I think I’ve found the perfect “healthy” [ha, ha] mixer for my preferred summertime tipple, Rum-&-Cola.

Cool Japan drink restricts the body’s ability to absorbs fat when eating
New York Daily News | May 16, 2012
…Kirin Mets Cola…billed as the world’s first health-food cola…contains an indigestible form of dextrin that can be used as a fibre supplement and restricts the body’s ability to absorb fat when eating. The drink has no artificial sweetners but added carbonation…more…

Over the years I’ve mentioned Uniqlo’s qool software offerings like the Uniqlock many times (which is rather funny since I never shop there since their clothing only fits midgets).
Uniqlo’s iPad/iPhone offering, “WAKE UP” with alarm music that is generated according to the weather, time, and day of the week created by Cornelius (Keigo Oyamada) and Yoko Kanno.

The official WAKE UP website…

Also check out the Uniqlo’s, Qlocktwo

For years I have railed about Japan’s humanoid robots that don’t actually have any useful function: Japan hits a dead-end for robots (3Yen | 2010-07-17, as quoted by The Independent newspaper, UK).
Finally, there’s some good news about Japanese robot industry, which normally wastes its efforts on useless anthropromorphic robot love dolls* and silly robo-companion toys**.

Canon eyes robot-only production for cameras
The Associated Press | May 14, 2012—Canon Inc. is moving toward fully automating digital camera production in an effort to cut costs…
…Canon began using the “cell” production method, in which a team of workers or one worker puts together a major part, rather than doing a simple task over and over. In recent years, robots have become so much a part of this cell production, Canon calls it man-machine cell.” “Eventually, human involvement will be phased out…machine-only production will likely be completed in the next few years, perhaps as soon as 2015 …more…

Although this may sound like bad news for Japanese workers, it isn’t. They have been all have been fired as Japanese manufacturers have moved production to move to China and India to eascape damage from the soaring yen. A fully-robotic manufacturing lines would stem the hollowing-out of Japan Inc. as higher paying jobs would be created in the robot R&D, manufacturing and maintance.

In case you haven’t seen Japan’s latest Invention, a tri-lingual Vacuuming Robot, check out the following YouTube of it in action…
.Play…

However, I prefer the twitter comment about it from the parody Daily Yomiuri newspaper…

The perfect gifts for Japanese Mother’s Day—a butt massager or a titty roller…

High-tech, Japanese butt massager…

Japanese Bust Roller…

Here’s some Shinya Aizawa’s gothloli pop…more photos at…

Also see the previous 3Yen gothloli report: Japanese parasols for the ozone depleted (3yen / 2007-05-29)

A couple of weeks ago I found this small plastic boob-headed doll attached to a bottle of green tea as an Omake/gift.
I was wondering what the hell it was and now there an explainable reason for the creepy boob horror (besides “Japan”). It’s the illness of the Japanese illustrator Toshitaka Nabata and his kimokawaii—ugly (kimoi) and cute (kawaii)— book, Kobito Dukan , which literally means “dwarf encyclopedia.”

Kobito Dukan for 3DS will give you dwarf nightmares
PocketGamer.co.UK—
Meet Kobito Dukan: a Japanese 3DS game based on the bestselling ‘Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dwarfs’. Apparently, these dwarfs are all the rage in Japan.…more…

In preparation for long hot summer in Japan without electricity for air conditioning thanks to the Fukushima nuclear meltdown, check out these fishy titty coolers.

AFP — May 8, 2012
TOKYO –Bra with built-in ice packs, a wind chime and a sprig of mint that was unveiled…”Super Cool Bra”, featuring what appears to be a pair of small fish tanks encompassing the breasts….cups are filled with a gel that remains soft and supple even when frozen, giving the wearer “a cool sensation against her skin”, the company said in a statement.
A traditional Japanese wind chime — and a mint leaf — dangle between the cups giving an impression of cooling “by way of its refreshing fragrance and sound”…more...

Here’s an unintentional slice of Japanese life circa 1964 that I captured while testing an iPad app for screenshots:
“LIFE close“.

Caption: Keiko, languid from over-the-counter sleeping pills is lost in another sphere at a jazz kissa/coffee shop in Shinjuku Tokyo (LIFE magazine 1964-10-11).

Today is is my day, Boys’ Day—the Boy’s Festival Tango no Sekku. In politically correct nomenclature it is now called “Children’s Day” kodomo no hi and it is a national holiday. Traditionally on this day, families pray for the health and future success of their sons by hanging up carp streamers and displaying samurai armor, both symbolizing strength, power and success in life.

via dra_love’s flickr |