AND SOME MORE ABOUT CHINDOGU...

Do you know what a Chindogu is? Well, dogu is Japanese for "tool" and chin is Japanese for "weird" (not to be confused with the Japanese for "penis", which is also chin). Thus, a Chindogu is a weird tool. (Likewise, chinchin is a weird penis. However, under no circumstances is Chindogu ever a penis tool. At least not yet.) The term was coined by Japanese comedian Kenji Kawakami, who invented the Chindogu pictured on this site..

The successful Chindoguist approaches his subject in much the same way as a serious inventor would: searching for an aspect of life that could somehow be rendered more convenient and concocting a method for making it so. Like the inventor, he discards those notions that clearly miss the mark, but unlike the inventor, he also abandons those ideas which will obviously work. Having tested and verified that his invention indeed wasn't worth the effort, the creator of the Chindogu will then congratulate him self on having successfully produced a useless gadget.

Strangely practical and utterly eccentric inventions for a life of ease-and hilarity. In Japan, inventor and visionary Kenji Kawakami is famous for his creation and tireless promotion of Chindogu-the art of "the unuseless idea." This site features the best of his inventions: inspired devices designed to solve all the nagging problems of domestic life, including ones you may not have realized you have. Enter the realm of the almost useful, where you will find Baby Mops (for infant assistance with tedious housework), the Full Body Umbrella (for day-long all-over dryness), and the Portable Zebra crossing. Every item has been fabricated to the highest standards, fully tested by pioneering members of the Japanese public, and tastefully photographed. It is only a matter of time before Americans succumb to their charm, logic, and utility.