Another day, another bizarre gadget from Japan, and this time, it’s Thanko’s Agonose Arm. It functions exactly as it sounds: an arm with a tilting flat hand on one end, while the bottom clamps to your desk. The adjustable wrist (height included) can be angled to support either your chin or cheek, depending on how you feel. Click here to view more strange gadgets from Japan. Continue reading for more pictures and information about the Agonose Arm.
H/T: Bored Panda
Satoshi Tomizu is a skilled glass artist from Japan that puts the universe in tiny eyeball-sized glass marbles for his “Space Glass” series. He adds air bubbles, opals, flakes of gold as well as other decorative pieces to transform simple glass into a scene that’s out of this world. As you can probably guess by just looking at the pieces, his work has won several international awards. Continue reading for another video and more pictures.
Selfie sticks are one thing, but a man who goes by “Mansooon” online decided that they were a bit too awkward to use. So, he decided to create a selfie arm, complete with a super long-sleeved shirt. The contraption basically consists of two selfie stick that have been glued to plastic hands. It looks somewhat amusing to use during special occasions, like Halloween, but on a day-to-day basis, we’d far prefer the normal version. Continue reading for more pictures.
Scientists in Japan have created glass that is nearly as strong as steel, and this new material, that is so resistant to shattering, has thousands of applications, such as smartphones. Alumina, an oxide of aluminum, is the substance used in creating the durable glass, mixed with silicon dioxide, resulting in a much stronger pane of glass. The research team expressed the chemical components into the air, where they synthesized and created a transparent pane of nearly unbreakable glass. Continue reading for an image of the material and more information.
Photo credit: Kotaku
In the Pokemon games, the Gym is where players go to train their Pocket Monsters, and the Pokemon Expo Gym is where you can shop and interact with Pokemon. Now, there’s a real-life Pokemon Expo Gym in Osaka, Japan, which is similar to Pokemon Center stores in that it offers a whole host of things to buy, along with real exhibits in which you can interact and talk with monsters. Interactive areas include: Charzard’s Battle Colosuem, Zoroark’s Somewhat Sinister Dojo, Machamp’s First Aid Center, Pokemon Battle Bowling, and more. Click here to view the first image in this week’s funny Facebook status updates gallery. Continue reading for a viral video of a nightmare fuel father and daughter costume duo.
Photo credit: Bored Panda
A kotatsu is basically a low, wooden table frame covered by a futon, or heavy blanket, upon which a table top sits. Underneath is a heat source, often built into the table itself. They are used almost exclusively in Japan, although similar devices are used elsewhere. The modern style of kotatsu consists of a table with an electric heater attached to the underside of the table. This evolved from a clay pot with hot coals placed under a table. The kotatsu usually is set on a thin futon, like a throw rug. A second, thicker futon is placed over the kotatsu table, above which the tabletop is placed. The electric heater attached to the underside of the table heats the space under the comforter. Continue reading for more pictures, another video and additional information.
Takabisha, which means “high-handed” in English, is a Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter steel roller coaster located at the Fuji-Q Highland theme park in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan. It’s famous for having a drop angle of 121°, making it the steepest coaster in the world. The 3,300-foot ride begins with a sudden drop into pitch black darkness before entering a slow heartline roll. In just two seconds, the car is launched by linear motors down a 207-foot long tunnel to a speed of 62mph. It then exits out of the station building and directly into a large inverted top hat. Continue reading for two more videos and additional information.
No, this isn’t a prank or optical illusion, but rather a real military vehicle designed to look like a giant moving bush. It’s not one the cutting edge of technology, but we can picture several scenarios in which such a vehicle may come in handy, as long as the soldiers inside do not peek too far over the brush. “By the looks of it, it’s some sort of segmented, camouflaged personnel carrier. Beyond that, we know nothing about this strange beast,” according to Digg. Continue reading for a video on Japan’s military expansion.
Even if you buy the right size, many shoes do not fit perfectly, that is unless…you’re wearing Furoshiki. Vibram, best known for their military footwear, has come up with an ingenious solution that’s based on Furoshiki, the traditional Japanese wrapping cloth used for transporting goods – first used in the Edo period to carry clothing while at the public baths. They have no laces, but rather wrap directly around your feet, and are secured by velcro strips. Continue reading for more pictures and information.
Photo credit: Shinji Nakaba
Tokyo-based jewelry designer Shinji Nakaba has been fine tuning his skills since 1974, and everything he creates is wearable, including these tiny skulls carved from real pearls. “I just want to bring brand new life to something that has no value. I use not only precious metals and stones, but also everyday things, such as aluminum beer cans, plastic bottle, or even garbage,” said Nakaba. Continue reading to see more examples of how he used these skulls to create wearable jewelry.