Qoobo is basically a headless robotic pet pillow that consists of a wagging tail, and it could be the strangest gadget to come from Japan as of yet. Simply start petting the fake cat pillow, and it will start wagging its tail in response. An internal accelerometer detects the petting motion, enabling it to wag and curl its tail all on its own. Continue reading for another hands-on video, more information, and the Kickstarter page.
Photo credit: Engadget
The HTC VIVE system is cool enough by itself, but pair it with Mario Kart VR? You’ve got an arcade racing game taken to the next level. It can be played at Shinjuku’s Bandai Namco VR Zone arcade and costs $39 USD per ticket, which lets you choose between four VR experiences, one of which is Mario Kart GP VR. The car boasts a force-feedback steering wheel, and the entire car rocks with the gameplay, complete with wind effects. Continue reading for two more gameplay videos and information.
Henn-na Hotel may appear to be some kind of theme park at first glance, but it’s a real place that you can book for just $80 per night in Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan. When guests check in, they’re helped by a well dressed dinosaur that says, “If you want to check in, push one [on the touch screen.” An automated trolley delivers your luggage to the room, while a small robot answers questions about the current time or weather. The temperature of the room is kept comfortable with technology that detects body heat, and guests can even call for robotic room service using a tablet instead of a phone. Click here to view the first image in today’s viral picture gallery. Continue reading for the five most popular viral videos today, including one of the iPhone 8 being pit against the Samsung Galaxy S8 in a salt water test.
For those who don’t already know, Gundam is basically a science fiction media franchise created by Sunrise that features giant robots (mecha) with mobile suits. This fanatic in Japan was able to pick up what could quite possibly be the world’s first and only Gundam scooter for a mere $4,607 from Yahoo Auctions. Continue reading for another image and more information.
Yes, Aoshima, also known as Cat Island, is a real-life island in Ehime Prefecture, Japan, and no optical illusion. As the name suggests, it’s best known for its large number of feline residents. The cats here outnumber humans by a ratio of approximately 6:1, and they were first introduced on ships in the area, but remained on the island and vastly repopulated. Continue reading for another video and more pictures.
Developed by a Japanese company, the all-electric Aspark hypercar claims that it will become the quickest accelerating vehicle on the market, capable of accelerating from 0-62mph in under 2 seconds. While details about its electric powertrain are sparse, drive could be sent to all four wheels, with the motors generating in excess of 1,000 hp. Other features include: a lightweight carbon fiber body and sleek gullwing doors. The vehicle will make its official debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next week. Click here to view the first image in this week’s geek life gallery. Continue reading for a viral video of Despacito being played on two calculators.
Lulu Hashimoto is touted as the “world’s first living doll fashion model,” and it takes cosplay to the next level. It consists of a body suit, doll head mask, a wig and stockings patterned, complete with doll-like joints. This entity was created by 23-year-old fashion designer Hitomi Komaki, who got the idea for a real-life doll after seeing the hyper-realistic doll heads made by Nukopan, a creative team in Japan. Continue reading for another video, more pictures and information.
Photo credit: Ozumii via Bored Panda
Philippines-based digital artist Ozumii Wizard combines the best of fast food mascots with the world of anime in his latest series. He turns characters like KFC’s Colonel Sanders, McDonald’s Ronald McDonald, Starbucks’ twin-tailed Siren mermaid, and even Wendy’s mascot into surreal creations. Continue reading for more pictures.
Yasuhito Teshima created White Jewel strawberries four years ago, on his farm in Japan’s Saga Prefecture, by cross-breeding different types of strawberries and perfecting his growing technique in order to create a large strawberry with white flesh and skin. One important factor is reducing exposure to sunlight to slow decrease the level of anthocyanin, the natural chemical that gives fruits and vegetables their color. Currently, only 10% of his crop turn out white, with the rest featuring red patches. Continue reading for another video and more information.
Styrofoam is great for many things, including these earthquake-proof homes in Japan. Each piece is glued together to create a dome that weighs around 80kg, and the finished product can be used as permanent residences, guesthouses or even small hotels in rural areas.