Summers across Japan keep hitting harder, with streets and work sites turning into open-air ovens. Workers on construction crews, factory floors, and outdoor events face rising risks of heat exhaustion every year. One response from a pair of Japanese companies is a full-size cooling booth you step into, sit down, and let chill the heat right out of your body.
Nissan launched the fourth-generation Elgrand minivan in Japan on July 16. Advance orders already topped 6,000 units before sales began, a strong signal that buyers want something fresher than the long-running previous model. The new version brings a hybrid powertrain, noticeably larger dimensions, and a cabin focused on making long drives feel less tiring for everyone on board.
Back in 1988 most people bought a television and a game console as two separate purchases. NEC tried something different. The company released a 15-inch color CRT monitor that already contained a complete PC Engine console built into its lower section. Called the PC-KD863G, it launched on September 27 for 138,000 yen, a serious sum at the time that placed it well above the cost of a regular PC Engine plus a decent television.
Japan approached the October 22, 2009 launch of Windows 7 with typical enthusiasm for new technology and a flair for memorable promotions. In select stores, buyers encountered something far more unusual than posters or demo kiosks. A standard roll of toilet paper carried the Windows 7 name and a full rundown of its improvements directly on the sheets.
Japan Airlines is testing humanoid robots for baggage and cargo jobs at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport this month, with a small group of them working alongside ground crew for the first time. Unitree builds the machines under the name G1, and they’re modest, standing around four feet tall and weighing little over seventy pounds. They can reach speeds of 4.4 miles per hour, but they can only run for two hours before needing to be recharged. They’re also small enough to fit into tight spaces around planes that larger machines cannot reach.
Casio built its name with watches and calculators, but it has now released a standalone sampler that fits neatly in one hand and encourages musicians of all skill levels to get started right away. Weighing just 315 grams without batteries, the SXC-1 feels robust and comfortable in the hand.
The just released Godzilla Minus Zero teaser contains a nice surprise near the end. There’s Godzilla, looking massive and standing tall next to the Statue of Liberty, his frame nicely set against the New York skyline as he prepares to delve deeper into the city. The story begins in 1949, two years after the events in the previous film.
Years of steady usage and exposure to the elements have taken a toll on Japanese railway stations, making replacement a headache. Finding competent contractors is difficult, and construction wages are high. Serendix collaborated with ABB to help JR West restore a historic wooden shelter from 1948 at a station in Wakayama Prefecture. This site, a true relic, was only frequented by around 270 visitors every day in a tiny coastal village near Arida that few people had ever heard of.
The Casio S100X Japanese Lacquer Edition is covered in layers of traditional Japanese lacquer from top to bottom, right down to the borders. The end result is a deep, glossy black surface with a hint of red tones peeking out along the edges. This shining finish is created by meticulously collecting sap from lacquer trees and applying it with a centuries-old technique that has been perfected.
Photo credit: Onocom
O House, finished in late 2025 within Kurihara, Miyagi Prefecture, is a 50-square-meter, 3D-printed two-story home. The 31-square-meter ground floor holds a master bedroom and bathroom, while the 19-square-meter upper level hosts the kitchen, dining, and living areas. Curved walls rise 7 meters, stacked like bricks and set half a meter below ground for stability, while skylights let natural light pour into every corner.