Answer: CRC 5-56. Not that it’s a native Japanese product–I wasn’t able to figure out exactly where it originates from–but that’s the product name which Japanese recognize as much as Americans recognize WD-40 (which, by the way, stands for “Water Displacement – 40th Attempt”).

I found out about the product while looking for something else in the storage area at work, and stumbled across a can of this stuff. I thought it might be a WD-40 analog because of the little straw attached to the side, something recognizably unique to this kind of product. I asked a Japanese staff member, and sure enough, they confirmed that it’s a mechanical lubricant and cleaner, and yes, everyone recognizes the name.

It interested me because I really needed some. Various reasons, but the main one is the bedroom closets. The way our bedroom is set up, to get to the other side of the room, you have to squeeze past the foot of the bed, which is about a foot from our closet doors. Since I (gallantly) sleep on the far side of the bed, that’s my deal. Also, since I go to bed a few hours after Sachi quite often, I have to walk that in the dark while Sachi is trying to sleep.

And that’s the problem: walking by those closet doors causes loud squeaking; in the dark silence of 3:00 am, it’s pretty damned loud, enough to wake Sachi up half the time. So tonight, I sprayed the hinge-rail-thingies (technical term) with CRC 5-56, and now they’re nicely silent.

Next up is my bicycle, when I get the chance.