Today’s lost in Translation is brought to you by the Japanese.

Check out the article at:

The jist of the article is really amusing. Basically, they have less that 7% of the crime of the USA , but the Japanese sensationalist media has made it so that the Japanese are afraid of everything. (Gee.. sounds like what our government is trying to do to us…but another day…) As a result, there are new “edgy” fashion designers creating purses that look like manhole covers (afraid of getting stolen? put it on the street – the crook will NEVER notice..) , sheets that if a woman is being followed she can “throw over her head” to look like a vending machine (now there’s a hideout for ya ), a backpack that expands in to the fire hydrant look (for children being followed) and other really amusing creations.

Even if you don’t want to read the article, it’s worth looking just for the pictures of people “wearing” their hiding place. (Say, why does that coke machine have feet, anyhow?!?)

As an American who has been trained to fight back (where as the Japanese simply would rather not create a scene) this is one of those things that qualifies as….

Lost in Translation.

** All Photos used here are property of the AP and NOT taken by me. I have no claim on them whatsoever, and fully reccomend you read the article and view the slide show. **