Duck! › Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion

PHOTO BY DONNA FRADES

Monday 28th September, 04:05 AM JST

This 10-meter-tall rubber duck, part of the Suito Osaka Rubber Duck Project, and designed by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, has been spotted on Osaka’s waterways recently.

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Latest 15 of 36 Total Comments Show All

Nessie at 01:28 PM JST - 28th September

I appreciate the whimsy. I only hope it's recyclable.
ratpack at 02:19 PM JST - 28th September

I can see it now.......Godzilla v the duck.
XXXXX at 03:33 PM JST - 28th September

Dutch ducky, yummie
Foxie at 03:49 PM JST - 28th September

If hat duck would have been anywhere else, it wouldn't make any sense. Try to go to Osaka Tower and you will soon understand what Osaka is all about and that duck only confirms it.
nutsagain at 04:14 PM JST - 28th September

Like it? I like it just fine. I'm happy enough to let it be there and entertain, just not sure what the statement (if any at all?) is supposed to be.
Azrael at 04:33 PM JST - 28th September

Ducky! ^0^! Kawaii!

Okay, now I go back to work.
Beelzebub at 06:53 PM JST - 28th September

This scores a minus 4 on the cute meter.
Dewaashita at 08:54 PM JST - 28th September

In a place that I used to live, we had rubber duck races for charity. Not huge, expensive prizes but a large variety of them, they got alot of attention. It was so off-the-wall that the contest itself got alot of attention. Imitators but no successors. It is still very popular. When I first found out about them, I thought, how do they keep all these ducks from being washed down the river, as garbage? That puzzel was solved when I went. They picked them up by hand, from the banks and from rowboats individually the SECOND the contest was over. Now the contest. First, it was a madhouse. People everywhere, all over the place, the banks, the bridges, it was crazyness. Second, it was probably one of the best times I ever had in that town. The first duck to hit the finish line won the grand prize and those first to follow would have the rest of the prizes. At the time, it was five bucks a duck. Each duck had a number. The ducks were jealously gaurded and watched like hawks. Nobody's duck was going to go missing. Even if they marched into the river and got them themselves. I got there thinking I was early. It was crowded and a little wild by the time I got there. Five minutes before the race, it was MAYHEM. I have to add there, the fun kind of mayhem. It was around the fourth and everyone was in a good mood. Filled into the trees and "to the rafters." The only place that wasn't filled was one little bridge and it dawned on me why. Three side tipping trucks slid in slowly and I realized where the ducks would be dumped--and out they came. On a fast moving river, they rushed out in a whoosh. They moved faster that I had figured and the race was over in 12 minutes. Total blast.
flammenwerfer at 09:01 PM JST - 28th September

Ernie on Sesame St just wet his pants at the sight of that...
nemoflow at 10:09 PM JST - 28th September

You just typed all this on a website for the likes of me to read...

"In a place that I used to live, we had rubber duck races for charity. Not huge, expensive prizes but a large variety of them, they got alot of attention. It was so off-the-wall that the contest itself got alot of attention. Imitators but no successors. It is still very popular. When I first found out about them, I thought, how do they keep all these ducks from being washed down the river, as garbage? That puzzel was solved when I went. They picked them up by hand, from the banks and from rowboats individually the SECOND the contest was over. Now the contest. First, it was a madhouse. People everywhere, all over the place, the banks, the bridges, it was crazyness. Second, it was probably one of the best times I ever had in that town. The first duck to hit the finish line won the grand prize and those first to follow would have the rest of the prizes. At the time, it was five bucks a duck. Each duck had a number. The ducks were jealously gaurded and watched like hawks. Nobody's duck was going to go missing. Even if they marched into the river and got them themselves. I got there thinking I was early. It was crowded and a little wild by the time I got there. Five minutes before the race, it was MAYHEM. I have to add there, the fun kind of mayhem. It was around the fourth and everyone was in a good mood. Filled into the trees and "to the rafters." The only place that wasn't filled was one little bridge and it dawned on me why. Three side tipping trucks slid in slowly and I realized where the ducks would be dumped--and out they came. On a fast moving river, they rushed out in a whoosh. They moved faster that I had figured and the race was over in 12 minutes. Total blast."
jinjapan at 10:19 PM JST - 28th September

a duck or a schmuck ? with some luck it'll leave in a truck b4 it gets stuck in some muck .
Klein2 at 11:29 PM JST - 28th September

The duck always makes me laugh. Something about the head/body proportions and that goofy beak/bill.

Most of you probably know this, but this duck has been all over Europe. It is famous for getting people to think it is shopped.

I sure hope nobody throws it at me. I don't think I could.... well, you know.
Taka313 at 01:01 AM JST - 29th September

If that's the rubber ducky, I'd hate to see the size of the tub.

Taka
thethudelh at 07:04 AM JST - 29th September

That duck is cute.
Makun at 07:21 AM JST - 29th September

I want to ride it.