Gizmodo: gizmodo japan

Gizmodo Japan: Moe Shirt

johnb — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 11:21:37 EST

If you could encapsulate Japan's otaku culture into a single kanji character, it would likely be the word mo , a term that has hit the big time in the past year, helped along by the maid cafe boom in Tokyo and Densha Otoko ("Train Man"), a popular drama about an anime fanboy who wins the love of a beautiful woman he meets on a train with the help of posters on an Internet BBS. The term mo (pronounced "mo-EH") describe the ultra cute, pure-hearted anime characters that pop up in anime, manga and video games these days, as well as the "burning passion" otaku feel for the objects of their various obsessions. For those inclined to wear kanji on their persons, smug in the knowledge that only a very few people will have any idea what the hell your shirt says, this mo T-shirt might be up your alley.

Product Page [J-List]

Gizmodo Japan: Make Your Own Mario

johnb — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 06:42:46 EST

Let's welcome Peter Payne to the Gizmodo fold. Peter is a gaijin living the good life in Japan, where he runs J-List and lives in a liquor shop with his Japanese wife. J-List is an online shop that aims to bring the world closer together through shared Japanese pop culture.

Nintendo continues to relive its 8-bit glory days with Super Mario Bros. ".S" (that's "dot-S," as in, "dot-Net" or "dot-Mac"), a little plastic screen and appropriately colored pegs that you use to make any Mario icon you want. Kind of like Lite-Brite for the SNES generation. It seems to me that some enterprising pegmasters can probably come up with some original versions of Mario that Nintendo never intended.

Product Page [J-List]

Gizmodo Japan - Desktop Remote Control

gizmodo.com — Sat, 11 Feb 2006 09:46:03 EST

You can control your TV, DVD/CD, amplifier, and air conditioner with this stylish desktop remote control. What about all those buttons, you ask? Well, each of the sixty five button has only one function. Volume is changed with a jogdial. It's currently available at at Evergreen‘s and costs about $84. SKN

Online Shop[Rakuten Ichiba]

Gizmodo Japan: Kazzle and Naple

gizmodo.com — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 05:21:41 EST

There's a big thing in Japan right now where all sorts of professors from multiple universities are claiming that puzzles cure aging of the brain. As a result, Japanese toy manufacturers have started to produce lots of electronic puzzle games to reach some of the target groups that they can't hit with Pokemon and hentai. The "Kazzle? ", a nonsense word made up of kazu, which means number in Japanese and the word "puzzle," is a portable (4.7x 3.1x 0.6 inches) version of the famous ultimate logic puzzle "Number Place" or "Sudoku." It has eight levels and over a million ways to play. There are a similar ones like "Nanple (number + play) Master" from Epoch. Should cost about $30.- SKN

Product Page [Takara]

Gizmodo Japan: Bamboo Keyboard

gizmodo.com — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 17:05:18 EST

If the ultimate shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa had created a PC keyboard in the 15th century, it surely would have looked like this! At least that's what the package for this Links Bamboo keyboard suggests. This finely finished piece is called "Takechiyo" (in Japanese take means bamboo and chiyo translates to perpetuity) and was created by Links International. Should be available on February 11 for about $82. - SKN

Product Page [Links International]

Gizmodo Japan: AQUOS Vision Recorder

johnb — Sat, 04 Feb 2006 11:09:13 EST

Sharp announced the DV-ARV22, as latest model in the AQUOS HD recorder series. Apparently it is the world‘s thinnest (3.74 inches) VHS video recorder/player, HDD (250GB) and DVD player in one device. It features a HDMI port, terrestrial digital tuner and analog tuner. It also starts up in 1 second for instant recording. You can also copy video six ways between the HDD, DVD and VHS recorders. Should be out in March for about $1278.

News Release [Sharp]

iPod Car Charger and Transmitter That Won't Make Your Crown Vic Look Uncool

johnb — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 14:12:24 EST

You may want to think about ditching your boring white battery charger and transmitter for your cool new black ipod video. The Japanese company Focal Point Computer, Inc. has launched this stylish, flashy one. Apart from charging the battery while transmitting over the FM band, it pauses the iPod and stops charging when the car is turned off. It even has an automatic return fuse to protect your iPod from damage. The charger looks like a dong and is covered with leather. Tasty! Should be out this month for $59.

Product Page

Gizmodo Japan - Wash Your Clothes With Air

johnb — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 11:55:18 EST

Do you even CARE what kind of disgusting bugs and bacteria live on your clothes and bedding? Do you? Well, The world first washing machine dryer with "air wash" function cares. The AQUA AWD-AQ1 from Sanyo disinfects and deodorizes your clothes without using water. It shoots ozone-filled air to whisk away odors and bacteria. It also recycles the water it uses for rinsing and disinfects it using the selfsame ozone. It even has special modes to fight against mode, add steam, and even wash without detergent. It will be out in March for $2200.

Product Page

M-Wave MP3 Player - You Know, For Kids

johnb — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 15:18:39 EST

If your kid starts demanding an iPod and you're are not prepared to spend too much cash, think about buying a "M-WAVE" instead. It looks cooler anyway and is both for boys and girls. "M-WAVE" from Sega Toys is the newer version of music player for girls "Sound Carrier" (it was called Tamagotchi on speed). It is a music player, a voice recorder and even offers some pixelly games. A funny character appears on the LCD and grows with the music. The difference from the last one of this series is the increase in recording time, which is now 68 minutes instead of 16 minutes (!!). There's also a clock function with alarm and you can record music directly from any audio device or TV. Coming on the market in Japan at the end of June in two colors. Price is about $51.

But wait... is that guy doing the one legged pop and lock up there? WTF, Japan?

Home Page [Segatoys]

Remokon Saucer

johnb — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 09:15:19 EST

Isn‘t it convenient to switch on the heater at home one hour before you come back? Or to remotely switch on the light or the TV at home for a few hours a day, while you are on holiday to scare off robbers, owls, and crazed, naked squatters? Or maybe to remotely switch off your home entertainment center once you're done recording Lion King—that's such a great movie, BTW! SIMBA!!!

The infrared remote control unit "Remokon (remote control) Saucer" from Sugiyama Electron does it for you. You can control up to eight home electronics with your mobile phone. It is controlled through the TV phone function of Foma phones from Japanese NTT DoCoMo. From this diagram, it appears you actually have to have two phones, but what do we know? It will appear in DoCoMo shops on February 10 and cost about $102.

ITmedia report [ItMedia]

Home Page [Sugi-ele]

Chess Keyboard

johnb — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 06:20:45 EST

Love to play chess on your keyboard? Well, while the OWL-KB108WB from Owltech looks like you might be able to get your pawn on, looks can be deceiving. There are 2 versions, black and white, and are compatible with Macs and PCs and includes a USB adapter. No product information on the site yet but surely coming soon. Price is about $23.

Home Page [OwlTech]

MyMio - Multifunctional Household Use Machine - Does No Dishes

johnb — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 16:57:39 EST

Brother just announced two high-end models in the "multi functional household use machine" series called the "MyMio." Both the MFC-840CLN (17.2x 14.5x 6.4 inches, 13.6 lb) and the MFC-820CN (14.6x 13.6x 6.4 inches, 13 lb) function as printer, color copier, photo media capturer, scanner, fax, PC fax and more. They feature a 2.5 inch color LCD, Ethernet LAN and work for both Windows and Mac. There are slots for different memory cards to print images directly from a camera or other device. The received fax can be read on the display without printing. The scanned data can be out put to a memory card as PDF form. Estimated market price is between $315 and $340.

Production Page [Brother]
Product Page [Brother]

Honda's Monkey Limited

johnb — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 11:11:05 EST

Gizmodo Japan - Honda s 50cc leisure motor bike aka Monkey first appeared in 1967. It is small, but carries a 4 stroke engine is beloved by many and looks like something Yoshi would ride. This year, Honda is going to sell 3000 special model Monkey Limited (BA-AB27) . Most of it, like the tank and the fender, are chrome plated and engraved. It is equipped with solid "Monkey" emblem and two-tone seat in silver and black. It will sell for $2260 and I want one so I can flip over on it and make it onto America's Funniest Home Videos.

Product Page [Honda]