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“Geek & Cute” Accessories Made From Electronic Parts Are Actually Really Cool

Michelle Lynn Dinh
Mar 30, 2013
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Electronic resisters, condensers, LEDs, and circuit boards are just some of the parts used to make these really cute, yet totally geeky accessories.

Japan
(accessories • cool • cute • earrings • geek • jewelry • weird)

Sega Fans Rejoice! Limited Edition Mega Drive, Saturn, Dreamcast-Themed Laptops on Sale Now!

Philip Kendall
Mar 22, 2013

If you’re a video game fan and in the line for a new laptop computer, it might be your lucky day! Japan’s Sega Store is currently accepting orders for specially designed notebooks designed to look like Sega’s late, great home consoles.

Short of dropping our current machines down the stairs or accidentally pouring coffee over them, we don’t necessarily need one per-se, but the more we gaze upon these photos, the more that little tech-loving devil inside us shouts the same word over and over and pumps gaming nostalgia into our bloodstream. Waaaant!

Japan
(cool • laptop • Sega • tech • video games)

Lawson Convenience Store Goes Dragon Quest X Crazy, Puts In-Game Goodies Up for Grabs

Philip Kendall
Mar 21, 2013

Never shy of running a cool promotional offer or two, Japanese convenience store Lawson has announced that it will be transforming one of its Tokyo outlets into a video game castle to mark the launch of the Nintendo Wii U version of hugely popular game Dragon Quest X. Even better, visitors to the store will be able to bag themselves a whole host of themed goodies and even unlock in-game items during the promotional period.

Japan
(convenience store • cool • Dragon Quest • Lawson • video game)

One Tool, A Million Uses: Chinese Army’s Fantastic “All-Purpose Shovel” 【Video】

Philip Kendall
Mar 20, 2013

Ordinarily, we wouldn’t even bother burning the calories required to click the link when presented with a video titled “Chinese Military Shovel” (especially when it means risking seeing that god-awful Gundam pachinko ad again). But after being recommended it by our Japanese sister site RocketNews24 Japan, we sat down to watch a demonstration of how China’s bravest men make the most of a tool that few of us would think of using for anything more than digging a hole in the ground or patting the tops of sandcastles flat with.

As it turns out, this is one handy little tool to have, with the Chinese military demonstrating some 24 different uses for it in this peculiar video. And we thought Swiss Army knives were versatile…

China, Internet
(army • cool • tech • video)

Mixing Business with Pleasure: Take Your Nerdiness to Work with the Itasuit!

Philip Kendall
Mar 20, 2013

Who says the office is no place for scantily-clad girls with blue hair? Now you can look smart and professional while staying true to your animé roots with the latest in clothing for discerning otaku- the itasuit!

Japan
(clothes • cool • fashion • nerdy • otaku)

Japanese Resort Announces New Studio Ghibli Diorama Exhibition

Philip Kendall
Mar 20, 2013

Fans of Studio Ghibli’s work who are unable to make it as far north as the Ghbili Museum in Tokyo will no doubt be excited to hear that the Laguna Gamagori Resort in Aichi Prefecture has announced that it will host a special Ghibli diorama exhibition within its amusement park from now until the beginning of March next year.

Japan
(animation • cool • exhibit • model • Studio Ghibli)

Ginza’s David Bowie Café Now Open and in Full Funky Swing

Philip Kendall
Mar 19, 2013

As reported here on RocketNews24, a special, limited-time-only café in honour of legendary British rock star David Bowie opened on March 18 this year. Keen to see if the real thing was as far out as the earlier press release, our reporter headed down to Ginza, Tokyo to check it out.

Japan
(cool • culture • David Bowie cafe • music • open)

Auntie Power: Japan’s Older Women Form “Obachan” Party

Jessica
Mar 16, 2013

In Japanese, obachan is a word that means aunt, but is sometimes used to refer to a middle-aged or elderly woman in a derogatory way. There is no good translation in English, but the image is of an eccentric, loud, irritating busybody long past youth or beauty. Not many women would choose to apply this word to themselves, but a new political party has emerged out of Osaka that is proudly claiming ownership of the word and attempting to reform the image of Japan’s obachans. We went to find out more about this All Japan Obasan Party. Read More

Japan
(cool • culture • obachan • politics)

This Bubble Wrap iPhone Case Will Keep You Satisfied 365 Days a Year

Philip Kendall
Mar 15, 2013

If you’re one of those people who just can’t get enough of popping bubble wrap, you may want to steers clear of this iPhone 5 case from Japanese mobile phone accessory experts Strapya. As well as keeping your smart phone safe from everyday bumps and scratches, it also provides the user with row after row of never-ending bubbles to be “popped”.

Japan
(bubble wrap • cool • iPhone 5 • tech)

Gummy Me! The Perfect Gift for White Day

Philip Kendall
Mar 14, 2013

With 3-D printers and scanners becoming ever more affordable, it’s great to see creatives turning their previously unrealised ideas into reality. Not wanting to be outdone by the face-shaped Valentine’s Day chocolates doled out by Japan’s ladies this Valentine’s Day, the clever people at coffee house and creative workshop FabCafe in Tokyo have come up with the perfect gift for men to give this White Day: personalized gummy men.

Japan
(cool • modelling • tech • white day)

Panda Love: Ueno Zoo Invites Animal Lovers to Watch Its Rare Bears Get It On

Philip Kendall
Mar 13, 2013

In a somewhat unusual move yesterday, Japan’s Ueno Zoo released a video on its official website of its two pandas, Shin Shin and Ri Ri, copulating in their enclosure.

Rest assured that neither smooth jazz nor scented candles were involved in the incident and that this article is perfectly safe to be read at work.

Japan
(cool • mating • panda • Ueno)

Human Spambot: Turning Junkmail Delivery into a Martial Art 【Video】

Philip Kendall
Mar 13, 2013

Ever wondered who those cheeky elves are who slip pizza menus, coupons and ads for home delivery sexy times in your mailbox or through your door while you’re out? They’re in and out in a flash, usually lugging enormous stacks of paper with them, searching for slots to post material like a mother bird on a caffeine high feeding her young. Little did we know, though, that there are people out there in this crazy world we live in who have delivered so many pamphlets in their time that they’re positively black belts in the secret art of putting things into holes.

SE Asia
(cool • Singapore • spam • video)

Get Your Dragon Ball Hair Fries at a Mini Stop Store Near You!

Philip Kendall
Mar 12, 2013

In perhaps the most genius use of french fries we’ve seen in years, Japanese convenience store chain Mini Stop has begun selling a number of Dragon Ball-themed sweets and fried foods as part of a promotion for upcoming movie Dragon Ball Z: Battle of the Gods.

Japan
(cool • Dragonball • food • Mini Stop)

Nintendo Announces Two New Colours of 3DS XL for Japan

Philip Kendall
Mar 12, 2013

Want! Okay, so it’s the same old hardware that we know and love, but these Japan exclusive (so far!) 3DS LL colours are very cool indeed.

Japan
(3DS • cool • new color • nintendo • tech)

Panasonic Unveils New Ultra Slim “Year-Round” Room Fan

Philip Kendall
Mar 12, 2013

Hot on the heels of Dyson with its bladeless electric fan technology, Japan’s Panasonic has unveiled its new low power “Slim Fan” for year-round use. And for a device designed primarily to shift air around the room, it’s pretty sexy.

Japan
(cool • fan • Panasonic • tech)

New Rising Barrier System for Japan’s Stations

Philip Kendall
Mar 12, 2013

A new barrier that rises and falls with trains’ arrival and departure is due to be trialed at a busy commuter station this year, a report from Japan’s IT Media has said.

Japan
(cool • tech • trains)

Cave Story Developer Unveils Newest Game at Indie Event in Kyoto【Video】

Philip Kendall
Mar 11, 2013

Daisuke Amaya, the creator of critically acclaimed platform adventure game Dōkutsu Monogatari (Cave Story in the west) announced on Saturday at the Kyoto-held indie developer event BitSummit that his new game Gero Blaster would be arriving this May.

Japan
(Cave Story • cool • Gero Blaster • tech • video games)

Domino’s Pizza Japan Teams Up with Hatsune Miku, Releases Fantastic Cringeworthy Video

Philip Kendall
Mar 8, 2013

Domino’s Pizza stepped things up a gear yesterday when it announced that it is partnering with digital pop idol Hatsune Miku for its latest promotional campaign. As well as allowing them to order pizzas without actually having to speak to anyone, the new Domino’s Pizza feat. Hatsune Miku app for iPhone lets customers enjoy private performances from the singing humanoid by pointing the iPhone’s camera at special app-friendly pizza boxes.

Perhaps even better than the campaign itself, though, is the cheesy video that Domino’s launched yesterday to introduce the app, which features company president Scott Oellkers doing his best to look excited about having his photo taken with the teal-haired star. Corporate enthusiasm aplenty after the break.

Japan
(cool • dominos pizza • funny • Hatsune Miku • video)

Floor Space Oddity: David Bowie Café to Open in Ginza for Month of March

Master Blaster
Mar 7, 2013

Now that everyone has probably sobered up from last year’s Rolling Stones and Suntory collaboration, a new rock legend is bringing a slightly classier offering to Japan.

For just a few weeks of March, in Ginza, Tokyo you can enjoy the sights, sounds, and tastes of the Thin White Duke – David Bowie.

To promote The Next Day – his first album in 10 years – Sony will be converting part of their building into the David Bowie Café with a special selection of food and décor.

Japan
(cool • David Bowie • food • music)

Tokyo Store Launches Concierge Service to Help Clueless Men Shopping for their Girlfriends

Philip Kendall
Mar 7, 2013

With White Day little over a week away, thousands of men in Japan are currently feeling the heat. Having received gifts from their loved ones on Valentine’s Day, it’s now time to return the favour by buying their sweetheart something that simultaneously says “thank you” while acting as a token of their affections.

But when most men think of the words “great gift”, they often envisage things like video games or iPad-controlled helicopters, and the chances of such items going down well with their wives or girlfriends are slim to none.

Thankfully, help is at hand! Available at Tokyo’s Tokyu Hands department store, the White Day Concierge service is designed to help male shoppers on the hunt for a romantic gift find something that their other half may actually like, rather than just a female Tenga toy with a ribbon tied around it and the promise of a shoulder rub.