As expected, there are not many places in the world that take more of a jaw-dropping turn than Japan when it comes to disturbing toys. That being said, here are my top ten most disturbing Japanese toys that I would seriously hesitate giving to any child.

10. Poop and Pee Plushies

Japan has a strange relationship with poop. I can’t tell you how many potty-training and poop related children’s toys I’ve come across, but it’s more than I could have ever imagined. Sure, poop jokes are always funny, but somehow the idea of teaching your child to snuggle with their own excrement via plushies just doesn’t sound healthy to me. Please, prove me wrong.

9. H-Bouya USB Toy

The H-Bouya is a plug in USB toy in the form of a small boy. I’m not sure what twisted tween-age mind came up with this one, but the H-Bouya’s main trick is giggling and blushing every time you press the letter “h” on your keyboard. In Japanese “h” stands for “etchi,” meaning sex, erotic, or pervert (oh my god, she said “h” hehehehe). The H-bouya also reacts to other love related words like suki (like/love), deeto (date), and much more.

I guess it’s kinda funny, but I’m not sure if the H-bouya is supposed to be amusing for kids or adults. It seems like it would get old faster than the new Ferby which lasted only about 30 seconds after I turned it on.

8. Virus Plush

In the past few years, plushies in the shape of diseases have become pretty common in the States, but that’s not the only place. This Japanese plush for babies is modeled after a virus for maximum fun time! Above left is the Japanese virus plush. Below, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). And above right, a small child that appears to be contracting AIDS.

Am I the only one that sees the resemblance? No? Well, this is sure to be a happy ending. I can’t see how anything could go wrong here.

7. Face Bank

My parents have always taught me the importance of saving money, but honestly, I’ve never really been any good at it. But you know, It’s really a shame that a bank like this one didn’t exist when I was a kid because I’m sure I would have saved money in fear that Satan would devour my soul if I didn’t offer it my lunch money as tribute.

As shown, the Face Bank comes in solid colors and is rather plain – that is, expect for the soulless, haunting eyes and subhuman face protruding from the front of it. The Face Bank will stare you down with its lifeless, chimpanzee face until you appease it with your pocket change. It will then proceed to devour said change with its robotic jaws and then let out a satisfied belch.

There is something truly terrifying about a robotic creature mimicking human-like functions in such a lifeless manner. Seriously, this thing is pure nightmare fuel.

6.Road Kill Cat

“Mommy? What happened to Mittens?” Don’t even bother conjuring up some BS story about Mittens running  away or going off to play with the neighbors. Just throw your kid this thing and they’ll eventually get the idea. Or, at least it will give them something to do with all those extra Hot Wheels cars laying around the house. I’m sure they’ll be just as happy as the kid on the package- all smiles! :D

5. Rubber Lips

Do you remember those old “candy” lips that looked really tasty but actually tasted like freshly waxed baboon butt (and were about the same color)? That’s what these Japanese toy rubber lips reminded me of when I first saw them, only somehow much more disturbing (not at all in a suggestive way). Japanese rubber lips are mobile, so you can preform a range of activities while wearing them including talking, eating hoagies, or even scaring the Milk of Magnesia out of your aged neighbors! Honestly, I’m not sure what the purpose of these things is, but I really don’t want to know.

4. Russian Roulette Toy Gun

“Hey guys! I’ve got a great idea!” Let’s play with guns!” That’s basically what this Japanese Russian Roulette game says to me. The game includes a toy gun similar to a Nerf gun that “fires” randomly. Young children put the toy gun to their heads and pull the trigger to test their luck. Somehow making the gun shoot out hippopotamus legs instead of bullets is supposed to make this so much more acceptable.

Sounds like a roaring good time to me. In expert mode kids use a real gun!

3. Japanese Pregnant Doll

All this time I’ve been deluded into thinking Japan has been coming out with a steadily more shocking line of toys every year, but I was wrong. This 19th century doll showing the stages of pregnancy is on my list of the top 3 most disturbing toys ever. It’s only saving grace is the fact that this doll was originally made as a medical model. However, evidence suggests that it was later used for entertaining children.

This, however, raises more disturbing questions. Call me culturally ignorant, but who decided a pregnancy doll was a great thing to use as a child’s play thing? My money is on a doctor giving whatever he had on hand that wasn’t pointy to his children in order to make them shut up, and it happened to be this.

2. You Can Shave the Baby!

This toy has become a sort of myth on the internet and among Japanese toy enthusiasts. However, after doing some research, I found that this toy was originally designed by the Polish artist Zbigniew Libera. Even though this discovery was slightly disappointing, I still think “You Can Shave the Baby” qualifies as one of the disturbing toys ever in Japan.

As you can see, this baby doll comes with hair on all sorts of exciting regions of the body. And you know what the best part is? You can shave it! Unfortunately, it doesn’t grown back, but nothing beats the joy one gets from a good, clean shave. Am I right?

In all seriousness though, I wouldn’t touch this thing with a ten foot pole. Just look at its death glare (it must be unhappy from all that hair). And from the looks of things on the internet, I would say people tend to agree on this subject.

Warning: This video is PG-13

I sincerely hope I’m not the only one here who thinks there is something exceedingly unnerving about having your child shave an infant’s pelvic hair. This is psychopath-making material, right here.

1. Baby in the Microwave Toy

It both encourages me and horrifies me to know that, no matter how desensitized I think I am to ludicrous Japanese inventions, there is always something new to prove me wrong. The baby in the microwave toy is, sadly, exactly what it sounds like: the model of a small child who has been blown up in a microwave. I’m not sure if things could get any more deranged even if I tried.

Honestly, I would have loved to be there to see the sales pitch for this one. The man who pitched this must have been a genius (or a great comedian) to convince someone to market this “gem” of a toy.

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This is just a small sampling of the number of disturbing toys in the world. Unfortunately, there are many, many more both inside and outside of Japan. What is the creepiest toy you’ve ever seen or heard of? Let us know! Share your story with us in the comments section below!

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Bonus Wallpapers!

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To those people I say “bah” and “pshhh, you don’t know what you’re missing out on,” because there’s a whole category of places you’d never think of visiting in Japan that aren’t on the radars of pretty much any Japan travel resources. Some of these areas are what’s known as Bkyuu (B級 = B-rank) spots. As in, where the “Akyuu” spots are the Golden Pavilions and the Todaijis and the Tokyo Towers of the world, the “Bkyuu” spots are the less touristy, weirder, and usually harder to get to. Luckily for you, these are the places I tend to spend most of my time in.

Some of these places we’ve written about – others we’ll be writing and doing video about in the future. All of them are Bkyuu and off the beaten track. The kinds of places people aren’t telling you about.

Okunoshima aka Rabbit Island

In WWII, Okunoshima had a big ol’ poison gas factory. Now, it’s an island covered in rabbits (and possibly some buried containers of poison gas, but that’s just in case the rabbits grow intelligent, I’m sure). One theory is that after the war they were going to kill all the rabbits to help hide the evidence, but local youngsters let them all free before anyone could do that. Today, with a lack of predators and 50+ years of breeding time, there’s a rabbit infestation. Thankfully, tourists seem to like rabbits. It’s also home to a government-run hotel (very nice, I’ve been there), a museum, and some haikyo (ruins) if the rabbits aren’t doing it for you. If you like to feed rabbits, hang out on islands, and walk/bike around a lot, Okunoshima’s your very own rabbit paradise. Be warned, it’s gotten pretty popular in the years since I’ve been there, so grab a reservation to the hotel a few weeks in advance.

Location: Map

Makomanai Takino (aka Easter Island, Japan)

You could go to see the the Moai statues over on Easter Island, or, you could just head on up to the Makomonai Takino Cemetary in Hokkaido, Japan for a somewhat less original experience. It’s a little ways outside of Sapporo, and hard to get to in the winter (all that snow!), but seems like a nice and relaxing (and bizarre) day trip to me. I’m hoping to make it here the next time I’m in Hokkaido when it’s not during blizzard season. If the Moai statues aren’t enough for you, there’s also a Stonehenge replication and daibutsu (giant Buddha) there as well and 1,800,473㎡ worth of land to explore. It’s also a cemetery too.

Location: Map

Meguro Parasite Museum

A half-day is all you need to visit the Meguro Parasite Museum in the Meguro district of Tokyo. Why would you want to visit a parasite museum, let alone this one? Well, first of all, this is the only parasite museum in the world. So, if you’re going to visit one, it’s going to be this one. Second, you’re never going to be able to see things like this in person unless you’re the proud host of said parasites. Come here to enjoy giant tape worms, parasitic turtle heads, educational maps, and more! We spent maybe an hour or so here, but it was very educational and interesting. So, if you’re into science, or if you’re just into weird things, head on over to the Meguro Parasite Museum. Give them a donation, though, they need your yens to do all that parasite-related research upstairs!

Location: Map

Jesus Christ’s Gravesite

We wrote about how Jesus trekked over to Japan (while letting his brother die on the cross) a couple thousands years ago, but it’s worth bringing up again for this Bkyuu list. Why? Well, I think it’s an interesting story. That being said, I wouldn’t make a pilgrimage out here (even for the Christ Matsuri), but if you are in Aomori already, perhaps traversing the distance between Hokkaido and Central Japan, it might be worth the trip. You may even meet one of Jesus’ Japanese ancestors, if you’re lucky!

Location: Map

Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum

I’m not super into Osaka, but there were times in my (younger) life where I was really into instant ramen. Of course, the king of instant ramen is Cup Noodle, and yes, there’s a Cup Noodle Museum. Not only can you learn about the history of Cup Noodle (pretty interesting, actually!) but you can also make your own Cup Noodle, which I think is the best part. I’m not going to be eating mine… that is until some future night where I’m really hungry and really desperate.

Oh, and if you haven’t eaten Japanese Cup Noodle, you’re in for a treat. It’s quite different from the non-Japanese version and actually tastes good, I think. You’d be surprised at the difference.

Location: Map

Yoro Park: The Site Of Reversible Destiny

Also known as the “Site of Reversible Destiny” (that should give you an idea), this park was made by Shusaku Arakawa and Madeline Gins, and is one of the most bizarre places I’ve ever been. It’s designed to be that way, though, so you can go there expecting upside down buildings, giant dangerous tree holes, and places scary for people who don’t like heights.

I also made a video about it a while back, when I visited with my friend Hiroyuki.

This was one of the most interesting places I’ve been to, I think. Every turn was a mini-adventure with something to explore and discover.

Location: Map

Tashirojima, aka Cat Island

A “bizarre places Japan” list wouldn’t be complete without Cat Island! I visited here a couple months before the Tohoku Earthquake. Then, we visited it again in February of this year (“Return To Cat Island” anyone?). If you’re into cats, this is your cat paradise. The island has had it rough with an aging population and damage from the Tohoku Earthquake, but you can get there again now and there are plenty of cats ready to try and murder you for sustenance the moment you turn around…

Here’s Part 1 of the Cat Island Trilogy…

Bonus: Did you know a group of cats is called a Clowder? There are many clowders here.

Location: Map

Robot Restaurant

While some of these places have been around a while, this one is fairly new. The Robot Restaurant in Tokyo is… uh… I don’t know how to describe it, to be honest. You pay your 4000ish yen, you go inside, you sit, and you eat your terrible bento (you’re not here for the food, that’s for sure). Then, the show begins. Scantily clad ladies do battle in giant robot / panda / Captain America suits. Then, they ride out on giant robot ladies. Then there are dinosaurs. Then, people fly around slowly and you give them high fives. Not sure how else to describe it, but it’s a weird experience leaving me scratching my head while smiling and laughing at the same time.

Location: Map

Jigokudani (aka Monkey Park)

I’ve been here a couple times now, and it’s verging on not being a Bkyuu spot anymore, but I’m going to include it anyways. You can do a day trip from Tokyo to here, but I recommend staying the night somewhere nearby so you can arrive early. There are other things to do here, but of course the main attraction is the macaques. They spend time warming themselves in the hot springs (uh oh, they’re leaaarrnninng). They’re also very tame, and will often let you get within inches of their face to take pictures. Don’t blame me if they tear off your face with their monkey strength. They’re still wild after all.

Mostly, though, I’d recommend you get there early. People will snag the best spots and never, ever leave (I’m looking at you Australian tourists). I’m thinking that they’re peeing into catheter or wearing Depends™. It’s the only way.

Location: Map

World’s Shortest Escalator

We found this gem thanks to hippikiller (his video below)… the world’s shortest escalator! This is like… ironic tourism at its best. You can go down this escalator hundreds of times if you want, and nobody will care, you included! Afterwards, I recommend going up one of the longer escalators so you can really feel the difference. Also, go to the game center in the building because you’ll probably be really bored by this point.

Still, it’s an easy day-trip out of Tokyo, so if you need to mark another check off your Guinness Book Of World Records checklist you can do it quite easily (and quickly).

Location: Map

More Bizarre Japanese Tourist Spots

So, I know there’s a lot more out there worth visiting, but these were my ten. I was thinking about throwing in Naoshima for the James Bond Museum or perhaps Zauo, the restaurant where you can catch your own fish (indoors!). What (odd/Bkyuu) places do you recommend in Japan? I know there’s a million more Bkyuu places in Japan worth (or not worth) visiting, so what are your tops?

Bonus Wallpapers!

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Is this topic interesting to me? Will this be interesting to other people? Is the post too short? Too long? Is the title right? Etc., etc..

Most of these considerations are things that all writers try to keep in mind. But because I write about Japan, there are a special set of considerations that I have to keep in mind too.

One of the most important considerations is – believe it or not – am I making Japan out to be too weird?

The Appeal Of The Weird

When given a choice between run-of-the-mill and wacky, most people opt for the latter. Who could blame them? Would you rather read about something typical and mundane, or something really out there and unusual?

And it just so happens that for whatever reason, one of Japan’s biggest exports seems to be weird. Nowadays, it seems almost impossible to escape reading about Japan’s oddities. Hell, there are even whole websites dedicated exclusively to Japan’s wacky exports.

This can be a good thing, because it catches people’s attention easily and might even get them interested in Japan. But there’s also point when the “weird Japan” angle becomes tired and maybe even harmful.

The Risks Of Pigeonholing

When the only exposure to Japanese culture you get is the weird, then it tends to dull everything else out a little bit. It seems to me that eventually, Japan just becomes this kooky place without any real, substantive value, and it becomes hard to take it very seriously at all.

Focusing exclusively on the wacky stuff is, in my opinion, kind of a disservice to everybody involved. The author has a pretty shallow topic to work with, and the audience doesn’t have a whole lot of substance to take in. It seems like a lose-lose situation.

More Than Just Weird

Japan, like any culture, is a complex beast. Sure, there weird parts about Japanese culture, no doubt about it; but there’s still so much more.

Japanese culture has many aspects to it and is virtually impossible to wholly understand. Even if you study Japanese culture for all of your life, there will always be parts of the culture you’ll never understand or even be exposed to. It wouldn’t be for lack of trying, it’s just the depth and breadth of culture is far bigger than we tend to believe.

For instance, I’ve lived in the same area for nearly all my life, but I’m still learning new things about it all the time. Just when I think I’ve got my hometown figured out, I discover new neighborhoods with their own character and culture.

Japan: Not Nearly The Weirdest Place On Earth

That’s not to say that Japan doesn’t have its share of wacky stuff coming out of it. Japan definitely has more than its fair share of the strange. Japan isn’t alone though, and I think that we sometimes forget to turn the mirror on ourselves and look at how bizarre our own cultures can be.

I mean, check out what happens where I’m from: a guy playing bagpipes on his unicycle while wearing a Santa suit.

Believe it or not, this kind of things doesn’t phase me a whole lot anymore, but some outsiders find it really entertaining. People have even fetishized my hometown’s culture to a point where there’s even a TV show about it (Portlandia).

Is Weird Bad?

This isn’t all to say that you shouldn’t talk about “weird Japan” at all. While I think that there are dangers to overdoing it, there are definite advantages to talking about all of the goofy, zany, and just plain inexplicable things that come out of Japan.

Contextualizing these weird outliers gives people a good jumping off point to dive further into Japanese culture, to explore other parts of history, language, sociology, etc..

People look at and appreciate Japan in different ways, through different lenses; and if the weird helps them bring a culture that interests them into focus, then who am I to write them off?

So What’s This Film All About?

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozRYgw6Nlpk']

Being unleashed upon the general public in 2007, Big Man Japan tells the tale of an eccentric middle aged man living alone in a decrepit home in Tokyo. He periodically transforms into a giant, washed up superhero and defends Japan by battling giant monsters that threaten the safety of its general public.

However, and unfortunately for Big Man Japan, the general public is not too pleased with his work. Many people complain and protest that he causes too much collateral damage, wastes electricity (he needs it to grow into giant form), and is just a nuisance to Japan in general.

Even though he has his own late-night spot on TV, it’s only 15 minutes long and only receives 1% or 2% viewer ratings. (You’ll remember from my last post that about anything over 15% is good, and anything less than 10% usually has something wrong with it, but anything less than 5% must be absolutely dreadful.)

Aww, he just wants a hug.

What I didn’t understand about this part is how people could be so angry and frustrated with Big Man Japan. It sounds like the general populace would be happier if Big Man Japan just stopped saving them from certain doom and destruction at the hands of various giant monsters. They have no appreciation at all for his heroic deeds.

It is mentioned that there used to be other superheros like Big Man Japan back in the heyday of his grandfather (the fourth Big Man Japan) and that they enjoyed fame and fortune among undying respect, but I don’t really understand why the safety of Japan is any less popular now than it was back then. This is one thing that the movie hinged on that I didn’t really follow along with.

And Who Is This Matsumoto You Speak Of?

Like I mentioned before, Hitoshi Mastumoto is a funny man. Unfortunately, this movie doesn’t really showcase the traditional humor I’m used to. Undeniably it is a well made and decent film, but it was just not the humor I was hoping for. Matsumoto is one half of the famous comedy duo Downtown and is one of the hosts of the absolutely delightful variety show Gaki no Tsukai. Perhaps becoming so used to his persona on these shows affected my preconceived notions and expectations about this film.

If you haven’t heard of Gaki no Tsukai or seen any of their famous batsu (punishment) games, you should check them out on YouTube. They are hilarious and awesome and a good number of them come complete with subtitles for your viewing pleasure.

And the Verdict?

Falcon Kick!

As for my thoughts on the film, I have to say I was a bit disappointed. That’s not to say I did not enjoy Big Man Japan, it’s just that I was hoping for a bit more. I’d been wanting to see the movie ever since I first heard about it, so I guess I’d been playing the film up in my head for about three years and when I finally got around to seeing it, it just wasn’t what I’d been imagining. I thought it was a bit slow at times, and the giant monsters and the giant monster fighting are pretty much the only super wonky things going on in the film.

Old Man Japan just doesn't quite have the same ring to it.

Because of this, Big Man Japan would not have made it onto my list for the Top 10 Strange Japanese Films You Need to Watch. It’s just not weird enough and it’s just not entertaining enough. While still a decent film, it just failed to impress me. I still have to watch Matumoto’s Symbol (trailer below) so maybe you’ll see a post about that film sometime in the future as well. It certainly looks like it has promise.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFmKduV9hJU']

So, have any of you seen Big Man Japan and/or Symbol? Did they live up to your expectations? Which one did you like better? Tell me in the comments below and let me know if you think I should watch Symbol!

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With a name like “The Site Of Reversible Destiny” you know that it has to be good… or at the very least, weird. For the third episode of TofuguTV (you should watch the video above, before continuing on), my buddy Hiroyuki takes me to Yoro Park, an “experience park” opened in 1995. The theme of the park is to “encountering the unexpected,” and I gotta say, they did a pretty good job. Pretty much everything about it was a pleasant / mildly hazardous surprise.

Let’s Make Things A Little Dangerous

So, I know this whole park was designed by artists (Shusaku Arakawa and Madeline Gins), which is going to make it all awesome and artistic, but as I walked through the Site Of Reversible Destiny, all I could think was… “did someone just want to make a dangerous park for children to play in?”

At the entrance and office, they offer you a helmet. That ought to say something about this place right there. But beyond that, it’s full of steep hills, high places, pitch dark rooms, creepy clown music, and pretty deep holes with trees in them (and guard rails only part way around).

Not shown: The seven children stuck at the bottom of the hole.

But, I imagine the danger was all part of the experience. What fun is an experience park if you don’t get to experience experiences? Half the fun is climbing up things and feeling your way through pitch black rooms. The danger was fun, but that’s only part of the picture. There’s the art side as well.

The best way to describe things, I think, would be to go through a place at a time. I didn’t take pictures of all the locations, but I’ll write here about the ones I did do. For a list of all the locations, you can check them out on the Yoro Park website.

Insect Mountain Range

The Insect Mountain Range is a tall pile of rocks that sit right in front of you as you come out of the entrance building. According to the Yoro Park website, it was “carefully constructed in accordance with Arakawa’s detailed direction.” He wanted to show us that humans don’t have to be subjugated to the natural world. We can, in fact, create “alternative nature” instead.

Oh, and why is this location called the “Insect Mountain Range”? Apparently it’s because of the way people clamber up the rocks like insects in search of water (pictured above).

The best part of the Insect Mountain Range, however, is that you get a nice view of everything else. I didn’t take a picture of it (you can see it in the video, though), but it’s fairly high up, at least when it comes to a pile of rocks. Right in front of it was the Critical Resemblance House, which we’ll look at next.

Critical Resemblance House

The Critical Resemblance House is part house, part maze. The roof is made up of Gifu Prefecture (that’s the prefecture Yoro Park is in) and scattered about are pieces of household furniture. You can see it in the video, but there are things like desks, ovens, refridgerators, toilets, beds, and so on just jutting out of walls and sticking out of the ceiling. It was definitely pretty weird, and fun to work our way through.

Exactitude Ridge

The Exactitude Ridge consists of multiple parts, actually. There’s a bridge-like thing sticking out of the ground that just stops and goes nowhere (see, you’re not alone Sarah!), but then there’s also a small structure that is a reproduction of part of the Critical Resemblance House.

If you make your way inside (you have to crawl), there are holes in the wall (some require a ladder) that give different perspectives of the surrounding landscape. It’s funny how a shape can change your view on things.

Although this seems like a small thing, I think these little holes were probably one of my favorite parts. I really like things that make you look at things in a different way than you’re used to. It’s refreshing to get a different perspective on life (and/or the surrounding landscape, at the very least).

The Great Golf Course Wall Of China

Dominating approximately half of the park was this giant wall that looked like the Great Wall Of China and a golf course had a baby. After leaving the Exactitude Ridge, you’re given the opportunity to scale the wall, all the way to the end.

The wind was strong that day, and the sides didn’t feel all that high… but I guess if they were it wouldn’t be much of an experience (you wouldn’t be able to see too well, and you wouldn’t get as much excitement out of it).

Hiroyuki posing on the wall. Little does he know, winter is coming.

The walkway comfortably fits one person, and uncomfortably fits two (for the couple times we had to squeeze past other people… of course the only time we ran into someone else was on the wall… twice).

You’re able to walk all the way to the end of the wall, where there’s an area to look around and see your surroundings. We could even see Nagoya Station (or, the two big towers, at least), though it was quite far away.

From the wall, though, you can really see the inner area of the park. Inside the park is actually a bunch of hidden Japans… inside Japans… inside Japan. This is the kind of thing dreams inside dreams are made of.

Geographical Ghost

The Geographical Ghost, apparently, has a counterpart known as the “Cleaving Hall” which is apparently even more pitch black. I thought this one was dark, but it seems the other is darker.

Anyways, to get in here you go through a bright yellow entrance that leads into the ground. Soon it becomes dark, and you have to feel your way around dead ends and through skinny passage ways. Eventually, you get to the end: A skylight of Japan. Definitely pretty cool and better in person.

Sadly, though, I didn’t see the “Cleaving Hall.” That sounds like it would have been a lot of fun too.

Destiny House

The Destiny House, I’d say, is less like a house than any of the other places claiming to be a house. It’s on top of a giant map of Japan (in the middle, apparently). It’s supposed to represent ruins of an ancient building. Under the glass (you can kind of see it in the picture) is furniture… once again in a totally useless place. If there’s one recurring theme that Yoro Park keeps bringing up, it’s definitely “useless furniture placement.”

Kinesthetic Pass

The Kinesthetic Pass (see the poorly placed furniture in the middle, farther back?) resides in the area of the big map that represents Kyuushuu (the most Southwest of the four main islands of Japan). Although the furniture in this area is more useable (mostly because they’re not halfway through a wall or ceiling), everything is on a big incline meaning it’s terribly difficult to stand up once you’ve sit down. Everything definitely feels a bit “off” when you’re here because of all the angles. It’s quite fun.

The Other Parts That Will Reverse Your Destiny

Like I mentioned before, there are other interesting things in Yoro Park just waiting to be discovered and experienced. It’s one of those places where if you come here two or even three times, you’ll still find something new and interesting.

There are also plenty of places in the video (top of the page) that show up that don’t show up in this article. There are also places that don’t show up in either (like the “Cleaving Hall,” “The Gate Of Non-Dying,” and the “Trajectory Membrane Gate.” All of them obviously have awesome names, so if you’re the type of person that judges an experience by its name, you should definitely go to Yoro Park someday.

Getting To Yoro Park

The name of Yoro Park in Japanese is 養老天命反転地 (ようろうてんめいはんてんち) … quite a mouthful, but useful if you’re looking for directions on how to get there. Most likely (I’m assuming) you’ll be coming from Nagoya-Eki. From here it’ll probably take you about an hour and a half (by train) plus maybe a little bit more if you take your time walking. You’ll want to stop at Yoro-eki. There’s gourds everywhere, you can’t miss it.

Gourds must seriously be a thing here, though. There’s even a welcome sign written in Gourds… Someone ought to make a Gourd Font.

Anyways, thanks for watching! I hope you enjoyed this episode. I’m putting more time in my routine to work on these, so hopefully much less of a wait for the next one. See you next time!

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There are strange movies, and then there are stranger movies. Movies that simply cannot be described with words alone. There are movies you see, and then there are movies you experience. This list compiles ten of the strangest Japanese movies that simply must be seen to be believed. Have you seen Japan’s ten strangest movies? I bet you haven’t, and you’re missing out.

[box type="alert"]A lot of the trailers for these wacky movies are pretty NSFW and include gore, explicit language, and in some cases, even dude butt. You’ve been warned![/box]

10. House (1977)

Obvious green screen is obvious

House is a cult classic and with good reason. It starts out like a whimsical fairy tale adventure of seven friends going to the countryside for a lovely summer holiday. Up to this point the film seems entirely ordinary, but things start to turn sour shortly after they arrive at the house in question. From there on in, things just get weirder and weirder.

Especially considering the year it was made, House is pretty impressive. It’s interesting, weird, creepy, and goofy. While I wouldn’t exactly be jumping at the chance to watch it again, I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone who appreciates horror films. This movie was definitely ahead of its time.

It’s a cult classic you wouldn’t want to miss out on. How can you go wrong with killer pianos, multi-colored blood, and glowy eyed cats?

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ_Yo06kIIA']

Weirdness: 3/5
Enjoyability: 3/5
Who to watch it with: Anyone who enjoys B-movie horror or appreciates cult classics.

9. Marebito (2004)

No, I haven’t seen your cat. Why do you ask?

When I rented this movie I really wasn’t expecting anything special. I just thought it would be another run-of-the-mill Japanese horror film. Well, I was wrong. Marebito is very well done and quite interesting.

The main character is a freelance cameraman obsessed with fear. In the movie he takes it upon himself to investigate an urban legend involving mysterious spirits that haunt the subways of Tokyo, but what he discovers is beyond anything he could have ever imagined.

Marebito is very different from most other Japanese horror films. The story is really cool and you actually care about what’s happening. It’s not one of those movies you’d watch just for the thrills and chills. The story is very well done and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uV7J8WYETXo']

Weirdness: 3/5
Enjoyability: 4/5
Who to watch it with: Someone who thinks all Japanese horror movies are the same.

8. Versus (2000)

An eye for an eye. And a gun. And a sword. And a dagger handle. And a flashlight-scope. Yeah. That’ll do

Versus takes place almost exclusively in the forest of resurrection where anyone who is killed is resurrected time and time again. The main character fights to protect a girl he just met and slowly unravels his destiny.

Versus is one of those movies I could watch over and over again and never get tired of it. There’s just something about this movie that makes it so enjoyable. Is it the action? The drama? The zombies? The action? The weapons? The dramatic zombie weapon action? Maybe. Whatever it is, Versus is definitely a must see from this list. Check it out.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRfhuVlbM-4']

Weirdness: 3/5
Enjoyability: 4.5/5
Who to watch it with: People who like the undead, action, and wacky humor.

7. Survive Style 5+ (2004)

Hiroshi Abe: Watches you while you sleep

Survive Style 5+ is one of my top favorite movies of all time. We’ve got an all star cast including the likes of Vinnie Jones (X-Men: The Last Stand’s Juggernaut). He almost always plays a no-nonsense badass in his films and Survive Style 5+ is no exception. His inclusion in this movie is both hilarious and awesome.

Starting off in unrelated plot lines, the main characters eventually weave their stories into one ridiculous adventure. We have one man who continuously fails at getting his wife to stay dead, a murderous commercial director who comes up with the most insane ad ideas, a British hitman who’s only interested in knowing your function in life, and an unfortunate salaryman who thinks he’s a bird.

The movie is directed by an award winning Japanese commercial creator and it really shows in the film. There is no scene that isn’t funny, interesting, or colorful. It grabs your attention and never lets go. If you only pick one movie from this list to watch, make it this one. Please. You’d be doing yourself a favor.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEH7nDkiPEk']

Weirdness: 3/5
Enjoyability: 5/5
Who to watch it with: Anyone who has a sense of humor.

6. Tokyo Gore Police (2008)

Your hedges need trimmed? Yeah, sure, I can do that

When I saw this one I actually wasn’t expecting too much but I ended up liking it a lot more than I expected. I didn’t really care for the story, but all the imagery and crazy stuff they did more than made up for it. It’s one of those movies where you can easily turn off your brain and just take in all of the ridiculous things being thrown at you.

In the world of Tokyo Gore Police the force has been privatized in order to combat homicidal mutants known as “engineers.” These engineers possesses the ability to graft a weapon onto any sort of bodily injury. The main character fights many of these on her journey to avenge her father’s death.

If you like over the top violence and gore paired with some really messed up nonsense, then this is definitely one to check out.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFKP9lB_F7s']

Weirdness: 3.5/5
Enjoyability: 3/5
Who to watch it with: People who like weird things and violence.

5. Paprika (2006)

The colors! I can taste them!

lolwut?

That pretty much sums up the entire movie for me. But first things first. Paprika is a gorgeous movie. The colors and art style are simply fantastic. It is truly a sight to behold. If you have a projector, or a friend with one, watch this movie on it. Your eyes will thank you.

And the main song for the movie is brilliant. My favorite part of the entire movie was the opening sequence. I love that song.

In the movie there is a machine that has been designed to let people enter the dreams of others. However, after this device is stolen, everything starts to go wrong for just about everyone. Insanity ensues and it’s up to Paprika to set everything back in order.

The movie overall is a mixed bag in my opinion. Some parts are astonishing and wonderfully done. Truly a feast for the eyes. Paprika was one of the main influences behind the movie Inception and it definitely shows. Some parts really get you thinking.

However there are some sequences in the film that are just meh. Even though the movie was a strange one, I consistently found myself wanting it to be more strange. Like the strange parts were so strange and interesting that when it went back to something normal it just seemed lacking in comparison.

While Paprika has its lows, I believe that the highs more than make up for it. If you have a nice multimedia set-up, definitely check this one out. I have the feeling that it just wouldn’t be the same on a small screen with dinky speakers.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJzEW_eE1G0&hd=1']

Weirdness: 4/5
Enjoyability: 4/5
Who to watch it with: People who like pretty pictures and confusion.

4. Dead Leaves (2004)

Remember, kids: Just say no to drugs!

Do you have epilepsy? Yes? Don’t watch this movie. You will have seizures. Over and over. And over and over again.

If you don’t have epilepsy, you’re in luck (and not just because you don’t have epilepsy). Dead Leaves is a great movie and a wild crazy ride. From the beginning it’s a nonstop action adventure with more gore and comic relief than you can shake a drill at.

The two main characters awaken naked with no recollection of their past. They are soon thrown in jail where they discover more about their origins and the world they live in and subsequently devise a plan to break on outta there.

Dead Leaves is easily one of the goriest animes I have ever seen. And that’s saying a lot. But somehow, even though it’s incredibly brutal, every time someone was injured or killed I found it absolutely hilarious. (Is that bad?)

Dead Leaves is just fun. It’s such a fun movie. And with a run-time of only 52 minutes there’s absolutely no excuse not to check this one out.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCuieF9Uzgc']

Weirdness: 4/5
Enjoyability: 5/5
Who to watch it with: People who don’t have epilepsy.

3. Robo Geisha (2009)

Fried shrimp!

When I first saw the trailer for this movie, I thought it was a joke. That should give you an idea of how ridiculous this movie is. I’m sure after you watch the trailer you’ll agree with me.

In Robo Geisha, girls are recruited into an elite fighting force where women alter parts of their bodies to become perfect killing machines. Plot twists ensue, and eventually all of Japan is in danger of being wiped off the face of the earth.

Robo Geisha is very over the top with most of the action and fighting being played out in very strange ways. We’ve got armpit katanas, robo geisha tanks, and tengu milk just to name a few implements of destruction. If you’ve got an afternoon to kill, you could certainly do worse than Robo Geisha.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo-gGes6qig']

Weirdness: 4.5/5
Enjoyability: 3/5
Who to watch it with: People you can talk to and laugh with about all the crazy nonsense you’re witnessing.

2. Rampo Noir (2005)

Yeah. Sure. This looks normal

Rampo Noir is a collection of four short stories brought to life on film. If I could give you a plot summary, I would. This movie is super weird and words just fail me here.

I’m not really sure how I feel about this movie. It’s… different. I think this is the only movie on this list that I would refuse to watch again. I think once would be enough for anybody.

But hey! Tadanobu Asano’s in it. He makes everything better.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_eTWAmLDqY']

Weirdness: 5/5
Enjoyability: ?/5
Who to watch it with: People you want to make wary of Japanese cinema for the better part of a year.

1. Tetsuo the Iron Man (1989)

Yeah… You might wanna have that looked at

Oh. My. Kami.

This movie. Wow. I don’t even know where to begin. This movie will make your jaw hit the floor, and before you can pick it back up, your jaw hits the floor again. How is that possible? I have no idea. This movie is insane. There’s absolutely no doubt that this movie should be at the top of anyone’s list of strange movies, Japanese or otherwise.

This is one of those movies that I simply can’t put into words. You don’t just watch Tetsuo, you experience Tetsuo. Just watch the trailer, okay? You’ll see what I mean.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uROMTzJsfOI']

Weirdness: 7/5
Enjoyability: ?/5
Who to watch it with: People whose brains you want to make explode.

[hr]

And there you have it – ten of the strangest Japanese films I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing. I am sure there are many other viable candidates for the list (Funky Forest, for example) but I didn’t want to include anything here that I hadn’t actually viewed myself.

If there are any films not on the list you think should have made it, please let me know in the comments. And if you think any of these movies don’t deserve to be on the list, feel free to fill me in.

So tell me, what’s the weirdest Japanese film you’ve ever seen?

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