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Check out these great little tin paraphernalia cases that look like Japanese cell phones. They're modeled after real existing handsets to scale, and when you open them up, there are two little compartments to put pencils, gum, coins, etc. in. The clamshell version even has a little compact mirror.
Continue reading "Pencil Case Looks Like A Japanese Cell Phone" »
Last week, I announced a contest where you could win a Tokyoflash watch by imagining what one of their watches would do in an alternate universe. We got over 100 responses, and the guys at Tokyoflash have chosen their three faves--and given all you guys a 1,100 yen ($11) discount on anything! Read to end for more details...and here are our three winners:
Helen Chang: Tokyoflash Kyokusen: Stupidity Meter
When the wearer is thinking of or about to do something incredibly stupid the meter on the watch will light up and the user will experience a painful electric shock.
Continue reading "Tokyoflash Contest Winners & Discount Code " »
A Japanese gravestone manufacturer is going to sell stones with QR codes on them. QR codes are able to store all kinds of info about the deceased—this is a great way to memorialize them at length without taking up too much space on the stone or making it look too wordy. The Underwire reports:
In the future, Ishi no Koe hopes to use this technology to develop a new way to pay respect to the dead that wouldn't require you to actually be at the cemetery in person. The company sees this as an alternative especially fitting for today’s younger generation.
This unique pen with LED lights in it is custom-designed by Hideki, the God of pen-twirling, for optimal finger-spinning performance. There are six different colors and styles—cyber, sonic, metal, science, beat, and sport, depending on what kind of pen-twirler you are.
Product page with video (Japanese)
In 2008, Chronicle published my book: Urawaza: Secret Everyday Tips and Tricks from Japan.
I am also the founder of The Tofu Project, a boutique program that helps Japanese entrepreneurs and creators think deeper, tell better stories, and go out into the world in a much bigger way. We work with companies like Mixi, Japan Airlines, and Salesforce.com.
Sometimes I try to explain Japanese culture on CNN, BBC, CBC, WSJ, ABC (so many acronyms!) or in person at places like the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan, ETech, and Ignite!
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Send tips to mango [at] tokyomango [dot] com
