Gizmodo: epoch

The Joystick: Happy 200th Birthday, Charles Darwin

Mark Wilson — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:00:00 EST

Endless Banana: Enjoy the Soothing Banana-Peeling Experience Forever

Sean Fallon — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Like the Mugen PeriPeri before it, the Endless Banana' from Epoch is the latest in the growing Japanese market for "infinite toys"—devices that allow users to enjoy mundane, but strangely thrilling experiences over and over again. In addition to simulating the feel of a banana as it is peeled, the toy also features the voice of an actress named Saki Fujita. Apparently, her task was to make the "sound" of a peeling banana—whatever the hell that is. Unfortunately, finding out is not going to be an easy task. As far as anyone can tell these are a Japan-only release. [kilian-nakamura]

Japanese Turd Flashlight Is Thankfully Not a Medical Gadget

AddyDugdale — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 04:54:20 EDT

If what's missing from your life is a light-up poop, then fear not, because your happiness is sitting in a Japanese vending machine. Epoch, purveyor of the USB darts board, has come up with the weirdness that is a flashlight shaped like a turd, or Unchi, as they are known over in Japan.

Available in either Pepto-Bismol or jaundice, there are three styles of Unchi to choose from: Futsuu Unchi, or normal turd; Tochuu Unchi, a turd passing through—that's the one above that looks like it's in a hurry; and Omori Unchi, the jumbo-sized one.

The purpose? I think it's a cellphone charm meant to bring you luck, but at two inches in length, it seems a bit big to have dangling from your mobile. Perhaps the makers believe it should go somewhere else? [Digital World Tokyo]