How about a nice steaming cup of WTF?

Dan

Project X - Nissin Cup Noodle (Paperback)
by Tadashi Katoh (Author), Akira Imai (Author)

Book Description
In a time when the Japanese food industry was struggling economically, a man named Momofuku Andou sought to turn the tide. Seeking a new type of food for a new era, he ordered the development of a "cup noodle" - a revolutionary idea for a convenient instant noodle. Overcoming public skepticism as well as doubts even from those within their own company, Andou and his staff of young developers constantly challenged convention to create this new product. Behind the now familiar cup o' noodle, which has sold over 8.2 billion worldwide, there lies a dramatic story of the struggles of the men behind its success.

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Not a Joke, this is a Manga about the creation and development of Cup O'Noodles. I feel the desperate need to own this.
_________________
Mercy is the mark of a great man.
*stab*
I guess I'm just a good man.
*stab*
Well, I'm alright.
-Malcom Reynolds "Serenity"

trebuchet · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:05 pm Post subject:

Only the Japanese could come up with something so inane yet so intriguing - all at the same time!
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Conan! What is best in life?

To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women!"

Dan · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:19 pm Post subject:

Upon further research I've found that "Project X" is apparently a series of business related Manga chronicling the development of famous Japanese products.

Quick Poll:
What Japanese product would you like to see the behind the scenes story to?

My Vote:

The Hello Kitty Vibrator

_________________
Mercy is the mark of a great man.
*stab*
I guess I'm just a good man.
*stab*
Well, I'm alright.
-Malcom Reynolds "Serenity"

Dave · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:23 pm Post subject:

...

That's something that the smarter side of me says "No! Nooo."

Then I have the not so smart and extremely curious side of me which never seems to learn to leave well enough alone...
_________________
"Addiction can neither be created nor destroyed, it can only be changed."
-Clango, Diesel Sweeties
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I (heart) Hanners of Questionable Content.

Dan · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:42 pm Post subject:

Dave · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:47 pm Post subject:

I know it's a real product. I just don't want to subject my brain to the knowledge of how someone thought it'd be a good idea to stick a happy, bright, and cutsie FEMALE cartoon character on the end of something that will be, and forgive me for being so crude, shoved into a woman.

I don't even want to take a stab at making up some male equivilant because I know, deep down inside, anything my twisted mind would come up with has probably already been made and marketed in adult sex toy stores across America.
_________________
"Addiction can neither be created nor destroyed, it can only be changed."
-Clango, Diesel Sweeties
===
I (heart) Hanners of Questionable Content.

Dan · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 11:02 pm Post subject:

By all accounts it was actually a big mistake. Sanrio sold some company the rights to put Hello Kitty on a number of products, one being a seemingly innocuous "Shoulder Massager". Once it hit stores however they totally flipped and tried their damnedest to get it pulled from shelves. They asked the company that produced it to recall, but they refused, wanting to recoup the rather hefty cost of licensing the Hello Kitty likeness. Sanrio also had no legal standing since it wasn't being marketed as "Hello Kitty Sex Toy".
_________________
Mercy is the mark of a great man.
*stab*
I guess I'm just a good man.
*stab*
Well, I'm alright.
-Malcom Reynolds "Serenity"

Dave · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 11:09 pm Post subject:

Yes. A back massager. Of course.
_________________
"Addiction can neither be created nor destroyed, it can only be changed."
-Clango, Diesel Sweeties
===
I (heart) Hanners of Questionable Content.

Heartbreakshow · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 5:15 am Post subject:

Um... I thought Hello Kitty was for children...
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IT'S OVER 9000!!!!!!!!!

Parsifal · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 5:24 am Post subject:

Children grow up, and star to have need of a back massager....

Yeah, this is one I heard about quite a while ago. Ny wouldn't let me ignore it and kept sending me pictures of it....But thats the thing, "Hello Kitty" is mega-monster money for Sanrio. It just that it got to Krusty the Klown type marketting density there for a second.

Fun Fact: Kitty has a twin sister named Mimmy
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jynexia · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:34 am Post subject:

Imagine that poor kids that feel the need to own every peice of merchandise that their favorite hello kitty character has on the market. What would the kids parents think?
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I need to go to my Happy place, but I accidentally blew it up, so now I have to find a new one... Sad

Parsifal · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:49 am Post subject:

Probably the same thing those parents who bought the vibrating Nimbus 2000 broomstick thought when they realized their kids were riding it more than they should...
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trebuchet · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 5:28 am Post subject:

That is horrible! Bad Arturo! Bad! Very bad! As penance for planting this absurdly disgusting thought into our brains you must procure a vibrating Nimbus thingy and ride it far longer than you should.
_________________
Conan! What is best in life?

To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women!"

Parsifal · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 5:30 am Post subject:

Hey, did I mention the parents who were taking it from the kids to "ride" it themselves? No, no I didn't.
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Dave · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:07 pm Post subject:

<Dave looks at the horrified mother of the 11 year old Squishy fan girl, and gives her a nervous grin> "... eh heh heh, that Arturo. Boy, what'll he say next, eh?"
_________________
"Addiction can neither be created nor destroyed, it can only be changed."
-Clango, Diesel Sweeties
===
I (heart) Hanners of Questionable Content.