Are you looking for happiness? Look no further! Hotei, the God of Happiness, is waiting for you in a cave behind the Jōchi-ji temple in Kamakura. Hotei is a Japanese Shinto God and, as the sign implies, he could be confused as the patron of chikan, sukebe and train gropers when in fact he is the patron of the weak and children, fortunetellers and bartenders.

Pikachu, an icon of Japanese culture, is violated at the 2007 Pokémon Festa as fans pull and penetrate at his (or should I say her) entrance flaps playing peek-a-boo into an inflatable Pikachu. If you have ever wondered where Pikachu babies come from, wonder no more.

Trained gynaecologists performing a screening test for cervical cancer?

The following list of 10 weird Japanese Pepsi variations is a submission for the July 2011 Japan Blog Matsuri.

1. Pepsi Ice Cucumber 「ペプシアイスキューカンバー」

Limited edition green, cucumber-flavored Pepsi sold in Japan in summer 2007. There were no cucumber involved to actually make it, just a combination of artificial flavors to achieve “the refreshing taste of a fresh cucumber”.

2. Pepsi Shiso 「ペプシしそ」

Limited edition green shiso-flavored soda introduced in Japan during summer 2009. Shiso is the Japanese name for perilla. The perilla herb is sometimes known as purple mint, Japanese basil or or wild coleus.

Image source: tokyobling

3. Pepsi Azuki 「ペプシあずき」

An azuki bean-flavored limited edition Pepsi released in Japan on October 20, 2009. Azuki beans are red beans used in sweet meals, snacks and dishes in Japan.

Image source: flickr

4. Pepsi Baobab 「ペプシバオバブ」

A baobab tree fruit-flavored limited Edition Pepsi released in Japan on May 25, 2010 described to have a citrus taste. The baobab tree is a strange looking tree that grows in low-lying areas in Africa and Australia.

Image source: flickr

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