Golden faeces provide light relief in Japan
Article:
story.news.yahoo.com
Picture:
story.news.yahoo.com
TOKYO (AFP) - While the Japanese economy shows no sign of
bottoming out, customers are going potty over a piece of golden excreta.
Four years after pushing out the 1.2 centimetre
(half inch) tall, 1.9 gram (0.1 ounce) real-gold
enameled charm, Kyoto-based maker Ryukodo's
little nuggets have made their mark, with more
than two million now sold.
Playing on the Japanese words for faeces,
"unko", and good fortune, "koun", Ryukodo
president Koji Fujii, 52, said it does not hurt to
have a little of both.
"There is no good news in the world today, with the poor economy and
scandals in business and government and war. In these times, everyone
wants to share a bit of good luck ('un')," Fujii said.
The 200 or 250 yen (1.60 or 2.10 dollars) kitsch first proved a hit with the
fans in Nagasaki, western Japan, where female students bought them as
souvenirs or to attach to their cellphones.
"I don't think there is anyone who would get angry at receiving a piece of
crap as a gift," Fujii said. "People really appreciate products that have
humor and are cute."
After the charms were featured in the domestic media in the spring of 2000,
their popularity boomed, and kimono fabric shops, souvenir stalls and
department stores nationwide now sell them.
Flushed with the success of the miniature on Sunday, Ryukodo begins
selling a "lifesize" 7.0 centimetre (quarter-inch) tall, 100 gram (3.5-ounce)
version for 2,000 yen, and next week, it will supply thousands to some 200
Seven-Eleven convenience stores in the Osaka-Kyoto region.
Fujii said it would be better if the events in the world, rather than his
products -- which he says make little profit -- helped people lift their spirits
and lighten their loads.
"I hope the economy gets better. In that case, it would be better if the
popularity of this product fades," he said.
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I guess gold really does stink! |
