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Tengu - The Coolest USB gadget ever
2008-01-16 03:54:00
We may have covered Tengu from Solid Alliance back in the days, but now this little cutie is available to buy on US Amazon! In short, Tengu plugs into your USB drive and lipsyncs to sound and music. Check out this video if you have no idea what I’m talking about. Technorati Tags: dance, emoticon, ...
More About: Gadget

Nextgen Farmers
2008-01-15 03:13:00
Of all the unlikely places for new technology, Japanese farmers will be the first to benefit from the next generation of robotics research. Having firmly established that real robots are useless for anything but playing the violin, the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology has instead decided to concentrate efforts on a power-assisted robotic suit ...
More About: Robots , Farmers

USB Rice Wine (Sake)
2008-01-09 04:24:00
Todays Japanese lesson is SAKE. Sake has two meanings, both generic alcohol and specifically Japanese rice wine. Yes, it does get awfully confusing sometimes. Back in ancient times, Japan only had one type of alcohol and the existence of other kinds simply couldn’t be imagined, so that’s why it means both. You would think that ...
More About: Wine , Rice

Robot Madness
2007-12-25 04:25:00
Kirai.net has posted a wonderful series of photos from inside Tokyo’s top robot shop Tsukomo, where apparently Will Smith visited on his trip to promote the atrocious I Robot . Tsukomo sells components and books for robot building enthusiasts as well as complete robots like the ones pictured about - but check out the prices! For ...
More About: Blogroll , Madness

USB Humidifier
2007-12-19 06:03:00
Winter is apparently the time when the air dries up and causes all number of problems - like dry skin, chapped lips and globalized Nuclear conflict. To help prevent this, the Japanese are rather fond of humidifiers, which vaporize water with special electrical magic and make a pleasantly cooling fine mist, which by the way ...

Boots of Tripping +5
2007-12-17 06:40:00
I apologize now for not catching this bit of crap earlier, but I doubt you’ll be too disappointed. Unless of course, you really enjoy attaching yourself to your USB port? Didn’t think so. Seems like everyone is trying to cash in on Xmas these days, eh Thanko? Well, I’m just glad you guys aren’t ...
More About: Boots

Chocolate on your face
2007-12-16 03:44:00
Sorry, what I actually meant was “Your face on a chocolate”~ Ever heard of Print Club (purikura), those tiny little photo stickers. After taking a few “best shots”, you add in random design elements and backgrounds, etc, then print them out and share them with your friends. It’s like a low tech Face Book. It’s ...
More About: Weird , Chocolate

Child Safety Phones
2007-12-15 04:46:00
These kids are ecstatic because they’ve just got their hands on the stylish new kids mobile phones from DoCoMo, designed for safety. Specifically, the phones have a number of unique features: Rape alarm type pull-cord. This are pretty much compulsory for every child in Japan now anyways. GPS linked into the parents phone so they can ...
More About: Safety , Phone , Phones , Child Safety , Child

Theme updates in progress
2007-12-13 08:01:00
Please bear with me while I change themes, it might look a little bit ugly in places. All content is still around though, so you browse recent entries etc with the navigation at the bottom there. Thank you for your patience!
More About: Updates , Theme , Progress

PSP Firmware Update Goodies
2007-12-13 03:11:00
Japan is set to get the new 3.8 firmware for the PSP on the 18th, less than a week away. What can we look forward too? The coolest feature is for those of you with the 1seg digital tv tuners and new edition PSPs, as now you’ll be able to access an electronic program guide ...
More About: Video , Gaming , Firmware , Update , Goodies

New Wii Colors and Pack for Japan 2008
2007-12-13 03:04:00
I did have a Wii, and I admit it sucked so much that I sold it. Truth is, I hate Zelda. The only good game I had on that thing was Super Smash Brothers Melee, and that was ‘Cube game anyway. Plus, the box just looked ugly, being that it’s white and all. And I ...
More About: Gaming , Japan , Colors , Pack , 2008

New AiBO finally makes PS3 useful?sort of
2007-12-12 05:42:00
Rumors abound of a new AiBO that will actually talk to your Playstation, be it of the portable variety or otherwise. Voice commands, ability to control via PSP and ps3 controller; as well as a built in headcam with motion sensor and facial recognition. The video can be streamed via wifi to your PSP…. of ...
More About: Video , Gaming , Finally , Sort

Update:
2007-12-11 09:00:00
Just added a Xmas Gift guide and streaming Japanese Technology video news feed, so be sure to check them out.
More About: Blogroll , Update

Xmas Presents For Granny: NEW Humping Dogs
2007-12-09 01:49:00
I personally believe this product captures the latest decade of human achievement and progress so perfectly, it is almost scary. Yes, the amazing humping USB dogs have bred with USB ports all over the world and made 3 little puppies! Just as in the real world, their offspring have mutated slightly - rather a lot in ...
More About: Weird , Dogs , Presents , Granny , Xmas

Perfect present for those who pile on the Xmas pounds
2007-12-07 08:56:00
This Xmas (like every Xmas that has come before in fact), you’re going to eat a ton of mince pies and accompanying calorie-laden brandy, plus the xmas pud’, the stuffing and the turkey, the bacon wrapped around the little sausages… let’s face it, you’re gonna get fat. Real fat. Like, Santa-fat. So fat in fact, ...
More About: Present , Perfect , Resent

Revolutionary New Robots!
2007-12-07 08:56:00
My, the crap gadgets category is swelling lately… No offence Japan, you know I luv ya really (sic), but can’t you make some useful or cool robots with frickin’ lasers and light-sabers and ones that do the washing up for you - instead of these two pieces of junk: You see that one holding a violin? ...
More About: Robots , Revolutionary

More Metal Jackets
2007-12-04 05:01:00
Big thanks to commenter Durf from Tokyo for this wonderful tip. Turns out that SHIMURA, the company behind the metal iPod jacket actually has a lot more products up there sleeve and are constantly launching new ones. Here’s a couple of the highlights, but if you’re looking for something specific (like a certain iPod model ...
More About: Weird , Gaming , Metal , Jackets

Full Metal Jacket (for your iPod fatty)
2007-11-29 00:29:00
A tad expensive at nearly ¥18,000 yen, but will make your ugly fat iPod look distinctly less ugly and only slightly more fat. From Shimura, who I can’t find a link for despite searching high and low on the Japanese internets, but it’s probably good thing anyway since no one should endorse ¥17,500 yen mark-ups on any kind of iPod case, no matter how brushed or curvy it is. [Akihabara news] Want. Technorati Tags: case, fat, ipod, jacket, japan, nano, puppy, shimura, ugly
More About: Metal , Ipod , Jacket , Full , Fatty

Hello Kitty Toilet Paper Dispenser
2007-11-28 03:45:00
Kitty Hell is now reaching saturation point with a Hello Kitty toilet paper dispenser. Press a button to release a pre-programmed length of desired toilet tissue. There are 9 exciting length settings to choose from, ranging from, umm… 1 sheet to 9 sheets! I’m pretty sure Kitty-chan can’t handle remembering the length settings for more than one person though, so the rest of the family will just have to suck down 9 “let’s murder the earth today” that daddy keeps setting it to. Of course, if you’ve actually bought this piece of crap and are hence using electricity to power it anyway, you are probably not the most environmentally conscious family. $220-odd, from all crappy retailers. Technorati Tags: crap, dispenser, hello, japan, kitty, paper, useless, toilet
More About: Toilet Paper , Kitty , Toilet , Paper

Technology in Use: Fingerprinting
2007-11-18 11:12:00
November 20th is a day that foreigners in Japan will long remember. From this day forward, any non-nationals coming into the country, whether tourists or on business, or settled and living here, will henceforth be photographed and digitally fingerprinted at immigration control. The new measures are in place to help prevent against “multiple simultaneous terror ...
More About: Technology , Blogroll

Hello Kitty phone charger!
2007-11-14 07:57:00
Makes you wish you’d invented that feline and her accursed license, eh? Century has released this Kitty multi-charger, complete with strap to affix it onto your bag, or pink mini-pouch to keep it safe and deservedly free of scratches. It’s funny how so many years of fighting for womens lib has pretty much just resulted ...
More About: Phone , Hello Kitty , Charger , Char

Mixing it up with Mickey Mouse
2007-11-09 07:53:00
For 10,000 yen ($100), you too can own a piece of Disney history with this legendary Mickey Mouse Mixer! All I have to say is, at least it isn’t Hello Kitty. You could however test out the power of the mixer by putting aforementioned Kitty inside and, well… mixing her. [via cutiegadget] Technorati Tags: cutiegadget, disney, mickey, mixer, ...
More About: Mickey Mouse

Humping Dogs Video
2007-11-08 07:36:00
Thanks to kirainet.com for finding this video of the elusive humping dog USB devices. Enjoy! BTW, that’s all it does. Seriously. Technorati Tags: dog, electronics, humping, japan, laptop, notebook, pc, comedy, puppy, usb
More About: Video , Dogs

Financial Independence with Hello Kitty
2007-11-07 09:26:00
Teach your kids how to waste money on pussy save money with Kitty - with this high tech Hello Kitty Mini-ATM. It even comes with a fake cash card and real miniature LCD screen to help visualize your piles of pennies without the tedium of having to stack them up! [via engadget] When you feel they’re ...
More About: Financial , Independence , Financial Independence

Japan shunning PCs
2007-11-05 05:32:00
Associated Press reports on the apparent decline of computer use in Japan : Japan?s PC market is shrinking, leading analysts to wonder whether Japan will become the first major market to see a decline in personal computer use some 25 years after it revolutionized household electronics ? and whether this could be the ...
More About: Blogroll , Shun

Smelly Beer Sells Better. Maybe.
2007-11-04 02:00:00
NTT Com has started trialing a new advertising display system called “Kaoru Digital Signage” in front of Kirin City (a beer hall) in Tokyo. The new systems will play a video of some mouthwatering foamy beer, accompanied by (get this) emitting the scent of oranges and lemons. Using ultrasound to vaporize aromatic oils, they reckon ...
More About: Video , Weird , Beer , Melly

Tokyo Motorshow Bikes
2007-10-30 07:42:00
I take that last comment back, these bikes have certainly piqued my interest, though they are all just concepts. More info at gizmodo.jp And my personal favourite, this rugged looking dual street / offroader : Technorati Tags: bike , motorbike, motorshow, concept, tokyo
More About: Tokyo , Vehicles , Bikes

The Pod People are Coming
2007-10-27 08:30:00
The Wheelchair, v.2 - I seriously hope this isn’t how Japan sees the future of mankind. Why don’t they take the next generation of vehicles somewhere obviously cooler - like the hoverboard from Back-To-The-Future? No doubt they’ll put a heads-up computer display in there somewhere too, and then no one will ever need to leave ...
More About: People , Vehicles

The Big W Fail
2007-10-24 08:29:00
What is it with companies and retarded product names nowadays? First came Nintendo with a product name synonymous with “piss” in the UK and just plain ridiculous in every other country. Then some Chinese company ripped them off and made the “Vii” - good one guys. …and now Hitachi are going to lay the “Wooo” upon ...

Gundam Phone
2007-10-23 06:40:00
Actually a pretty nice phone in it’s own, this Gundam branded special version of the Sharp 913-SH mobile from Japanese Softbank mobile phone provider (formally Vodaphone, and before that J-Phone ). The phone itself is pretty customized with Gundam decals and the like, but the major feature seems to the helmet/charger thing pictured below. Open the helmet ...