Japan deploys Patriot missile interceptors around Tokyo to counter North Korean nuclear threat
–Launchers move to bases, warships move to west coast–
–Moves come before anticipated “test” launch by N. Korea–
News.com.au / April 09, 2013
More…

The-Rest-of-the-Story is that Japan’s Patriot missiles don’t actually work because their radar arrays cannot properly communicate with the launcher systems. However, there’s no reason to fear because Tokyo has True Protection™…

“Akuteibu ni! Mamoru! (Activate! Protect!)

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Also check out the previous 3Yen report about Hideyoshi Hashiba, owner of Hashiba corporate group, who has made mock ground-to-air guided-missiles in backyard as a “deterrent” against North Korea:
Japanese and Korean fruitcakes (3Yen / 2009-04-03)

Details….

Shizuoka police have released this security camera image to the public asking for their help in identifying the robber.
Obviously, it’s Hibagon*, Japan’s Bigfoot.

Image released of the robbing of a convenience store in Shizuoka
Shizuoka Shimbun 2013/3/14
(giga-goofy Google Translate)
In the early morning hours of March 13th, the Family Mart convenience store in Miho Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka was robbed. The robber took 103,000 yen ($1,092 USD) in cash. Now, the Shimizu police have released to the public an image from the store’s security cameras of the robber.
According to the police, the robber was 175 cm (5′10″) tall and hiding his appearance with a facial covering. He was wearing and black jacket and trousers, gloves, and had a small knife, such as a fruit knife.
Police have interviewed the clerk of the convenience store and nearby residents, and they are now investigating how the robbery was performed and the robber’s escape route.
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*Learn more about Japan’s Bigfoot/Yeti/Sasquatch, the Hibagon, at cryptomundo.com and Wikipedia.

Lacking anything better to do, JAXA–Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency–is preparing to send the toy KIBO astro-bot to the International Space Station with their astronaut, Koichi Wakata, to help him with “communication.” Ri-i-i-ight.
Specifically, the little andr0id is programmed to recognise Wakata's face and to communicate in Japanese…[as well as]… take photos during the trip. (The Standard / March 11, 2013).

Weightless test …for the KIBO astronaut robot

Learn more at the official KIBO ROBOT PROJECT website at: kibo-robo.jp/en

Pedestrian-mounted Brake Lights and Turn Signals??
At first glace, the upcoming Augmented Human International Conference ‘13 in Stuttgart looks to be an attempt of Japanese researchers to troll the science community with a Chindogu–Japanese “unuseless” invention: Brake lights for your butt.

The Journal of Improbable Research today offered links to a great story: Pedestrian-mounted brake lights: March 8 in Stuttgart (Improbable Research–blog | 2013/02/27).

At the “Augmented Human ‘13″ conference, Japanese researchers, Hiroaki Sasaki, Tsutomu Terada and Masahiko Tsukamoto will present: A System for Visualizing Human Behavior based on Car Metaphors (link). The researchers will, propose a system for visualizing the user context by using information presentation methods based on those found in cars, such as wearing LEDs as brake lights, which can be seen by surrounding people. Ri-i-i-ight.

The Chinese Ramenbot challenges Japan’s superiority in useless humanoid robots* as the 3Yen’s correspondant-at-large, Den4 asks the real question, Why are they using a knockoff of Ultraman?

english.cas.cn…

—Tip sent in by 3Yen correspondant-at-large, Den4
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Years ago I reported on Japan’s ramenbot in: Robots to the rescue of ramen (3Yen / 2009-07-04).
Also note that here on the 3Yen and in the regular press (BBC and The Independent), I have railed against Japan’s useless anthropomorphic robots (3Yen / 2010-10-15) and wanking automation (3Yen / 2007-08-01 .

The Japanese clothing chain, United Arrows installed Kinect sensor-equipped robot interactive mannequins mimics the movements of passers-by. These “MarionetteBots” were set up in the show window of United Arrow’s flagship store in Tokyo’s Shibuya Mark City mall last year (JapanTimes.com | 2012Nov12), but inexplicably the Internet exploded with this so-called “news” just this week.

The best quip about the MarionetteBots came from Adweek (2013Feb13)…in America the passers-by would have been touching themselves inappropriately and humping the windows within 10 minutes.

Check out the official MarionetteBot website of the Japanese clothing chain, United Arrows at: http://koisuru.jp/m

For years I have been saying here on the 3Yen and I have been quoted in the regular press (BBC and The Independent) that Japan makes useless anthropomorphic robots and and silly robo-companions*.

Well finally, Japan’s TakaraTomy Corp. has invented a *useful* robot! ^_~

Visit TakaraTomy’s official AutoMee S robot website for more fun.

Learn more about how to buy AutoMee S from Rinkya in our Comment section…

The following Basic Experiments on Collision of Sharp Mechanical Hazards against Eye for Estimation of Injury Severity by a Japanese robot seems better than the proverbial a poke in the eye with a sharp stick…

Robots and humans interact
Improbable Research 2013/02/11
Part 1 : Avoiding a poke in the eye
…experiment conducted at the Academy for Safety Intelligence, Nagoya University, Japan.
The participant wearing protective glasses and the robot were separated…
… the sharp end effector tip of a robot suddenly approaches the eyes of a facing participant. But would the experimental participant move out of the way in time? …
More...

Supposedly, in the first experiments the robot didn’t actually stick the human subject in the eye. However in the follow-up the evil robot’s pointed “end-effector” was fully exposed and jabbed it directly at an unprotected eyeball, causing considerable damage…
…to a pig eyeball as shown below.

Not only does this robot claim to have the conversational skills of a five-year-old, its nose grows better than Mastro Geppetto’s brainchild*.

Japanese elementary school enrolls robot exchange student
gizmag.com | Feb.9, 2012
A new research program is underway in Japan which will introduce fifth graders to a 1.2 meter tall communication robot called Robovie over a period of 14 months. Researchers at the International Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute (ATR) say Robovie has the conversational skills of a five-year-old, which they hope to improve through daily interactions with the children…more…

For years here on the 3Yen and in the regular press (BBC and The Independent), I have railed against Japan’s useless anthropomorphic robots (3Yen / 2010-10-15) and wanking automation (3Yen / 2007-08-01 | See right. →).
Also check out our report: JPN robots fail to help in the nuclear Meltdown (3Yen / 2011-04-05)

Q: What is more useless than dog clothing? (3Yen / 2005-09-25)

A: Robot dog clothing.

Last Saturday, the Yokohama Science Center (announcement) held the Robot Athlete Cup 2013 to challenge local robot builders at all levels—corporate, student and the public at large. The contest’s goal was to boost the operational capabilities of robots and Japanese interest in robotics.

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GhETToYImagesAFP | January 27, 2013
YOKOHAMA Japan—"Aibo" robot dogs dance in a contest at the Robot Athlete Cup 2013 competition. Robots compete in 6 events including dancing, autonomous beach flag, autonomous 20-meter walking and freestyle performances.

If you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater suggest that he wear a tail. —Fran Lebowitz