Urban Camouflage
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.20.07
Here is a new kind of Transformer: People in Japan who are afraid of crime (it is declining, but is a scary one seventh the US level) so some are disguising themselves to avoid being noticed. According to the New York Times,
The devices’ creators also argue that Japan’s ideas about crime prevention are a product of deeper cultural differences. While Americans want to protect themselves from criminals, or even strike back, the creators say many Japanese favor camouflage and deception, reflecting a culture that abhors self-assertion, even in self-defense.“It is just easier for Japanese to hide,” Ms. Tsukioka said. “Making a scene would be too embarrassing.” She said her vending machine disguise was inspired by a trick used by the ancient ninja, who cloaked themselves in black blankets at night.
"Ms. Tsukioka also designed a disguise for children: a backpack that transforms into a Japanese-style fire hydrant, concealing the child."
The “manhole bag,” another of Ms. Tsukioka’s inventions, is a purse that can hide your valuables by unfolding to look like a round sewer cover. These ideas might strike foreigners as far-fetched,” Ms. Tsukioka said, “but in Japan, they can become reality.” ::New York Times and watch the ::Slideshow
Photos: Torin Boyd/Polari, for The New York Times
that isnt camo, that draws more attention.
Such scaredy cats. Are the Japanese always like that?
Maybe one of the most ridiculous ideas I've ever heard.
The purse only hides valuables if they are perfectly flat. If you actually keep anything in it, it wouldn't work.
The kid's backpack does not hide him. And if a child has enough time and sense to see danger coming and turn himself into a fire hydrant he's probably resourceful and aware enough to avoid any situation where such a device would be effective.
How long would it take to turn yourself into a coke machine? How much would the costume weigh? Who is going to carry a deflateable coke machine around with them every day on the off-chance they might use it? To do what? Hide from people? Hide from who? I still can't imagine a situation where something like this would be even close to useful. If you want to be able to run and hide, take a hint and dress like the ninjas did: in all black.
These are one artist/designer's conceptual fashion pieces -- cultural critique? humor? y'know, ART? -- but the NYT article and many readers seem to be taking them as part of a Japanese national trend.
That's just funny, too odd. and not really convincing either. Just a little wierdness but maybe it works for them some how
Well... the Japanese are quite well known for putting out a lot of interesting albeit useless and ridiculous inventions.
This idea is ... comical.
Awesome Halloween costumes!
Why is this on treehugger?
I think it's performance art. And yeah, why is this on Treehugger?
LA: why is this on treehugger? um, because we give a lot of coverage to things that transform into different things, and I liked the backpack that turned into a fire extinguisher. and I like performance art. and it is sunday when posts are slow, and I really thought this was a lot of fun.
we can't be serious every moment.
TH has been borderline for a while, but now you've gone completely ridiculous.
Leave it to the Japanese to come up with yet another wacky idea. I love it! It's so ridiculous and funny but at the same time, I wouldn't mind seeing these items in person. There is no innovation unless we embrace the far-fetched.
Keep posting articles like this on TH. I don't want this site to be too serious.
i've said it before and i'll say it again
the japanese are a strange bunch
Man, I hope the kid is wearing red pants on the day he turns himself into a fire hydrant... otherwise its gonna look really odd having a pair of jeans coming out from under a fire hydrant!
Whoops.
And I suppose the two white shoes poking out from under the coke machine are power inverters?
I've got a great idea. just carry around a bag of LEGO bricks and build yourself a bunker if you sense danger coming. it will even keep you dry should be happen to have to stay there for a long time.
Man, I hope the kid is wearing red pants on the day he turns himself into a fire hydrant... otherwise its gonna look really odd having a pair of jeans coming out from under a fire hydrant!
Whoops.
And I suppose the two white shoes poking out from under the coke machine are power inverters?
I've got a great idea. just carry around a bag of LEGO bricks and build yourself a bunker if you sense danger coming. it will even keep you dry should be happen to have to stay there for a long time.
Well, keep in mind that the vending-machine photos were taken in Shibuya, within a couple of hundred meters of the (in)famous 109. I wouldn't be surprised if not too many people give them a second glance, given the fashion in this area.
cjs@cynic.net
Why don't they just carry a gun?
This is about the stupidest idea I've ever seen. The Japanese might be able to build a heck of a car, but the soda machine camo is just ridiculous. Imagine pursuing someone and then coming across a line of soda machines. "Hmmm...one of these Coke machines is flapping in the breeze." Nothing fishy about that.
And if you are being pursued and *poof* turn yourself in to a Coke machine, how out of place are you going to look? Especially at night, when Coke Machines are lit up, yet you'll be a fabric Coke machine standing in the middle of a park.
This would never work in, say, New York. That is, unless, the mugger/pursuant fell down from laughing. And, heck, it might get you in to the Metropolitan Diary.
Silly Japanese.
An excellent new chindogu! (Japanese not-quite-useless invention) A chindogu is designed to solve an actual problem but is too impractical to actually be implemented.
for one thing true ninja's did not go around in all black in the shadows all the time. they blended in with the people around them, not the physical suroundings.
LOL the coke machine looks like somethin id see on trigger happy TV, just follow a bloke around as a soda vend.
whut happens if some twit wanting a pop shoves a pound into it and gets nottin but lemonade. i usualy kick machines that still my money
the fire hydrant is the most worthless. the coke machine maaybe could fill someone if a mugger jumps ya where people regularly get cokes so you might blend in. like inside a B&M.
but how does the hydrant work? your chasin some little bugger, round a corner then all of a sudden bang hes gone and in his place is some snivling shaking fire hydrant dancin on 2 legs. yeah that will fool most blokes
i think that it is funny as f**k lol and a bit stupid