According to a government panel on Wednesday, the robots are needed to provide day-care and nursing services to Japan's rapidly aging population. Since over 41 billion of the projected 62 billion dollar robot market is supposed to be dedicated to care, it's important to start thinking of the regulations that need to be put in place.

For instance, Three Laws of (Nursing) Robotics:

1. Always coo appreciatively at pictures of your human's grandchildren
2. DON'T TALK SO DAMN LOUD
3. Be spongebath safe

[Japan Today]

The Loverish line comes in four colors each and a read/write speed of 6.5MB/second. Pricing was not yet available, but it probably doesn't matter considering these most likely won't make it over to the States anytime soon. If and when it does, we're sure you'll be able to find it at a Hot Topic. [Elecom via Akihabara News]

Like the Winter/Fall season's phones, these ones are sleek clamshells chock full of features the public probably won't use—like "Run & Walk," a mobile fitness program that offers fashion advice, a personal trainer as well as the usual calorie and step counters.

It's funny. I used to feel like Japan was on the cutting edge of designing cellphones and features. Now though, minus a few interesting novelties (the music program phone or that 3D phone), KDDI au's offerings all seem a little stale. [KDDI au]

The screen swivels around a central hinge to hide the phone's regular numerical keyboard. Through a Yamaha piano app program, you can also play and record various other instruments on-the-go. Sounds like a fun concept, but it's hard to tell if the phone's specced out enough to handle that kind of program smoothly.

Also included in package: motion sensing, an "urban fitness program," a 5MP camera and 500MB of internal memory. Per usual, only available in Japan for now. [KDDI au]

The phone's 3.1-inch display is the first of its kind to have 3D-capabilities and can be swiveled horizontally to be more TV-like. There's not a lot of content being offered to accompany the phone right now, which is just as well since Hitachi doesn't recommend that people use the 3D feature for too long. Kids under the age of 6 shouldn't use it at all.

Besides the crazy stereoscopic screen, the Wooo also comes with a 5MP camera and a “Global Passport” that will connect you to KDDI au's network from anywhere in the world except Thailand, Guam and Canada. It'll be available in three colors by April—in Japan only, of course. [KDDI au]

Their new line's name translates to Wasabi Beautiful Colors and contains durable hard covers, flexible soft covers, and gauze capsule cases that make your PSP look like it was lovingly wrapped for you. They'll be available in Japan by the end of the month, and probably for import soon after. [Gametech via Egone]

The suit, designed by the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, contains eight motors fitted over the shoulders, elbows, back and knees to give farmers the boost they need to pull radishes, lift haystacks and other farm work.

Though the current model is a hefty 35 kg, researchers say they can halve the weight and put it on the market in two years time. Each suit will retail for between 500,000 and 1 million yen ($5,600 to $11,200). Only in Japan, folks. [Japan Probe]

Samurai-themed underwear have become something of a runaway hit in Japan. Each piece is made to resemble the armor of famous Japanese samurai, such as Tokugawa shogunate founder Tokugawa Ieyasu or military hero Oda Nobunaga.

They can be found on Japanese company Sido's website, but everything is currently sold out. If you wait for them to restock, each piece will cost you about $100. [Japan Probe]

Users sign up on the site and enter reports on what they encounter, kind of like Gawker Stalker—but for odors. According to the lists of encounters though, it doesn't seem like it's only for bad smells—watermelon and curry make the list too. [Japan Probe]

The roughly 35-inch squared mat near the Hachiko dog statue at Shibuya station generates roughly 0.5W every time someone weighing 132 lbs steps on it. The amount of foot power it's already harvested is displayed on an LED wall.

Strangely, the installation will only be there until the 25th. I guess the Japanese are really good with taking their holiday lights down as soon as Christmas is over? [Digital World Tokyo]

"Shoubu" is a slang term for the type of clothing a woman wears to land a man. "Co-de" is the Japanization of the word coordinate, as in "what skirt would coordinate with what shirt." The mobile program asks girls to send in pictures of their face and uses the same technology that determines their celebrity twins to dress them up.

Now the independent woman in me kind of gags at the thought of there being specific outfits to "catch" dudes. But the lazy, unfashionable tomboy in me is kind of like "Oh hey, it's like taking the thinking out of dressing up. Awesome." Especially since the app offers options like "sexy cute" or "natural cool." The app is co-developed by Nissen, an online clothing shop. [Cscout Japan]

The product page explains that its great for business, traveling and as a holiday present for your loved ones. One charge will last you 12 hours of shaving. If you didn't bring your computer, just use the included USB to AC Adapter. Yours for roughly $32. [Rakuten]

The Hitachi Wooo W63H and Casio Exilim W63CA both came with 3.1-inch organic electro-luminescent screens and the ability to sync up with au BOX and Lismo Video (which lets you download full movies onto your handset). The Casio Exilim also boasts an 8.1MP camera, making it a pretty good point-and-shoot replacement.

Sharp Aquos' model beats out the Hitachi and Casio on screen size (3.5-inches), even if it's not OEL. While the battery life is probably shorter, those .4-inches could make a big difference if you're a big TV-on-the-cellphone watcher.

Sony Ericcson's re fashion phone kind of reminds me of the Nokia I owned in High School, only its interchangeable fashion plates are much nicer. Right now, you can buy soon-to-be-dated 007 and Fifa World Cup themed plates.

The Toshiba W65T is a sportsy slider that includes, along with the au BOX connectivity and LISMO movie viewing, a Wireless Music option and GPS.

The last three phones in the line up are, more simplistic fashion phones. I guess not everybody's enamored with a handset that has more features than you can shake a stick at. Though the Kyocera W65K, SE W64S and Panasonic W62P (left to right) eschew LISMO and au BOX, they still come with the Karada Manager.

Even if none of KDDI's lineup makes it outside the Land of the Rising Sun, some of these features will probably trickle to the States a couple years down the line. [au by KDDI via Gizmodo Japan]

Tokyo, February 5, 2008 - Sony Computer Entertainment Japan (SCEJ), a division of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) responsible for business operations in Japan, today announced that it would release PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3®) 40GB model in a new "Satin Silver" color in Japan on March 6th, 2008, at a recommended retail price of 39,980 yen (including tax). "Satin Silver" will also become available for DUALSHOCK®3 Wireless Controller at a recommended retail price of 5,500 yen (including tax). A new fine metallic "Satin Silver" is offered as an additional color to the existing PS3® (CECHH00 Series) line-up of "Clear Black" and "Ceramic White". Choosing from a broader selection of colors to match their lifestyle and preferences, users will be able to enjoy next generation interactive entertainment contents on Blu-ray Disc as well as via the broadband network at home.

Users will also be able to enjoy immersive game play experience on upcoming PS3 titles compatible with separately sold DUALSHOCK 3 Wireless Controller, including "Ryu ga Gotoku KENZAN!" (SEGA CORPORATION) and "echochrome" ※1 (SCE WWS). SCEJ will continue to further expand the PS3 platform with enhanced line-up of
PS3 systems and peripheral products.

[Kotaku]

Apple Bearbrick [Plastic Bamboo]

Wacom Hello Kitty edition Tablet [Gizmodiva]

Navirobo GPS teddy bear [ubergizmo]

This hub uses UWB (ultra wideband) wireless technology. The data transfer rate can get as fast as 100 mbps over a 10 meter distance without any obstacles in the way. This hub will be available in Japan and expect to pay at least $200 for her. – Travis Hudson

UWB Hub coming in October [Newlaunches]