“I’m taking a bath with my boyfriend,” tweeted one Japanese netizen going by the name of Machiko, uploading a photo with her message. Despite the suggestion of sauciness, however, rather than being something that moderators would quickly remove or fellow users would tag as inappropriate, the image was retweeted and favourited thousands of times in just a few short minutes.
After all, it’s not every day you see a life-sized boyfriend made entirely out of soap bubbles…
Twitter user Machiko apparently decided that she didn’t want to bathe alone on Tuesday this week, so set to sculpting a man-sized figure out of the suds in her bathtub. Ordinarily we’d ask why she’s using soap in her bath at all (baths in Japan are usually for soaking rather than getting clean), but we have to admire her skills here – the best we’ve ever done with our bath bubbles is make a Santa beard or a Mr Whippy ice-cream head.
The creative netizen was soon inundated with messages asking how she’d pulled it off. “It’s really not that hard,” she replied, “when you leave the bubbles for a while they harden a little, so make the base then come back and do the outside part.”
The bath session that followed was apparently very cramped on account of Machiko not wanting her soapy boyfriend to disappear too quickly, but just like in Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman, all sculpted playmates have to leave us at some point. Unlike that traumatising tale, however, this frothy fella’s creator has faith that she can recreate her bathtime boyfriend, tweeting that she most definitely wants to meet him again soon.
Cute cat discovers bathtub for first time, eventually learns how to jump out after falling in
Eight Tales of the Unexpected (Japanese Twitter edition)
Boyfriend’s “cute” way of telling his girlfriend how much he loves her turns off Japanese Twitter
Man worried girlfriend spending too long in bath goes to check on her, finds something surprising
Second-generation sumo burger coming to Burger King Japan with return of Baby Body Burger
Brand-new Square Enix Cafe to open in Tokyo…and in Los Angeles too!
What are the worst things about living in the Japanese countryside?[Survey]
This Mother’s Day, why not give the gift of a single, really expensive, never-picked mango?
An interview with Evangelion’s composer, Shiro Sagisu
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
What’s up with the “mosquito buzz” noise at Shibuya Station?
Clear tonkotsu ramen becomes a cult hit at “Ramen Runway” in Japan
Make-them-yourself Pokémon frappes arrive at Japanese convenience stores, can be mixed at home too
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Studio Ghibli launches huge new anime movie T-shirt collection with special design details
Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo
Japanese convenience store gives away free ice cream with creative ad at Shinjuku Station
Japan is so hungry for workers it used up its five-year visa quota in record time
Tsujihan sushi bowl restaurant goes viral with foreign tourists, but is it worth the hype?
7-Eleven Japan releases Uji matcha smoothies… but only at select locations
7-Eleven Japan’s cooked-in-store takoyaki is here! How does it fare against the street food king?
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home