IKEA looks to Japan

According to Publishers Weekly's The Beat, home-furnishings superstore IKEA will soon be offering a line of manga-themed textiles designed by a Swedish artist named Åsa Ekström. The images will feature manga-esque images of both Swedish stuff (folk costumes, etc.) and Japanese stuff (think Yakuza tattoos and Godzilla).

Yeah... not sold on this idea. It's cute, but if you're going for a manga-inspired look, it's pretty easy to find something cooler than IKEA's generic take on the subject. I'd start by checking Etsy.com, which offers a variety of Japanese-themed goods ranging from this to this.