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The Big Bento Box of Unuseless Japanese Inventions
From the land of the rising sun, strangely practical and utterly eccentric inventions for a life of ease―and hilarity. In Japan, Kenji Kawakami is famous for his tireless promotion of Chindogu: the art of the unuseless idea. Kawakami has developed an entire philosophy around these bizarre and logic-defying gadgets and gizmos, which must work but are actually entirely impractical. Created in the spirit of anarchy, unuseless inventions are not allowed to be patented or sold. Fans of the unuseless will love this completely absorbing collection of 200 Chindogu, including: These hilarious inventions have taken Japan by storm. Every one of the 200 items in The Big Bento Box of Unuseless Japanese Inventions has actually been manufactured to the highest standards, fully tested by pioneering members of the Japanese public, and documented in their unuselessness with photographs. 442 color photographs
320 pages, Paperback
First published April 17, 2005
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About the author
Kenji Kawakami
8 books5 followersKenji Kawakami is the inventor of the Japanese craze Chindōgu.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
December 7, 2021
‘Rotating spaghetti fork. Takes the nuisance out of noodle nibbling’
When I was travelling in Japan I started to notice the manhole covers because they had attractive designs on them, often with a municipal theme, indicating a service or highlighting the locality. But what was most striking was how beautiful they were and how well made.
I found out later that there is an industry which makes these very sophisticated drainage control fixtures, which among other things are designed to allow flood water out while permitting the cover itself to resettle back in position when the waters slacken. They are remarkable pieces of Japanese technology with an artistic sensibility. There are websites devoted to the designs of manhole covers.
Just as remarkable but uproariously silly is Chindogu, the art of real inventions designed to make life easier at home, work and elsewhere, except the inventions are almost always completely impractical although they are required to work, in their fashion. The story of how this phenomenon came to western eyes is also eyebrow raising. On a trip to Japan in pursuit of eating fugu (deadly puffer fish, which can kill you if the chef gets it wrong), the English foodie, now food evangelist Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, met Kenji Kawakami, the founder of Chindogu and author of this book. Hugh became an enthusiast and acted as editor, to help bring the concept to English-speakers. Some examples will help:
• Duster Slippers for Cats – four little booties with mop attachments. There is a photo of a moggy wearing the footwear (pawwear?) and not looking all that happy.
• A roll-up zebra crossing for safely crossing the road
• The earring safety net: a little safety net clipped to your shoulder ready for loose ear decorations
• The Butterstick: butter in a glue stick type of container for application to toast, with no need for a knife
• A portable lamp post for when you have to walk down dark street at night, and my favourite
• The amateur gardener do-it-all, or The Ten in One Gardening Tool. The size of a skateboard and designed like a Swiss army knife, the tool has: ‘two sizes of shovel, a saw, a set of pruners, shears and several other gardening implements.’ (p142)
Weirdly entertaining.
When I was travelling in Japan I started to notice the manhole covers because they had attractive designs on them, often with a municipal theme, indicating a service or highlighting the locality. But what was most striking was how beautiful they were and how well made.
I found out later that there is an industry which makes these very sophisticated drainage control fixtures, which among other things are designed to allow flood water out while permitting the cover itself to resettle back in position when the waters slacken. They are remarkable pieces of Japanese technology with an artistic sensibility. There are websites devoted to the designs of manhole covers.
Just as remarkable but uproariously silly is Chindogu, the art of real inventions designed to make life easier at home, work and elsewhere, except the inventions are almost always completely impractical although they are required to work, in their fashion. The story of how this phenomenon came to western eyes is also eyebrow raising. On a trip to Japan in pursuit of eating fugu (deadly puffer fish, which can kill you if the chef gets it wrong), the English foodie, now food evangelist Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, met Kenji Kawakami, the founder of Chindogu and author of this book. Hugh became an enthusiast and acted as editor, to help bring the concept to English-speakers. Some examples will help:
• Duster Slippers for Cats – four little booties with mop attachments. There is a photo of a moggy wearing the footwear (pawwear?) and not looking all that happy.
• A roll-up zebra crossing for safely crossing the road
• The earring safety net: a little safety net clipped to your shoulder ready for loose ear decorations
• The Butterstick: butter in a glue stick type of container for application to toast, with no need for a knife
• A portable lamp post for when you have to walk down dark street at night, and my favourite
• The amateur gardener do-it-all, or The Ten in One Gardening Tool. The size of a skateboard and designed like a Swiss army knife, the tool has: ‘two sizes of shovel, a saw, a set of pruners, shears and several other gardening implements.’ (p142)
Weirdly entertaining.
July 26, 2018
Super fun book of ridiculously, useless inventions. I had no idea that Chindogu was an actual philosophy. It makes reading this book so much more interesting. There are even qualifications to what makes something Chindogu. There are ten of them. I was not just entertained but also surprised that I learned something from this book.
July 30, 2024
It's funny how the Chindogu concept can be applied to the modern way of how the Big Tech is updating it's SAAS-solutions for end-customers with random features.
Lots of them announced as ''revolutionary'' or at least unbelievably handy are quite rarely used in reality because they solve non-existent or not that major kind of problems.
Why do they keep getting added? Because the machine needs to be fed, stocks need to grow in price and the end-user should never feel like his product is outdated or is not innovative enough.
So in consumption world were literally everything is a product, there's no spoon.
I mean, Chindogu.
Lots of them announced as ''revolutionary'' or at least unbelievably handy are quite rarely used in reality because they solve non-existent or not that major kind of problems.
Why do they keep getting added? Because the machine needs to be fed, stocks need to grow in price and the end-user should never feel like his product is outdated or is not innovative enough.
So in consumption world were literally everything is a product, there's no spoon.
I mean, Chindogu.
January 11, 2018
This book is a HOOT!!! Absolutely goofy and charming, it features lavish illustrations and humorous descriptions of numerous items of “Chindogu” -- nutty, interesting, beguiling – yet ultimately useless inventions.
September 10, 2011
Utterly hilarious. Chindogu is defined as "inventions that seem like they're going to make life a lot easier, but don't. Unlike joke presents built specifically to shock or amuse, Chindogu are products that we believe we want - if not need - the minute we see them. They are gadgets that promise to give us something, and it is only at second or third glance that we realize that their gift is undone by that which they take away. They are funny because they are paradoxical and they are funny because they fail, but Chindogu are not designed to be stupid for the mere sake of stupidity...they are everything it takes to bridge the distance between what we are and what we could be...almost". To attain the status of a Chindogu, an object must, amongst other things, actually exist (as opposed to being a paper or mental concept); it must be created in the spirit of trying to solve - albeit in an "elaborate or unconventional problem" - a problem pertaining to everyday life. But above all, a Chindogu cannot be patented nor can it actually be of any real use, such that people would actually want to buy the object. A object that would actually be saleable cannot, by definition, be a Chindogu. Featuring diverse inventions from an array of "all-in-one" devices (e.g. an apron with all manner of kitchen implements suspended from it, a portable desk so you can work from anywhere, Swiss army gloves, all in one scrub gloves with an assortment of sponges and scouring pads attached to them and the ten-in-one gardening tool), protective devices (like a tongue guard to protect against hot food, a teeth guard for preventing food from contaminating one's teeth when eating and a noodle eaters' hair guard that looks like one of those foam rings you place around babies' heads to prevent soap suds from entering their eyes when washing their hair) to portable stoplights/zebra crossings/parking lots/lamp posts, Kawakami's book showcases the zaniness people can unleash (and the amount of free time some people have on their hands). Kawakami's descriptions of the inventions and how to use them, which you can imagine being delivered in a deadpan tone, are perfect.
Like this description of the deep fry spatter shield: The taste, the sound, the smell of fried food is wonderful - everything's great, except the feel of it. If you're hit in the am with a splash of oil, the pain will usually last longer than your dinner. The deep fry spatter shield welcomes you to the new world of deep frying. Behind the safety of its clear plastic, you can not only see what you're doing but you're protected from those painful pops when the bits hit the pan. There's even a pair of chopsticks attached so you can load another piece of food in safety and with ease. If you're brave enough, you can even stick your face right in front of it and enjoy watching the droplets accumulate harmlessly on the other side.
Or the instructions for the portable zebra crossing: The tyranny of the automobile makes life increasingly tough for eco-conscious pedestrians and finding a safe place to cross can result in inconvenient diversions and wasted time. Now the pedestrian can fight back. When you've ound the crossing point that best suits you, simply roll out the Portable Zebra Crossing in front of you and cross confidently and in safety at your own pace. Warning: on busy roads where there is no break in the oncoming traffic, attempting to roll out the Portable Zebra Crossing can be hazardous.
I must admit that the Chindogu status of some inventions perplexed me. I could totally see myself getting a pair of the cockroach swatting slippers with telescoping sandals. That way you can whack a cockroach without having to get to close to it (with a can of insecticide in the other hand as a backup). Or a deep fry spatter shield so you can deep fry without the oil spattering all over the stove (and on you). I also like the baby mops idea, where babies learning to crawl can have little mops attached to them so they can clean the floor as they explore.
An entertaining read perfect for those morning and evening commutes.
Like this description of the deep fry spatter shield: The taste, the sound, the smell of fried food is wonderful - everything's great, except the feel of it. If you're hit in the am with a splash of oil, the pain will usually last longer than your dinner. The deep fry spatter shield welcomes you to the new world of deep frying. Behind the safety of its clear plastic, you can not only see what you're doing but you're protected from those painful pops when the bits hit the pan. There's even a pair of chopsticks attached so you can load another piece of food in safety and with ease. If you're brave enough, you can even stick your face right in front of it and enjoy watching the droplets accumulate harmlessly on the other side.
Or the instructions for the portable zebra crossing: The tyranny of the automobile makes life increasingly tough for eco-conscious pedestrians and finding a safe place to cross can result in inconvenient diversions and wasted time. Now the pedestrian can fight back. When you've ound the crossing point that best suits you, simply roll out the Portable Zebra Crossing in front of you and cross confidently and in safety at your own pace. Warning: on busy roads where there is no break in the oncoming traffic, attempting to roll out the Portable Zebra Crossing can be hazardous.
I must admit that the Chindogu status of some inventions perplexed me. I could totally see myself getting a pair of the cockroach swatting slippers with telescoping sandals. That way you can whack a cockroach without having to get to close to it (with a can of insecticide in the other hand as a backup). Or a deep fry spatter shield so you can deep fry without the oil spattering all over the stove (and on you). I also like the baby mops idea, where babies learning to crawl can have little mops attached to them so they can clean the floor as they explore.
An entertaining read perfect for those morning and evening commutes.
June 16, 2010
So funny and ridiculous! Some of these ideas are just too fun! Who wouldn't want to play Face Ping Pong? Several made me laugh out loud - like the portable commuter seat. "Don't want to make room for me on the train? Fine. I'll just practically sit on your lap." The look on the train passenger is priceless. I liked the plateless placemat too. When serving a Japanese style meal, I really hate all the washing up afterward. Problem solved! Many of the ideas that deal with lips and eyes creep me out, though I was charmed by the facemask that unzips so you can keep germs at bay while still smoking a cigarette!
Overall, this was a fun little book. The written descriptions are what really take the book over the top though. So funny!
Overall, this was a fun little book. The written descriptions are what really take the book over the top though. So funny!
September 4, 2016
If you want a good laugh then read this book.
December 9, 2014
I would use some of these products and laugh if I saw people using some of the other things. More than a few are just wrong.
January 22, 2016
this is as useful as the Chindogu the author talks about. which is not very much. and that is awesome!
August 7, 2017
I must confess my undying love for Chindogu! I think it is such a great, simple and yet powerful idea to build "unuseless" things -- especially in today's time and age where practicality and utility is prioritized over creativity. This book will help you discover your childhood, because that's the only time were never really afraid to take risks, and do whatever came to our heart (not just whatever came to our minds!).
Kenji's work is an inspiration to people - and I hope more people join the Chindogu movement - In fact, it should be part of school curriculum because that's when we can sow the seeds without prejudice, pride or embarrassment.
This book is meant to be enjoyed without application of logic, familiarity or any other pre-conceived notions that limit your ability to think creatively. If it helps, sip wine along :).
Kenji's work is an inspiration to people - and I hope more people join the Chindogu movement - In fact, it should be part of school curriculum because that's when we can sow the seeds without prejudice, pride or embarrassment.
This book is meant to be enjoyed without application of logic, familiarity or any other pre-conceived notions that limit your ability to think creatively. If it helps, sip wine along :).
June 14, 2023
This is a hilarious book from the 90s. Some of the inventions were funny, some were "yeah we use that now!" like the selfie stick, just with an older camera, and some were gross (stick on butter. No way Hosea). Some make you go "That kinda defeats the purpose..." (solar power flashlight. Think about it...) and the wording description for many of them were just so ridiculously funny that I couldn't stop laughing (a dummy arm for shy couples new to holding hands).
Some made me think, "I think that would be even more dangerous than just doing X."
Some of the inventions are just plain silly and some make me think "I would use this."
I might keep this book just because it's so silly and gave me some great laughs. Will be fun to show some other people random pages from it.
Some made me think, "I think that would be even more dangerous than just doing X."
Some of the inventions are just plain silly and some make me think "I would use this."
I might keep this book just because it's so silly and gave me some great laughs. Will be fun to show some other people random pages from it.
January 12, 2018
I couldn't stop laughing/ sighing/ shaking my head at these well-meant but doomed to failure inventions. How wonderfully creative and at the same time stupid the human mind can be! Every invention has a laudable purpose, but the mode of execution often fails to hit the mark. In fact, some (like the heavy smoker's mask, an aid to facilitate smoking 14 cigarettes at once) are miles wide of it.
Long live Chindogu, the 'art of the unuseless idea'!
Long live Chindogu, the 'art of the unuseless idea'!
February 7, 2019
I had read one of Kawakami's books about "unuseless Japanese inventions" before, so I knew what I was getting into when I picked this up at the library. The inventions are typically silly and might or might not actually help solve a problem or dilemma. The book is full of color photos and short descriptions of the inventions, and is written fully tongue in cheek. Recommended for those looking for a small chuckle or two, who appreciate the absurd.
December 22, 2020
Welcome to the world of Chindogu! I found this book in a bin at a local thrift store and picked it up without much investigation. I really enjoyed Kenji Kawakami’s humour! A couple popular product themes seem to be: staying dry in the rain, tricking yourself into eating less food than you think, and becoming uber efficient. Fun fact: The number one rule of Chindogu is that the products cannot be for real use, but a proto selfie stick can be found in the book. A true visionary!
August 31, 2017
Super useless but funny books that shows, even if it's a very well known fact, that sometimes Japanese minds work differently, and mostly funnier :)
Libro assolutamente inutile ma decisamente simpatico che dimostra, come se ce ne fosse bisogno, come le menti giapponesi funzionino in modo diverso e sicuramente piú divertente :)
Libro assolutamente inutile ma decisamente simpatico che dimostra, come se ce ne fosse bisogno, come le menti giapponesi funzionino in modo diverso e sicuramente piú divertente :)
June 5, 2024
I have seen some of this inventions on the internet; but having them in the same place in this book is another kind of experience.
Love to see the human ability to create amazing things to solve small scale problems; and some of them could really work for my daily life.
Highly recommended if you want to have some fun
Love to see the human ability to create amazing things to solve small scale problems; and some of them could really work for my daily life.
Highly recommended if you want to have some fun
May 19, 2022
I read this book while I was feeling unwell and had a hard time looking and screens, concentrating, and found myself going in an out of sleep.
This is an easy, silly, mildly thoughtful book- especially funny to see the inventions we have slightly modified and adopted in 2022.
This is an easy, silly, mildly thoughtful book- especially funny to see the inventions we have slightly modified and adopted in 2022.
September 22, 2017
Can only be read in small increments. The best part is the introduction.
June 26, 2018
Good pictures, funny ideas. Some are interesting, some are meh. Entertaining read.
October 30, 2018
Has there ever been a more ridiculous book? No, indeed not. Endless creativity and fun. This book has me LOL-Ing more times than I’d care to admit.
August 13, 2019
Very entertaining if you understand the daily life in Japan.
December 13, 2019
Got this to give as a Christmas present, but had to flip through these inventions before wrapping it. A mix of the very silly and the ingenious, perfect bathroom reading.
January 20, 2020
My review of this book is located on my Youtube Vlog at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4DTl...
Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4DTl...
Enjoy!
January 23, 2020
Enjoyable fripperies.
July 23, 2021
Perfection. Anyone interested should buy this immediately.
February 6, 2022
Thoughts soon.
December 23, 2023
A loving showcase of anarchistic, delightful chindogu inventions as well as a tour de force of phenomenal copywriting to sell these imagined products.
August 24, 2025
This is the kind of entertainment we had before memes & gifs. A thrift find, it's almost worth the buck I paid for it.
July 17, 2019
I picked this useless book up at a library book sale thinking it would be the perfect little volume to sit underneath my coffee table or next to the toilet for unsuspecting visitors to peruse. The book presents many entries of the Chindogu Academy (and museum at chindogu –d ot- com) – an institution that honors the ‘un-useless’ ‘strange devices’ that observe the following ten philosophical tenets:
1. CHINDOGU MUST BE (ALMOST) COMPLETELY USELESS, 2. CHINDOGU MUST EXIST, 3. CHINDOGU REPRESENT FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND ACTION, 4. CHINDOGU'S USELESSNESS MUST BE UNDERSTOOD BY ALL, 5. CHINDOGU ARE NOT FOR SALE, 6. HUMOR MUST NOT BE THE SOLE REASON FOR MAKING CHINDOGU, 7. CHINDOGU ARE NOT PROPAGANDA, 8. CHINDOGU ARE NEVER TABOO, 9. CHINDOGU CANNOT BE PATENTED, and 10. CHINDOGU ARE WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
What I found to be most fascinating about this little tome is its ability to evoke a precious number of actual inventions in the time since the book was published. The selfie-stick? It started as Chindogu. That weird little gadget that keeps the water out of the baby’s eyes and your hair out of your noodles as you slurp from the bowl you just saw on Wish for a dollar that you think might actually work? Yep, that’s actually in the book as well – and the prototype hasn’t changed at all. The 360-degree camera? Well, it isn’t being used with 35mm film anymore, but I can’t think of a cell phone that doesn’t have the capability now. And the baby/pet dust mop booties? Well hell, that’s just a great idea.
This is a fun little book that was a lot of fun to read straight through, and I know it will provide visitors to my house an enjoyable dip into now and again. Well worth the quarter I got it for at the library book sale, and printed and bound in excellent quality as well!
Long live Chindogu!
1. CHINDOGU MUST BE (ALMOST) COMPLETELY USELESS, 2. CHINDOGU MUST EXIST, 3. CHINDOGU REPRESENT FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND ACTION, 4. CHINDOGU'S USELESSNESS MUST BE UNDERSTOOD BY ALL, 5. CHINDOGU ARE NOT FOR SALE, 6. HUMOR MUST NOT BE THE SOLE REASON FOR MAKING CHINDOGU, 7. CHINDOGU ARE NOT PROPAGANDA, 8. CHINDOGU ARE NEVER TABOO, 9. CHINDOGU CANNOT BE PATENTED, and 10. CHINDOGU ARE WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
What I found to be most fascinating about this little tome is its ability to evoke a precious number of actual inventions in the time since the book was published. The selfie-stick? It started as Chindogu. That weird little gadget that keeps the water out of the baby’s eyes and your hair out of your noodles as you slurp from the bowl you just saw on Wish for a dollar that you think might actually work? Yep, that’s actually in the book as well – and the prototype hasn’t changed at all. The 360-degree camera? Well, it isn’t being used with 35mm film anymore, but I can’t think of a cell phone that doesn’t have the capability now. And the baby/pet dust mop booties? Well hell, that’s just a great idea.
This is a fun little book that was a lot of fun to read straight through, and I know it will provide visitors to my house an enjoyable dip into now and again. Well worth the quarter I got it for at the library book sale, and printed and bound in excellent quality as well!
Long live Chindogu!
December 3, 2014
Kawakami is billed as " the inventor of the concept of Chindogu and the founder of the 10,000-member International Chindogu Society.’ And what, may you ask (and you may) is Chindogu?
Chindogu is the concept of an invention this is almost, but not entirely, useless. True chindogu cannot be patented or sold, even as a gag gift. They are created simply on the idea that it would be useful to have, though once created, the complexity, size or other element of the invention renders it nearly useless. Take, for example, umbrellas that clip to your shoes to keep them dry. A nice idea. However, to offer maximum coverage, each umbrella is 30 cm wide - forcing the wearer to shuffle with their legs spread so they don’t knock into each other.
Umbrellas play a large roll in the vast majority of chindogu - doubling is tripods, hats, full-body covers and grocery bag racks. Other popular inventions focus around the subway (suction cup hats to hold your head up while you sleep and hard-hats with your station printed on them so you can be woken), cooking (rubber gloves with blades or sponges attached to the fingers) and personal hygiene (a mirror with fake hair around the edge so you leave home feeling attractive and hirsute, metal teeth covers for eating so you don’t get your teeth dirty). Really messed up stuff from a very messed up people. It almost makes us look normal… almost.
Chindogu is the concept of an invention this is almost, but not entirely, useless. True chindogu cannot be patented or sold, even as a gag gift. They are created simply on the idea that it would be useful to have, though once created, the complexity, size or other element of the invention renders it nearly useless. Take, for example, umbrellas that clip to your shoes to keep them dry. A nice idea. However, to offer maximum coverage, each umbrella is 30 cm wide - forcing the wearer to shuffle with their legs spread so they don’t knock into each other.
Umbrellas play a large roll in the vast majority of chindogu - doubling is tripods, hats, full-body covers and grocery bag racks. Other popular inventions focus around the subway (suction cup hats to hold your head up while you sleep and hard-hats with your station printed on them so you can be woken), cooking (rubber gloves with blades or sponges attached to the fingers) and personal hygiene (a mirror with fake hair around the edge so you leave home feeling attractive and hirsute, metal teeth covers for eating so you don’t get your teeth dirty). Really messed up stuff from a very messed up people. It almost makes us look normal… almost.
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