You may never look at those cute Muji handkerchiefs again. Muji's new emergency awareness campaign encourages people to stock up on everyday "itsumo" basics and to think about how they might be used in a "moshimo" emergency. A temporary display at Muji Atelier (through Oct. 5) in the flagship shop in Yurakucho presents the "itsumo no moshimo" idea in a space that lies somewhere between a retail space, a gallery and a subtle first-aid class.
Simple items from the store are presented in spare Muji style with illustrations that suggest specific, somber uses for them. A black marker and a piece of packing tape become a simple system for leaving a message on your door telling people where you've evacuated. A sheet of plastic wrap over your clean plates means that you can eat from the plates and discard the wrap so you don't have to wash the dishes when water is scarce. (Is that restricted to emergencies?) And those handkerchiefs. Not just handy for drying your hands in the train station bathroom, they also make handy dust masks or tourniquets, or a large one can be wrapped around, say, a small fold-up umbrella to make a splint.
Panasonic has seized onto the same itsumo/moshimo concept with a tagline that could be translated as "convenience any time, preparation for that time." Their compact solar lights save energy in the good times and could save your evening if the power goes off. Products include a flat solar-paneled light that can be used as a charger for other cellphones and other small electronics, a tabletop lamp that turns on its side to be used as a flashlight and a rechargeable lantern that can stay lit for up to 20 hours. Their waterproof portable TV that uses OneSeg technology to play broadcast TV over the cellular network can be a simple time killer in the bath or a life line to emergency information.