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Kenji Kawakami

The Big Bento Box of Unuseless Japanese Inventions Paperback – April 17, 2005

by Kenji Kawakami (Author), Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (Editor), Dan Papia (Translator)

137 ratings

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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:

the Drymobile (your laundry dries as you drive)
the Solar-Powered Torch (never runs low on batteries)
Duster Slippers for Cats (now the most boring job around the house becomes hours of fun―for your cat!)
Walk 'n' Wash Ankle-Attachable Laundry Tanks (a perfect solution for the problems of inadequate exercise and hygiene)
and many, many more.

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

Print length

320 pages
Language

English
Publisher

W. W. Norton & Company
Publication date

April 17, 2005
Dimensions

5.2 x 0.8 x 7.8 inches
ISBN-10

0393326764
ISBN-13

978-0393326765
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kenji Kawakami is the inventor of the concept of Chindogu and the founder of the 10,000-member International Chindogu Society.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is a celebrity chef, television personality, journalist, food writer, and "real food" campaigner. He promotes a back-to-basics philosophy with regards to cooking.

Dan Papia is a translator. He also heads the chapter of the International Chindogu Society based in Los Angeles.

Product details

Publisher : W. W. Norton & Company; 64940th edition (April 17, 2005)
Language : English
Paperback : 320 pages
ISBN-10 : 0393326764
ISBN-13 : 978-0393326765
Item Weight : 1.13 pounds
Dimensions : 5.2 x 0.8 x 7.8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #181,454 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #148 in Industrial & Product Design
- #252 in Trivia & Fun Facts (Books)
- #439 in Industrial Manufacturing Systems

Customer Reviews:
137 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		81%
4 star		14%
3 star		5%
2 star		1%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

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Top reviews from the United States

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FoamyEvening187

A really fun conversation piece for guests

Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2016

Verified Purchase

A wonderful collection of items for anyone who enjoy the ridiculous. The product overviews are part of the joke, so don't expect too much info who/when/where/what/why these funny items are invented.

This is a real example of a real reaction from one of my guests after picking up this book:

"Oh my god, I want to rip this book into little pieces."

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Sasha

Fun Book!

Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2020

Verified Purchase

We had a lot of laughs with this one. Great collection of flop inventions, some of them I would love to own! Shipped fast and in excellent condition.

Helpful

Ceara Chirovsky

Hilarious and enlightening book!

Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2019

Verified Purchase

Bought this book as a gag gift, but turned out to be a interesting conversation starter. I had no idea that these products are actually a form of satire, which makes the book even more enjoyable!

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Fiona

The Best Book

Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2019

Verified Purchase

This is the second copy of this book that I have bought so that I can bring it to school to show students. It is a fantastic hilarious book with brilliantly terrible unuseless inventions.

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East 4

So funny

Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2019

Verified Purchase

Hilarious book for someone who like the odd and unique. Lots of laughs!!

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Stephanie M.

Awesome book and even better seller!

Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2020

Verified Purchase

This book came in a timely matter. The book was packaged very well. I also had to get in contact with the seller and they responded quickly. They helped me with my issue. I am satisfied with my purchase for many reasons.

Helpful

Terese Trent-Crampton (T-Bone)

Nice bathroom/coffee table book

Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2020

Verified Purchase

Interesting little book. Clear pictures and good description of each invention/idea.

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Ricardo Villarreal

One of those books you want to share with everyone, I laughed a lot!

Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2014

Verified Purchase

There are creative inventions you absolutely need, there are those you didn't know you needed, and then there are chindogus (Japanese art of inventing unusual gadgets). This is one of the funniest books I've seen in a while. The inventions presented here are so incredibly useless they are hilarious. The best chindogu is probably the book itself: a compilation of chindogus.

Helpful

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Maria

A very entertaining book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 3, 2015

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A very entertaining book everyone should have for a quick laugh. I ordered it after seeing a copy in a doctor's surgery and everyone who looks through it finds something to make them laugh. If you've never seen pets and babies gainfully employed in household duties.......this is the book!

One person found this helpful

Mattho Mandersloot

Humorous book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 28, 2018

Verified Purchase

Very funny book. Great gift idea for friends with humour.

Daniel GC

Inusualmente divertido

Reviewed in Mexico on October 16, 2017

Verified Purchase

Chindōgu es el arte de crear invenciones inútiles e inusuales; el resultado es algo muy divertido por lo absurdamente impractico que pueden ser.
La mayoria del libro son imagenes de los inventos que casi no necesitan explicación.
Lo único malo que le puedo encontrar es que algunas imágenes se cortan cuando abarcan dos páginas y no se aprecia todo el invento, y claro que a pesar de sus 300 páginas de inventos se siente un libro pequeño

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101A

libro divertente.

Reviewed in Italy on November 27, 2017

Verified Purchase

Più che un libro è una raccolta di immagini ed invenzioni strane dal Giappone.
Probabilmente come tanti altri libri creati da materiale venuto fuori dalla rete.
E' un testo goliardico, con annotazioni e spiegazioni ironiche in inglese.
Nessun riferimento o spiegazione a veri autori o date delle invenzioni.
Una simpatica raccolta senza pretese.
Da avere per l'assurdità della raccolta in se'.

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Brekasia

Bestes Geschenk aller Zeiten!

Reviewed in Germany on February 26, 2018

Verified Purchase

Das perfekte Geschenk für Freunde, Verwandtschaft und Japanliebhaber. Ich habe dieses Jahr zu Weihnachten sehr viele meiner Lieben damit beglückt. Der Abend hätte besser nicht werden können! Es ist unglaublich, welche Erfindungen es gibt und wie absurd sie erscheinen (dabei aber immer einen sinnvollen Ursprungsgedanken haben!). Man will gar nicht aufhören durchzublättern. Der witzige Schreibstil setzt dem ganzen noch das Krönchen auf. Werde es wieder und wieder bestellen!

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