Cheap Snacks are back!!!

Dagashiya, small mom and pop stores, have almost vanished with the rise of convenient stores all over Japan. Some may still remember those stores where you spend your childhood buying cheap candy from an old lady or gentleman. Well they are making a comeback thanks to retro trends in Japan.



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Hair in Japan!!!

Shampoo advertising in Japan often features blond foreign women, but now Japanese cosmetics giant Shiseido has launched a new campaign with the slogan "Japanese women are beautiful". Advertisers believe that this will give Japanese women more confidence and see local models as rolemodels instead of trying to look overseas.

This can have a significant impact of the advertising scene in Japan. Shiseidos Tsubaki emerged No. 1 in shampoo sale rankings, a victory for the Tokyo-based company used to trailing Unilever, P&G and Japanese rival Kao Corp.

Well, I think many of us have know this secret for a long time. Japanese women are beautiful!



Courtesy of Shiseido

A sweet battery by Sony!!!

Sony has developed a new battery that runs on glucose (sugar) extracted from grape juice and sport drinks.

The battery is capable of breaking down the glucose and generate 50mW of power, enough for a Mp3 player and a set of small speakers.

This new Bio-Battery is pretty cool, but still a little too big in my opinion. It will be interesting, once they can reduce it to a portable size or even integrate it into mp3 or CD players.



Courtesy of Sony

If you want to watch the click here Japanese

A sweet battery by Sony.

A new Internet Japanese style!!!

Communications minister Yoshihide Suga said Japan will start researching and developing technology for a new generation of network to replace the Internet.

It is planned to get this technology ready for 2020 and a variety of organizations including businesses, academia and the government will be involved in the process.
They are trying to create a technology that is faster and less susceptible to virus and breakdowns.

It sounds like an attempt to revolutionize the market again and establish Japan as the technology leader. I just wonder how far other countries can go in the next 12 years. Will their idea be that good once we get to 2020?

Courtesy of Japan Times

Cupnoodle in a can!!!

If you love Ramen noodles, then you might have had cup noodles more then once. In Japan they have taken it now a step further, offering "Ramen in the can" that can be bought in vending machines. Yes, vending machines!

It seems like in Japan you can get everything in vending machines. I personally haven't tried these noodles in a can yet, but the idea seems good. Any of you have tried it?

It makes you wonder what else is going to be available in vending machines.



Courtesy of Mainichi News

Drunk driving - no thank you!!!

Nissan has developed a new concept car with breathalyzer-like detection systems to lower the number of drunk drivers and accidents.

The alcohol-detection sensors check odor, sweat and driver awareness, issuing a voice alert from the navigation system and locking up the ignition if necessary, basically the car won't let you drive if you are drunk. I bet many parents would love this technology in their kids car, or maybe it is the other way around.

Nissan says that it expects to offer this technology for mainstream markets in the next few years. Check out the video.

Project your mood!!!

Feeling exhausted after a long day? If yes, the new projector UMINE by Takara Tomy might be the right thing for you. This LED projector displays various "atmospheres" as ocean, beach, forest, etc. To make the experience even better you can connect it to an audio player and add relaxing sounds.

Sounds good, doesn't it. I wonder what else can be projected?



Courtesy of Akihabaranews

Brush and rinse - All in one!!!

Forget about using your hands to get water and then rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth. The Brush and Rinse toothbrush allows you to do both. Its' design allows you to first brush your teeth and then just flip it and it redirects the flow of water up to your mouth. Smart isn't it? This product can't be found yet in department stores as it's only a prototype at the moment. If you really need to have one, $1750 will get you one (There are only 27 on the whole planet). For the creative ones, I guess you can use it to consume a beverage as well, just pull it out in a bar. I am sure you will get some attention.




Courtesy of Ubergizmo

Bug Capsule!!!

Children in Japan seem to have a special fascination for bugs. They are mini scientist that can teach even many adults about insects. Rhinoceros bettles are common pets and kids spend time searching for them in nature. To make things easier BANDAI has launched environmentally friendly bug copies that come in "gachapon" capsules. A variety of beetle copies can be purchased at vending machines for ¥200. And believe it or not, the replicas are made of biodegradable biomass chips.

So if you don't live near any forest or piece of nature, with these replicas, your child can still be a proud owner of a giant bettle.



Courtesy of Bandai