Astroboy- dual structure bra revival

In Japan, a country usually obsessed with new fads, an old favourite is enjoying renewed celebrity. The 60s cartoon character, Astroboy, was supposedly born on the 7th of April 2003. That's today, and Japan in response, has gone mad, as Mark Simkin tells us in his Letter from Tokyo.

MARK SIMKIN: It’s morning peak hour at Takadanobaba station in Tokyo. Thousands of commuters are crowding onto trains, humming along to the music being pumped through the station’s loudspeakers, and reminiscing about their childhoods.

The music is the theme to Astroboy, a hugely popular TV series about a Japanese robot with rockets in his red shoes. Astroboy, or Atom Boy as he is known in Japan, first appeared in 1951 as a character in a monthly comic book. In 1963, he became the star of Japan’s first animated television series.

The show was set in the distant future, and in it Astroboy was created on April 7, 2003. That makes today is his birthday. The lab where Astroboy was made was located in Takadanobaba, and so this area of Tokyo is particularly excited.

Astroboy flags line the streets and there’s a giant mural outside the station. Astroboy’s likeness is appearing on coins, parades are planned, and museums are full of merchandise and memorabilia.

The rest of the country will join in the festivities, too. A new series of the TV show is about to be released, a movie is in the works, a district of Tokyo has granted the robot honorary residency, and a $1.5 million diamond, ruby and emerald encrusted Astroboy doll has gone on display.

That’s not all. Given that last year a Japanese lingerie maker brought out special World Cup soccer bras, with the cups shaped like footballs, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that an Astroboy bra has been released.

The bra is a dual structure bra with an inner and outer cup in the shape of Astroboy’s head. In order to make a metallic image like a robot, the outer cup surface used a glossy enamel material. To create the face, a special hologram print was used to render Astroboy in 3D.

If the outer cups are removed, a red heart, which represents the warm heart of Astroboy, on the left cup will light up. On the right cup is printed the circuit diagram of Astroboy’s head and the pupil will blink at random in green & red.

On the strap and the side part, the energy pouring code required for Astroboy's birth is represented. Additionally, a counter is attached to the bottom of the [inaudible] skirt. The counter, which blinks red, enlivens the atmosphere of countdown of waiting eagerly for the birthday of Astroboy.

MARK SIMKIN: The press release doesn’t say what happens when the counter reaches zero. Presumably, the bra isn’t booby-trapped. So why has a 52-yearold child robot created such excitement? Commuters on Takadanobaba station believe Astroboy's message is as relevant as ever.

Astroboy appeals for the coexistence of human beings and machines. It is sending an important message to the entire world. The robot industry will continue to advance, so this issue is as important as ever.

He is just so cute. He appeals to everybody’s heart. I have read that originally, Astroboy was conceived as a girl, but became a boy because it was a boy’s magazine. In that sense, it’s sexual. He or she is sexy.

ELEANOR HALL: My dear, it sounds like that woman will be buying the bra.

About The Author:

Kathy Cole is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.bra-n-bras.com. A tasteful look at the bra industry, products and manufacturers.