Tokyo a la Mode. Web Magazine for Japanese Fashion and Urban Culture

Character Alarm Clocks

By Bobby / Aug 27, 2006
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It’s 7 a.m.  You’re in bed and having a nice dream when a loud, annoying voice wakes you from your sleep.  No, the voice is not your mother’s, it’s coming from the alarm clock.

Japanese character alarm clocks are funny.  Instead of a ringing bell, a voice will yell at you to wake up.

When the alarm goes off, it usually yells out in a chirpy voice some variation of “Good morning!  Wake up!” in Japanese.  Sometimes the message can be obnoxious and say something like, “Hey, it’s time to get up.  Are you still sleepy?  Stop messing around and get up now!”

These clocks are usually made out of popular characters from anime and manga, but characters from tv shows and video games are also common.

A clock making company called Rhythm makes most of the character alarm clocks.  Their website shows the current models and even let’s you sample the alarm voices, but the site is in Japanese.  [Rhythm website] If you are looking to find a clock, they are pretty hard to find in the States.  If you visit Japan, try going to Tokyu Hands or a suburban department store like Ito Yokado.  Prices for character alarm clocks range from $50 - $90.

This Norakuro character was found at a flea market in Pasadena.  The alarm is just a ring, not a voice, however.

“Warning!  Warning!  Warning!  Godzilla is coming!"

“Morning has come, Ultraman!"