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This "marimo" algae ball doll is wearing a school gym uniform with his name on the front, and features a giant bulge in his pants that's bigger than his two hands. The coolest thing about it is that you can pull the bulge all the way out and the doll will quiver with excitement as it retracts. Apparently this is some kind of icon in Hokkaido.
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In 2008, Chronicle published my book: Urawaza: Secret Everyday Tips and Tricks from Japan.
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"Marimo" is a rare algae, used to spread in a lake in Hokkaido. Back in the 50's, this lake has been chosen to be used as cooling system for an electric generator/plant (don't know the word, I'm french, sorry) and this put the Marimo population on the decline. Then, ecologic movements acted to push the plant away to save "marimo chan". Since then, marimo is a kind of symbol, sold in small bottles as a flower, or something like that. I've personnaly been offered one couple by a Japanese friend when I was in Tokyo. :)
Posted by: Pixoshiru | February 14, 2007 at 01:05 AM
The doll's expression simply wins.
Posted by: gianne | February 14, 2007 at 06:58 AM
ive got one of those ^_^
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Marimo_lake_akann.jpg the algae
Posted by: STein | February 14, 2007 at 08:59 AM