in an effort to develop new microcircuit technology, a university professor in tokyo instead creates the worlds smallest bowl of ramen.
It won’t fill you up, but it is a feast for the eyes (if you look through a microscope). This so-called “world’s smallest bowl of ramen” — a 1-micron (1/1000-mm, or 1/100th the width of a human hair) wide bowl containing dozens of 20-nanometer (1/50,000-mm) thick noodles — was created by University of Tokyo professor Masayuki Nakao as part of an effort to develop new carbon nanotube-based microcircuit fabrication technology. Nakao used a metal particle beam to carve the bowl from silicon, and he mixed up a soup of ethanol and catalyst inside the bowl to form the carbon nanotube “noodles.” According to Nakao, it was a major challenge to keep the bowl from overflowing. No word yet on how the tiny meal tastes.
source: pink tentacle
the short skirts that inspired countless books, movies, video games, and our imaginations might be our of the picture soon.
according to mainichi:
“Slacks are slowly becoming part of schoolgirl uniforms throughout the country, with a Sapporo junior high school’s decision earlier this year to make them compulsory threatening to end the hegemony of the hem.
Slacks replaced skirts as girls’ compulsory garb at the Sapporo Municipal Minamigaoka Junior High School from spring this year, although pupils will be able to wear skirts for about three months over the summer period.
School officials say the main reason for making slacks compulsory is health, and that it’s common for pupils to go for what’s called the Haniwa Look — tracksuit pants worn underneath a very short skirt — during the colder months. Head teacher Minoru Sasaki said the school decided to make a formal change.”
source: mainichi
photo: Café du Monde
He’s playing the role of “Alien Jones”, an alien who came to earth to conduct a survey… we think (can we get these translated?). We got #11 and #12 of the series…
#11
#12
source: ANN
Usually sold at tourist spots in Iwate Prefecture in Japan, these unique sake containers adds a mild squid flavor to hot sake when poured from them. And if the container is melted enough from the hot sake, you can even eat it too.
At the Kimura Shoten store, which is the sole producer of the unique liquor containers called “Ika Tokkuri,” the skins of cuttlefish caught off the Sanriku Coast are formed by hand in the shape of tokkuri (sake bottles) and then repeatedly dried in the sun.
When you pour warm sake into an Ika Tokkuri, the taste of squid melts into the sake, giving it a mild taste.
After you down the sake, you can even eat the squid container itself.
source, photo: Mainichi Daily News via: 3yen
The guys at Tantei File launched an investigation to test if rumors are true that the Japanese police are stopping otakus and subjecting them to searches.
Tantei File sent Ozumi-san to the streets dressed up like an otaku. And as expected, he was searched by the police.
Previously, we’ve brought word of criminals hunting Japanese otaku. This time it’s the Japanese police who’s hunting them. Apparently, police in Shinjuku have been stopping people who look like otaku, aka NERDS, and subjecting them to spot checks. What do Japanese otaku look like? They come in all shapes and sizes, but the above chap does a nice job of playing the stereotype. In these spot checks, the police ask what your occupation is, examine your ID and sometimes go through your stuff.A supposed police list describes what types of individuals cops should do spot checks on. Those individuals are:
•People wearing camouflage trousers or jackets
•People with chains or keys (hanging off trousers)
•People who look weak
•People wearing a bandana
•People wearing leather
