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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Three’s Company

Separate your meat and vegetables with this three-tiered bento box. It’s created in the image of a kokeshi, a traditional wooden doll from Miyagi Prefecture. Its head doubles as a soup bowl and the rest of its body can hold cream stew, rice, broccoli or whatever else your heart desires.

This is one of my favorite bento boxes because it’s microwavable and cute as a button. Few people will notice just how much food you’re scarfing down because they’ll be too enamored by the little girl you’re eating with.

Story has it, kokeshi dolls were originally created as a good luck charm for bearing healthy babies. Though if you really want healthy babies, eat plenty of cooked liver. Just throw it into one of these kokeshi containers and eat discreetly in the office. The bento box is held snug with an elastic band and fits neatly your bag. It also comes with air-tight lids to keep everything in place. Three bowls, no spills! \(@^_^@)/

Himawari

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Head, Shoulder, Knees and Toes

Despite common belief, not everything in Japan is cute. Some things are just plain odd. Take for example this anatomical sleeping bag.

It serves two purposes: to insulate and educate. Strangely enough, you can take off the top portion to stick out your head. Imagine what the wolves will think as you’re camping out. Either they’ll see you as a T-bone steak or run away in terror. Let’s hope the latter.

The sack is about 7 feet long, so you’ll have plenty of room to roll around, scratch your back or curl up in the fetal position. You can also tack it on a post and demonstrate the Heimlich maneuver.

Who knows why someone thought the human anatomy and a sleeping bag could go together. One thing for sure, it gives new meaning to the term “body bag.”=P

Himawari

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What’s in the Fridge?

As if I didn’t have enough gadgets, here comes one that greets you from inside your refrigerator! They’re called Fridgeezoo ($19) and they’re shaped like cuddly victims of an assembly-line disaster. (How’d they get into that milk carton!)

Open the door and they’ll say things in Japanese like, “Hello! Hard day at work?” or “Hey, what’s up?” But be careful because they’ll start complaining if you leave the door ajar for too long. That’s the work of a true environmentalist!

I love these critters because they’ll keep you company when you’re home alone, and will be a constant reminder to stop snacking between meals.

Though, if you’re thinking about buying one you’ll have to wait in line. The next shipment doesn’t arrive until mid-October on Yahoo Japan. In the meantime, settle for a box of baking soda!

Himawari

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Best Lunch Ever!

For a limited time only, 7-Eleven (Japan) is offering a special bento box commemorating the 20th anniversary of Chibi Maruko, Japan’s animated sweetheart.

The $11 meal includes a two-tiered plastic container, a mini fork and a mini tote bag. Inside the box you’ll find an assortment of tasty morsels like bacon-wrapped asparagus, a grilled meat patty, seasoned vegetables, cheesy potatoes and a rice ball. Best lunch ever! \(^o^)/

Bento boxes are what I love about Japan’s 7-Eleven. They’re quick, cute, nutritious and affordable. And from time to time you’ll come across one of these synergistic meal deals that also make a great collector’s item.

Chibi Maruko is one of the most-watched animated series in Japan, airing Sunday evenings just before dinnertime. It’s a wholesome show depicting the often comical idiosyncrasies of Japanese family life. With the show’s mass-appeal, I’m sure the bento box will be sold out before it even hits shelves.

It’s just too bad that nothing as fun as this comes to 7-Eleven in the U.S. Though when I think about it, those Simpson’s Movie and Domo-kun collectibles from the past couple years were pretty cool. Maybe there’s more to come? Family Guy bento box, perhaps!?

Himawari

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My Seal of Friendship

My friend has been feeling very sad and lonely lately. I feel bad, but with work and other obligations in the way I can’t be there for her 24/7.

So the next best thing I could do is give her one of my lovable ‘Shirotan’ pets:

I discovered this little guy at a shop in Japan called Mother Garden. They mostly specialize in adorable pet accessories, but also have a few toys hanging around for humans, too. Shirotan is a seal pup who likes disguising himself as other animals like penguins, elephants, lions, and random things like strawberries and bumblebees. (It’s Japan. Don’t question it.)

He’s the most adorable thing I’ve seen since Rirakkuma and Piyochan, and he’s always there whenever you need a hug. Memory foam-like material makes him ultra soft and cuddly.

The cool thing about Shirotan’s costumes is that they’re fastened by velcro, so you can change his clothes to your liking.

Hopefully, Shirotan will be able to keep my friend company and maybe even make her smile… otherwise, I’m taking him back!!

Himawari

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Watch out for Flying Pigs!

I just got this oddball gift from a friend in Japan. It’s called Pitamin, a squishy lil’ oinkster you throw at the wall when life stresses you out. Its name purposely sounds like ‘vitamin’ because its supposed to make you feel better — even as you batter it to death.

Pitamin is among a long line of Japan’s ‘feel-better’ products. It’s a silicone blob that feels like a water balloon except you can’t really pop it. Push it, pull it or even sit on it, this little piggy ain’t gonna lose its cool. Just watch this video:

At first, I was pretty skeptical about its stress-relieving properties. But as I got my hands on it and flung it against the wall I felt pretty damn good. I picked it up again and threw it at the door just as my annoying roommate walked in. **SPLAT!** I felt even better.

After a bit of searching, I found other versions of the toy that look like people. They’re all men and they’re made to represent your bosses at work. (Of course, this is a mere oversight since there are plenty of mean female bosses too.) What a great concept to have voodoo dolls that you don’t need needle pins for! ***\(^o^)/***

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

It’s Michael!

I can’t get enough of this video featuring a Michael Jackson doll that slides into playgrounds and soars through the sky. It’s a fan-vid made for a toy company called Marusan. They’re known for classic monster figurines made of soft vinyl, but I guess this is their way of keeping with the times.

Even after he became known as Wacko Jacko, MJ remained incredibly popular in Japan. I went to his History concert in Tokyo several years back and adoring fans were still fainting at the shrill of a high note. But will they faint for a vinyl Michael? Heheh, probably not, but it’s still cool to see him as an action figure. He comes in two versions with removable masks: A werewolf and a zombie, both a la “Thriller.”

You probably can’t pose him like you do with GI Joe figurines, but watching the videos makes the doll look fun. The entire time, the kids are asking, “Where’s Michael?!….oh there he is!” The doll is a whopping $58 in Japan, which I suppose doesn’t sounds as bad in yen. I can totally imagine all kinds of MJ collectors buying it for their showcase.

Rest in peace, Michael!

Himawari

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The Japanese iPhone Apps: What’s out there?

Of course, the Apps Store is the best part. Everyday I’m searching for applications that’ll hopefully blow my mind, whether it’s useful tools or wacky games I can play on the toilet.
The one thing I’ve found is that the U.S.-born apps outnumber the Japanese ones. That’s because not as many people in Japan have an iPhone. Unlike here, Apple has tough competition in Japan. So when it comes to making apps, they’re not necessarily made for the iPhone. But that just makes me want to seek out those few cool Japanese apps even more!

Here are some of the more interesting ones:

Amamiya Momo ($2.99)

Meet Momo, a girl dressed in a cat outfit who lives inside your iPhone. You can poke her cheek, pat her head and even lift her skirt. Momo comes with 200 pre-programmed behavior patterns, so depending on how you treat her she can turn from happy to angry very quickly. Apparently, her mood changes depending on the time of day, so watch out!

iBBQLite (free trial)

The object of this game is to cook meat on the grill and hand it to customers. If it’s overcooked they’ll say in Japanese, “Ugh, this is awful!” If it’s undercooked, they’ll say, “What the heck is this!” So be sure to grill it just right. It’s a simple game but oh so addicting.

Harlequin novels (free trial)

There’s now a handful of romance-filled manga series at the disposal of your fingertips. Just do a keyword search for “harlequin” and out comes English-translated stories of love and heartbreak. The first chapter is free, but once they grab your attention you’ll have to pay to read the rest.

LadioTouch (free)

Now you can listen to Japanese radio! Up until now it’s been pretty limited to anime songs, but the range of genres have slowly widened. With this app I can now listen to one of Tokyo’s most popular stations, J-Wave, along with hundreds of other internet radio stations. Unfortunately, the listing is mostly in Japanese.

So what’s your favorite iPhone application? Let me know!

7-Eleven Loves Domo-Kun

7-Eleven has gotten so much cooler in my book. For a limited time, they’re offering a product line of cups, straws, comic books, plushies and T-shirts for a funny-looking Japanese monster called Domo-kun.

Most Japanese people would agree that seeing Domo-kun in the U.S. is really strange cause he’s a mascot character of NHK, the PBS of TV stations in Japan (keywords: conservative, wholesome, family-fun time). First appearing in station-identification spots in 1998, Domo-kun went on to star in his own animated show for children. He’s fairly popular among people in diapers, but hardly the hipster sensation he’s become in the U.S. If you wore a Domo-kun beanie in Japan, people would question your affection for children. Wearing Domo-kun would be like a Japanese guy wearing a purple Barney beanie.

Thanks to You Tube and other viral sites, a groundswell of enthusiasm has developed in the U.S. for the alien creature hatched from an egg, and enough to rise above the radar. Last Halloween, Domo-kun merchandise surfaced at Target stores. Not sure how it did, but considering he’s not back on shelves this year, maybe not well.

Now this year, Big Tent Entertainment, Domo’s licensing company has struck a deal with 7-Eleven for a six-week campaign. My favorite merchandise is their cups, one which has the cuddly monster getting a brain-freeze cause he just had a big Slurpee. The original goods are pretty well thought out; much nicer than what was selling at Target.

A friend came to visit this week from Japan, so I took her to 7-Eleven to check out the stuff. She left with an armful of cups and spoon-straws to give to friends back home. Who knows, maybe this will start a reverse trend?

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