Japan has done it again, guys. We introduce to you, with mixed feelings about the whole thing, the Un-burera.
An umbrella which opens up to reveal the up-skirt view of an anime girls… ahem, vajigamathing. Her… err, fralalala.
The Un-burera is a product of the Million Girl Project, a company that produces bizarre products for everyday use. Their idea seems to be a novel take on the ‘Cool Japan‘ program of the Japanese government. Except that they call it ‘Crazy Japan’.
And boy do they hit the nail on the head with this one. Take shelter from the rain under an anime girls skirt.
It even comes with a disclaimer warning the user of extreme shame upon public use.
BUT. Yes, there’s a but (Punintentional).
While I love a self-aware marketing campaign as much as the next guy, lets take a step back here. There is a difference between hilariously controversial and outright creepy. Take away the filter of anime for a moment and try to think about what it really is. The up-skirt view of a schoolgirl.
I’m always up for showing the finger to the man. Taking a dig at a bullshit government program is, in my humble opinion, one of the greatest pleasures of life. But outside the cultural context of Japan, don’t you think that this is kinda inappropriate?
So I leave you with this question. Is there a line here that’s being crossed?