Chindogu
Encyclopedia
is the Japanese art of inventing ingenious everyday gadget
s that, on the face of it, seem like an ideal solution to a particular problem. However, chindōgu has a distinctive feature: anyone actually attempting to use one of these inventions would find that it causes so many new problems, or such significant social embarrassment, that effectively it has no utility
whatsoever. Thus, chindōgu are sometimes described as "unuseless" – that is, they cannot be regarded as 'useless' in an absolute sense, since they do actually solve a problem; however, in practical terms, they cannot positively be called "useful."
Literally translated, chindōgu means . The term was coined by Kenji Kawakami
, a Japanese investor and editor of the magazine "Mail Order Life." Dan Papia then introduced it to the English-speaking world and popularized it as a monthly feature in his magazine, Tokyo Journal
, encouraging readers to send in ideas. Kawakami and Papia collaborated on the English language book 101 Unuseless Japanese Inventions: The Art of Chindōgu, first edition 1995. The popular success of this book prompted a follow-up, 99 More Unuseless Japanese Inventions, which was published a few years later. Together, the books have sold nearly a quarter of a million copies in Japan alone, and have been translated into most of the major world languages. A website (Chindogu.com) was established in 1997 and proved instantly popular, allowing chindōgu enthusiasts from around the world to post their own chindōgu ideas. Examples from the books include:
There are three key tenets to bear in mind in designing a chindōgu. The principal among these are: (a) it has to be possible to make (i.e., it has to actually exist), in spite of its absurdity; (b) it has to remain in the public domain (i.e., it cannot be given a patent
); and (c) it must not be exclusively a vehicle for humor, or the warped satirical
worldview of the inventor. There is frequently humor in a chindōgu, of course, but this should properly be regarded as incidental, rather than as an end unto itself.
In spite of the stipulation that chindōgu should not be used for satirical ends, Kawakami himself does appear to regard them as a kind of antidote to consumerism
, and the Western obsession with making life as 'easy' as possible. He describes chindōgu as "invention dropouts," anarchically
brilliant ideas that have broken free from "the suffocating historical dominance of conservative utility." One might wish to design chindōgu for a number of reasons: for example, to improve one's mental sharpness; to develop them as an art
form; or simply to revel in a purely creative act without having to worry about utility or making money.
And then, of course, there is the simple pleasure to be had from a perfectly logical solution that turns out to be perfectly useless.
Chindōgu and its creator Kenji Kawakami also became a regular feature on a children's television show produced by the BBC
called It'll Never Work
, a show in a similar vein as the BBC's Tomorrow's World
; however, It'll Never Work usually focused more on wacky and humorous gadgets than on serious scientific and technological advances.
Chindogu will be available for public viewing in the United States for the first time on July 16, 2010 at A.Aversano Galleria in San Francisco.
Gadget
A gadget is a small technological object that has a particular function, but is often thought of as a novelty. Gadgets are invariably considered to be more unusually or cleverly designed than normal technological objects at the time of their invention...
s that, on the face of it, seem like an ideal solution to a particular problem. However, chindōgu has a distinctive feature: anyone actually attempting to use one of these inventions would find that it causes so many new problems, or such significant social embarrassment, that effectively it has no utility
Utility
In economics, utility is a measure of customer satisfaction, referring to the total satisfaction received by a consumer from consuming a good or service....
whatsoever. Thus, chindōgu are sometimes described as "unuseless" – that is, they cannot be regarded as 'useless' in an absolute sense, since they do actually solve a problem; however, in practical terms, they cannot positively be called "useful."
Literally translated, chindōgu means . The term was coined by Kenji Kawakami
Kenji Kawakami
is the inventor of the Japanese craze Chindōgu.Kenji Kawakami has founded the international Chindōgu society. The current president is Dan Papia. Chindōgu is the art of creating a product whose usefulness is precluded by its absurdity. Chindōgu is related to Rube Goldbergism. Chindōgu items must...
, a Japanese investor and editor of the magazine "Mail Order Life." Dan Papia then introduced it to the English-speaking world and popularized it as a monthly feature in his magazine, Tokyo Journal
Tokyo Journal
Tokyo Journal is an English-language magazine about Tokyo and Japan, which was started in 1981. Its first editor-in-chief was Don Morton, who later became the movie reviewer for Metropolis....
, encouraging readers to send in ideas. Kawakami and Papia collaborated on the English language book 101 Unuseless Japanese Inventions: The Art of Chindōgu, first edition 1995. The popular success of this book prompted a follow-up, 99 More Unuseless Japanese Inventions, which was published a few years later. Together, the books have sold nearly a quarter of a million copies in Japan alone, and have been translated into most of the major world languages. A website (Chindogu.com) was established in 1997 and proved instantly popular, allowing chindōgu enthusiasts from around the world to post their own chindōgu ideas. Examples from the books include:
- a combined household dusterFeather dusterA feather duster is an implement used for cleaning. It consists typically of a wooden-dowel handle and feathers from either the male or female ostrich bird that are wound onto the handle by a wrapped wire. Dusters vary in size by are most often between 14" and 32" in total length. Some dusters...
and cocktail-shakerCocktail shakerA cocktail shaker is a device used to mix beverages by shaking. When ice is put in the shaker this allows for a quicker cooling of the drink before serving....
, for the housewife who wants to reward herself as she's going along; - the all-day tissue dispenser, which is basically a toilet rollTissue paperTissue paper is a lightweight paper or, light crêpe paper. Tissue can be made both from virgin and recycled paper pulp.-Properties:Key properties are: strength, absorbency, basis weight, thickness , brightness, stretch, appearance and comfort....
fixed on top of a hat, for hay feverHay FeverHay Fever is a comic play written by Noël Coward in 1924 and first produced in 1925 with Marie Tempest as the first Judith Bliss. Laura Hope Crews played the role in New York...
sufferers; - duster slipperSlipperA slipper or houseshoe is a semi-closed type of indoor/outdoor shoe, consisting of a sole held to the wearer's foot by a strap running over the toes or instep. Slippers are soft and lightweight compared to other types of footwear. They are mostly made of soft or comforting materials that allow a...
s for cats, so they can help out with the housework; - the all-over plastic bathing costumeSwimsuitA swimsuit, bathing suit, or swimming costume is an item of clothing designed to be worn by men, women or children while they are engaging in a water-based activity or water sports, such as swimming, water polo, diving, surfing, water skiing, or during activities in the sun, such as sun bathing.A...
, to enable people who suffer from aquaphobiaAquaphobiaAquaphobia is an abnormal and persistent fear of water. Aquaphobia is a specific phobia that involves a level of fear that is beyond the patient's control or that may interfere with daily life. People suffer aquaphobia in many ways and may experience it even though they realize the water in an...
to swim without coming into contact with water. - the chindōgu baby mop, an outfit worn by babies, so that as they crawl around, the floor is cleaned.
There are three key tenets to bear in mind in designing a chindōgu. The principal among these are: (a) it has to be possible to make (i.e., it has to actually exist), in spite of its absurdity; (b) it has to remain in the public domain (i.e., it cannot be given a patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
); and (c) it must not be exclusively a vehicle for humor, or the warped satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
worldview of the inventor. There is frequently humor in a chindōgu, of course, but this should properly be regarded as incidental, rather than as an end unto itself.
In spite of the stipulation that chindōgu should not be used for satirical ends, Kawakami himself does appear to regard them as a kind of antidote to consumerism
Consumerism
Consumerism is a social and economic order that is based on the systematic creation and fostering of a desire to purchase goods and services in ever greater amounts. The term is often associated with criticisms of consumption starting with Thorstein Veblen...
, and the Western obsession with making life as 'easy' as possible. He describes chindōgu as "invention dropouts," anarchically
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
brilliant ideas that have broken free from "the suffocating historical dominance of conservative utility." One might wish to design chindōgu for a number of reasons: for example, to improve one's mental sharpness; to develop them as an art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
form; or simply to revel in a purely creative act without having to worry about utility or making money.
And then, of course, there is the simple pleasure to be had from a perfectly logical solution that turns out to be perfectly useless.
Chindōgu and its creator Kenji Kawakami also became a regular feature on a children's television show produced by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
called It'll Never Work
It'll Never Work
It'll Never Work was a television programme for children showcasing new inventions and developments in scientific technology. Produced by Roy Milani for BBC Children's, the show ran for seven series between 9 November 1993 and 23 August 1999 on weekdays within the Children's BBC, later CBBC, strand...
, a show in a similar vein as the BBC's Tomorrow's World
Tomorrow's World
Tomorrow's World was a long-running BBC television series, showcasing new developments in the world of science and technology. First aired on 7 July 1965 on BBC1, it ran for 38 years until it was cancelled at the beginning of 2003.- Content :...
; however, It'll Never Work usually focused more on wacky and humorous gadgets than on serious scientific and technological advances.
Chindogu will be available for public viewing in the United States for the first time on July 16, 2010 at A.Aversano Galleria in San Francisco.
Further reading
- Fearing Crime, Japanese Wear the Hiding Place, Martin Fackler. The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, October 20, 2007. - The Big Bento Box of Unuseless Japanese Inventions, Kenji Kawakami, trans. Dan Papia, ed. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. Norton: New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, 2005.
External links
- Interview with Kenji Kawakami
- Chindōgu interactive Flash movie (with sound)