Maid cafes have become a quintessential symbol of Japanese otaku culture and many foreigners who visit Japan make a trip to one an essential stop on their travel itinerary.

In recent years, some enterprising foreigners have even opened maid cafes back home, though some argue that they don’t translate well into other cultures and that foreign girls look awkward trotting about in stylized French maid costumes. In some cases, it is (see the video at the end of this article).

However, doubters need only look to Moscow’s first ever maid cafe, Otaky, which boasts a staff of young Russian maids so cute that even Japan acknowledges they’re doing it right.

Otaky opened in 2011, and while rumors spread that it had closed earlier this year, it was confirmed to still be in business after being featured on a Russian website on October 31.

The interior is surprisingly similar to a standard Japanese maid cafe and looking at the images, you can tell that the owner must have put in a lot of time and effort into getting things just right.

Many of the decorations and supplies used in the cafe appear to be directly from Japan and there are even Russian-language manga available for customers to nerd out on while sipping their English Breakfast.

If you look close enough, you can also spot little hints of local flavor that make the atmosphere all the more charming.

Like any good maid cafe, the main draw of Otaky is the staff. Whereas Japanese maids layer on the makeup to create that perfected pop idol appearance, the Russian maids of Otaky let their natural beauty do the talking—and it works for them.

When posted this article on our Japanese site, the photos received an overwhelmingly positive response from our Japanese readers on twitter, who comment:

・Brb, going to Russia
・Now THIS is a maid cafe
・Whoa, these girls are seriously angels. I love Japanese girls, but this is a close competition.
・I didn’t think foreigners could pull maid cafes off after seeing that American one (see below), but this after seeing this I have to change my mind

Otaky is only open on Sundays, so you may want to call in advance if you’re thinking of visiting. Check the official site for more information.

Source: Otaky, Maid Team (Russian)

▼ How it’s not done. Seriously: they closed down this September after only four months in business.

▼ Otaky shows how it is done. It’s all about the atmosphere!

Related Stories

• Shady Maid Cafés Found in Osaka Ask; “May I Clean Out Your Wallet, Sir?”
• Grand Theory of Moe: the Past, Present and Future of Maid Cafes
• Zombie Maid Café Serves Up Terror in Tokyo Before Halloween
• McDonald’s Turned into Maid Cafe in Taiwan
• Maid Cafes in Russia are Sad, Sad Places

Origin: Moscow’s First Maid Cafe is Russian-Made, Japan-Approved
Copyright© RocketNews24 / Socio Corporation. All rights reserved.

It has been revealed by Russia Now, a news blog that reports ‘beyond the headlines in Russia’, that people in the city of Tomsk, Western Siberia, are preparing for the end of the world.

The survival kit pictured above was put together by none other than a wedding planning company. Seems a bit morbid for a company that makes money on helping people plan their special day, but perhaps it’s intended to encourage couples to tie the knot before it’s too late?

The reason a survival kit is necessary in the first place is because of the rumour and Internet scaremongering surrounding the ancient Mayan calendar, which some allege puts the date of the end of the world at December 21st, 2012. On paper it does look kinda scary, all those ones and twos lining up like that, but really? That is just around the corner!

The president of the wedding planning company, Yurianna Shichogorewa, leapt at the chance to implement a new marketing strategy with this prophecy, coming up with the idea for a survival kit. Borrowing tips from a Mexican acquaintance, she was able to produce a kit in just two weeks. 

In Japan, the variety quiz shows on TV have taken up the theme of the Mayan calendar and the end of the world more than once. Usually the shows follow the format of presenting a study of the Mayan civilization, which existed from 2000 BC to 250 AD in central and south America with its influence reaching as far north as central Mexico, before showing the projected doomsday date in a scary font. It’s safe to say that probably most people in Japan have heard of this prophecy by now, although at present an Internet search suggests that few are preparing for the Apocalypse, with the only other place selling a kit in preparation for the end of the world is Mexico.

In the light of a little enterprising humor, these kits line the shelves of stores in Tomsk. They supply what is needed if the world should come to an end, including an ID card, western herbs for relaxation (definitely necessary for the end of the world!), bandages, blood vessel dilatory agents (for heart attacks), buckwheat for making porridge, canned fish, vodka, a notebook for messages to the future, a pencil, candles, matches, some twine, and, finally, a bar of soap.  The twine and soap are sure to come in handy, but everything will vary in importance according to the user and just how much of a mess the world is when it finally ends.

The kits retail for 2,400 yen ($30 US) and are reportedly selling nicely in shops in Tomsk. 

Proving that she is, in fact, a shrewd business woman and not barking mad,Ms Yurianna Shichogorewa spoke to the media about the kit, saying: “Of course you must have a sense of humor to appreciate the End of the World Kit. They are displayed on shelves in a number of stores throughout the city. Although we are not yet sure of the exact figures, many of them have been bought. We have also come up with a special Christmas present kit which we are putting on shelves now.”

Hopefully we’ll all be relaxing at home during Christmas this year and not using these kits, Christmas present or not, on some barren landscape! (That is, if we survive the end of the world in the first place.)

The items included in the kit add up to a price of 890 rubles ($30) and the store will deliver the kit anywhere within Russia. There might still be time to grab one…

Source: RussiaNow.jp

Related Stories

• Kit Kat Ice Cream Cone is Seriously Just a Kit Kat in an Ice Cream Cone
• High-Speed Chocolate: A Look at the New Shinkansen Kit Kat and Other Cool Japanese Kit Kat Packages
• Nestle Donates New Kit Kat Profits to Earthquake Recovery, Accepting Messages of Support to be Displayed on Restored Trains
• Simple Arts and Crafts Kit Produces Beautiful, Shiny Balls of Mud
• “Manga Drawing Kit” That Comes With Girls’ Comic Magazine Way Too Impressive To Be A Freebie

Origin: “End of the World” Survival Kit Selling Well in Russia
Copyright© RocketNews24 / Socio Corporation. All rights reserved.

We don’t know how they did it, but it seems the Russians have developed a technology that allows them to control cats with a Nintendo Entertainment System gamepad.

There’s really no other rational explanation for what’s going on in the video below.

The title of the video, which went up on YouTube on December 19, suggests that this cat is “scared” of the sound Mario makes while he jumps. I suppose that is actually a more rational explanation.

On a somewhat related note, did you know that the Japanese have mastered the art of mimicking the Mario jump sound with their nose?

Might want to slow down on the drinks, ladies. You know a Japanese party is about to get wild when people start Mario-jumping with their nose.

Source: YouTube

Related Stories

• Nintendo Reveals New Pokémon Game for 3DS: Pokémon X and Y
• How to Make Gundam Using Microsoft Excel 【Video】
• Nintendo Wii U: Our Impressions of the New Console’s Biggest Launch Titles
• Homemade Chocolate Pokéballs: the Perfect Valentine’s Day Gift for Pokémon Lovers! 【Video】
• Sadistic Super Mario World is Back with New Levels, Made by Friends for Friends…

Origin: In Russia, Pressing “A” Button Makes Cat Jump 【Video】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / Socio Corporation. All rights reserved.

You may think that these are photos of a mannequin, dunked in an indoor pool or some brilliant photoshopping stunt.

However, these are actual photos of two-time free diving world champion, Natalia Avseenko, in the freezing waters of Orda Cave in Russia. On the day of the photo-shoot, the temperature on land was a bone-chilling -32.8 degrees Fahrenheit (-36 Celcius) and the water was 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 Fahrenheit).

Orda Cave, located in Perm, Russia, is the largest underwater gypsum cave in the world. The cave was formed millions of years ago, long before humans were stalking the planet. It is 50,000 kilometers deep and the water within the cavern reaches 200 meters down. Because of the icy, clear blue water and gypsum walls, the cave has earned the nickname, “Crystal Cave.”

Locals tell stories of the Mistress of the Orda, a folkloric spirit that is said to protect divers who venture into the depths of the frigid cave. With these stories in mind, Avseenko channeled her inner Mistress of the Orda to produce these stirring photos.

Avseenko has even swam in the 35 degree Fahrenheit (1.5 Celsius) Arctic Ocean stark naked in order to swim amongst beluga whales in their natural environment. It’s amazing what lengths she’ll go to in order to achieve her goals. We’re excited to see what new adventure Avseenko gets herself in to and what magnificent pictures will transpire as a result.

▼  Before the photo-shoot. The temperature outside was -32.8 degrees Fahrenheit (-36 Celcius).

▼  Watch Natalia Avseenko in action.

Related Stories

• Cave Story Developer Unveils Newest Game at Indie Event in Kyoto【Video】
• A place you simply must visit: Phraya Nakhon Cave
• [On Location at Somin Naked Festival] I Was So Cold I Actually Thought I Was Going To Die
• Fox Found “Frozen Alive” in Norway River
• Company Accidently Recreates Milky Way Using a River in China

Origin: Photo-Shoot in Freezing Underwater Cave Produces Eerie Images
Copyright© RocketNews24 / Socio Corporation. All rights reserved.

With over 40,000 stores around the world, everyone should be familiar with the 7-eleven chain of convenience stores. Part of the fun of travelling is seeing how these mega-chains adjust their wares to suit the tastes of the local culture be it the Big Gulps in America, the various onigiri in Japan, or melt-proof ice pops of China.

Take this 7-Eleven found on the Russian controlled island of Sakhalin. The orange green and red markings are instantly recognizable despite the foreign language. So what goods are Russians running out for at 2:00 am in their pajamas?

The answer may shock you.

This 7-Eleven in Sakhalin sells shoes.

And we don’t mean it sells sneakers along with beef jerky and road maps. They only sell shoes – wall to wall shoes.

Assuming a shoe merchant had taken over this property from a 7-Eleven which begs the question: why don’t they change the sign to something with a little more sole?

If not, it still kind of makes sense when you think far too long about it like we have: a convenience store sells things everyone needs for daily life and everyone needs shoes for their daily lives. Still, there seems to be a startling lack of variety in this variety store.

We went in and asked for a size 12 but the shopkeeper yelled: “Can’t you read the sign!?”

Photo & Video: RocketNews24
*DISCLAIMER: That last line was just a joke, please consider the Sakhalin 7-11 for all your footwear needs even if you are outside of that particular range of sizes*

Related Stories

• Why 7-Eleven Quite Literally Dominates, and Why You Won’t Find One in Shikoku… Yet
• Traditional Japanese Food Kills Two People, 15 More Hospitalized
• Our Team Sample a New Strawberry Rice-Cake Flavoured Milk Drink: “Tastes Like Green Peppers…”
• Rey Ayanami’s Spear of Longinus is a Large and Unsightly Broken Churro
• Sakhalin as Seen From a Japanese Tourist in 42 Points

Origin: Something Smells Funny about this 7-Eleven
Copyright© RocketNews24 / Socio Corporation. All rights reserved.

The below video, which we stumbled through with ears open for loan words like “kawaii” and “product placement,” presumably depicts that most otaku of Japanese exports – a maid café – in the middle of Russia.

The interior’s got style in spades, albeit with weirdly out of place old timey photos and a suspicious lack of vodka bottles (apologies to Russian readers for the ignorant stereotyping).

As far as the food selection goes, the menu’s got Japanese maid café classics such as omu rice, but apparently also some more exotic selections like some kind of taco-burrito hybrid, which the Russian reporter happily digs into.

Most glaringly, the legendary service quality of Japanese maid cafes seems to have gotten lost in translation, as the seemingly only maid on duty lacks any enthusiasm for the job, lazily reciting her lines like she’s been popping valium just to get her through one more bleak day of squirting ketchup squiggles on pimply-faced patrons’ omelets.

Source: Yahoo! Japan

Related Stories

• Grand Theory of Moe: the Past, Present and Future of Maid Cafes
• Moscow’s First Maid Cafe is Russian-Made, Japan-Approved
• Shady Maid Cafés Found in Osaka Ask; “May I Clean Out Your Wallet, Sir?”
• McDonald’s Turned into Maid Cafe in Taiwan
• Vietnamese Trade Ao Dai for Anime-Inspired Uniforms and Collars at Ho Chi Minh City’s First Locally-Owned Maid Café

Origin: Maid Cafes in Russia are Sad, Sad Places
Copyright© RocketNews24 / Socio Corporation. All rights reserved.

During the European Geosciences Union (EGU) Convention in Vienna on 9 April, a Russian scientist declared that Japan would face a giant earthquake of magnitude 9.0 within the next year and a half.

Alexei Ryubushin of the Schmidt Institute of the Physics of the Earth presented his findings which were arrived at from collecting low frequency seismic noise data through F-net.

F-net is a “full range seismograph network of Japan” which promotes earthquake research by providing high sensitivity seismic data, crustal deformation observations and other information which could be useful in monitoring the behavior of earthquakes.

During the convention he pointed out that there is still stress remaining on the crust following the Great Tohoku Earthquake of 2011. However, he predicts the next quake to take place in another location.

“From 2013 to 2014 a great earthquake will occur in the region of the Nankai Trough (a trench that extends along the bottom of the sea from Shizuoka to Kyushu pictured below).”

Along the east coast of Japan subduction is constantly occurring. As the tectonic plate in the Pacific Ocean moves towards Japan it is pushed under the plate on which the islands sit. This action continuously causes friction along the trench where the two plates touch.

Since 2012, Russia has been increasingly active in developing earthquake prediction technology. They have been collaborating with the UK on TwinSat, a satellite and ground station network which hopes to accurately predict earthquakes by detecting variations of Earth’s electromagnetic field in orbit.

The TwinSat project is expected to be completed in 2018 and hopefully will usher in a new era of accurate quake predictions.

Source: Mail.Ru (Russian)
F-net: English
Top Image: Google Maps
Diagram: Wikipedia – Surachit

Related Stories

• “Mt. Fuji Should Erupt by 2015”: Ryuku University Professor Emeritus
• Is Mt. Fuji About to Blow Its Top?
• Flashlight Automatically Turns on in Earthquake
• University of Tokyo Estimates 70% Chance 7.0 Earthquake To Hit Tokyo Within 4 Years
• Can Earthquakes be Predicted? Forecasts Based on Atmospheric Ions prove Correct in Awaji Island Quake

Origin: Russian Scientist Predicts “Massive Earthquake” to Hit Japan by End of 2014
Copyright© RocketNews24 / Socio Corporation. All rights reserved.

On 24 April in the Ural region of Russia, a parents group published an open letter to President Vladimir Putin asking that the popular Death Note manga series be regulated in all its forms (print, anime, live action).

Death Note was a Shonen Jump series that ran from 2003 to 2006 and centered on Light Yamagi, a student who stumbles upon a magical notebook which has the power to kill people simply by writing their names in it.

He decides to use the book’s power to kill evil, while also evading a master detective bent on stopping him.

On 20 February in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, a 15-year-old girl committed suicide by jumping from her 13^th story apartment. A suicide note was found in the room which read “I can’t live anymore.”

Nearby there were also four volumes of the Death Note manga. Police are investigating any possible connections between the comic and death.

However, a local parents group feels investigating is for chumps. They began to campaign for the death of Death Note right away saying it has an adverse effect on the minds of children and that it “arouses interest in death” in them.

This is not the first time Death Note has been under scrutiny for influencing people in reality. In Belgium after committing the crime a group of three murderers and an accomplice left notes inspired by the manga when they disposed of the body in what was dubbed Manga Murder (Mangamood). There have also been numerous cases of Death Note-like notebooks made by students across America resulting in suspensions. A similar trend in China led to the series being banned in some parts of the country.

Source: NicoNico News (Japanese)
Image: Amazon

Related Stories

• The Best of the Best of Manga: Shonen Jump’s 20 Best Sellers of All-Time
• Japan’s Top Manga Artists Celebrate 10 Years of Naruto with Original Fanart
• Survey Shows 85.2% of Japanese People Are In Favor of Death Penalty, Others Demand “Something Worse”
• It’s a Musical. About Tennis.
• Criminals of Japan’s Edo Period Were Often Punished by Getting Face Tattoos

Origin: Parents Group in Russia Deems Death Note ‘Harmful Matter,’ Requests Ban
Copyright© RocketNews24 / Socio Corporation. All rights reserved.

There’s a new video from Russia that’s moving the world to tears, just with its simple content: random acts of human kindness. Using the same car dashboard cameras that brought images of a falling meteor to the world, it shows Russian drivers helping out animals, pedestrians and fellow drivers in a manner that defies traditional stereotypes and puts many of us to shame.

We’re happy to report that the video has reached Japan, and it’s wielding its magic over viewers here as well. Given the tense relationship between Russia and Japan, locked in a territorial dispute and still technically at war, having never signed a peace treaty after World War II, it’s nice to see that people in Japan are responding to the kindness in the video and rethinking the old stereotypes. View the full video and see what the Japanese have to say about it, after the break.

Comments about the video have come from people all around the world:

“I didn’t believe in humanity until I saw this video. It brought hope” (Finland)

“This video made me wanna be a Russian. Congratulations Russia you have not males but men!” (Kuwait)

“This is the start of World Peace. Thank you very much for lifting our spirits” (Uruguay)

“Wow I didn’t realize a lot of Russians were such helpful people” (India)

“In the Western world the stereotype is that Russians are cold brutes so it’s nice to see this video” (Canada)

People in Japan have been equally affected:

“This is great. My view of Russians has changed”

“Russia, you’re beautiful”

“I want to be like them”

“After watching them, it made me feel strongly that I want to do what they do too”

“I’m crying!”

“I have a better opinion of Russians now”

Take a look at the video that’s changing the way people see the world. Make sure there’s a box of tissues nearby!

It’s amazing that simple acts of human kindness can bring so many people to tears. United in the emotion from the video, the responses from around the world serve to remind us that we laugh the same, we bleed the same and we cry the same. No matter the colour of our skin or the nationality on our passport.

Related Stories

• Sakhalin as Seen From a Japanese Tourist in 42 Points
• Polar Bear Arrested in Russia for Holding Unlawful Protest, Writes Catchy Slogans
• Obama Family Matryoshka Dolls Found in Sakhalin, But Something’s Wrong With Bo…
• Moscow’s First Maid Cafe is Russian-Made, Japan-Approved
• Japanese Men and Women Rank Which Countries They’d Look to for a Mate

Origin: Video of Russian Kindness Affecting People in Japan
Copyright© RocketNews24 / Socio Corporation. All rights reserved.

It’s taken several years, but as anime and computer generated vocaloid songs continue to grow in popularity abroad, Japanese pop music has solidified a passionate overseas fan base. Go to YouTube and do a search for the opening or closing theme of a major recent anime hit, and you’ve got a decent chance of finding a foreign fan doing a cover, either while strumming a guitar or with the vocal-less karaoke mix from the song’s single playing in the background.

But that’s not good enough for Russian band, Pudra (meaning “powder”). This quartet of teenage girls goes all out with their anime song performances, with full arrangement and polished videos. And while many foreign cover artists rewrite lyrics in their native languages, Pudra sings all of their J-pop renditions in their original Japanese.

One of Pudra’s biggest online hits has been their cover of “Blue Bird,” originally performed by J-pop band Ikimonogakai and featured in the popular ninja action series Naruto. The girls get extra fan cred by sporting headbands matching the one worn by Naruto’s titular hero in their video.

Aside from anime themes, Pudra also covers standard J-pop songs, such as last year’s runaway hit “Fashion Monster” from singer/style icon Kyari Pamyu Pamyu.

While none of the band’s members speak Japanese, they seem to have no problem with pronunciation, as seen in their video below of Hibari Misora’s 1967 song “Makka na Taiyou” (Deep Red Sun). One of our Japanese reporters remarked that if he hadn’t seen the video, he would’ve thought the singers were Japanese.

The band is steadily winning fans, both in Russia and Japan. Aside from messages of thanks and encouragement, many of them leave requests for songs they’re hoping the band will cover in the future on the group’s website. As their performance of the Beatles’ “Twist and Shout” proves, any song in English or Japanese, and of course Russian, is fair game.

“They’re good enough that they could do a show here with no problem,” said one Japanese Internet commentator, and we definitely agree. We’d especially like to see them do a double billing with the American-born vocalist of J-pop band nothing ever lasts. But whatever the format, here’s hoping Pudra makes the trip someday, and brings all of their infectious fun and enthusiasm with them.

Sources: YouTube, Pudra Official Website
Top image: Pudra Official Website

Related Stories

• Two Boys in the Philippines Wow the World with Cover of R&B Classic
• Cover of Hey Jude by Japanese Voice Actress is “An Insult to the Beatles,” Destroyed by Internet
• Cool Japanese Music Video Brings Back 8-Bit Google Maps…Kinda
• Japanese band with American singer wants to turn music industry on its ear with free downloads and gigs
• Korean Boyband BIGBANG Cited for Plagiarism in High School Textbook

Origin: From Russia with love (for J-pop), we present trilingual cover band Pudra
Copyright© RocketNews24 / Socio Corporation. All rights reserved.

We’ve already introduced you to the cosmetically enhanced “real-life Barbie” and the make-up skills of the doe-eyed “Anime Girl,” but we have one more eerily lifeless model for you to get acquainted with. Also known as “Russian Barbie Girl,” Anzhelika Kenova is shocking the Internet with her doll-like features.

Legs for days, a tiny waist, and a substantial bust all combine to create the illusion of a Barbie doll come to life. The 25-year-old from Moscow, Russia stands at 165 cm (5’5”) and weighs a mere 41 kg (90 lbs). Anzhelika also boasts a tiny 51 cm (20 in) waist. She is currently working as a model in Moscow.

We have to admit that Anzhelika doesn’t look quite as lifeless as her Ukranian real-life Barbie counterpart. No word on whether or not she has had plastic surgery, but it’s clear she was a beauty from a young age:

Finally, for your viewing pleasure, may we present you with a few glimpses of Anzhelika Kenova, the Russian Barbie Girl. Enjoy!

Photos: Acid Cow

• Real-Life Barbie Gives Her Friends and Family a Makeover, Turns Them into Dolls
• Ukraine’s Anime Girl and Real Barbie Meet Face to Eerie Face!
• 17 pics of early 20th century women torturing themselves for beauty
• Plastic Surgery Transforms Japanese Girl Into Living Porcelain Doll
• Amazeballs! Real-Life One Piece Characters Discovered!

Origin: “Russian Barbie Girl” shows off her doll-like features
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Who doesn’t love a nice Sunday at the beach? It’s that one day of the week when we can all kick back and soak up some rays while listening to the relaxing sound of waves lapping against the shore.

At least some of us can while many other people still have to work on Sundays, including those in the Russian Navy who were doing a training exercise. However, it would appear this time they decided to make a detour and sneak their enormous hovercraft onto a locally popular beach on the Baltic Sea for some fun in the sun of their own.

The amphibious vessel’s touchdown on the sandy and crowded shore was captured on video on 18 August and uploaded to the internet a few days later. In it we can see scores of beachgoers standing in awe as the massive 60m (200ft) long vehicle gently glides onto the shore.

The Russian Ministry of Defense acknowledged that a Navy vessel had landed on the beach as a part of military exercises but was not expecting people to be there. They are currently looking to how the mistake was made.

Media outlets in the area are speculating that the crew of the hovercraft might have made a mistake and landed on the wrong beach. Japanese netizens, on the other hand, speculated that it was a actually Zeon attack force.

Other, saner, net users in Japan thought that “Russia has some cool stuff” but also wondered why the media was reporting this hovercrafts appearance as “unexpected”. Many pondered; “How could they not see that coming?”

Source: YouTube – Джейн Эир via Himasoku (Japanese)

• 252 of Japan’s favorite animated gifs
• Read the Short Story that Captured the Hearts of Japan
• Western games may have won the Tokyo Game Show this year
• Try this squeaky clean personality test based on bathing habits!
• Chinese model’s “muscle” pics spurned by netizens, Chun-Li pics win them back

Origin: Colossal hovercraft crashes pleasant day at the beach in Russia
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

“You punch like a girl” was never a very good insult. Aside from being stupidly sexist, it ignores the fact that plenty of women are badasses who could take on nearly any opponent–male or female. And after you see this young woman’s physique, you’ll definitely start taking the phrase as a compliment!

Going by the name Julia Vins, the 17-year-old woman pictured above has been garnering quite a bit of attention online from the international body building community. The Russian body builder has posted numerous photos of herself on the European social networking site VK.com and has started to catch the notice of both Chinese and Japanese Internet users astounded by her incredible musculature and surprisingly doll-like face.

Here are some of the more impressive photos we found of the young Russian muscle-head.

▼ Arnold has some serious competition.

▼ Something, something “gun show.”

▼ Seriously, we need a She-Hulk movie, just so this woman can star in it!

▼ When your abs look like that, no one complains about selfies.

▼ Do you think her parents even pretend to tell her what to wear?

▼ Ho-hum, yet another boot to the head.

▼ 10 bucks says you don’t even notice the guy in the background.

▼ Did…did she just intimidate the sun into setting?

▼ Dudebros, you just got owned.

Japanese commenters were impressed with the Russian teen.

I wonder who’s stronger: her or Saori Yoshida [three-time Olympic gold-medalist Japanese woman wrestler].

It seems like someone this pretty will end up as a curling coach in her later years.

I want to be attacked by her!

She looks solid.

[The photo of her back with the sunset] kind of reminds me of Bruce Lee.

She’s a real Amazonian!

The Japanese version would be Rin Nakai.

In case you’ve never heard of the mixed martial arts fighter before, below is a picture of Rin Nakai. Before you even think about getting cheeky with her, it might be important to note that she’s won 14 of her 15 professional matches–and the odd one out was a draw!

Now, the question is, “Which of these girls would you most want to punch like??”

Sources: XinHua Net, 2channel
Image sources: XinHua Net, Girls with Muscles, Rin Nakai Blog

• Here comes a new challenger! Enter the Korean Photoshop trolls
• Quality Over Quantity; Foreign Girls Praise their Japanese Boyfriends for Satisfying Sex
• Canadian artist’s “what happened next” Street Fighter character designs are dark and awesome
• 【Video】 Chinese Man Extinguishes 15 Candles Purely by the Power of His Punches
• Two-Faced Pop Star or Cruel Internet Hoax?

Origin: Teen powerlifter wows Japanese commenters with massive biceps and doll-like face
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

We’re often treated to videos of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin doing something ultra-macho, be it piloting jets and submarines, shooting large animals with tranquilizer darts, or fighting forest fires.

However, the leader of the largest country in the world also has a sensitive side. He just doesn’t let it show very often. When you give him the opportunity, though, just watch as he marvels you with his talent.

For example, while attending a demonstration for an interactive projection whiteboard, inspiration struck President Putin and he knew exactly how to visually express what was on his mind.

Going to work like he’s made this figure 100 times before, we watch and try to decipher what this artisan is trying to make. Is it a face? A rocket ship?

Oh, it’s a cat’s butt!

I’m no psychologist but one of the powerful men in the world choosing to draw a cat’s rear-end has to say something about him. Russian commenters put forth the theory that he may have unconscious regrets of the treatment of the punk band Pussy Riot.

Japanese views thought something else might be going on saying; “It kind of looks like a missile.”; “Is this some kind of trick picture?”; and “He’s drunk.” I, on the other hand, think he may have just tipped us off to the 2014 Sochi Olympics mascot. If any of our readers happens to understand Russian and can tell us what he says at the end it could go a long way to unraveling this.

Then again we may just never know. Putin swiftly left the demonstration after finishing his creation. That was enough art for one day and he had an appointment to wrestle a colossal squid bare-chested in the Antarctic.

Source: YouTube – RTRussian via 2chan (Japanese)

• 252 of Japan’s favorite animated gifs
• Read the Short Story that Captured the Hearts of Japan
• Western games may have won the Tokyo Game Show this year
• Try this squeaky clean personality test based on bathing habits!
• Chinese model’s “muscle” pics spurned by netizens, Chun-Li pics win them back

Origin: Russian President Putin’s whiteboard doodle defies explanation
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Cats often get a bad rep for being lazy and selfish, but in fact they can back it up with a stellar job performance when necessary. For example, I once saw a cat swat and eat a cockroach in mid-flight. According to various industry insiders, employers hate cockroaches. Now that’s a valuable skill to add to any organization!

This is a fact of life that no one knows better than Russia. Their State Hermitage Museum is staffed by a team of cats who protect its treasures from vermin around the clock – or the sections of the clock they’re awake.

Even on the local level we now have Kuzya the tabby who is swiftly making his way up the ladder at a Novorossiysk Library. Coming straight off the streets he has already assumed the role of assistant librarian, and many are tipping him to be running the whole facility before long.

Kuzya showed up at the library’s door one day and impressed staff with his uncanny ability to look cute and fluffy. After arching his back and running his face along people’s legs he was able to procure food and (secretly) a warm place to spend cold winter days.

Unfortunately, Kuzya lacked the proper documents to be kept in a public space such as a library, so the staff, seeing the cat’s potential, worked to acquire it. Kuzya would need a cat passport, which apparently does exist. To get it he had an ID chip embedded along with a rabies vaccination.

With the paperwork in order, Kuzya could now openly roam the aisles of the library. Under his new title of “pet” he worked hard licking himself, looking cute, and taking naps so much that the library saw a significant increase in patronage. It turned out that people would come for the cat but stay for the book lending service.

Due to his success, the library promoted Kuzya from “pet” to “assistant librarian”. Perks included a raise in salary to 30 packs of cat food a month, bonuses of cat treats from staff and visitors, and a spiffy bow tie.

The promotion was officially documented and signed by the library’s administration.

We’re not quite sure this feline’s skyrocket in the public book lending sectors is through yet. He’s probably purring extra hard for the board of directors hoping to clinch a full librarian position as you read this.

Meanwhile thousands are learning from Kuzya’s secret to success and only working about five minutes a day but looking darn cute the rest of the time: a formula that practically made Hollywood what it is today.

Source:  Karapaia (Japanese)
Video: YouTube – MegaNews Russia

▼ A Russian news report on Kuzya.

• Our Reporter Accepted as Special Resident to “Cute Ward,” Welcomed by Mayor Mariko Shinoda of AKB48
• An office for everyone: 8 share spaces in Tokyo for creatives and freelancers
• 【Bucket List】 Top 15 Libraries to Visit Before You Die
• Canadian Micaela Braithwaite sworn in as new Kawaii Ward Mayor
• [Video] A Case of Cat in the Box Plays with Cat on the Box

Origin: Kuzya the cat assigned to assistant librarian position in Novorossiysk, Russia
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Many of us are warned when we’re children not to go picking mushrooms we’re unfamiliar with as they could be dangerous or possess hallucinogenic properties. But haven’t you ever wondered what happens when someone ignores these warnings and accidentally eats a magic mushroom anyway? It is not unusual to hear stories of the person becoming delirious or even oblivious to their actions after they’ve sobered up. But as they say, a picture tells a thousand words and when it comes to video footage, a whole new meaning emerges. Therefore, anyone curious about how someone behaves under the influence of these potent fungi, we urge you to check out the video footage below. It is likely to add a new depth of meaning to the dangers of picking species of mushrooms you’re unfamiliar with.

Be warned, it’s not pretty!

Some reactions from net users in Japan after seeing the footage:

“What’s the difference between being under the influence of alcohol and magic mushrooms? It looks the same to me. If there’s something wrong with all this then alcohol must be made of deadly poison as well.”

“Not to worry. The effects will wear off after a few hours.”

“Looks like a heap load of fun.”

“A couple of hours later this man will be found dead covered in the froth of his own saliva.”

“I’ve heard that the ingredients of poison are similar to ingredients responsible for making something taste good, so poison is apparently really tasty.”

“He’s a very lively fellow isn’t he!”

“It looks more normal than being drunk. He doesn’t look to be that bad and he’s walking properly. I bet he’s having a lot of fun.”

“I’ve eaten one before. When I did, I passed out for two days in bed. When I woke up, I was covered in blood but I didn’t have any cuts or bruises. It was all rather confusing.”

We just hope that the last net user’s comment is enough to deter anyone who’s thinking about eating hallucinogenic mushrooms from going ahead and doing so.

Source: Kanasoku
Image: universalmysteries

• Mother Nature makes us blush with her naughty sense of humour
• Too gross for TV? New mushroom series freaks us out
• China’s latest smartphone pushes the boundaries of innovation with its direct plug-in connectivity
• Giant mushroom will either provide you with months worth of meals, or days worth of psychedelic high
• TV staffer makes hilarious walk-on appearance during live news segment

Origin: Magic mushrooms and what happens when you eat them【Video】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

You see some pretty strange things on the road, no matter what country you are driving in, but as usual Russia offers a strong contender for strangest thing ever seen on a highway. Full video after the jump.

Some Russian YouTubers recently spotted a rather bizarre-looking vehicle on the highway between Samara and Orenburg, thankfully catching it on film to share with the world. On ridiculously high wheels, the “car” looks like a Frankenstein’s monster of cobbled together bits of various machines: part tractor, part dune buggy… part Batmobile maybe?

And yet, it’s hard to deny it has a certain badass appeal. You can easily imagine zooming–well, maybe puttering, as it seems to top out at about 60km/hr–along the road, looking down on all the other drivers like so many ants. And with suspension like that, you could probably do some serious off-roading.

But lest you get too excited and rush out to buy one of your own, we should say that this car is something of a mystery. No one seems to know where it came from, what it is, or even if it’s actually street legal.

Watch the video below and if any of our readers have any more info about this vehicular Sasquatch, be sure to let us know! Oh, and turn up your speakers for some really fantastic Russian music.

Source: DDN Japan
Images: YouTube

• Hold on tight: 10 unmissable roller coasters in Japan
• Road hog jams up 10 buses, keeps everyone waiting while he buys lunch 【Video】
• Expert mode “Rainbow Road” bridge found in Japan
• Previously unseen CCTV footage of March 2011 tsunami is intense 【Video】
• Nissan rolls closer to self-driving cars, but is the world ready?

Origin: Meanwhile, in Russia: Road warrior edition【Video】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

In one of the strangest stories we’ve come across so far this week – yes, stranger than exploding yogurt and ramen cake – reports are coming in of a number of Chinese-made irons that contain “mini microphones” and chips that can plant viruses in nearby computer equipment via home Wi-Fi networks.

We always knew ironing sucked, but this is ridiculous.

According to news outlets in Russia, batches of Chinese-made electrical appliances such as kettles and irons have been found to contain chips designed to spy on their owner and launch cyber attacks.

The story began when Russia’s state-owned TV channel Rossiya 24 released footage of a technician taking apart an ordinary-looking iron that came amongst a bunch of Chinese-made imports, showing what was referred to as a small microphone within it. The appliances were allegedly sent to St Petersburg earlier this month, and entire shipments are now being rejected.

The channel stated that the devices are capable of communicating with devices connected to unprotected wireless networks anywhere within 200m (around 650 feet) of the seemingly innocent home appliances, launching spam attacks and planting viruses. BBC News also reports that the programme found similar chips installed inside the likes of in-car cameras and mobile phones, all of which are thought to have been assembled in and shipped from neighbouring China.

Remember, kids, keep your clothes crinkled and your sensitive data safe!

Source: Gigazine (Japanese) BBC News
Image via Gigazine

• Marvel’s mighty Avengers to become an anime
• Thai Fans Remake Entire Iron Man 3 Pre-Release Trailer by Hand, Blow Our Minds 【Video】
• Why Don’t People Like the New Iron Chef? Was it the Fish Semen?
• Japan’s “Galapagos Phones” Strive to Survive in a Smart Phone World
• The Mine Kafun — An Amazing Invention That Could Save Lives And Make the World a Safer Place

Origin: Russia thinks China is launching cyber attacks via microchipped irons and kettles, releases photo
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Every once in a while at a fair or all-you-can-eat buffet I come across a make-your-own cotton candy (or candy floss) machine. Let me tell you, the excitement of pouring some sugar in the bucket and putting the card paper stick in is… is just about five seconds long for me. It’s cool and all, but yields about as much a “huh-look-at-that” reaction as noticing a 90-year-old using a smartphone.

At least, that’s what I used to think before witnessing David Shtorm work his magic with the wispy confectionery. By combining music, lighting, sculpting and dance he transforms cotton candy-making into something that you can’t take your eyes off.

The following video was posted on YouTube as part of a promotion for the upcoming Sochi Olympics and features Shtorm, also known as the Candy King, simultaneously doing a dance routine to Michael Jackson’s “They Don’t Care About Us” while serving up several cotton candies to the crowd.

Watching the video makes me wonder if the late King of Pop wouldn’t have been happier had he taken an early retirement. Bailing out before the insanity that was to be, he could have spent his days dancing on a Russian beach flinging strands of candy floss through the air to the children in attendance.

David Shtorm is available for hire at resorts (as seen in the video above), parties or events like weddings. In addition to the dancing he can form the cotton candy into a variety of shapes such as animals and hearts. Pretty impressive stuff!

The video generated a lot of positive reviews from viewers saying “Michael Jackson incarnate, awesome presentation and doing it for the kids,” and “I should be this enthusiastic about my job.”

In conclusion, we’d like to congratulate David “Candy King” Shtorm and crown him as RocketNews24’s newest King of Cotton Candy. He will be displacing our previous king, my uncle Joey who used to make dirty shapes out of his.

Source: Давид Шторм CandyKing (Russian) via DDN Japan (Japanese)
Video: YouTube – Кравцова Анна, Сафарян Александр, Nikolay Kalita, Nikolay Kalita

▼ Some other performances by the Candy King

• Ultra-realistic Kyary Pamyu Pamyu illustration looks more lifelike than Kyary Pamyu Pamyu
• When demon cats attack… cotton buds!
• Turn Your Favorite Lollipops into Ice Candies!
• Weird toothpaste mascot is a big hit with women in Japan
• Colorful Cotton Candy Flowers From China Made in Four Minutes

Origin: Russia’s “Candy King” channels Michael Jackson, moonwalks your cotton candy to you
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Having read comics a lot as a kid I always dreamed of having a mutation. Having my genetic material altered so that I could fly or turn invisible would have been great. However, as I grew up I realized that mutations often lead to things like health problems and considered myself better off.

Now watching this video, I may have to reconsider. According to the person who posted it on YouTube it was taken in Russia. It appears to show a humanoid creature crawling across the exterior of an apartment building.

At first glance, it kind of looks like an insect crawling across the lens of the camera or window. But looking more carefully it certainly seems to have four limbs… four limbs that telescope. It also looked like it was climbing around much like a person would.

My second thought would be CGI. The person who posted the video, Dahboo777, seems to disagree saying, “CGI? I think not on this poor quality camera that filmed it!” Maybe, but I’m not sure that’s enough to dismiss the notion of some movie magic at work here.

The other possibility is that it’s a real actor or stuntman filming a scene for a movie out on the street. Then again the lighting is pretty low for filming and the thing’s limbs seem to extend and retract very organically.

Whelp! I could either climb into a microwave and take a roll of the dice, or just chalk this up to some special effect trickery. Perhaps Dahboo777 said it best: “As always, You be the judge!”

Source: YouTube – Dahboo777

• Cat pics! Some of Japan’s most retweeted cat pictures to prepare you for the weekend
• French Commentator’s “Radiation” Joke Angers Japanese Government
• “Aaaaargh!!!” Baby Red Panda Makes his Dramatic Screen Debut
• Japanese Netizens Rally Behind Politician Arrested For Brutally Attacking Wife’s Lover
• All the Joy and Splendor of Finding a Cockroach in Your Home Can Now Be Felt Anytime with Roachbot

Origin: Video shows “mutant” crawling on the side of a building in Russia
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.