And I Was Sure I'd Seen Everything

(Above: Which of these machines is not like the others?)

This morning I came cross a fascinating article about a trend that boggles my mind. (And my mind isn't easily boggled.) According to the New York Times, the Japanese have begun coming up with some interesting ways to combat urban crime. But instead of turning to the martial arts and kicking criminal butt, they're opting for camouflage.

And not just any camouflage. One inventor has come up with a skirt that morphs into a vending machine costume and a backpack that can turn an average kid into a fire hydrant. There's also a handbag that, when tossed to the ground, resembles a manhole cover. (See below.)

It starts to make a little sense, until you realize that Japan is still one of the safest places on Earth. In most parts of the country, you're more likely to die of fugu poisoning or get trampled by Godzilla than you are to get mugged.

Read the original article and see more pictures here.




Pictures by Torin Boyd/Polaris for The New York Times