Put a Lid on It

Cup ramen is as simple as 1,2, 3, but thanks to designer Akira Mabuchi it gets easier.

Introducing CUPMEN 2! Colorful little people whose sole objective is to tell you when lunch is ready. Three minutes is all it takes to get your noodles from crispy to soft. And with the help of temperature-sensitive silicone, these guys will change colors just for the occasion.

When I’m making ramen, I tend to find whatever is within arms reach to hold down the paper lid: a knife, a dish cloth, a piece of Scotch tape. Cupmen 2 adds a touch of chic to your 3-for-a-dollar meal.

I love how you can position these guys in two ways — either sunbathing or hanging from a cliff. (The original Cupmen comes in one position.) Its more of a functional work of art than your standard paperweight.

Though just like a Picasso original, these body-bending creatures don’t come cheap. $58 for a set of three (blue, orange, red), to be exact. What a way to be the envy of college dorms everywhere!

Himawari

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Canine Coolness

“Kyaawaiii~~!”

That’s what a friend IMs me whenever he finds something cute on the internet. And not just cute, Japanesey cute. Like let’s say dogs wearing a yukata…

A yukata is a light robe worn around at summer festivals as you chug beer and gawk at fireworks in the sky. Though in the case of a canine, a yukata is an adorable garment that’ll earn you plenty of head-pats and even a few scraps of yakitori.

My friend found these pups on the shopping site Rakuten. They average $23 per robe and some come with a cute ribbon your dog can eternally chase after. They’re the most adorable doggy outfits I’ve seen in a while.

The good thing about a doggy yukata is that, just like the human version, it’s comfortable and loosely-worn, so your pup won’t be panting at the expense of your accessory fetish.

I know most people scoff at girls who dress up their Pomeranian and lodge them in a Louis Vuitton. But you can’t deny that these yukatas are adorable. Leave it up to Japan to transform tacky back to cute!

Himawari

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japanizmo, a Los Angeles based company, provides practical solutions for U.S. ? Japan business projects. Our experienced Japanese staff will support all phases of your business project to seize business opportunities and turn your vision into a reality. >> Learn more

An Eco-Friendly Cell Charger

You know you’re a smart-phone addict when life depends on your phone’s remaining battery juice. 10% left?! No!

Lucky for metropolitan Japan, modern day dilemmas are completely solved. These days, so many restaurants, stores and fast food chains are now offering to charge your cell phone for free. Even taxi cabs are doing it. It’s just one of the creative ways they get customers through the door.

But let’s say you’re nowhere near civilization and your battery is dying. What do you do? Why not use this?:

The HY mini is a universal cell phone ($50) charger powered completely by wind or sun. It fits in the palm of your hand so it’s ultra portable. And not only your cell phone, it can charge iPods, digital cameras and PDAs, too. The built-in fan is hooked to a lithium ion battery and when fully charged it can get you up to 20 extra minutes of phone time. Woohoo! \(^o^)/

Though if you’re looking to turbo-charge your electronic device, this eco-conscious unit may not be the one for you. Think of it as the Smart Car of cell phones; it may not run fast but at least it won’t kill the planet.
The HY mini has become a popular item in Japan, probably because it’s yet another cool gadget to trophy. I might get one just to show off to my American friends’ whose phone batteries are always dying. It’s too bad they can’t just walk into a KFC for a free charge. Damn you, Japan. You always have the best of everything!

Himawari

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Thinking of doing business in Japan? We can make it easy for you!
japanizmo, a Los Angeles based company, provides practical solutions for U.S. ? Japan business projects. Our experienced Japanese staff will support all phases of your business project to seize business opportunities and turn your vision into a reality. >> Learn more