Ok, I admit it— I hate Japanese ramen since I was forced to subsist on it all during my university days. Now, with this creepy ramen-bot I have a real reason to hate it.
Two-minute ramen via robot July 3, 2009 - Mainichi Shimbun (machine translation)
In Japan’s Minami Alps of Yamanashi comes the “Momozono Ramen Robot” started operation last November causes a topic… The robot was handicrafted by the ramen restaurant owner Tadashi Uchida who spent about a total of 20 million yen creating the device..more…
And if that doesn’t make you smile, check out the Smile-Bot that enforces happy employees on the rails…
Japanese railway to make workers take ‘Smile Scan’ test Mainichi News, July 4, 2009—Keihin Electric Express Railway Co. has introduced a “Smile Scan” system to evaluate the grins of its station staff…more...
Living in Japan sometimes is like living in a campy science fiction program–In this case “Thrall Collars” for Japanese factory slaves….
Wearable Sensors Help Analyze Behaviors of Factory Workers July 3, 2009 - Nikkei Tech-On! – DSS Co Ltd, a Japanese firm that edits and processes digital maps based on survey data, started a service of recording the actions of factory workers for long hours and visualize them.
The tools used for collecting the data are (1) the “ankle sensor” to be attached to the leg of a worker for recording his or her movement, (2) the “milestone,” which will be installed in various places in the plant to know how long workers stay there and (3) the “small video camera” to be put in the chest pocket of the worker to record his or her action. …more…
daylife.com - July 3, 2009… hyper rescue robot “T-53 Enryu”, developed by Japanese robot venture Tmsuk… Kitakyushu Fire Department deployed the 2.8-meter tall, three-ton robot which can be operated manually by a person aboard it as well as by remote control to lift heavy objects with its two arms.
Fuji circuit withdraws from F1, report says Agencies | 2009-July-2 —Toyota-owned Fuji International Speedway is reportedly planning to pull out of hosting the 2010 Japanese Formula One Grand Prix…
…Toyota has been hit by the global economic downturn….the current fiscal year through March 2010 to be its worst ever financially, forecasting a net loss of US$5.7 billion.
Fuji Speedway hosted the Japanese Grand Prix in 2007 and 2008 for the first time in 30 years, replacing the Honda-owned Suzuka circuit. The 2009 Japanese Grand Prix will be held at Suzuka, near the city of Nagoya. It was expected that the race would alternate between Suzuka and Fuji beginning this year…more...
No, no, no, this Japanese gadget does not have anything to to do with the previous 3Yen reports on the Robot hand-job or the always fun venue in Tokyo once a year, the Adult Treasure Expo.
K-chan, one of my favorite 3Yen readers just remarked to me on Twitter:
“Bought what looked like Calpiss at the market today. But it was labeled Calpico. What’s up? ‘Calpiss’ not good enough for the USA?”
The Great Cow Piss Conundrum…
The popular Japanese drink Calpiss–a milky vanilla-flavored yogurt soft drink–had to be rebranded with the “Calpico” trademark in Latin America and Asian. Doesn’t Calpico sound better than Cow Piss? Even Domo-kun thinks so.
Certainly, Kitty Calpico looks better than the original Darkie Calpris (as explained in Wikipedia).
Also in the same theme of unfortunately-named Japanese drinks, be sure to check out my previous 3Yen report: Suck down a cool can of “Mucos”?
The 3Yen has covered the previously-named iSwing, which has been now renamed the “i-REAL” and repurposed for security patrols and visitor assistance at at Nagoya’s airport starting June 27. Read more about the i-Real electric vehicles here (machine translation).
The iSwing was named by Time magazine as one of the ”coolest inventions” of 2005 as part of the magazine’s ”The Most Amazing Inventions” issue. However until now the invention was not sold because it cannot pass any safety regulations. Tokyo reworked from a 4-wheel into a 3-wheel vehicle so it could pass as a “wheelchair” but as it is now it is only legal as a golf cart for use on private property (such as an airport).
AP - Reuters, June 25, 2009….a Super Cub which looks like Snoopy during a press preview of “the Love Cub 50 Project Exhibition” to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the motorcycle of Japan’s auto maker Honda Motor …more…
I used to own a Honda 50. Honda used the slogan You meet the nicest people on a Honda , which was very true. The Cub was a babe magnet for me when I was 14 years old (since my Honda Cub had only a 49 cc engine and therefore did not require a drivers license to operate it). I owned the Cub for decades before giving it to my nephews who are still using it. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KILL A CUB as shown in this video.
Kit Kat Wins Cannes Media Grand Prix for Edible Postcard - Advertising Age … the Japanese translation of Kit Kat — Kitto Katso means “surely win” — and the tradition of sending students good luck wishes before they take tough higher-education entrance exams. So Nestle partnered with Japan's postal service to create “Kit Kat Mail,” a postcard-like product sold only at the post office that could be mailed to students as an edible good-luck charm …more...
Version 1:Mosburgers‘ MOSDO
–the burger with a hole–
Wacky Machine Translation
It is totally a hamburger visually.
In chocolate with U.S. puff patty,
Strawberry whip &
In a strawberry source a tomato,
I express a lettuce,
It is sand to the doughnut cloth which I likened to vans.
A nourishment ingredient(1 article area) Energy 211kcal
Protein 3.2g
Lipids 11.8g
Carbohydrates 23.0g
Salt substantial amount 0.3g
Version 2:Mister Donuts‘ MOSDO “Do-nutBUR-GER-” (sic)
–fat-fried faux burger–
At a mere 219 calories and 168 yen, the “MosDo” must be all hole.
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