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Ultra Monster paintings by Toshio OkazakiSeptember 1

A pair of action-packed Ultraman Monster paintings by Toshio Okazaki were published in Shōgakukan's 1979 edition of Ultra Kaiju (Shōgakukan Nyūmon Hyakka Series #97).

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Alien Guts, Windam, Gyango, Black End, Kingsaurus III, Bemstar

Alien Icarus, Gomora, Muruchi, Alien Baltan, Alien Magma, Kemular

Dancan, Giradorus, Astromons

Gandar, Gabora, Alien Metron, Agira, Antl

Photos: Good Design Expo 2010August 30

This year's Good Design Expo, which took place at Tokyo Big Sight over the weekend (Aug 27-29), showcased over 2,000 design-conscious items under consideration for the 2010 Good Design Award. Here are photos of a few items that were on display.

Goya de Goya: Goya (a.k.a. bitter melon) planter bag that resembles a giant goya (Protoleaf)

Tomato ni Tomato: Tomato planter bag that resembles a giant tomato (Protoleaf)

Sola Cube: Botanical materials encased in cubes of acrylic (Sola)

GreenMarker: Grassy page markers (yuruliku DESIGN)

Nature LED bulb (Advanced-Connectek) // QLD-10

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo sceneryAugust 19

The illustrations of TokyoGenso (a.k.a. Tokyo Fantasy) depict a post-apocalyptic Tokyo devoid of people and overtaken by nature.

Shinjuku skyline [+]

Tokyo Big Sight [+]

Rainbow Bridge [+]

Moai statue at Shibuya station [+]

Kabuki-za Theater, Ginza [+]

Hello Kitty spectacle in Tokyo BayAugust 17

Gundam videographer darwinfish105 has captured some dazzling footage of the 8-meter-tall laser-shooting Hello Kitty spectacle at Odaiba Beach, which has appeared as part of a campaign to promote tree-planting activities in Tokyo.

Vintage Tokyo subway manner postersAugust 9

Here are a few manner posters that appeared in the Tokyo subways between 1976 and 1982.

Three annoying train monsters (October 1982)

The three annoying train monsters shown in the poster are Nesshii (the sleeping monster), Asshii (the leg-crossing monster), and Shinbunshii (the newspaper-reading monster).

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Don't throw chewing gum on the platform (September 1976)

Even Superman is no match for chewing gum discarded on the train platform.

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The Seat Monopolizer (July 1976)

Inspired by Charlie Chaplin's "The Great Dictator," this poster encourages passengers not to take up more seat space than necessary.

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Don't forget your umbrella (June 1977)

This poster of the high-class courtesan Agemaki (from the kabuki play "Sukeroku")