Best Of MetaFilter

image via Evan Vander Stoep at airraidsirens.net

Rash linked an amazing deep dive post on the remaining mechanical Yamaha music sirens of Japan at airRaidSirens.net. The sirens have signaled the start of the working day at some locations, but "some were being removed or are going to run until they die and will not be repaired." And there's a playlist!

Boarding by G.A.I.N (cc by)

In Ask Metafilter, some very interesting answers to Why do so many Japanese ferries still exist?

detail from cover art from the book Electrical Banana: Masters of Psychedelic Art

Slinga has posted the perfectly wonderful 45 minutes of Funky Old Japanese Soundtracks to chill out to, and we love it.

Fireman's coat decorated with a depiction of the Toad Spirit

Japanese Firemen’s Coats (19th century)