Sometimes I look at the latest adult toys on the market in Japan and I can be a bit perplexed. Like I was recently with the Chokouha Masturbator, kind of like a giant black block. But then I gave it a try and saw how well it worked... Similiarly, when Taro showed me the Shobon 2ch Onahole I almost laughed. What the hell is that? I am a keen user of 2ch and soon clicked that it was a character based on the emoticon character 2channel users often deploy a feeling of shyness. Naruhodo! Okay, so I now get why it looks like that, but then why a sex toy? Well, my esteemed fellow ...

The recent surprise announcement by singer Kaera Kimura and actor Eita that they are getting married has drawn the wrath of Japanese SNS mixi members. Why? Because Kaera is pregnant and the wedding seems to be an example of "dekikon" (shotgun wedding). Reading some of the posts is interesting, not least that they are more the kind of content you see on 2ch rather than mixi. It reveals just how protective Japanese fans are of their idols and also their rather strange attitudes to sex! Here's one ...

Lisa Katayama's recent New York Times story on one man's relationship with an anime girl-printed pillow has been making waves in the English blogosphere, and those waves have finally made it back to Japanese shores. What did the infamous Japanese BBS 2chan have to say about this? The most sensical, entertaining comments on the boards, not in any particular order or threading. "I agree, he should go see a doctor" "It's far too late for a doctor" "C'mon, it's not just Japan that has things like this. Everywhere has them to some degree." "Japanese people also recoil from things ...