Chindōgu

Chindōgu (珍道具) originated in Japan and is characterized by the invention of ingenious everyday gadgets that seem to be ideal solutions to particular problems, but which, in fact, cause more problems than they solve.[1]

Background

Literally translated, chindōgu means unusual (珍, chin) tool (道具, dōgu). The term was coined by Kenji Kawakami, a former editor and contributor to the Japanese home-shopping magazine "Mail Order Life." In the magazine, Kenji used his spare pages to showcase several bizarre prototypes for products. He named these gadgets “chindōgu”; Kawakami himself said that a more appropriate translation than "unusual tool" is "weird tool". This special category of inventions subsequently became familiar to the Japanese people.

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. In 1995, Kawakami and Papia collaborated on the English language book 101 Unuseless Japanese Inventions: The Art of Chindōgu. Most classic chindogu products are collected in the book. Many examples display a sense of humor in the way they are used. Examples from the books include:

  • A combined household duster and cocktail-shaker, for the housewife who wants to reward herself as she is going along.
  • The all-day tissue dispenser, which is a toilet roll fixed on top of a hat, for hay fever sufferers.
  • Duster slippers for cats, so they can help out with the housework.
  • The all-over plastic bathing suit, to enable people who suffer from aquaphobia to swim without coming into contact with water.
  • The baby mop, an outfit worn by babies, so that as they crawl around, the floor is cleaned.[2]
  • The selfie stick, which was featured in a 1995 book of "101 Un-Useless Japanese Inventions". While dismissed as a "useless invention" at the time, it later gained global popularity in the 21st century.[3]

The International Chindogu Society

The International Chindogu Society was organized to popularize Chindogu worldwide. The society's president Dan Papia is also a Chindogu expert. People who invent a Chindogu can post their success on the society's website, which features frequently asked questions and a contact page, so anyone can get involved. At the moment, the society is small, but they are always looking for new members. The society's "Ten Tenets of Chindogu" are also listed on their website.

The Ten Tenets of Chindōgu

The Chindōgu Society developed ten tenets of Chindōgu. The tenets function explain the principles (spirits) on which chindogu products should be based, which inspires designers and users to think about the deep core of design in general. The ten tenets require that a Chindōgu

  • cannot be for real use,
  • must exist,
  • must be a spirit of anarchy,
  • is a tool for everyday life,
  • is not a tradeable commodities,
  • must have resulted only from an exercise of humor,
  • is not propaganda,
  • is not taboo,
  • cannot be patented, and
  • is without prejudice.

In the media

Chindōgu and its creator Kenji Kawakami were featured regularly 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, humorous gadgets than on serious scientific and technological advances.

See also

References
  1. 99 More Unuseless Japanese Inventions: The Art of Chindogu. W. W. Norton & Company. January 1998. ISBN 978-0-393-31743-5.
  2. Szpirglas, Jeff (2005). "Amazing Amusing Inventions". They Did WHAT?!: Your Guide to Weird and Wacky Things People Do. Dave Whamond. Hong Kong: Maple Tree Press. p. 60. ISBN 1-897066-23-6.
  3. Alex Scola. "Turns Out Japan Invented The 'Selfie-Stick' 20 Years Ago". Distractify. Archived from the original on 2015-01-09.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

Further reading
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