Weird or Wacky

Subway authorities in China's larger cities have seemingly taken a page from Japan's book on passenger management. Uniformed, white-gloved “people pushers” in Shanghai and Chongqing subway stations are now encouraging – with a helpful push or two – train riders to squeeze into the cars so the doors can close.

Finding the perfect Valentine's Day gift for your ex-spouse, ex-boss or ex-friend can be ex-hausting... until now, thanks to Saki Ika Chocolate. This "sweet dainty" snack from Japan combines fragrant dried squid with sweet milk chocolate. The term “snack attack” was never so appropriate.

Show me the money? In modern China it's more like “show YOU the money”, and what better way to tell the world you're rich and successful than with the Louis Vuitton Belt Buckle Cell Phone?

Reckon you're the chef of the treble clef? Then you'll love Sing-a-Long Tongs, microphone tongs that rock the kitchen! They may not improve your cooking but at least you'll be burning water in style.

Honorable homage or a lot of hot air? You'll pay a little more for the white “iFeng 4S” limited edition blow dryer at China's online Tmall but only 100 of the “Steve Jobs 1955-2011” gold embossed tributes are set to be sold.

Travelers and tourists used to soaking up the world's most exotic sights and sounds can now satisfy their sense of smell as well, thanks to the new, nasally-oriented, "World Stinky Foods" infographic from TripAdvisor Japan.

One dog barking isn't enough for this year's Volkswagen Super Bowl spot.  Deutsch, LA, which produced the winning commercial for the 2011 Super Bowl, The Dark Side, featuring a mini Darth Vader and his dog, decided to make this year's stars a dozen barking dogs, moving its energy from The Dark Side to The Bark Side.

This Universal USB Charge & Sync Cable from Dexim employs integral blue LEDS that scroll, marquee style, along the path of your current connection. Pimp my USB cable? Dexim has, and you're certain to get a charge out of it!

The massive tsunami that pounded Japan's northeastern coast following the devastating March 11th, 2011 earthquake left few trees standing along the shoreline. Among those few survivors is a battered, twisted pine that now resembles a Chinese Dragon. The so-called Dragon Tree has become a symbol of hope and renewal for the region's hard-pressed residents.

... Light therapy is a traditional method of relief for SAD sufferers, but it requires its subjects to be stationary while under special lamps.  But with the help of Kickstarter, three now-happy engineers have succeeded in raising the funds to produce their answer to SAD - Sequinetic™ 'sun' glasses. 

Finally, a use for armpit hair! Well, sort of. This cute anthropomorphic brush is designed to clean your keyboard's hard to reach nooks and crannies while putting a smile on your face. The unabashedly hirsute “Okite” underarm hair brush comes from Japanese design house and specialty retailer DECOLE, and is one of the popular Humania series of home, office, kitchen and school cool tools.

Add some extra fizz to any party with the LED Color Changing Ice Bucket with Remote Control. The bucket's cool-running 25,000-hour rated LED light ensures your bubbly won't boil while the remote control option is just as cool as it gets.

Where's the beef? Try looking under the foie gras and truffle butter, Jeeves. Wendy's has returned to Japan after a two-year hiatus but former customers might be hard pressed to recognize the burger chain, let alone pay for its high-priced gourmet offerings.

Remember “Three Wolf Moon”, 2009's meme of the year and, as a result, Amazon.com store retailer The Mountain's biggest selling design EVAR? No? It seems China doesn't either, leaving the field of wolf-wear wide open for one enterprising online seller obliviously ensconced (along with their customers) behind China's Great Firewall.

Who says you can't be in two places at once? Introducing Nubot, a smartphone faced robotic avatar doll controlled by Skype and webcam that allows you to interact with others remotely.

If you loved McDonald's Japan's quartet of “Big America” burgers last year and the year before, well get out the napkins and the antacid because they're baaaack! This year's fast food final four kicks off with the Grand Canyon Burger, followed by three more hamburger homeland homages filling out the first quarter – not to mention your waistline.

If you're looking to freeze the competition with a bitterly cold, icy stare, pick up FX-Neo eye drops from Japan. These cooling drops are formulated with chill minty compounds, invigorating amino acids and beneficial vitamins meant to revive and refresh your eyes.

North Korea's “Dear Leader” may be gone but online retailers at China's Taobao Internet Mall are making sure he's not forgotten by flogging Kim Jong-Il t-shirts and hoodies. Lookin' sharp, comrade!

Geek chicks looking to flaunt some geek chic should look no further than Mass Item's “Measuring” line of math set women's jewelry from Japanese designer Kyozo Kawabe. The miniaturized and accessorized rulers, triangles and protractors come in a variety of colors and won't leak ink into your pocket protector.