Derelict Love Hotels

OK I admit it – I missing being an active blogger so Cakehead Loves Evil is back if that is OK with everyone? Oh I will also be sharing a lot via the Miss Cakehead Facebook page. In brief I realized the other day that with over 5 million views I must have been doing something right with this blogging lark so I should really carry on. Hope this makes you happy, I am actually rather excited.

As some of you may remember I am openly obsessed with the creative randomness of Japanese Love Hotels ever since reading this book. I should add for clarity not the sex side but the what the hell was the designer thinking, and how the hell do you get off on that wondering side.

With a whopping 500 million visits a year, love hotels – establishments that offer couples a private, short-stay location in which they can indulge in the pleasures of the flesh – are a booming business in Japan. Indeed, it’s been estimated that 1.4 million Japanese people, or 2% of the country’s population, visit a love hotel each day.

Having been fascinated with them for years – and it being hard to find out as much as I would like to know online – there has not been much fresh content to blog on a Love Hotel theme for a year or so now (for the record Gang Snowman is still my favorite). But that has changed with the discovery of a rich seam of abandoned love hotel images online – still not as scary as the derelict Mr Blobby Land photography though. Nothing will ever be that scary.

Dollfie Dreams

I can’t pin point the reasons why but I have to admit I am pretty obsessed with the concept of Dollfie. For those new to the concept it is a brand of vinyl doll, “a highly-poseable hybrid of fashion doll and action figure”, which come blank allowing it’s new ‘parent’ to create a totally unique personality in the form of a doll by either using off the shelf products of specialist artists… When buying a Dollfie you can even purchase a range of wigs or eyes from the website. Like many of the best things in life beautiful but creepy.

Cat Donuts

Yes of course they are from Japan

Japania & a sushi stapler

People are ALWAYS asking me where I get ideas & some of the strange yet brilliant objects I seem to have around me. See below for the first online store round up of 2012 - Japania being the first review / CLE picks with more to come over the following weeks. If you have / visit an online store you think deserves a mention then I would love to hear about it too!

Sushi Staplers come in three different varieties to choose from; Salmon (A), Shrimp (B) and Tuna (C). They are 3" long and use #10 staples, first set included. Each looks like a real piece of nigiri sushi!

 

Luke Chueh x Hello Kitty Print, Limited Edition of 35, measures 11" x 14", signed and numbered by the artist. Official Print from the Sanrio Hello Kitty 35th Anniversary Exhibition.

 

 

Waiting for the impending apocalypse and want to stock up to counter the zombie attacks? Well you're in luck, here's the next best tool in Michelle Valigura's CONCEALED WEAPON series. Gary Grenade - exploding for good!

 

 

Flaunt you kitty love! Adjustable ring base to fit a variety of sizes.

 

 

 

Pervy & porny Japanese Christmas Cake (NSFW)

*Collet is very dangerous, do not proceed any further if you are at work!* Released by Native, Collet is a Japanese online exclusive figure based on Tony Taka‘s artwork acquired via proxy buyer Tokyohunter last week. This premium 1/6 figure ships in an exquisite packaging with absolutely no opening on the box, consealing its succumbing etchi charm.

Well it makes a change from the scottie dog / snowball fight / christmas tree / robin adorned Christmas cakes on sale in the UK.

So…. from what I can grasp this cake is based on a figure  from 2009 and sold out. Even though this  cake may well not be your cup of tea (erm Fish down the pants for example) you can’t question their OH MY GOD level of detail.

Want extra details – read more over at Danny Choo’s blog and see all images (some VERY NSFW) here.

BLOGGING ADMISSION: I can’t quite figure it out and this may not be a cake but just a figure which comes in a cake box. In which case please mentally replace the word cake with plate in the previous paragraph. PLEASE do correct me if I have managed to totally get this one wrong!!!

Twimal

Plug the Twimal (short for Twitter Animal) into your USB port, link it to your account and it will read Tweets back to you as they come in. Yes let’s pause for a moment to consider how annoying that would actually be, I think I could tolerate it for an hour tops. While the current model only supports Japanese (I love the Japanese for stuff like this) I can only hope a English version comes out soooooooon. Buy it here.

Japan’s Child Friendly Nuclear Cartoon

Japan explains the dangers of it’s current Nuclear ‘issues’ to children using poop… I don’t know how accurate the translation of this is but as long as it helps the children feel better / understand a little more who cares. Either way it is a lot better that the Daily Mail’s ridiculous coverage of events.

via Street Anatomy

Cakes for Japan

UPDATE: We now have a Cakes for Japan blog

All cake makers & bakers who can rustle up even a small batch of cakes for us to sell PLEASE DO GET INVOLVED – click here to find out how to donate a Cake for Japan.

You would have all seen by now the horrible events unfolding in Japan – to help support the aid agencies working we are doing one day pop up sushi / Japan inspired cake shop – Cakes for Japan. We’re doing a themed event so there will be a clear connection between the pop up store & the reason why we are doing it, reminding everyone that the people of Japan do need our help. Sushi cupcakes are also amazing!

Cake makers & bakers from around the UK are donating edible awesomeness which will be sold via our pop up shop at Maiden, Shoreditch High Street on Friday 18th March. All help is appreciated, and for those who may not consider themselves professional cake makers but feel like donating some baking (I will spare everyone my efforts) please don’t worry as any form of cake would be really appreciated & I am sure delicious. Of course if you feel like holding another Cakes for Japan event in another part of the UK, or even World, then please DO!

We’re still speaking to experts on the best agency donate the profits to but we’ll make sure it is one where the proceeds will do directly to supporting the people of Japan, and those who need our help! For example the Japanese Red Cross are directly accepting donations via the UK. OK then please spread news of this event far and wide – the more cakes we have to sell, the more money we raise and the more amazing cakes there are for everyone to eat. Come on internet / Twitter we can do this! Thanks also to Tate & Lyle, and their PR agency, Epicurus, for helping some of the bakers with sugar and golden syrup supplies!

Contact me if you want to get involved – emmylou.cakehead at gmail.com, or Twitter @miss_cakehead

Contributions already pledged include:

Sushi pops & cupcakes from Molly Bakes

Heart shaped cherry flavoured brownie balls with little cherry blossom decoration on top from Flavor Von Sponge

Japanese inspired cupcakes from the The Kooky Cake Company

Leshie Loves Cake is making green tea cupcakes

Nevie Pie is contributing painted cherry blossom cookies

Pan Man Gingerbread from London Baking

Contributions from Edd Kimber, Emily Airton & Rosanne Liu

Selection of cupcakes from Chow Cheam

Sushi inspired Cake Pops from the Cowbridge Cake Company

White chocolate brownies with a red velvet circle (brownie as well) in the middle from Snight Smiles

Earthquake Roads

Two amazing thought provoking images from the natural disaster in Japan from Flick user Antongorbav – fuck me if this does not hit home the power of the quake I don’t know what will. Having worked in Pakistan, helping give Earthquake relief a few years ago now, my heart totally goes out to all of those who have been hit as I have a little awareness about the long & hard road they have ahead of them as they start to recover. It is just so sad and scary…

 

via @thefutureheads

Refrigerated Watermelon Caddy

Tired of the inconvenience of having to carry your watermelon everywhere? Unhappy with the temperature of your watermelon when you arrive at wherever it is you’re taking your watermelon? Then the refrigerated watermelon caddy is just the product you’re looking for.

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I think you could use one of these in Shoreditch with no one giving you a second glance (via The Murder Burger)!