Look who I found at the local toy shop today!
It seems that the oshiri kajiri mushi (butt-biting bug) has come a long way since I last posted his video here on my blog. Even the foreign media is talking about him, and I have taken it upon myself to further illustrate the Australian news article below. Enjoy!
In Japan, a strange insect has become a national phenomenon.
The "Bottom Biting Bug", as he's known, has been catapulted from a song on an afternoon children's television program to a karaoke favourite and now a live stage show.
And now the bug that's sunk its teeth into the nation's consciousness might have a message for modern Japan as well.
With alarming frequency, pop culture fads sweep across Japan. The animated monotonal bug responsible for this brain-catching song is one of the latest.
"Oshiri kajiri mushi" is what he sings, and it's what he is - the bottom-biting bug. . .
"He's a bug that likes to bite bottoms," Derubi (one of his designers) explained.
"When he was biting energetic bottoms in the countryside he was also energetic, but then when he came and started biting tired bottoms in the city, they tasted bitter and got sick."
The bug learns from his overindulgence, but vows to continue biting bottoms.
And the message in the song seems to have struck a chord with Japan's highly urbanised population.
"In this the modern society, people are living and trying not to be involved with others, even when they pass by or they're on the same train," Uruma said.
"I didn't feel very good about that, and this bug suddenly comes along and bites you on the bottom. For us that biting is the same action as suddenly talking or starting a conversation with somebody."
The bug's newfound fame is not expected to end here. His moment in the spotlight could be further extended, with hopes for more animated adventures, even a children's picture book.
Not bad for a bug who got his start on afternoon television, sinking his teeth into people's backsides.
australian news article? may i ask where you got this article?
oh i'm so jealous i want a oshiri kajiri mushi ><
It's my ringtone...hehe
Posted by: LaMortImmortelle | October 18, 2007 at 08:11 AM
It's from Abc (Australian Broadcasting Co) and I picked it up off the portal www.newsonjapan.com in the society section. There's good stuff there.
s^-^s
Posted by: LaLea | October 18, 2007 at 09:56 PM