Books Showcasing Hamster Behinds Gain Popularity in Japan

  • 10 years ago
The newest, well selling trend in Japan is books featuring pictures of hamster behinds. Known as hamuketsu, the images focus solely on the fuzzy rear ends of the creatures. The hamsters' faces are typically left out.

It’s no secret that the majority of people go crazy over photos of cute animals. Apparently, publishers in Japan are well aware of that fact and are cashing in on it...big time.

The newest trend in the country is books featuring pictures of hamster behinds.

"Wall Street Journal reporting surging sales of books filled with photos of hamster's rear end." [CNN]

Known as hamuketsu, the images focus solely on the fuzzy rear ends of the creatures. The hamsters' faces are typically left out.

At first, the hamster butt trend gained a following among Netizens. From there the idea was born involving picture, or coffee table books that could garner a hefty profit. That thought turned out to be a wise one because the venture has indeed proved to be successful.

Thus far, two books featuring the hamster behinds have been published. An estimated 40,000 copies have been sold.

A third book is scheduled to hit shelves sometime within the next month. According to a staffer at a Japan based publisher, viewers seem to appreciate male hamster butts more, given that they’re a little chubbier and rounder.

A spokesperson at another local publishing firm remarked “The great thing about hamuketsu is that it is delightfully cute. I can’t stop smiling when I see these butts.” What do you think of the trend, cute or just plain bizarre?

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