Fishbowl bras offer alternative cooling in Japan's summer heat, now that all nuclear power plants are shut down

REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

Models present lingerie maker Triumph's new concept bra, the "Super Cool Bra", during its unveiling in Tokyo on May 9, 2012. The bra, modeled after a miniature fishbowl, contains a gel material designed to draw excess heat out of the body in its cups. It was created to help women "feel refreshed" during summer by wearing it, the lingerie maker said. Japan is headed for a power shortage this summer following the shutdown of all nuclear power reactors. I don't really get what's up with the pipe.

REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

Boing Boing editor/partner and tech culture journalist Xeni Jardin hosts and produces Boing Boing's in-flight TV channel on Virgin America airlines (#10 on the dial), and writes about living with breast cancer. Diagnosed in 2011. @xeni on Twitter. email: xeni@boingboing.net.

MORE: Energy • Japan • nuclear power • odd • sexy • summer • Weird

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caseyd

Pipe == Saki Delivery tool
caseyd

there was an effort for peer-data energy management via smartphones, I wonder what happened to that.
foobar

I kind of expected there to be live fish in them. Because Japan.
- Mantissa128
  
  I’ll admit I was disappointed they weren’t genuine fishtits.
Bink Binkerson

The TSA would just love the extra screening these would require.
http://twitter.com/eyrea Katherine Hajer

Those look awfully plastic-y. I hope they’re at least lined with something that’s breathable.
- http://www.nathanhornby.com/ Nathan Hornby
  
  I’m sure the heat and sweat from the plastic would far outweigh the heat sink properties of the oil suspending the novelty fish.
  
  I’m guessing they’re desperately looking for a selling point – perhaps the market for novelty fish bras was smaller than they hoped.
http://profiles.google.com/flameraven42 Beth Z

Pretty sure the ‘pipe’ is a ladle similar to those seen outside most temples and shrines in Japan. There’s always a fountain or pool and you’re supposed to ladle water to rinse your hands and/or your mouth out to ‘purify’ yourself before you pray. So the ladle is there to show cleanliness and coolness– at least, that would be my guess.
- Antinous / Moderator
  
  Tsukubai
- Antinous / Moderator
  
  Tsukubai
- caseyd
  
  moreso!
- http://www.matthewpetty.com/ Matthew Petty
  
  I know that from playing Japanese flash point-and-click room escape puzzle games by TESSHI-e such as:
  http://www.mildescape.com/escape69.html
  This type of ladle often turns up as a clue or prop item.Many more here:http://www.mildescape.com/game_1.html
9illy

Man, I want that! I’ve got some of those gel-filled “adds 2 cups” push-up bras and they’re super hot and sweaty! Stinky sweat-boobs hidden under 2 full cup-sizes of gel. Now if mine were filled with special cooling gel…

I also like the wide band—eliminating back-fat bulge! Not sure about the plasticy upper part, or the dangly charm thing in the middle
http://gspirits.com/ Zod

This would never work in the USA. Our women have bigger boobs!
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=565101693 Ashley Coats
  
  From what I’ve read a B cup is average in the US. We’re all wearing push up bras. :P
  - Antinous / Moderator
    
    Given the level of obesity in the US, does that include men? And children?
cdh1971

Uh….are these offered in an ah…male cup version?… I’m….asking for a friend…
http://www.facebook.com/janasvox Jana Aleman

Forget the bra, I totally want that super comfortable-looking wooden skirt.
http://www.facebook.com/danny.donnyclark Danny Donny-Clark

Nice bamboo screen skirt (to keep them lovely lady legs in the shade)and wind chime to.. umm.. give you a jingle in your step. Classy Japan. I will keep an eye for these in Kyoto. (excuse)
http://twitter.com/ScissorNightRam Lennoxx Bllaze Wesst

Reminds me of one of the things that fried my adolescent brain: the description of Arnold Rimmer’s artificial reality nightmare wife in one of the Red Dwarf books.

At a posh cocktail soiree the gorgeous, leggy Brazilian woman was said to be wearing glass shoes,a red belt and a transparent plastic brassier which housed two live goldfish that couldn’t be persuaded to stay in one spot covering her nipples. And nothing else.The reason this was a nightmare for Rimmer was he was paralysingly beset by the belief that she was too good and attractive for him.
- http://twitter.com/incarnedine_v Dan Hibiki
  
  that and her breasts were insured and he couldn’t touch them.
  - http://twitter.com/ScissorNightRam Lennoxx Bllaze Wesst
    
    I had completely forgotten that! Ha ha ha.
http://profile.yahoo.com/OMHO6ER5QJE3SIZ35VAXIRCLYM Stephan

2 girls 4 cups
- Mantissa128
  
  2 girls 4 carps
Graeme Job

I too was expecting actual fish bowls and live fish. Somewhat disappointed… Quick, Internet! Make it so!
- IndexMe
  
  http://subnews.blog122.fc2.com/blog-entry-236.html
Lauren Ruff

Just for everyone’s note – these are not for sale nor are the intended to be Triumph has ‘concept bras’ every year. Last year’s bra was some kind of marriage kit.
- http://www.xradiograph.com/ OtherMichael
  
  Next, you’ll be telling us there ain’t no Santy Claus.
  
  booooo!
etherist

Could it be a bubble pipe? For soap bubbles?
dainel

Does it work better if you keep them in the freezer when not in use?
mudpup

Hope these young ladies were well paid to be beautiful props for such a silly product.
mudpup

Hope these young ladies were well paid to be beautiful props for such a silly product.
http://www.misscellania.com/ MissCellania

Make these actually work, and you’d sell a ton to those of us with frequent hot flashes. You can leave the decorations off.
irksome

Jeez, I love my motorcycle but this market expansion thing HAS to stop somewhere.
Complex Confusion

The pipe is because she’s Pop-Eye the Sailor Woman.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_KLDXI7FI3NUHYC23SUHMGLNBCQ Tom

Japan truly is responsible for a large proportion of weird shit in the world.
bratgirl

That is one fugly bra, no matter how “cool” its supposed to make you.
IndexMe

Original article: http://pink-tantei.com/pinknews/2012/05/77087/
(Pink Tantei means Pink Detective)This is Triumph http://www.triumph.com/ a Japanese lingerie manufacturer. This page shows the funny costumes they announce each year. It’s a gag. The skirts are summer bamboo curtains and mosquito nets.. the glass chime has a mint leaf, they are holding mini fan and temple ladle (you wash your hands under cool water), etc. However Triumph does appear to have eminently useful summer products – the cool sensation page shows they use a special material that transfers heat away from the bust to make you feel cool. They have a good sense of humor (or is it serious?) though, with their “breast sweat weather report”. Online shop is here: http://shop.triumphjapan.com
http://twitter.com/fossilfuels Funk Daddy

No WPB will work under those conditions. No wicking material available would work under those conditions. No, those cannot work as heat dispersion without gale force winds directly onto the surface of the bra.

There are some very sweaty titties under those if worn for more than 10 minutes, and they would make the wearer feel warmer, not cooler.

But they aren’t intended to work, they are intended to sell.

You are welcome for the sweaty tits if that was a good image for you. I’m feeling ambivalent about it myself.
- http://twitter.com/fossilfuels Funk Daddy
  
  Oh, put them in the freezer or refrigerator first. Why didn’t I see that, duh. Frozen fishtits