Friday, February 27, 2009

Free iPhones in Japan

Softbank Mobile Corpration starting today through May 31 will be offering the 8GB iphone  for free with a 2 year contract. The 16GB will be offered at a reduced price. Monthly fees for internet usage will also be cut. The campaign is most likely due to the unusually slow adoption of the device in Japan.  With the internet capabilities of the iPhone, the company will most likely see a boost in revenue from software downloads and e-mails, if the campaign succeeds.

Georgia Max Coffee




Totally super sweet coffee that gives you energy to the MAX!!

Georgia is a brand of coffee flavored drinks owned by Coca-Cola Japan. Looks quite energizing doesn't it?   Go over to the Georgia website and try their flash Human Car Race Game.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

The "Lost" Bento


Pikko over at Adventures in Bento Making, makes some very creative bento's.  She even shows steb-by-step how she creates each one.  Go over and check out her creations!



Make a Baby Cry Contest (Konaki Sumo)

At different temples in Japan throughout the year a contests called, Konaki (Crying) Sumo, are held.  The winner is obvioulsy the one who cries first or loudest.  The tradition is thought to bring good health to the participants.


Super Potato (スーパーポテト)


If you are on Facebook, there is an Akihabara fan page with groups of current pictures from around Akihabara.  Someone recently posted 35 new pictures of Super Potato, the retro gaming store.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Mos Burger Tobikiri Hamburger (モスバーガーとびきり)



I always enjoy a visit to the Mos Burger website.  Any time they add to their menu they go all out with flash to present their newest creation.  This is definately one place I will go when I am in Japan.

Tobikiri (とびきり) means extraordinary, super-duper etc.  Anyone in Japan know if this burger lives up to it's name?




Monday, February 23, 2009

Japanese Pen Spinning

You are waiting around with nothing to do.  You forgot you  portable media device.  What do you do now? Well, if you have a pen on you, you could try the art of Japanese pen spinning. 



Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Burton V-Rocker



Out of all the things I have not done in a while, I miss snowboarding the most.  I really should just get out there again.  I was checking out Burton's site and saw their new V-Rocker shaped boards.  Looks quite interesting.  You can still do all the ground tricks on a regular board, but this may make it a little easier - so they say.



Strong Zero - Stick to the fresh -196°C!

Took me forever to find this.  I was watching Japanese TV on KeyHole TV and spotted a commercial for Strong Zero (ストロングゼロ).  I will be adding it to my list of things to get when I am in Japan this spring.  


Below is the concept for this product, which is quite interesting.  From what I can gleen they use the entire fruit and freeze it to sub zero temperatures untill it can be pulverized into a powder. The resulting powder can then be introduced into the mixture making up the drink.  Using this method the freshness, taste, and fragrance is locked in.


Visit Suntory to check out their other products, and watch the commercial for Strong Zero here. Why on earth would you want a lemon drink that only uses the juice.  Stick to the fresh! Strong Zero -196°C


Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Skype 4.0 - 大嫌いですか?

What were your first thoughts after installing the new Skype 4.0 for windows?  Usually there is an adjustment period with a major upgrade, but I must say, with this one someone threw logic out the window.  Although the core functions are all there, they changed many things that did not need changed.  If they wanted to give it a facelift, ok, but don't dismantle the entire flow.


Perhaps many will like the changes, we have yet to see.  One feature I will miss greatly is the Public IM Chat feature.  I found 2 Japanese public chats that were very usefull in sharing blog posts and technology chat.  I will miss them, and can only hope that Skype will reactivate this feature in a future release.  I hear a lot of people are trying to reinstall older versions after upgrading.  To what success I don't know, but I am sure upgrading will be manditory at some point due to server issues.

Regardless of you position please go over to the the Skype blog on ver. 4.0 and post your comment. --->> Here.


Monday, February 16, 2009

Shower Clean - No more naked showers.

You will never have to get undressed again thanks to Konaka. The シャワークリーンスーツ will save you precious time in the mornings while always looking your freshest.  The proprietary wool formula allows perspiration stains, food stains, dust, pollen, and odors to be simply washed away in the shower.  

Best of all it dries wrinkle free in about 8 hours. If you are a businessman on the go and always want to look your best this is a must have.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Jacco Fashion

For the ladies. Smartly styled and highly fashionable Japanese and Korean street clothing.  They were selling online as early as 2001 and went under the name of Jacco in 2007. 


Among their offerings are handbags, clothing, outerware, and accessories. They also offer a 7 day 100% satisfaction guarantee on all their items.

Taken from Jacco Fashion:
Jacco is selling trendy street fashion clothing to worldwide on a host of brands. We stock items of Style by ShezKOKO by SZBibubibuWaha,QFMCicicamTotoM2MJK2We ship internationally and support small orders. No MOQ (minimum order quantity) is requested.

Clean your LCD Screen - With food?

Elecom has released some new LCD cleaners for your computer and mobile devices.


Taken from:  Akihabara News.


The selections look delicious!


The Memristor - Get ready for something amazing.

The fourth piece to an electrical puzzle, the memristor was described and named in 1971, but it's existence wasn't proved until April 2008.  This is one technology that is worth observing. 
 
Above photo: Memristor close-up: An atomic force microscope image shows 17 memristors in a row. Each has a bottom wire that contacts one side of the device and a top wire that contacts the other. The wires in this image are 50nm, or about 150 atoms, wide. J. J. Yang, HP Labs

It is said to have properties similar to human synapses.  A solid state divice not only capable of binary computing, (1's and 0's), but able to use any value in between. Along with that, it's capability of remembering it's state when power is removed, could usher the advent of analog computers that can learn. But, that is just the beginning.  Keep an eye on this one your future is about to change.

More info at the HP Labs.



Sunday, February 8, 2009

KeyHole TV 3.12 - What's on TV tonight, in Japan!

KeyHoleTV is your window into the world of Japanese TV.  Thanks to the creators of this little application, you can enjoy Japanese TV wherever you have a computer and internet connection.  

From my tests on different hardware, the video stream seems a little choppy.  Regardless, if you are desperate to see what is on Japanese TV, this is the best bet for you.  I use this all the time, and am grateful that someone has taken time to provide this little gem.

When you click on download from their main site you go to the following directory, see below. A little unconventional these days but it gets the job done.  Just click on the file name, SetupKHTV3.12.exe, to download the installation file.  Direct link to the download directory here.

Once installed and working, you can double click on the video window and get a resizeable pop out window to view the stream in.  There are about 27 channels. Although some require a password, most are open to the public.  Another plus is the inclusion of a handful of radio stations.  

Some sample listings:


Hotaru no Hikari (ホタルノヒカリ)

Glow of fireflies.  Another worth seeing J-Drama starring Ayase Haruka.  Of the ones I have seen, I think this is her best character.  

Synopsis taken from the D-Addicts Wiki:

Hotaru works for a famous interior design company. It's a glamorous job but Hotaru's private life is totally the opposite of glamorous. She lives alone, and when she isn't working she's mostly lazing about her rented house in training wear. She's not interested in men. In fact, she isn't interested in anything. "I'd rather lay around than fool around," is her motto.

Her landlord is a bar owner, and one day his son, who has just separated from his wife, comes to inspect the rental property, not knowing that someone is living there. He is shocked at the mess, but not as shocked as Hotaru. He turns out to be her boss, Takano. --Japan Times Online



Saturday, February 7, 2009

2,760 Pictures of Japan in one video.

3 weeks in Japan in a nutshell..


Friday, February 6, 2009

The speakers on your high-end audio system just became obsolete.

Now you can say, "Yeah, but I got milk cartons."   Yorozu Audio says you can turn anything into a speaker.  I have my own ideas what this would sound like, but I could be surprised.  Looks interesting enough.



Here are some nifty ideas...



Need someone to talk to?

Are you all alone? Does noone ever listen too you? Do you like to complain a alot and don't want to alienate your friends?  Then the Pekoppa Nodding Pot-Plant from Sega Toys is just for you!

The video below was too funny not to put this up.  Really, the whole marketing scheme is just funny.


Thursday, February 5, 2009

Practice with those chopsticks! You may never use a fork again!

What on earth could be more fun than a Manner Beans Chopsticks Practice Kit! Distributed by none other than Strapya-World.


You get a bowl, pair of chopsticks, manner book, carry pouch, and best of all chick-bean x40! (Stop watch not included.)

がんばって!!

Having trouble rolling that sushi?

Not anymore!




The BANDAI Futomaki Norimaki shushi maker is just what you need.  So easy even the kids can do it!  You can grab this nifty item from Strapya-World.


Is your blood type the key to your success?


If you think so you may want to move to Japan.  Sounds more like a horoscope but there may be some merit to our genetic makeup effecting our persona.  At least in Japan there is.


There is a full article on the phenomenon at ThirdAge here.  Strapya-Wold has a handy selection of blood type cell phone straps for sale here.  Let the world know who you are and addd some bling to your cell at the same time!

What's your blood type?


Thanks to my sister at Project 365 Photography for finding this.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

JTT USB Green Tea Humidifier

Tired of static electrocution in the office?  Is your skin dry and cracked in the dry season of winter?  Or maybe you  can't help but wish you had a steaming cup.. er can of green tea.  Well, thanks to Japan Trust Technology (JTT), your humidification woes are over.  For only 2,980 yen you will never be dry again!


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