung Fu Psycho Rider? Don't feel bad, they're from Japanese culture store Meteor's annual Famicase, an exhibition of imaginary games.

Wendy & her amazing mouth

rageagainsttherobots — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 08:38:45 -0800

An American woman is showing off her amazing mouth on Japanese TV shows.

Tha Japanese Tradition

ikahime — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:30:19 -0800

Comedy duo, Ramenz (ラーメンズ), aka Kobayashi Kentaro and Katagiri Jin, also known as the Japanese versions of Mac and PC, have recently done a number of shorts collectively called "The Japanese Tradition." Apparently, these tongue-in-cheek pseudo-instructional vids about famous aspects of Japanese culture (Tea, Chopsticks, Sushi, Origami, Apology, Onigiri, and Relationships) have been fooling a lot of non-natives into thinking they are actual guides. (YouTube, each approx 4-6 min).

Gaki No Tsukai

Armitage Shanks — Thu, 18 May 2006 14:54:26 -0800

"...this clip of a Japanese show called Gaki No Tsukai stands out not for what it includes, but for what it lacks - talking and screaming. It takes place in a studio made up like a library, with the participants (including Kickboxing champion Ernesto Hoost) stifling their laughter, screams of pain and retching noises, just like any student did in their own junior high school library." [youtube video, text shamelessly lifted from wfmu]

Manga Rul'z #1: Psychotropic drugs and advertising research don't mix.

schroedinger — Tue, 10 May 2005 20:58:28 -0800

JAPAN IS SO COOOOOL AND SO KAWAII . . .! Is the highlight of this website a hair product or a marketing campaign gone horribly, hilariously wrong? Feel the Manga power and judge for yourself!

Kazoku sorrote no seppuku ga yokatta.

antifreez_ — Fri, 05 Dec 2003 14:49:03 -0800

To add to the recent JapanFilter phenom, here are two unrelated items: a brief tutorial on using Japanese commodes, and a list of Japanese car names. Interested in buying a Nissan Homy? A Mitsubishi Bravo Exceed, perhaps?

3000 Cartridges

nthdegx — Wed, 06 Aug 2003 13:26:25 -0800

His name is Mr Freetime, he has 2,967 copies of Moero!! Pro Baseball for the Famicom. He knows how to use them.