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Chainsaw robots helping keep trains running safely in east Japan [Video]

• Casey Baseel
  Oct 25, 2026
• Tweet

Chainsaw-wielding robots prove they can contribute to human mobility in ways other than people running away from them in terror.

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• Japan
• (awesome • cool • East Japan Railway Company • JR East • robots • technology • trains • video)

Japan’s mission to Martian moon and back underway

• Master Blaster
  Oct 24, 2026

This mission is expected to be the first-ever Martian moon landing.

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• Japan
• (Mars • Martian Moons eXploration • MMX • Phobos • sample missions • science • space travel • technology)

Tiny no-screen digital camera gives us near-instant nostalgia by making us wait to see our pics

• Casey Baseel
  Oct 20, 2026

Kenko Tokina makes us think about our shots and feel extra emotion when we finally see how they turned out.

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• Japan
• (cameras • clever • COK • cool • digital cameras • Go Hatori • nostalgia • photography • SNJO • technology)

Tokyo government announces removal of all public phones from city’s Toei subway stations

• Casey Baseel
  Oct 7, 2026

Decision wasn’t made by the transportation bureau, though.

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• Japan
• (COK • Japan travel • pay phones • phones • public phones • stations • Subway • technology • Toei Subway • Tokyo • Tokyo subway • tourism • travel)

Robot bartender bar opening in Kyoto, and no, they’re not controlled by AI

• Casey Baseel
  Sep 28, 2026

Human hearts and minds will be at the core of the OrySNACK Kyoto experience.

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• Japan
• (bars • cool • drinks • Japan travel • Kyoto • OriHime • Ory Labs • restaurants • robots • society • technology • tourism • travel)

Japan’s Cell Phone Memory Restart event reunites users with old photos and past selves

• Casey Baseel
  Sep 26, 2026

A solution for when your trips down memory lane are blocked by a phone that won’t turn on or hold a charge.

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• Japan
• (cell phones • COK • cool • KDDI • Natsuno Futon • phones • retro • retro tech • smartphone • SNJO • technology)

“Lineup” begins for iPhone18 in Tokyo

• Master Blaster
  Sep 18, 2026

It’s more of a pointup than a lineup though.

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• Japan
• (Butch • COK • crazy • funny • iPhone • iPhone 18 • line-up • Mr. Sato • Omotesando • phones • Smartphones • SNJO • Softbank • technology • weird)

Does Tokyo need self-driving taxis? Waymo thinks so, plans to launch fleet soon

• Casey Baseel
  Sep 17, 2026

It’s hard to see why Tokyoites would prefer self-driving cabs to regular ones, but that might not be what Waymo is betting on.

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• Japan
• (cars • COK • Japan travel • Nihon Kotsu • self driving cars • self-driving • self-driving taxis • taxis • technology • tourism • transportation • travel • Waymo)

TeamLab is building a new Tokyo museum, and it’s the digital art group’s biggest ever

• Casey Baseel
  Sep 12, 2026

As TeamLab’s fame continues to grow, so too does the size of its art museums.

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• Japan
• (art • COK • cool • digital art • Japan travel • museums • Team Lab • TeamLab • technology • tourism • travel)

Google’s first Google Store outside the U.S. is now open in Tokyo

• Casey Baseel
  Aug 14, 2026

But it’s not in electronics neighborhood Akihabara that Google has chosen to set up shop.

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• Japan
• (Google • Google Store • Harajuku • Omotesando • phones • Smartphones • technology)

Japanese convenience store Lawson now has stir-fried noodle-cooking robot chefs

• Casey Baseel
  Aug 7, 2026

Lawson expands the territory of its robo chefs as they expand their menus.

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• Japan
• (convenience stores • cooking • food • Japanese convenience stores • Lawson • Noodles • robots • technology • yakisoba)

Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat

• Casey Baseel
  Aug 2, 2026

These dress shirts are sure to have fans.

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• Japan
• (Air conditioning • air-conditioned clothes • clever • cool • dress shirts • fashion • gadgets • heat • shirts • technology • Yofuku no Aoyama)

Pachinko industry rebounds on convenience and innovation, but smaller parlors struggle to keep up

• Elliot Hale
  Jul 29, 2026

No more heavy ball baskets or stacks of cash, but the same ol’ sensory rush with a modern flair.

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• Japan
• (business • COK • culture • entertainment • gambling • pachinko • pachinko machines • pachinko parlors • society • technology)

Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines

• Oona McGee
  Jul 18, 2026

Could this be the way of the future as people around the world adapt to rising temperatures?

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• Japan
• (cool • crazy • Do Hiemon Box • fridges • heatstroke • human refrigerator • Japanese vending machines • news • summer • technology • vending machines)

Japanese train company brings back beloved “patapata” departure board…with a clever digital twist

• Oona McGee
  Jul 4, 2026

Railway fans are full of praise for this heartwarming display of thoughtful customer service.

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• Japan
• (departure board • Japanese train stations • Japanese trains • kawasaki • Keikyu • patapata • retro • split-flap display • stations • technology • train • train station • train stations • trains • video)

Japan’s new pettably fuzzy cat-shaped earbud chargers meow to let you know their status[Video]

• Casey Baseel
  Jul 1, 2026

Neko also has a three-minute purr mode for relaxing to.

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• Japan
• (animals • cats • cute • earbuds • earphones • technology • video)

Two of Kyoto’s famous temples tackle streetside trash with solar-powered trash cans

• Elliot Hale
  Jun 13, 2026

Bringing futuristic solutions to historic streets.

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• Japan
• (COK • eco-friendly • Japan travel • Kyoto • overtourism • public trash cans • SmaGO • technology • tourism • trash cans • travel)

We turn to a shady Amazon Japan gadget to try to stop Tokyo crows from stealing our hangers

• Casey Baseel
  May 7, 2026

Man and machine versus nature.

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• Japan
• (Amazon • Amazon Japan • Amazon low-rated • animals • COK • crazy • crows • funny • gadgets • SNJO • technology • weird • Yuichiro Wasai)

Japanese trains in Sapporo might be better than those in Tokyo, thanks to one special feature

• Oona McGee
  Apr 12, 2026

Sure, Tokyo has fancy digital signage, but Sapporo has a better old-school idea.

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• Japan
• (Hokkaido • Sapporo • subways • technology • Tokyo Metro • tourism • trains • travel)

How much is Amazon Japan’s lowest-rated currency calculator worth in yen?

• Master Blaster
  Mar 20, 2026

Some things have an incalculable value.

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• Japan
• (Amazon Japan • Amazon lowest-rated • calculators • COK • foreign currency • funny • Masanuki Sunakoma • shopping • SNJO • technology • traveling • weird)

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• Recent Posts

  • Thief mails 460 million-yen watch back to Tokyo store he stole it from, says “I’m sorry”
  • This is Japan’s best cycling course, but is it fun for bicycling beginners too?
  • Mr. Sato searches for the mysterious new wall of fortune in Tokyo
  • Starbucks Japan releases now Tokyo Reserve Roastery Christmas drinkware collection [Photos]
  • Japanese government announces criteria for creating backup capital of Japan

• MOST POPULAR

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  • Yearly

  Today

  1. Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
  2. Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
  3. Starbucks Japan releases now Tokyo Reserve Roastery Christmas drinkware collection [Photos]
  4. Japanese government announces criteria for creating backup capital of Japan
  5. Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
  6. This hot spring near Osaka’s Kansai Airport resolves the pick-two-out-of-three bathhouse dilemma
  7. Mr. Sato searches for the mysterious new wall of fortune in Tokyo
  8. Japan’s mini Shikoku Pilgrimage walking tour left us feeling immensely satisfied
  9. Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
  10. Tokyo Skytree set to offer breathtaking Diamond Fuji natural phenomenon view this month

  Weekly

  1. Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
  2. Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
  3. Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods for 2026, with exclusive holiday surprises
  4. Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
  5. Life-size Monster Hunter dragon statues to be built at Japanese shopping mall
  6. Studio Ghibli homeware brand’s faux oil lamp brings light, smiles, and Kiki’s Jiji to your home
  7. Modern exosuits are opening up ancient Japanese castle climbs to everyone
  8. Evangelion announces collaboration with Hard Rock Cafe
  9. Starbucks Japan releases “Let’s Par-TEA!” Frappuccino and drinks for the holiday season
  10. Cold Stone is closing its final branch in all of east Japan, but it’s going down singing

  Monthly

  1. Pokémon Company announces first-ever permanent Pokémon store to open outside Asia
  2. Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
  3. What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?
  4. Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
  5. Chainsaw robots helping keep trains running safely in east Japan [Video]
  6. New Studio Ghibli anime gets extended run at the only cinema in Japan where it’s being shown
  7. Tokyo train station will play Godzilla theme song as new departure melody
  8. Osaka’s famous Glico Running Man will be removed and replaced with a new-look sign
  9. Studio Ghibli creates illustrated Kyoto sightseeing map, available at any 7-Eleven Japan store
  10. Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect

  Yearly

  1. Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
  2. Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
  3. Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
  4. Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
  5. Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
  6. Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
  7. Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
  8. Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
  9. Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
  10. Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa

• RECOMMENDED STORIES

  • This hot spring near Osaka’s Kansai Airport resolves the pick-two-out-of-three bathhouse dilemma
  • Mr. Sato searches for the mysterious new wall of fortune in Tokyo
  • Japan’s mini Shikoku Pilgrimage walking tour left us feeling immensely satisfied
  • Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
  • Tokyo Skytree set to offer breathtaking Diamond Fuji natural phenomenon view this month
  • Starbucks Japan invites us to par-tea with its new Earl Gray Frappuccino [Taste test]
  • This is Japan’s best cycling course, but is it fun for bicycling beginners too?
  • This semi-secret, totally free footbath in downtown Tokyo is completely awesome
  • Evangelion announces collaboration with Hard Rock Cafe
  • Life-size Monster Hunter dragon statues to be built at Japanese shopping mall
  • Thief mails 460 million-yen watch back to Tokyo store he stole it from, says “I’m sorry”
  • Pokémon guitars from Fender Japan come with 8-bit sound mode for covering retro game music [Vid]
  • Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods for 2026, with exclusive holiday surprises
  • Osaka’s famous Glico Running Man will be removed and replaced with a new-look sign

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• • Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
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