Inter // States is the latest Tokyo time-lapse piece by photographer Samuel Cockedey. The soundtrack is "Paradigm Flux (Tokyo Cut)" by Woob, from the new "Paradigm Flux" EP (listen).

Ad for Kinder-Puwder, King of Pediatric Drugs -- Morikawa Chikashige, 1880 [+]

Chasing measles away -- Utagawa Yoshimori, 1862

Ten realms within the body -- Utagawa Kuniteru III, c. 1885 [+]

Pills to cure toxic illnesses such as syphilis and gonorrhea -- Artist unknown, late 19th century

Protective gods help good drugs fight evil disease -- Utagawa Yoshikazu, 1858 [+]

Hōsō-e talisman print to ward off smallpox -- Artist unknown, c. 1849

Ad for drug to improve handwriting and reading skills -- Utagawa Yoshitsuya, 1862

Foods that can be eaten by measles patients -- Utagawa Yoshimori, 1860s

Pregnancy guide -- Hamano Teisuke, 1880 [+]

Eye, ear, nose and hand -- Ochiai Yoshiiku, c. 1865

Defeating cholera -- Kimura Takejiro, 1886 [+]

Hōsō-e talisman print to ward off smallpox -- Utagawa Toyohisa II, c. 1830

Three mighty men conquering measles -- Ochiai Yoshiiku, 1870s [+]

Measles treatment -- Ochiai Yoshiiku, 1862

Teaching on harmonious body and mind -- Utagawa Yoshikatsu, 1850 [+]

Measles-themed hand game -- Utagawa Yoshitsuya, 1862

Illustrated guide to parental obligations -- Utagawa Yoshitora, 1880 [+]

Shinto god from Izumo province for preventing measles -- Taiso Yoshitoshi, 1862

Seller of eyeglasses -- Katsushika Hokusai, c. 1811-1814

Hōsō-e talisman print to ward off smallpox -- Utagawa Yoshitsuru, c. 1849

Illustrated account of cholera prevention -- Taiso Yoshitoshi, 1877 [+]

Bodily functions personified as popular kabuki actors -- Artist unknown, late 19th century [+]

Methods for preventing measles -- Utagawa Fusatane, 1858 [+]

Defeating measles (personified as a child) -- Utagawa Yoshifuji, c. 1840

Pregnant women playing in summer heat (5 heads, 10 bodies) -- Utagawa Kunitoshi, 1881 [+]

[Link: UCSF Japanese Woodblock Print Collection]

[+]

[+]

Alien Guts, Windam, Gyango, Black End, Kingsaurus III, Bemstar

Alien Icarus, Gomora, Muruchi, Alien Baltan, Alien Magma, Kemular

Dancan, Giradorus, Astromons

Gandar, Gabora, Alien Metron, Agira, Antlar, Seabozu, Woo

Gubira, Takkong, Pestar, Gamakujira, Bemular

Eleking, Alien Kuuru, King Joe, Zemistiar

Geronimon, Jirass, Alien Pegassa, Dino-Tank

Pegassa, Hydra, Black King, Mephilas, Verokron, Starbem Gyeron, Red King, Dorako, Godola

[Source: Ultra Kaiju (Shōgakukan Nyūmon Hyakka Series #97), 1979]

This year's Good Design Expo, which took place at Tokyo Big Sight over the weekend (Aug 27-29), showcased over 2,000 design-conscious items under consideration for the 2010 Good Design Award. Here are photos of a few items that were on display.

Goya de Goya: Goya (a.k.a. bitter melon) planter bag that resembles a giant goya (Protoleaf)

Tomato ni Tomato: Tomato planter bag that resembles a giant tomato (Protoleaf)

Sola Cube: Botanical materials encased in cubes of acrylic (Sola)

GreenMarker: Grassy page markers (yuruliku DESIGN)

Nature LED bulb (Advanced-Connectek) // QLD-104 coral-inspired LED table lamp (Qisda)

X-Frame Folding Vehicle alters shape to suit driving style (Nagoya Institute of Technology)

USB Clip: Tiny USB flash drive that doubles as paper clip (Emami Design)

Tongue cleaners (Green Bell)

Kinpachi-Mikan mandarin orange boxes (Kadoya Keshouhin)

Centry outdoor security robot (Dongbu)

Pebble salt and pepper shaker set (Kyung Ran Choi)

Itamimai rice bags (Itami Sangyo Co., Ltd.)

Itamimai rice bags (Itami Sangyo Co., Ltd.)

Metaphys Cortina humidifier (Gourmandise Inc.)

LOVE packing peanuts (minna + TooR Inc.)

Lightweight milk bottles (Toyo Glass)

Tread-Walk: Treadmill-controlled personal mobility robot (Waseda University)

Underwater camera housing (Sigma)

Cartoon Box: Trixi Box - Sushi (Grupo BdeB)

Zou-san cutter: Elephant-shaped tape dispenser (Nichiban)

Bags made from recycled brewer malt waste (Kouhei Okamoto)

Rainbow-colored toilet paper made from 100% recycled paper (Felissimo)

Candles modeled after traditional Japanese confectioneries (Pegasus Candle)

Candles modeled after traditional Japanese confectioneries (Pegasus Candle)

Docomo SH-02B Marimekko mobile phone (Sharp, NTT)

Bone Float: Bone-shaped pens that balance/rotate on stand (Zero Seiko)

Kaori honey wine (Minenoyuki Ltd. + Miyagi University)

Sony Vaio

t-pod

Angled drinking glass to minimize neck movement

Wooden bicycle (Sano Magic)

Wooden bicycle (Sano Magic)

Wooden bicycle (Sano Magic)

Art Setouchi publicity fans

TOFU DX professional makeup sponge (CrossMarket Inc.)

Shinjuku skyline [+]

Tokyo Big Sight [+]

Rainbow Bridge [+]

Moai statue at Shibuya station [+]

Kabuki-za Theater, Ginza [+]

Mode HAL iKO Building, Shinjuku [+]

Poster for "The Book of Eli" (Japanese title: "The Walker") [+]

Gundam // Tokyogenso Robot

Tokyo Sky Tree [+]

Sofmap Akihabara [+]

Haneda Airport [+]

Cover of Liberal Time, September 2010

Akihabara [+]

Saigō Takamori statue, Ueno

Poster for "The Book of Eli" (a.k.a. "The Walker) - Osaka version [+]

Osaka street scene - Tsūtenkaku Tower [+]

Osaka street scene - Billiken [+]

Osaka street scene [+]

Hato Bus [+]

Tokyo Monorail [+]

Shibuya station (Fukutoshin Line) // Seibu Shibuya

"Manneken Pis" statue at Hamamatsuchō station

Ueno [+]

Tokyo Tower [+]

Shinjuku station [+]

Hanayashiki amusement park, Asakusa [+]

McDonald's [+]

Yoyogi station [+]

Nakano station [+]

Akihabara [+]

Shibuya [+]

Wako Building, Ginza [+]

[Links: tokyogenso blog, pixiv, deviantART]

+ Video

The event, which features periodic light and water shows, will continue through August 22.

Three annoying train monsters (October 1982)

The three annoying train monsters shown in the poster are Nesshii (the sleeping monster), Asshii (the leg-crossing monster), and Shinbunshii (the newspaper-reading monster).

* * * * *

Don't throw chewing gum on the platform (September 1976)

Even Superman is no match for chewing gum discarded on the train platform.

* * * * *

The Seat Monopolizer (July 1976)

Inspired by Charlie Chaplin's "The Great Dictator," this poster encourages passengers not to take up more seat space than necessary.

* * * * *

Don't forget your umbrella (June 1977)

This poster of the high-class courtesan Agemaki (from the kabuki play "Sukeroku"), whose captivating beauty was said to make men forgetful, is meant to remind passengers to take their umbrellas when they leave the train.

* * * * *

Space Invader (March 1979)

This 1979 poster pays tribute to the extremely popular Space Invaders video arcade game and encourages passengers to read their newspapers without invading the space of other passengers.

* * * * *

Isami-ashi: Wait behind the white line (May 1979)

The image of sumo wrestlers locked in combat serves as a reminder for passengers to stand safely behind the white line when waiting for the train.

* * * * *

Don't forget your umbrella (October 1981)

The text at the top of this poster -- which shows Jesus overwhelmed with umbrellas at the Last Supper -- reads "Kasane-gasane no kami-danomi" (lit. "Wishing to God again and again"). The poster makes a play on the words "kasa" (umbrella) and "kasane-gasane" (again and again).

* * * * *

Shimatta (March 1977)

This poster warns passengers against getting their shoulder bags caught in the train doors.

* * * * *

Coughing on the platform (January 1979)

Modeled after the paintings of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, this poster -- titled "Hōmu de Concon" (coughing on the platform) -- urges people not to smoke on the train platforms during the designated non-smoking hours (7:00-9:30 AM and 5:00-7:00 PM). The poster makes a play on the words "concon" (coughing sound) and "cancan" (French chorus line dance).

* * * * *

Dream at home (December 1981)

This poster, which features Doraemon dressed as Santa, encourages Christmas and end-of-year drunks not to pass out on the train.

* * * * *

The Non-Thinker (May 1981)

The image of a cross-legged version of Auguste Rodin's "The Thinker" aims to encourage passengers to sit in a way that is considerate of other passengers.

* * * * *

Kappa, (August 1979)

The image of a kappa (river imp) against a backdrop of lit cigarettes serves as a reminder not to smoke on the platform during the designated non-smoking hours (7:00-9:30 AM and 5:00-7:00 PM). The text at the top of the poster reads "Gaman gurai wa he no kappa," which translates loosely as "waiting is no big deal."

* * * * *

Umbrellas left behind in the subway (June 1976)

This Marilyn Monroe poster aims to remind passengers to take their umbrellas with them when they leave the train. The text in the top right corner -- "Kaerazaru kasa" (umbrella of no return) -- is a play on "Kaerazaru Kawa," the Japanese title for "River of No Return," the 1954 movie starring Monroe.

* * * * *

I'll stand up (July 1979)

Uesugi Teppei, a character from the popular manga "Ore wa Teppei," offers to give up his seat to the elderly and infirm.

* * * * *

Do not rush onto the train (April 1979)

This poster advises passengers not to rush onto the train at the last moment. The text (かけこみ禁寺） is a play on the words かけこみ禁止 (kakekomi kinshi - "don't rush onto the train") and かけこみ寺 (Kakekomi-dera - Kakekomi temple), which has long been known as a sanctuary for married women fleeing their husbands.

* * * * *

Clearly show your train pass (September 1978)

The image of Napoleon holding a partially concealed train pass is meant to remind passengers to clearly show their train passes to the station attendant when passing through the gates. The dictionary page in the background appears to be a reference to Napoleon's famous quote, "The word 'impossible' is not in my dictionary."

* * * * *

Humans are forgetful (February 1976)

This poster, which reminds passengers to take their belongings when they leave the train, shows Astro Boy returning a forgotten hat and umbrella to his creator, Osamu Tezuka.

* * * * *

When the bell chimes, it's too late (April 1977)

This poster, which depicts Cinderella rushing from the ball at the stroke of midnight, is meant to warn passengers against the danger of trying to rush into the train after the departure chime sounds.

* * * * *

Mary is tired (December 1977)

The image of Mary carrying baby Jesus aims to encourage passengers to give up their seats to mothers with small children.

* * * * *

No smoking during non-smoking hours (October 1980)

The "Journey to the West" monkey urges passengers not to smoke on the platform during the designated non-smoking hours (7:00-9:30 AM and 5:00-7:00 PM).

* * * * *

You've had too much to drink (October 1976)

This October 1976 poster of a drinking Santa is addressed to the drunks on the train. The text, loosely translated, reads: "I look like Santa because you've had too much to drink. It's only October. If you drink, be considerate of the other passengers."

* * * * *

Wasureemon (June 1980)

Doraemon offers a friendly reminder not to forget your umbrella. The text at the bottom is a suggestion to write your name, address and company name (or school name) on your possessions.

* * * * *

Marcel Marceau (October 1978)

Marcel Marceau gestures toward a priority seat reserved for elderly and handicapped passengers, expecting mothers, and passengers accompanying small children.

* * * * *

I stepped in gum (March 1980)

The image of a cat stepping in gum is a playful twist on the popular children's song "Neko Funjatta" ("I Stepped on a Cat").

* * * * *

Clearly show your train pass (September 1976)

This poster is a reminder for passengers to clearly show their train passes to the station attendant, even when they fly like Superman through the ticket gates.

* * * * *

Please open it (July 1977)

This poster of a melting snowman aims to encourage passengers seated near a window to let cool air in when it is hot inside.

* * * * *

Non-smoking Time (November 1982)

The image of John Wayne on a mock cover of Time magazine serves as a reminder not to smoke on the platform during non-smoking hours (7:00-9:30 AM and 5:00-7:00 PM).

* * * * *

[Source: Manner Poster 100, published by Teito Rapid Transit Authority, 1983]

+ Video: "1945-1998" by Isao Hashimoto

The month and year are displayed in top right corner, and the number of nuclear explosions for each country appear next to the flags in the margins. The total is displayed in the bottom right corner.

The numbers reveal that, on average, 1 nuclear explosion occurred every 9.6 days during the 54-year period, with the greatest activity in 1958 and 1962.

The time map does not include the two nuclear tests conducted by North Korea in October 2006 and May 2009, nor does it include the dozens of subcritical nuclear tests (explosions that do not produce a sustained nuclear chain reaction) conducted in recent years by the US/UK and Russia.

This time-lapse video of the 18-meter (59-ft) Gundam robot in the city of Shizuoka, Japan is the latest in a series of YouTube uploads from Gundam videographer darwinfish105.

This collection represents only a small portion of the figurative trademarks found in the Japanese Figure Trademark Database. To explore the contents, go to the search page and plug in the Vienna Classification category numbers for the type of figure you would like to see.

The database does not provide explanatory information about the characters, nor does it indicate the names of the companies that employ them.

[Thanks to Japanese Trademarks for pointing the way!]