Developer of “Hizamakura”, or lap pillow, Makoto Igarashi, introduces the product at Trane Co., Ltd.'s HQ on December 14, 2004 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)

Japan's electronics equipment maker MuRata Manufacturing Co., Ltd's showcased their bicycle-riding robot “MuRata Boy” during the CEATEC Japan 2006 exhibition on October 3, 2006 in Chiba, Japan. The “MuRata Boy” robot can ride up a 25-degree slope, stop without losing its balance and make an S-curve without falling. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)

A Japanese girl poses in a costume at a Chara Fes (character festival) event on October 26, 2003 in Tokyo. Cosplay (costume play) is becoming popular among Japanese youths, whereby participants dress up as their favourite characters from comics, computer games and animation. (Photo by Junko Kimura/Getty Images)

“Itasha (痛車), literally “painmobile”, is a Japanese term for an otaku fad of individuals decorating the bodies of their cars with fictional characters of anime, manga, or video games (especially bishōjo game or eroge). These characters are predominately “cute” female. The decorations usually involve paint schemes and stickers. Automobiles are called Itasha, while similar motorcycles and bicycles are called itansha (痛単車) and itachari (痛チャリ), respectively”. – Wikipedia


Photo: A visitor takes pictures of an anime-decorated «Itasha» car displayed during the “Moe Fes in Washimiya” at Washimiya Town Hall on July 18, 2009 in Washimiya, Saitama, Japan. Itasha, a word derived from “itai” (painful) and “sha” (car), are vehicles decorated with mostly female characters from Japanese manga, anime and video games. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images)

Fishermen slaughter a 9.61m Baird's Beaked whale at Wada Port on June 28, 2008 in Minami Boso, Chiba, Japan. Only five ports are allowed whaling under the coastal whaling program which tries to keep whaling tradition that dates back to the seventeenth century. Japan is only allowed to hunt a limited number of whales every year. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)

Japanese toy maker Takara Tomy's world's smallest humanoid robot “i-Sobot” is displayed during the Toy Forum 2007 on January 23, 2007 in Tokyo, Japan. The 165mm height robot is able to walk, play the drums and keep its balance. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)

Visitors enjoy watching the Blue Nemophila flowers bloom during the Golden Week holidays, at Hitachinaka Kaihin Park on May 02, 2010 in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, Japan. Millions of nemophilas blossom across the “Miharashi No Oka” hill at Hitachi Seaside Park for the annual “Nemophila Harmony” flower festival. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)

A eight-metre-long Whale shark swims with other fish in a worlds' largest tank with its front panel size of 8.2 metre x 22.5 metre at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium on February 26, 2010 in Motobu, Okinawa, Japan. Japan's most popular aquarium attracts more than 2.5 million visitors per year. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)