# Japanese depiction of UFOs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 6, 2019, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-depiction-of-ufos/836604 "2019-07-06T01:10:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-depiction-of-ufos/836604/1 "2019-07-06T01:10:50Z")
In Japan they very often depict a UFO as a flying saucer with four (or sometimes five) hemispherical domes on the lower surface. [Here](https://imgur.com/a/YvodipT) is drawing of one from volume 5 of [_Doctor Slump_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Slump) from the early 1980s. [Here](https://chibichopshop.com/products/195-erios-ufo-on-a-string) is one as a toy (from [a manga/anime](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_Control_to_Psychoelectric_Girl)). And [here](https://www.amazon.com/NOUSAKU-Japanese-Handmade-Artifact-Nickel/dp/B00B0L7JMK) is a wind chime crudely featuring them. That style seems to be distinctly Japanese–any idea when/how this style originated? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-depiction-of-ufos/836604/2 "2019-07-06T04:00:31Z")
Not sure, but [this page](http://www.misterkitty.org/extras/stupidcovers/stupidcomics179.html) has an example of that style. Well–it’s three hemispheres, not four or five, but close enough. This seems to be from one of the “Outer Space” [comics from the late 50s](https://www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=361241) (Bill Molno and Sal Trapani). ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-depiction-of-ufos/836604/3 "2019-07-06T04:54:09Z")
Since this is about an artistic style, let’s move it to Cafe Society. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-depiction-of-ufos/836604/4 "2019-07-06T05:04:30Z")
Just by memory I knew that shape was familiar: > **[George Adamski](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Adamski)** > > George Adamski (17 April 1891 – 23 April 1965) was a Polish-American author who became widely known in ufology circles, and to some degree in popular culture, after he displayed numerous photographs in the 1940s and 1950s that he said were of alien spacecraft, claimed to have met with friendly Nordic alien Space Brothers, and claimed to have taken flights with them to the Moon and other planets. > Adamski was the first, and most famous, of several so-called UFO contactees who came to prominence ... > [@](#): > > Adamski’s infamous “chicken brooder” photograph, which is said to be of a UFO, taken on 13 December 1952. However, German scientist Walther Johannes Riedel said this photo was faked using a surgical lamp and that the landing struts were light bulbs. Seems that in Japan fanzines of UFOs got to accept the shape as what a UFO was supposed to look, way into the 1980s. > **[Japanese UFO Magazines](http://dispokino.blogspot.com/2011/08/japanese-ufo-magazines.html)** > > The non-japanese parts point to George Adamski  (who met Venusians in 1952 and still seems to have follo... A larger influence for the modern manga and Anime animators is likely to be this short Anime “documentary” showing fictionalized recreations of famous UFO encounters. > **[Watch this far-out Japanese animated "documentary" about UFOs (1975)](https://boingboing.net/2019/06/13/watch-this-far-out-japanese-an.html)** > > "That's a UFO! The flying saucer" (これがＵＦＯだ！ 空飛ぶ円盤) is a Japanese "documentary" about unidentified flying objects. It was first screened in 1975 at the annual Toei Anime Festival hosted by… > [@](#): > > “That’s a UFO! The flying saucer” (これがＵＦＯだ！ 空飛ぶ円盤) is a Japanese “documentary” about unidentified flying objects. It was first screened in 1975 at the annual Toei Anime Festival hosted by the famed Toei Animation studio, creators of Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball. And of course, before\* Dragon Ball\* Akira Toriyama made Dr. Slump for Toei Animation. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-depiction-of-ufos/836604/5 "2019-07-06T05:14:50Z")
I did also check for the actual Adamski inspiration. > **[George Adamski's Saucers are Still Flying High!](https://badufos.blogspot.com/2016/06/george-adamskis-saucers-are-still.html)** > > A skeptical blog about UFO claims, aliens, etc. > **[Prelim\_Notes\_Adamski\_Scout\_Ship\_mini2.pdf](https://ia804501.us.archive.org/10/items/JoelCarpenterMcMinnvilleUFOphoto/Prelim_Notes_Adamski_Scout_Ship_mini2.pdf)** > > 1556.90 KB > [@](#): > > Clearly the Adamski object was fabricated from several components, including a metallic upper dome, ball-shaped landing-gear, and other parts. Identification of these components is pending. But it is now clear that the main bell-shaped portion of the Adamski “Venusian Scout Ship” was the shade of a commonly-available lantern made in the US in the 1930s. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-depiction-of-ufos/836604/6 "2019-07-06T05:15:55Z")
I don’t know if he was the originator, but alleged UFO contactee [George Adamski](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Adamski) produced [similar images](https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.adamskifoundation.com%2FRene%2520Erik%2520Olsen%2520-%2520Denmark%2FDec%252013th%2FAdamski%2520photo%25203res.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.adamskifoundation.com%2FRene%2520Erik%2520Olsen%2520-%2520Denmark%2FRene-Denmark.html&docid=UdeBtI3_1NGITM&tbnid=zEhYy9G-P6t7lM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwiOmLL6wZ_jAhXF34UKHSQfChcQMwhsKBAwEA..i&w=1864&h=900&bih=870&biw=1323&q=George%20Adamski&ved=0ahUKEwiOmLL6wZ_jAhXF34UKHSQfChcQMwhsKBAwEA&iact=mrc&uact=8)in 1952 America. He published [several books](https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fweb2.ph.utexas.edu%2F~coker2%2Findex.files%2Fcoverfshl.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fweb2.ph.utexas.edu%2F~coker2%2Findex.files%2Fadamski.htm&docid=zQYCF5sLxGmRcM&tbnid=YjyCheVwkXqVsM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwiOl4auxJ_jAhU2BWMBHX5vBREQMwgzKAcwBw..i&w=264&h=400&bih=870&biw=1323&q=adamski%20ufo&ved=0ahUKEwiOl4auxJ_jAhU2BWMBHX5vBREQMwgzKAcwBw&iact=mrc&uact=8)on the subject. Obviously a crank, but a famous one at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-depiction-of-ufos/836604/7 "2019-07-06T05:18:49Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Just by memory I knew that shape was familiar: > > [George Adamski - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Adamski) Huh. The comic I linked to is obviously based on Adamski’s story, but with an amusing twist. And the comic UFO is nearly identical, from the three hemispheres to the triple-window clusters at the top. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-depiction-of-ufos/836604/8 "2019-07-06T17:31:37Z")
Thanks. I appreciate getting factual answers about the real-world origin of the styling despite the move from GQ, where it actually belonged. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-depiction-of-ufos/836604/9 "2022-02-07T19:33:52Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Just by memory I knew that shape was familiar: I happened on a manga chapter last night that specifically called it an “Adamski type”. [[Album] imgur.com ![](https://i.imgur.com/AaWYVTS.jpeg?fb "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/omOa8Xy) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-depiction-of-ufos/836604/10 "2022-02-07T19:42:08Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > “Adamski type”. That’s interesting! I figured the answer to the OP was that Japan was visited by _different_ aliens than the West. We got the Grey Ferengi, and they got the Pakleds. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-depiction-of-ufos/836604/11 "2022-02-07T19:44:53Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > We got the Grey Ferengi, and they got the Pakleds. What disgusting creatures. The only episode I remember that featured the Pakleds was the one where they kidnapped La Forge. Did they seem remotely bright enough to master space travel? Not! ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-depiction-of-ufos/836604/12 "2022-02-07T19:49:52Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Did they seem remotely bright enough to master space travel? Not! But they looked for things. Things that make them go. I remember a period single panel comic where Geordi blasted the head off of a Pakled (who is still standing), and (someone) is saying, “Not in the head! Aim for something vital!” ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-depiction-of-ufos/836604/13 "2022-02-07T19:51:10Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > The only episode I remember that featured the Pakleds was the one where they kidnapped La Forge. The Pakleds are the main antagonist in _Star Trek: Lower Decks_. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-depiction-of-ufos/836604/14 "2022-02-08T02:36:27Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I happened on a manga chapter last night that specifically called it an “Adamski type”. ~~Saucer~~ source for that Manga page please. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-depiction-of-ufos/836604/15 "2022-02-08T09:50:12Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > ~~Saucer~~ source for that Manga page please. Seems to come from [this](https://mangabuddy.com/magu-chan-god-of-destruction/chapter-60-best-friend-part-2), if that helps. How the heck did so many of you know about the Adamski guy? Is he in a lot of modern UFO believer stuff, even after his photos were known as fakes? ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-depiction-of-ufos/836604/16 "2022-02-08T12:59:24Z")
He’s pretty well disappeared from modern Ufology, but that’s because Ufology has no real sense of its own history\*. He was _huge_ in the 1950s, into the 1960s. Anyone who was interested in UFOs and Ufology in that period could hardly have avoided him. If you read pretty much any skeptical work on Ufology, which almost universally take the history of Ufology _far_ more seriously than any of the “believers” do, Adamski is going to figure prominently. \*In fact, Ufology seems to have an actively anti-historical sense. It memory holes inconvenient elements, then recycles the same claims with the serial numbers filed off, over and over again, each time presenting them as if they were brand-new revelations. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-depiction-of-ufos/836604/17 "2022-02-08T18:53:13Z")
> [@gdave](#): > > In fact, Ufology seems to have an actively anti-historical sense. It memory holes inconvenient elements, then recycles the same claims with the serial numbers filed off, over and over again, each time presenting them as if they were brand-new revelations. Ain’t that the truth. I must have just missed him, my UFO reading started with _Chariots Of The Gods._