Who is that cheerful man with the adorably double-braided beard and why is he dressed up as a Japanese schoolgirl? Kotaku’s Brian Ashcraft has the scoop: This is Hideaki Kobayashi and he’s known (and rightfully so) as “Sailor Suit Old Man.”

Recently, Japanese sites and Twitter users in Tokyo have spotted an old guy dressed in a sailor style school uniform—a truly unusual sight to behold. People were amused. People were baffled. What the hell was going on?!

Japanese site IT Media met Kobayashi and asked him the question on everyone’s mind: Why do you dress like a Japanese schoolgirl?

“That’s a difficult question,” said Kobayashi. “It’s not really something I’ve thought too deeply about. Hrm. I guess it’s because sailor suits look good on me?”

We hope Mr. Kobayashi has some inkling of just how awesome he is. We can’t stop smiling as we look at these photos. Head over to Kotaku to learn more about “Sailor Suit Old Man,” our new hero of Japanese weirdness.

Polish street artists Sainer and Bezt from the ETAM Cru (previously featured here) recently finished yet another massive and completely awesome mural in Warsaw, Poland. Of course our favourite part is the organ grinder monkey wearing a dashing little vest and fez.

Photos by Ernest Dracha

Head over to StreetArtNews for more photos of this fantastic piece.

Balloon Man’s Last Walk is an awesome series of photos by Stockholm-based photographer Viktor Gårdsäter. A handsome older gentleman, sporting a wonderful beard, is pictured walking alone through city streets and picturesque rural scenes, always while holding onto his cheerful dolphin balloon. That is, until the balloon takes charge and carries him up and away on a whole new adventure. The series is delightful and melancholy at the same time. 

Be sure to visit Viktor Gårdsäter’s website to view more of his wonderful photography

[via Flavorwire]

The Archie McPhee Day Parade happens once a year and is notable for giant versions of our inflatables! In these pictures you can see the Inflatable Tentacle, the Inflatable Beard, Inflatable Toast and the Inflatable Turkey being guided through the streets of Seattle. After the parade, families gather together to eat strangely flavored candy, exchange Rubber Chickens and sing the Archie McPhee holiday song.

(Ok, this one is just wishful thinking. But, it’s what we hope happens ten years from now!)

Behold the Beardo beard hat, created by Canadian snowboarder Jeff Phillips, who loves playing outside in winter, but does not enjoy having a cold face. 

“Jeff has been chasing perfect powder runs all around the globe and came up with the first make-shift Beardo in Whistler, B.C while at the Blackcomb mountain summit, at 7th heaven. Though this very first prototype was made using an old knit scarf and far from perfect, it has been severely refined (not thanks to Jeff’s horrible knitting skills!) to the innovative and fully patented design that you see today.”

Keep your face warm while sporting a handsome knitted beard. What’s not to love? Order a Beardo beard hat for yourself or a friend over on the Beardo website.

[via Clutter]