Bandai feels my pain, however, and has released this nori maki maker. Dishwasher safe, the set comes with all the necessary tools and instructions to recreate your favorite characters from Anpanman. Now while I've never watched the show, I'm pretty sure these rosy-cheeked characters aren't tossing around Kamehamehas. And until they do, I'll pass on the ticket to Japan to pick one of these up in Japan for about $55. [Bandai via technabob]

* I should note, I hate that adverbs, and more specifically the use of "ly" suffixes, are struggling in our lexicon. Then again, I do love me a good rhyme.

These types of photos are very much a Japanese internet meme — people showing their Christmas meal and female characters with whom they are eating. They're more a gag than anything else with each photo trying to outdo the others. Not entirely serious! Though, still, slightly bitter sweet.

One of the pictures might be NSFW. Guess which one.

ゲーマー達のクリスマスお祝い画像集 [オレ的ゲーム速報＠刃]

The legs on this thing almost feel like a cruel joke. Sure, you've got a mobility that you could never get with a tradition sleeping bag, but what good is that without hands? Without the ability to pee? And without the dignity you sacrificed in becoming a six-foot-tall human frog fetus, minus prospects for a happier future?

But perhaps I'm missing the point: while the Snuggie is a instrument of laziness, the Japanese Walkable Sleeping Bag is a tool for self-improvement. See that man in the bottom left corner, soiling himself on the floor like some kind of pathetic, mutated worm? When—if—he rises, he we stand a better man. [Reddit]

NEC TVs were set up in the Tokyo station and as someone walked past, their image was captured on the screen and superimposed with a blue wig or even a nurse's dress if they were lucky. What the hell blue hair has to do with donating blood is beyond me, but it's an innovative way to turn heads. Perhaps they should trial it in the Western world, where we're not already desensitized to the image of scantily-clad cartoon characters. [CrunchGear]

It even throws LED ground effects when producing steam. Seriously, even if you aren't drying up from the weather, it might be worth the $108 price tag to gut it for a PC case. [Japan Trend Shop via 7Gadgets]

This is Yotaro, the Japanese baby simulator. It looks like a big stuffed animal bear with a baby's face projected on to it. It's actually got a lot of complex stuff going on inside it, for better or worse. I just wonder why they didn't make it look more like a real baby if they were going for simulation. [Yotaro via DesignBoom]

The iPhone 3G commands the ranking with 24.6%, while the iPhone 3GS tops at 21.5 for number two. Dropping from 28.8% to 14.6% is the Sharp Advanced W-ZERO3. According to Impress survey, the reason of this huge advance in only one year is the app store and the iPhone's ease of use. I always thought that Japanese cellphones user interfaces were designed by the devil himself, so I'm not surprised. [Impress]

Currently, Robovie is designed to help the elderly complete their shopping rounds. At home, users enter their list into a special mobile device that Robovie senses upon entering the store. Robovie then greets the user and guides him/her through the store helping them find, carry and remember items from their list.

I can't tell you how many times I have wished that supermarkets had some sort of robot or GPS system that would guide me to wherever the hell they keep their pizza sauce and burrito shells. And carrying my groceries for me—well that's just a bonus. The whole thing might be even better if the larger carts were equipped with some sort of system like this, instead of a free-standing robot. I would love it even more if it scanned and weighed my purchases and allowed me to swipe a card instead of standing in line at the checkout. [Robot Watch via Pink Tentacle via PopSci]

Created at the Nagoya Institute of Technology of Japan (it had to be Japan), the camera you can see above was constructed using 158 lenses, which were attached in four rows, spanning 47cm in diameter. As each lens only cost $2.10 it's entirely realistic to try and top their record for next year's Guinness book, but bear in mind it took the team of students six months to build. Better organize some cheap labor. [Sankei News via CrunchGear]

Kokoro, the company which brought us those HRP-4C female androids back in 2005, will make these Actroids for Sogo & Seibu. Customers can record audio so the robots not only look like them but also sound like them, and "she also does the best work as a guide with her out-standing eye-catch effect!" Careful you don't fall for her eye-catch effect too hard, now. [Sankei News via PlasticPals and CrunchGear]

Entitled (autumn), the video was shot, as I said, around Mount Fuji and other beautiful Japanese locales. The music is trippy, the visuals crisp, and the people move about very quickly as clouds play about their heads. Enjoy. [Vimeo - Thanks, Sam]

All that crowd-baiting mugging and genital-constricting athletic gear evidently couldn't help the representative of humans everywhere, as he went down in the first to the remote-controlled robot's fierce uppercut. The robot, given the noble and awesome name of Genuine Great King Kizer, is the current model designed by Naoki Maru, who creates a new one double the size of the last every 18 months or so. The next one, obviously, is going to destroy Tokyo. [BotJunkie]

Do not share food or love in front of a sad, injured man. He's in enough pain without you rubbing it in.

On a train, never, ever feed your shoe beer. Dude can't hold his liquor.

During fits of train hail, under no circumstances should you swing at the ice chunks. They will multiply and occasionally crap, a la bird, onto other passengers.

Don't dive into a train. Because if you get caught be the doors, people will stand idly by while your body is ripped into two. Save such carnage for the beach, where the blood is easily cleaned up due to copious amounts of sand.

Sticking your fingers into your headphones will not block the sound from your ears. And please conduct such experiments at home.

Women should never talk on the phone, no matter what emotion they exude. It's a known pervert fetish.

OK, this is the one shot where I kind of feel bad for the strange man in the glasses. WTF hikers!

If you are grasping a handle and find you forgot to wear deodorant, lift yourself above the crowd. Wait, no, keep your arms up and make people smell it. Wait, no, lift yourself. [Adme via copyranter via boingboing]

Ring was deported from Japan twice: once in 2007 and again some time later after she slipped back into the country with her fake prints. Apparently, fingerprint altering procedures are becoming big business for shady doctors looking to make a quick buck. Japanese authorities claim that the practice is widespread in China, but if there is money to be made, I'm sure it is a problem all over the world.

In this case, prints from Ring's left hand were surgically implanted on her right—which makes me wonder why prints were not taken from both hands in the first place. Plus, the quality of the work suggests that $14,600 is a bargain basement, back alley price for surgery like this. Best to go top shelf when you're trying to do anything illegal. [BBC via The Register via PopSci]

The engines, built primarily by Aioi Works of Japan's Diesel United, Ltd, are available in 6 through 14 cylinder versions, all inline engines.

The cylinder bore is just under 38" and the stroke is just over 98". Each cylinder displaces 111,143 cubic inches (1820 liters) and produces 7780 horsepower. Total displacement comes out to 1,556,002 cubic inches (25,480 liters) for the fourteen cylinder version.

That means the 89 foot long 14 cylinder version produces 108,920 HP and 5,608,312 lb/ft of torque at 102 rpm. Not bad. It also weight 2300 tons with the crankshaft alone weighing 300 tons. Our only question — does it fit in a Fiero?

[bath.co.uk via TTAC]

A new kiosk by Toppan Printing Co Ltd, being tested in three of Japan's supermarkets now, allows shoppers to look up a QR code (then print it, or have it on their phone's screen), hold it up to the machine and receive a free product sample.

The bigger gimmick, however, is that you can then hold the actual product up to the vending machine and get a bunch of floaty infographics (we know, it's a little late once you've already purchased a product). But if the software was tweaked a bit, something like a can of Coke could become a bubbling mana potion in your hand. And as long as you consumed said drink while looking at yourself on the augmented LCD screen, well, nothing special would happen.

Or would it? [Tech On via UberGizmo]

According to a recent poll (results above/translation below) of Japanese children 12 and under, they really want...

1. Video game software (over 450 kids said this)
2. Pretty Cure goods (over 100 kids said this)
3. Anpanman goods
4. Books (picture book, book, illustrated encyclopedia)
5. Kamen Rider goods
6. Bicycle
7. Toy car
8. Clothes
9. Stuffed animal
10. Video game console

Since many kids have consoles, they just want video games now—that's fair. But clothes? What self-respecting child under 13 wants clothes?? And have you actually ever seen a picture of Anpanman?

As translated by the esteemed Brian Ashcraft over at Kotaku. [はちま起稿 via Kotaku]

FF13のセラの服はしまむらで揃える事が出来るらしい [はちま起稿]

BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the you hate Japan-only gadgets, click here.

Bandai Tokyo Diorama Speakers: Do you know someone who is fascinated by Tokyo's Ginza district circa 1950? Or someone who constantly listens to the Godzilla Original Motion Picture Soundtrack? These speakers are the perfect gift for that person. Packed with LED lights and all sorts of moving parts, this is not your Kindergartner's diorama. $2000 [Bandai]

Bandai Gyoza Maker: Rolling a gyoza—essentially a Japanese dumpling—can be tough and is an art that is best mastered with practice. But who has time for practice or mastery? If you want to crank out neatly sealed gyozas every time, there's no better way than to do just that: crank them out. With Bandai's gyoza maker, perfect gyozas slide out a chute for your snacking pleasure. It's not the most authentic way to serve up this traditional treat but definitely the most efficient. $55 [GeekStuff4U]

Yamanote Line Watch: Is there someone close to you whose life is a little too stress-free? Who wishes they felt like they were doing something? Going somewhere? Get them the Yamanote Line Watch, a replica of signage on Tokyo's busiest commuter line, and give their life some hair-pulling purpose. [Seahope]

Sauce Dispensing Chopsticks: If you know someone who is proud of having recently mastered chopsticks, throw them a curveball by gifting them this sauce dispensing pair. They have the dual benefit of taking your chopstick game into the 21st century while also eliminating table clutter. This is a perfect gift for the person in your life who is defined as much by their laziness as they are for their love of Asian cuisine. $21[Oh Gizmo]

Fantasy Gift: 9h Capsule Hotel Pod: It's always nice to curl up in a nook (if not necessarily with a Nook) to take a nap, and the 9h luxury capsule hotel in Tokyo provides the nook of all nooks. Each pod is equipped with Panasonic control panels for setting the ambiance—presumably one that lessens the feeling that you paid money to nap in a coffin. Still, having one of them in your house virtually guarantees that no one jumps into bed to bother you while you sleep. [9hours]

Humping Dog USB Drive: Dogs always hump things—it's their nature—so why shouldn't they hump your USB drive? "Because they're too small!" you say. Real dogs may be, but this humping dog USB drive from Digital World Tokyo is a perfect perverted match for your Universal Serial Bus. In the end, though, do you really want to subject your ports to this little dog's dongle? We must urge you not to buy, unless you have a friend who really likes weird stuff. $32 [Digital World Tokyo]

Tuttuki Box: Are you or a love one embarrassed to prod and poke at things in real life? The Tuttuki LCD box lets you jab at miniature pandas, guys, and girls with a digital version of your index finger. If you know someone who is prone to stick appendages into holes, this is surely more adorable than the alternatives. $46 [Amazon]

Gundam Robot Slippers: Everyone can dance the robot. But for some people that's just not enough. Gundam Robot Slippers are the perfect gift for the hardcore robot enthusiast. Not only do they make your feet shiny and big, like a robot's, but the slippers emit a robotic crunching noise with each step. This benefits everyone: you sound more like a robot and the maker you've turned against is alerted that you're coming to destroy them. Gizmodo]

Don't forget to recommend your own favorite gift ideas for weird relatives in comments—include pic and pricing if possible.

All Giz Wants is our annual round-up of favorite gift ideas, including amazing attainable objects and a few far-out fantasies. We'll be popping guides catered to different interests several times per day for the next week, so keep checking back.

For Japan's upcoming Apology Day, an interactive website by the name of Ayamari Bijin offers 31 different girls apologizing in video messages, along with stacks of photos of them looking "remorseful". You can even find out their blood types! The best thing is that as they're all speaking in Japanese, you don't have the flipping faintest idea what they're actually apologizing for. You could pretend it's for actually daring to ask for a cuddle after sexytimes last night. Or perhaps for squeezing the toothpaste from the wrong end.

Perhaps you're a more vanilla kind of guy, in which case you'd rather hear Japanese girls say how much they love you? Either way, if you can't speak Japanese, it's much of a muchness. For $25, the Hougen CD has 600 different girls saying "I love you" in their various Japanese dialects.

So what'll it be tonight, men? Apologies or confessions of love? [Japan Trends and CrunchGear]

The GZ-MG980, GZ-MS230 and the GZ-MS210 have been announced for the Japanese market under the Victor JVC branding, with US pricing and availability expected to be confirmed at CES.

With a 10.7-megapixel, 1/6-inch CCD sensor, the video on the GZ-M980 isn't quite full HD at just 720 x 480 resolution, though the 39x (F1.8 - 4.3) optical zoom and 80GB HDD are pretty decent. An SD/SDHC slot rounds it off.

Measuring in with similar specs, the GZ-MS230 misses the generous 80GB capacity of the former model, with just 8GB instead. The GZ-MS210 is the most basic of the three, with no internal memory—just two SD/SDHC slots. Japanese conversions pit these three at $690, $515 and $460 each. [CrunchGear]

The gadget's apparently based on a Japanese show about "a high school boy, his transforming cell-phone robot, and his six detective partners that fight against an internet-based criminal organization." Guess it might not be too upset if I compared it to a Transformer after all then. I'll still keep the "cute" remark and the $135 I'd pay for the phone to myself though. [XL-Shop via Technabob]

As part of the 6th ROBO-ONE GATE competition, biped robots learned and performed routines in front of a live audience. That lead robot from the Doka Project? She didn't win. Instead, second place went to this guy from Black Tiger Neo, performing Thriller:

(Disregard the fact that Thriller is not a 1:1 choreographic interpretation.)

And the winner was Ryuki Ⅱ, performing Joyful, Ikimonogakari.
Personally, I think those big feet are cheating, but picking on any of these robots feels like jeering a preschool dance recital. See more entrants at: [Biped Robot News via HackaDay]

[Oddity Central via Geekologie via Neatorama]

Only 13,000 units will be made, which is a good sign that even the Japanese know this thing is too crazy to be put into full production. [Akihabara News]

It was awkward to say the least, but as I said the ingenuity was there. A for effort, and all that, but I would have lost the cheerleaders during the "costume change." I was about to say they looked out of place, but then I stopped myself with a face palm because nothing could be out of place in a video like this.

The video was actually shot in late September, so I can only assume these guys are Japanese superstars by now. [YouTube via DesignBoom via Switched via Engadget]

The choreographed moves are more cute than intimidating, but seriously, maybe we'll see lightsaber droids one day after all. [NetworkWorld YouTube Channel]

Fortunately, a shred of hope for humanity was preserved when it was revealed that Sal9000 orchestrated the event as a piece of performance art—although it is unclear how serious he is actually taking the relationship. Apparently, he has sexed up his fair share of virtual girlfriends, so it is probably only a matter of time before technology progresses and he finds himself another woman with bigger and better...rendering. [Boing Boing]

The two were married when a man brought his DS along with a copy of Love Plus to a church in Guam. There's no word on honeymoon plans, but the two will be holding a small reception for family, close friends and the internet on November 22nd. (Seriously, there will be a webcam and stuff.)

It just goes to show, the power of Woman has no bounds. Stick her in a digital fortress, simplify her beauty to Nintendo DS rendering limits and give her a shrill, anime voice. Woman will triumph all the same. [Tiny Cartridge via technabob]

The "3D LED Wall" is on show at the International Broadcast Equipment Exhibition in Japan, and really highlights just how much of a boner Sony has for 3D right now. They've got 3D laptops, TVs and Blu-ray players planned, and don't forget new games and a firmware update will bring 3D to the PlayStation 3 next year, too. [TechOn via Engadget]

Baseball King Balls are specially designed polyethylene baseballs from Japan. By making adjustments to that band in the center of each ball, you can alter their aerodynamics, thereby throwing a sinker, curveball, knuckleball, riser, or screwball at will (no special training required!). The catch? There is no catch! Well...other than the obvious fact that these puppies aren't regulation.

But I'm sure that millions of fans and countless MLB officials won't even notice you holding the Baseball King on the cover of Sports Illustrated. [Japan Trend Shop via OhGizmo!]

The Japan Trend Shop also says the 2mm-thick lenses wouldn't shatter, even if a 500g 1.1-pound shaft of iron is dropped on them from 4 feet. You know, for those times when you escape the clinches of some evil mastermind at the last minute. I guess I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, but it still kinda sounds like they're just pulling numbers out of the air.

If you're in the market for a pair of super-rugged glasses, these puppies will only set you back $317. Yikes. [Japan Trend Shop via DVICE]

Tokyo company HiBot is developing a robot to transfer the dangerous duties of high-voltage wire inspection from meat-based humans metal-based robots, in a move intended not just to decrease the likelihood of flash-frying technicians, but to make the inspection process—vital, now that many countries' electrical infrastructures have components approaching 100 years old—more efficient.

The HiBot Exliner, pictured above and set to deploy in Japan, is the second such robot, and the most ambitious: while the LineScout, pictured at top and currently in trials in Canada, only inspects one line at a time, the Expliner will cover four. And unlike their human counterparts, Exliner and LineScout don't even care if the lines are left active while they're doing their respective things, because they ain't got nothin' to lose, y'know? Also: because they're properly insulated.

UPDATE: For anyone wondering why these robots are necessary (or depending on how you look at it, why they aren't) watch this video, starting at around 2:00. —Thanks, winshape![IEEE via Make]