Attack of the Cyborg School Girls

Japan, a nation long known for its technological superiority (and unflagging inability to integrate it with good design - see Toyota Prius for example), have a long history of creating hi-tech robots that serve no functional purpose. Toyota created a robot that can sort-of play a trumpet and Honda made a robot that can serve tea to other robots. Every year in Tokyo, robot designers showcase their innovation in dancing droids and this past November we were able to watch what looked like a metallic kogyaru go through a series of parapara moves that would make even Aymi Hamasaki envious. Most disturbing is perhaps the fact that cyber-trance is gaining a new group of loyal, if not anymore intelligent, converts.

Ayumi Hamasaki- in a Mustang!?

Spotted this video while watching MTV Japan the other day. It's Ayumi Hamasaki's new song called, strangely, "Next Level." I guess by next level she means not psychedelic trance. Perhaps she is referring to a desire to appeal to a more mature audience, like those in their later teens (kogyaru have to grow up too, I guess). Whatever the reason, it was interesting, or just perhaps unsettling, to see her driving a '65 Mustang through the California desert. Or is it really an animatronic Ayu robot in front of a blue screen? You can decide for yourself if you want by watching the video promo here: