Eye-popping

With so many things in life, you gotta see it to believe it. But even with a picture, there’s something amiss when it’s not in 3D. That’s why the people at Takara Tomy have come up with this:

It’s a 3D photo camera you can take anywhere and bring home amazing shots of all the fun you had. What you do is print out the photos and put them into a special viewfinder and, voila!, a picturesque scene pops out in front of you.

It may look like a disposable film camera but it’s digital and uses an SD memory card, so you can use it again and again. The photos make great save-the-date postcards, birthday invitations, wall art, and just about anything else you want to show friends. It’s just too bad I can’t show it to you via this 2D website. Boo~! In the meantime, here’s a video.

Himawari

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A Sticky Situation

A rice paddle is one of the most important kitchen utensils in the Japanese home. Why? Because when you’re scooping out rice, there’s nothing worse than the sound of a metal spoon scraping against a metal pot. Argh~!

Rice paddles are traditionally wooden, but these days plastic is standard-issue. They’re easy to wash, but the one pet peeve I have is that it gets sticky with rice as soon as I use it. So wherever I put my paddle down, rice clumps are sure to follow.

That’s why I love this invention: the swinging rice paddle.

Now you need not worry about getting the kitchen counter sticky. Just lay the rice paddle down and it’ll sway around upright without falling over. Reminds me of those clown punching bags. And they come in all sorts of colors, so you’ll never get bored.

Yeah, I know some of you don’t see the big deal. Believe me, when you’re making a dozen rice balls at a time, there’s no time to wash and rewash things. So nothing beats having an accessible rice paddle. Just try it! (^_^)v

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

The Elephants are Swimming

As a Japanophile, I’m always checking for Japanese names that show up on Hollywood movie credits. So the other day, I was watching “The Jungle Book 2” and, lo and behold, out pops Ritsuko Notani, character designer extraordinaire.

Ritsuko, aka, Ritzco, draws for Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. Hailing from Matsuyama, Japan, she’s now stateside creating a whirlwind of characters for movies like Tinker Bell, Mulan II, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas and Pooh’s Grand Adventure. Spending your days tapped into your own imagination sounds like a dream job to me!

One of Ritzco’s fanciful creatures is this cute elephant donned in a striped bathing suit and swim goggles. Whether he’s about to swim the English Channel or back-float in his bathtub, he’s certainly dressed for the occasion.

Ritzco’s T-shirts are specially tailored for the feminine physique. For $25.99, you’ll get a 100% pre-shrunk cotton tee that’s a slimmer cut and shorter length than standard tees. For $31.99, you’ll get a 100% preshrunk ring-spun baby rib cotton tee that’s form-fitting and contoured to flatter the hips. Check here for color and size options.

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

Green Tea with Envy

After falling into a major food coma, the best pick-me-up is a cup of green tea. Not only is it packed with caffeine, it’s filled with antioxidants to help you retain that youthful glow. You’ll find plenty of green tea bottles at markets both in Japan and the U.S., but nothing beats a home brew. It tastes fresh and you can make it as strong as you want.

So check this out:

It’s home-brewed tea to go by a company called Kraso. Fill the strainer with leaves and then fill the bottle with water. It comes with a hand-strap and a tight lid in case you’re in the habit of running through dense crowds on the way to work.

Each bottle has an oh-so-cute picture of children playing in the park. Once you start touting it around, you’ll be the envy of your office!

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

Smarter Than Your Average Bear

There are bears who ride tricycles and there are bears who balance on balls. But that’s nothing compared to this talented creature:

His name is Charatter (“kyaratta~”) ($28) and he reads your Twitter feed as you busy yourself with other idle pleasures. You’ll be mesmerized watching his plastic lips chatter about what your friends are doing without you. Hook him up to either your iPhone or computer and from there he’ll talk forever until either you throw him against the wall or your friends go to sleep. Watch him in action:

Plastic bear enthusiasts have reportedly been snatching the blue baddie in droves since he entered the market late last year. And apparently he can speak in English as well as in Japanese, though I suspect it’s Engrish rather than English.

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