Gizmodo: Samurai

Samurai Sword Maker Holds The Key To Nuclear Reactors

Mark Wilson — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 09:59:12 EDT

In testament to old world craftsmanship, Japan Steel Works is both a samurai sword maker and the only company in the world that's good enough with steel to produce the central part of a nuclear reactor's containment vessel in one piece, an engineering necessity in order to reduce the risk of radioactive leaks. The company spends so much time and resources on each containment vessel that they can only produce four per year, flaunting a price tag starting with a $100 million down payment. [bloomberg via slashdot] [image]

Samurai Stormtroopers Hunt Down and Exterminate Ninja Jedis

matt buchanan — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:30:56 EST

If Star Wars took place in Japan and Jedis were ninjas, this is what Stormtroopers would hunt them down in during the Great Jedi Purge. They're obviously smarter than the average clone, too, since they're too dumb and clumsy to wield katana. Created by artist Yoshi Isao and on display at Gift Show 2008 in Tokyo, Giz Japan brings us this follow-up to his rendition of Darth Vader as Dark Lord of the Shogun. [Yoshitoku via Giz Japan]

The Last Samurai Bot Would Eat Tom Cruise's Children

Brian Lam — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:31:57 EDT

Here's a Japanese robot named Kiyomori designed to show off fully articulating knees that can bend and expand like human knees. Combined with the articulating pelvis that has 2 degrees of movement, it walks, they claim naturally. I'm not so impressed with its gait, which has been documented before, but note Kiyomori's glowing red eyes. Why does it have a full suit of feudal Japanese armor, a sword and 39 degrees of freedom? I'm not sure I know the answer to these questions, but I'm kind of glad it didn't draw its sword. Oh look, the brochure says it's "Ushering in the new world robot order" and will "spearhead the worldwide development of the new robot civilization." (Not kidding.)

Height: 160CM
Weight 74KG
Degrees of freedom: 39
Head: 2
Arm: 14
Waist: 3
Leg: 14
Walking speed: .5-1KPH
Power: NiH