Mameshiba
January 30, 2010 3:26 PM Subscribe
Mameshiba They're not quite a dog, nor a bean but a hybrid of both. They love to appear out of nowhere and offer random bits of trivia whether you asked for it or not.
wow...
posted by frankbooth at 3:33 PM on January 30, 2010
posted by frankbooth at 3:33 PM on January 30, 2010
this was very almost. on the pro side, the t-shirts look like they fit really good, and the bean characters are cute and appealing. on the -eh side, the did you know stuff was pretty -eh, and I fracking hate slots.
posted by toodleydoodley at 3:33 PM on January 30, 2010
posted by toodleydoodley at 3:33 PM on January 30, 2010
What the hell is wrong with the Japanese that they come up with crazy-ass shit like this?
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 3:43 PM on January 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 3:43 PM on January 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
What is Japanese for "mental illness making my food talk again and making me uncomfortably aware of my own mental illness"?
Ah! Mameshiba!
posted by humannaire at 3:44 PM on January 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
Ah! Mameshiba!
posted by humannaire at 3:44 PM on January 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
Is "mame" Japanese for "bean"?
Yes.
The "shiba" part is not "dog", though (that's "inu") -- it's the name of this Japanese breed.
posted by vorfeed at 3:45 PM on January 30, 2010 [2 favorites]
Yes.
The "shiba" part is not "dog", though (that's "inu") -- it's the name of this Japanese breed.
posted by vorfeed at 3:45 PM on January 30, 2010 [2 favorites]
Is "mame" Japanese for "bean"?
Yep, as in "edamame." And "shiba" is a breed of dog. BUT it's really a play on "mamechiishiki" which means "trivia."
posted by johnnybeggs at 3:45 PM on January 30, 2010 [2 favorites]
Yep, as in "edamame." And "shiba" is a breed of dog. BUT it's really a play on "mamechiishiki" which means "trivia."
posted by johnnybeggs at 3:45 PM on January 30, 2010 [2 favorites]
They're not quite a dog, nor a bean but a hybrid of both.
This is actually a pretty good description of newborn puppies.
posted by Countess Elena at 3:46 PM on January 30, 2010 [19 favorites]
This is actually a pretty good description of newborn puppies.
posted by Countess Elena at 3:46 PM on January 30, 2010 [19 favorites]
Well I guess "really" is the wrong way to word that since "trivia" literally translates from the Japanese as "a bean of knowledge." /nerd.
posted by johnnybeggs at 3:48 PM on January 30, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by johnnybeggs at 3:48 PM on January 30, 2010 [4 favorites]
What in the hell?
posted by brundlefly at 3:48 PM on January 30, 2010 [7 favorites]
posted by brundlefly at 3:48 PM on January 30, 2010 [7 favorites]
That Natto Mameshiba was completely asking for it.
posted by maudlin at 3:52 PM on January 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by maudlin at 3:52 PM on January 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
But can we overthink a plate of them?
posted by mmoncur at 4:01 PM on January 30, 2010 [18 favorites]
posted by mmoncur at 4:01 PM on January 30, 2010 [18 favorites]
The soybean one is the creepiest!
posted by Solon and Thanks at 4:06 PM on January 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Solon and Thanks at 4:06 PM on January 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
Aw, thanks for the link! I saw a sticker of one of these dudes on a fish cart in the Tsukiji market over the summer - I thought it was very appropriate. I had no idea that it there was an army of these little guys.
posted by Consonants Without Vowels at 4:17 PM on January 30, 2010
posted by Consonants Without Vowels at 4:17 PM on January 30, 2010
Overthinking a dog bowl of beans.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 4:18 PM on January 30, 2010
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 4:18 PM on January 30, 2010
I saw these when they were in a recent AskMe. Does anyone know why everyone turns gray or ill when the bean speaks?
posted by kuujjuarapik at 4:29 PM on January 30, 2010
posted by kuujjuarapik at 4:29 PM on January 30, 2010
Ooh.. Bohnanza (does Metafilter have an official game yet?) would be even better if you could plant puppy beans! Harvesting a whole row of puppy beans! Tee hee!
posted by giraffe at 4:30 PM on January 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by giraffe at 4:30 PM on January 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
That tiger bean is kind of an asshole.
posted by giraffe at 4:40 PM on January 30, 2010 [6 favorites]
posted by giraffe at 4:40 PM on January 30, 2010 [6 favorites]
I'd be a lot less upset if this random pairing didn't work so damn well. Well done, Japan.
posted by mccarty.tim at 4:46 PM on January 30, 2010
posted by mccarty.tim at 4:46 PM on January 30, 2010
I'm pretty sure turning grey is an anime convention for being extremely uncomfortable and/or weirded out. From what I've seen so far, they appear weirded out by the bean-dogs, plus the trivia is not appropriate dinner table banter.
posted by mccarty.tim at 4:52 PM on January 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by mccarty.tim at 4:52 PM on January 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
Not entirely convinced that this isn't some extended joke by Chris Onstad.
posted by Halloween Jack at 4:54 PM on January 30, 2010
posted by Halloween Jack at 4:54 PM on January 30, 2010
Thank you boo_radley! I've been wondering what these guys were since I found them on the related videos for a giga pudding commercial.
Warning: video contains irrestably catchy jingle and autocannibalistic flan.
posted by Monsters at 4:55 PM on January 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
Warning: video contains irrestably catchy jingle and autocannibalistic flan.
posted by Monsters at 4:55 PM on January 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
I don't understand what these are. Are they an advertisement for something or is it just some kind of toy? Is it some kind of pop culture icon?
posted by TooFewShoes at 5:01 PM on January 30, 2010
posted by TooFewShoes at 5:01 PM on January 30, 2010
I think it is very strange that the coffee beans are described as "composed." Shouldn't coffee beans be jittery and demanding?
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:21 PM on January 30, 2010
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:21 PM on January 30, 2010
Okay, I admit it--> I don't understand this at all. But hey! It's a pleasant misunderstanding, at least.
posted by festivemanb at 5:36 PM on January 30, 2010
posted by festivemanb at 5:36 PM on January 30, 2010
That was fun in an odd sort of way. Thanks, boo_radley!
"From what I've seen so far, they appear weirded out by the bean-dogs, plus the trivia is not appropriate dinner table banter."
And it usually has something to do with their situation, like the corrupt businessman who finds out that Lemurs have two tongues, or the single woman learns that mute canaries will never mate.
posted by Kevin Street at 5:44 PM on January 30, 2010 [2 favorites]
"From what I've seen so far, they appear weirded out by the bean-dogs, plus the trivia is not appropriate dinner table banter."
And it usually has something to do with their situation, like the corrupt businessman who finds out that Lemurs have two tongues, or the single woman learns that mute canaries will never mate.
posted by Kevin Street at 5:44 PM on January 30, 2010 [2 favorites]
If a pea started speaking to me about dandelion urination whatever the hell that first video was about, I'd turn gray and start freaking out. Probably become ill.
posted by angrycat at 5:45 PM on January 30, 2010
posted by angrycat at 5:45 PM on January 30, 2010
It would be so tempting to just chew away and forget that anything happened.
"Did you know... AIIEEE!"
posted by Kevin Street at 5:53 PM on January 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
"Did you know... AIIEEE!"
posted by Kevin Street at 5:53 PM on January 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
After watching some of the videos, I find them sort of charming. I like the idea of friendly beans )or dog-beans) who just want to share their knowledge with people (presumably before getting eaten). Instead, their freakish appearance fills the people they wish to inform with rightful dread. It's a cute Existential nightmare!
I especially like it when the kid in the Jelly Bean video goes "Oh my God!"
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:03 PM on January 30, 2010 [3 favorites]
I especially like it when the kid in the Jelly Bean video goes "Oh my God!"
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:03 PM on January 30, 2010 [3 favorites]
Oh the memories.
I tortured many friends (I mean, whatever, I think they actually enjoyed it) with the giga pudding commercial and then these one Saturday night a while back. (I don't remember these having subtitles, which just made it weirder.)
I think they're a great bit of character design. I want one of each.
posted by darksong at 6:08 PM on January 30, 2010
I tortured many friends (I mean, whatever, I think they actually enjoyed it) with the giga pudding commercial and then these one Saturday night a while back. (I don't remember these having subtitles, which just made it weirder.)
I think they're a great bit of character design. I want one of each.
posted by darksong at 6:08 PM on January 30, 2010
But Spongebob makes sense! Sponges do live in the ocean, and the theme of the show is decidedly Hawiian, so why the hell not a pineapple? It has a set of rules, and sticks to them.
Meanwhile, Bean-dogs only have a pun existing to defend them.
posted by mccarty.tim at 6:11 PM on January 30, 2010
Meanwhile, Bean-dogs only have a pun existing to defend them.
posted by mccarty.tim at 6:11 PM on January 30, 2010
Did you know? The stupid slot machine game doesn't tell you the resolutions of the wallpapers before you win them?
I'm 1440x900, the wallpapers only come in 1024x768 or 1600x1200.
posted by mccarty.tim at 6:23 PM on January 30, 2010
I'm 1440x900, the wallpapers only come in 1024x768 or 1600x1200.
posted by mccarty.tim at 6:23 PM on January 30, 2010
mccarty.tim: "But Spongebob makes sense! Sponges do live in the ocean, and the theme of the show is decidedly Hawiian, so why the hell not a pineapple? It has a set of rules, and sticks to them."
Furthermore, the city in SpongeBob, Bikini Bottom, was a reference to Bikini Atoll, the site of repeated nuclear tests. Which makes SpongeBob legitimately strange.
⟨/derail⟩
posted by Arandia at 7:00 PM on January 30, 2010
Furthermore, the city in SpongeBob, Bikini Bottom, was a reference to Bikini Atoll, the site of repeated nuclear tests. Which makes SpongeBob legitimately strange.
⟨/derail⟩
posted by Arandia at 7:00 PM on January 30, 2010
metafilter: not quite a dog nor a bean, but a hybrid of both
posted by fizzzzzzzzzzzy at 7:04 PM on January 30, 2010
posted by fizzzzzzzzzzzy at 7:04 PM on January 30, 2010
Mameshiba blue.
posted by The Deej at 7:13 PM on January 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by The Deej at 7:13 PM on January 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
I don't understand what these are. Are they an advertisement for something or is it just some kind of toy? Is it some kind of pop culture icon?
it's an ad campaign by some creative/ad group, they created the spots to generate business and it became a big hit. that's my understanding of it anyway...
posted by johnnybeggs at 7:52 PM on January 30, 2010
it's an ad campaign by some creative/ad group, they created the spots to generate business and it became a big hit. that's my understanding of it anyway...
posted by johnnybeggs at 7:52 PM on January 30, 2010
johnnybeggs, I believe you're right. Dentsu owns the McGarry Bowen ad agency here in the States.
posted by queensissy at 8:03 PM on January 30, 2010
posted by queensissy at 8:03 PM on January 30, 2010
Also of note, the Tiger bean speaks in a comically strong Osaka accent, and the Tigers are Osaka's baseball team.
posted by thedaniel at 8:47 PM on January 30, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by thedaniel at 8:47 PM on January 30, 2010 [2 favorites]
I've seen this here in Japan for a while now--in various ads, on TV. I never knew it's name, though.
posted by zardoz at 9:41 PM on January 30, 2010
posted by zardoz at 9:41 PM on January 30, 2010
This is hitting the spot nicely, Thank you.
Did you know beans turn people into zombies with cute unnecessary observations.
Kind of like Metafilter.
♪♪ Mameshiba ♪♪
posted by Skygazer at 11:47 PM on January 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
Did you know beans turn people into zombies with cute unnecessary observations.
Kind of like Metafilter.
♪♪ Mameshiba ♪♪
posted by Skygazer at 11:47 PM on January 30, 2010 [1 favorite]
I found a mameshiba in my soup the other day.
I was at home with my wife. She poured out the black bean soup for me, but when I raised it to my mouth, I saw the small dog's beady eyes staring back at me. When I saw it, I could not help but push the soup away. I stumbled backwards involuntarily, falling out of my chair. When I regained my senses, I walked silently to the bathroom, closed the door, and dry heaved.
It's the same story all around the world, ever since the dread things began to appear some months ago. When you find the mameshiba, your normal train of thought escapes you. You are face to face with something that does not belong in your food-- something, in fact, that should not exist on this planet. A wave of nausea rises up in your stomach. Not only can you not eat the mameshiba, you lose all will to eat. Disgust sets in, then hallucination, then terror. The pattern is the same every time: first the mameshiba, then the sea monkeys in the water, then the unearthly mites in the air. I know I am not long for this world. So let me speak clearly.
Flies, at least, are born from maggots. But whence the mameshiba? Outer space? God, or Satan? They have revived the theory of spontaneous generation. They have revived many theories, and aroused many suspicions. But those who speak of the mameshiba's origins have never seen them in person. When you see them, you no longer ask. You know.
The mystics say that the mameshiba are trying to give us a message. The message the mameshiba gave to me was so terrible, to describe it accurately could drive a man insane. The words themselves were just something about a koala's appendix. But the eyes... the eyes...
posted by shii at 12:08 AM on January 31, 2010 [13 favorites]
I was at home with my wife. She poured out the black bean soup for me, but when I raised it to my mouth, I saw the small dog's beady eyes staring back at me. When I saw it, I could not help but push the soup away. I stumbled backwards involuntarily, falling out of my chair. When I regained my senses, I walked silently to the bathroom, closed the door, and dry heaved.
It's the same story all around the world, ever since the dread things began to appear some months ago. When you find the mameshiba, your normal train of thought escapes you. You are face to face with something that does not belong in your food-- something, in fact, that should not exist on this planet. A wave of nausea rises up in your stomach. Not only can you not eat the mameshiba, you lose all will to eat. Disgust sets in, then hallucination, then terror. The pattern is the same every time: first the mameshiba, then the sea monkeys in the water, then the unearthly mites in the air. I know I am not long for this world. So let me speak clearly.
Flies, at least, are born from maggots. But whence the mameshiba? Outer space? God, or Satan? They have revived the theory of spontaneous generation. They have revived many theories, and aroused many suspicions. But those who speak of the mameshiba's origins have never seen them in person. When you see them, you no longer ask. You know.
The mystics say that the mameshiba are trying to give us a message. The message the mameshiba gave to me was so terrible, to describe it accurately could drive a man insane. The words themselves were just something about a koala's appendix. But the eyes... the eyes...
posted by shii at 12:08 AM on January 31, 2010 [13 favorites]
They are so cute! But if my natto started talking to me, I'd scream and scream and scream. I don't think I could handle talking food first thing in the morning. Or ever.
posted by betweenthebars at 12:36 AM on January 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by betweenthebars at 12:36 AM on January 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
Shii: But the eyes... the eyes...
Don't worry, all it means is that you're now a ǝıqɯoz.
¿¿#♪♪ ɐqıɥsǝɯɐɯ ♪♪
posted by Skygazer at 12:48 AM on January 31, 2010 [4 favorites]
Don't worry, all it means is that you're now a ǝıqɯoz.
¿¿#♪♪ ɐqıɥsǝɯɐɯ ♪♪
posted by Skygazer at 12:48 AM on January 31, 2010 [4 favorites]
this is the equivalent of prozac, here.
apparently, it's sort of soothing to sit and pop those little doghead beans in and out of the rubber pod when the pressures of conformity within a superficially homogeneous society get to be a little much.
I've had one on my keychain for a few years, now.
posted by squasha at 1:10 AM on January 31, 2010
apparently, it's sort of soothing to sit and pop those little doghead beans in and out of the rubber pod when the pressures of conformity within a superficially homogeneous society get to be a little much.
I've had one on my keychain for a few years, now.
posted by squasha at 1:10 AM on January 31, 2010
I clicked on the link ready to scoff. Instead, I find myself completely charmed by these.
I hate it when that happens.
posted by 8dot3 at 4:06 AM on January 31, 2010
I hate it when that happens.
posted by 8dot3 at 4:06 AM on January 31, 2010
>shibamame
That comic basically sums up the umami craze. Foodies incorporating a flavor corporate America has used to punch up mediocre food for years.
posted by mccarty.tim at 6:33 AM on January 31, 2010
That comic basically sums up the umami craze. Foodies incorporating a flavor corporate America has used to punch up mediocre food for years.
posted by mccarty.tim at 6:33 AM on January 31, 2010
I approve of the progressive use of the chili bean instead of the stereotypical Mexican jumping bean.
Granted, those are already alive and moving. Eugh...
posted by mccarty.tim at 11:46 AM on January 31, 2010
Granted, those are already alive and moving. Eugh...
posted by mccarty.tim at 11:46 AM on January 31, 2010
I saw these off the AskMeFi as well and, after watching too many of them, assumed the beans were trying to weird people out so they didn't get eaten. But they have at least added the jingle/giggle to our family dialogue - intentional or not.
posted by sagwalla at 1:51 PM on January 31, 2010
posted by sagwalla at 1:51 PM on January 31, 2010
Mameshiba
posted by Damn That Television at 9:48 PM on January 31, 2010
posted by Damn That Television at 9:48 PM on January 31, 2010
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