The Lobster Dance

Mameshiba (豆しば）is one of my favorite short video series. In each 30-second episode, a bean of some sort–lentil, azuki, edamame–pops out of a diner’s food to convey a bit of trivia, the Japanese word for which is mame chishiki (豆知識), lit. bean knowledge. The facts are usually a bit awkward for the situation, like, “Female mantises eat male mantises.” Or, as the commenter lovelylexolicious writes for the prior video,

You can watch all of the Mameshiba videos at the official site here or with English subtitles on the official site or on youtube.

Now, how does a Mameshiba celebrate Christmas?

There are no weird facts in the Mameshiba “Ma-merry Christmas” video, but it is pretty damn cute.

From the official website: If you connect with Kirin Afternoon Tea on Facebook, you can make a Christmas or New Year’s card for your friends! Go to the キリン午後の紅茶 page, then click on GREETING CARD MAKER. Click the red button that says “友達にグリーティングカードを贈る” (“give a greeting card to your friends”). Give the application permission to access your facebook (bad, but it’s for Mameshiba!) and choose “MAMESHIBA DESIGN CARDS” to pick from 5 cards to personalize and send. You can write your own message and decorate with stamps like at purikura. Then select the day you want your card to be sent to your friends’ wall and there you have it!

The Mameshiba cards are only good until 31 January 2012, so make one while you can!

More “Let’s Merry!”
Introduction
Food/Drink: Cookie Tea
Music: “Little Taiko Boy”
Food/Drink: Mochi Rice
Culture: Decorating
Food/Drink: Starbucks Japan vs. Starbucks US
Around Town: Lights