Give me some new eyeballs in a dish!
Topic: Japanese Tech
Scientist growing corneas from lab dish
The Japan Times, May 26
a surgeon at Tokyo Women's Medical University....Teruo Okano has developed a procedure allowing doctors to grow an entire cornea from a tiny speck of cells in a petri dish in an incubator, peel it off at room temperature, and place it directly on the eye -- without a single stitch... But while limited trials of unapproved techniques are allowed in Japan, approval for large-scale human clinical trials could take months and full approval ...

NHK's 4,000 scanning lines & nothing worth watching
Topic: Japanese Tech

Japan introduces 4000 scan-line TVWashington Times, DC - May 25 (UPI) -- Japan's semi-government broadcasting corporation, NHK, demonstrated the world's first ultrahigh-definition 4,000 scanning line video system Monday. ...



FYI
Regular TV: 350 to 450 scanning lines
EDTV:480p scanning lines,
HDTV: 1080i or 720p scanning lines

Posted by trek/taro at 7:29 PM KDT
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Japan Institute of Sports hunts Olympic Gold gene
Topic: Japanese Tech
I FOUND IT. I FOUND IT.

Japan Institute of Sports Sciences to search for Olympic Gold gene
MedicalNewsToday.com / 25 May 2004 The Japan Institute of Sports Sciences is to start research into genotypes that are commonly seen in top-class athletes in an attempt to identify potential gold medalists....
In addition to training, the natural attributes with which world-class athletes are born are believed to play a role in allowing them to achieve outstanding athletic ability....
The goals of the research are to discover gene sequences that play a major role in creating athletic ability and to establish a database based on genetic research into Japanese gold medalists.

Japan to ban 'Breeders'???
Topic: Japanese Tech
Hmmmm, I wonder what they plan to DO with that huge stock of bomb-grade plutonium they've been importing for use ing the fast breeders?

Japan nuclear panel to suggest dropping fast breeder reactors
Science: physical sciences news -AFP via Yahoo! May 11 2004 8:19AM GMT
...government panel is recommending a major shift in national nuclear energy policy away from developing fast breeder reactors to concentrating on conventional light-water reactor....

I hear Japanese voices in my head.
Topic: Japanese Tech
Hypersonic sound. This is a focused beam of sound used to deliver marketing noises or other messages in a very personal way. The sound is inaudible unless you walk into its narrow path.
---> New Scientist, " We hold these freedoms to be self-evident..."
It sounds entertaining.
Yes. It does have fun possibilities....it's sudden and it acts inside your head, as if you're hearing something through headphones..... installing this in soda machines right now on Tokyo's streets. As you walk past, you'll suddenly hear inside your head the sound of the ice cubes dropping into the glass and the soda making that "psst" can-opening noise. You are going to be startled, you won't know where the sound came from and then you'll realise, wow, I was just hijacked by an advertisement.

Banryu cell phone controlled robot
Topic: Japanese Tech
SANYO reveals new and improved "Banryu" home-robot


Robot Controlled By 3G Phone
20th April, 2004
...Banryu's friendly appearance, long dragon-like neck and its ability to walk and smoothly climb steps with its four legs are anticipated to draw attention
The robot can be controlled remotely through the local area network (LAN) using a personal digital assistant (PDA) or via a third generation (3G) mobile phone using images from the integrated camera placed in Banryu's head.
K-COOL! I WANT ONE TO TORMENT MY CAT FROM WORK.
"VERSION UP! It now looks like a "guard-dragon."

'Balmy' Demineralized mineral water for $33 a bottle
Topic: Japanese Tech
Buying or selling demineralized mineral water for $33 a bottle: WOTS funnier? Maybe the name?

Hawaii's Bottled Seawater Industry Booming
(Wednesday, April 14, 2004 1:37:30 PM / Honolulu-AP) -- Several Hawaii companies are taking the bottled water concept to another level. Consumers, especially from Japan, are paying top dollar for a bottle for desalinated Hawaiian deep-sea water.
The seawater is being marketed as a mineral-rich, dietary supplement.....
Small bottles of Kona Nigari seawater were selling for 33-dollars in Waikiki this week....

Basic is the most difficult jigsaw"
Topic: Japanese Tech

Here's a Japanese jigsaw puzzle that cut out one piece of clear cystral glass with a ultra-high-power water jet.
View full-size image
http://www.tanomi.com/limited/images_item/glassjigsaw_01.jpg
Japanese site
http://www.tanomi.com/limited/html/00021.html

Japanese vibrating condom VS Taiwanese vibrating
Topic: Japanese Tech

Vibrating Condom Video Shocker gadgets
Gizmodo / FRIDAY, APR 2 2004
...video of a Taiwanese news report about the Vibro-Jimmy which somehow involves none-other-than Latin pop sensation Ricky Martin. Has Martin endorsed the product? Is he using his international acclaim to broker negotiations between the conflicting Taiwanese and Japanese condom technologists?.....
VS
... {{Ryann's}} Japanese vibrating condom from 2002. Is there intellectual theft here? God forbid, physical theft? Could Gizmodo be breaking the vibro-jimmy controversy of the century? Read Gizmodo's I Think These Were In 'Dune'

Let's retro 1979 happy!
Topic: Japanese Tech

Sony Walkman Museum

Posted by trek/taro at 11:09 AM KDT
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"You're too fat, your sugar level is high and you drink too much beer."
Topic: Japanese Tech
High-tech Japanese home of the future
Companies envision robots, high-tech toilets, personal jellyfish "agents."
April 6, 2004: 9:59 AM EDT
TOKYO (Reuters) - Imagine getting home from work to be greeted by the family robot, which recognizes your voice and reminds you that you've forgotten your spouse's birthday ...You go to the study and use a touch panel to activate your video messages on a display that takes up half the wall. A doctor appears: "I've been monitoring your urine on the Internet. You're too fat, your sugar level is high and you drink too much beer."

"DANGER! DANGER! Will Robinson"
Topic: Japanese Tech


See the Japanese video of our new Robot Overlords here at
http://www.enryu.jp/
Click on the link that says QT6_format or wmf_format
This above picture is via the English article at http://www.freepressinternational.com/tmsuk.html

See also the description in my my Japanese blog.

Hitachi ruins the worldwide launch of the iPod-mini
Topic: Japanese Tech
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2004/jan/06ipodmini.html
iPod Mini was released Feb in USA and in April Worldwide
Arrrg, I needed to get a cheap second iPod with recording functionality for Mrs Taro and now they will neither ship to Japan nor sell a jPod-mini here.

Global iPod mini launch delayed
Apple delays the global launch of its popular iPod mini by three months due to US demand.
BBC / 25 March.
...reports of shops being out of stock and a thriving export trade on eBay...Greg Joswiak, Apple's VP of Hardware Product Marketing, told BBC News Online that...the problem lies with the miniature hard disc drive at the heart of the iPod mini: Apple is buying all the stock of drives as fast as Hitachi can manufacture them. "We're actually consuming just about all the 4GB, one-inch drives they make. As they make more, we'll get more," said Mr Joswiak.


Farking Hitachi, go figure.

Posted by trek/taro at 11:34 AM JST
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'New' Electronic Paper announced for the 400th time
Topic: Japanese Tech

First-Generation Electronic Paper Display to Be Used in New Electronic Reading Device

azom.com/ / March 24
Royal Philips Electronics, Sony Corporation and E Ink Corporation announced today the world's first consumer application of an electronic paper display module in Sony's new e-Book reader, LIBRIé, scheduled to go on sale in Japan in late April. This "first ever" Philips' display utilizes E Ink's revolutionary electronic ink technology which offers a truly paper-like reading experience with contrast that is the same as newsprint....resolution in excess of most portable devices at approximately 170 pixels per inch (PPI)...a user can read more than 10,000 pages before the four AAA Alkaline batteries need to be replaced.

Thanks for the terabit memories
Topic: Japanese Tech
TokyoNow: Hitachi developing terabit memory chip
Kyodo / Monday March 22, 9:36 AM
The Central Research Institute of Hitachi Ltd... is developing a terabit memory chip that can store a trillion bits of data. Tomoyuki Ishii, chief researcher of the System LSI Research Division at the institute, said that in the future "Everybody will record everything in memory."...
The 1-centimeter terabit chip, which will be ready for practical use 10 years... Ishii recalled that a failure led to the development of large-capacity memory chips....applied pressure to the film, a hole large enough for one electron was created -- which was perfect for single-electron memory. Thus, the staff's mistake led to a big discovery.... There is no limit to the use of a memory. "All images and cartoons I have experienced can be saved and seen any time," Ishii said.

Yippy-Ty-O-Ty-Ay!

free WiFi in Tokyo & the rest of Japan
Topic: Japanese Tech
Japanese guide in vague English to free WiFi spots and Netcafes in Japan. Hell, I even found a 8 freespots in the town near my rice ranch in Ehime, Shikoku.
Japan: http://www.freespot.net/users/map_e.html
Tokyo: http://www.freespot.net/users/map-e/map_tokyo.html
Yokohama: http://www.freespot.net/users/map-e/map_kanagawa.html

See more info the "COMMENTS."

Toyota with dextrous fingers, lips & blows
Topic: Japanese Tech

"a lung function that allows it to blow"

A robot sways and plays 'When You Wish Upon a Star' on the trumpet
AP - Thursday, March 11, 2004.
.. Toyota Motor Corp. shows the robot in Tokyo ..The 120 centimeters (47 inches) tall unnamed robot has a lung function that allows it to blow the horn with dextrous fingers and mechanical lips.

Robo soapland for the elderly: 'I like both ways'
Topic: Japanese Tech
Ok, this ain't "news" except to hard-up-for-a-story gaijin reporter but it's still interesting. I've actually had this done to me in the J-hospital 8 years ago by some very bored night nurses as entertainment...their washing maching had 6 portholes in the sides that they reached into to scrub my various bits in addition to the auto-soap job.

Japan elderly take spin in people-washing machines
NT Times / March 7
MACHIDA, Japan -- With an electronic whir, the machine released a dollop of "peach body shampoo." Then as the cleansing action kicked in....
...a littl more hot water, please?". Futuristic images of elderly Japanese going through rinse cycles in rows of washing machines may evoke chills. t ... Several elderly women living in Katsura-ryo said they rather enjoyed their robotic baths.
"It automatically washes my body, so I am quite happy about it," said Kuni Kikuchi, an 88-year-old.... "These bubbles are good for the massage effect."....Eiko Suzuki, 73, generally agreed, saying: "I like both ways. "

Put Your Hands on the Screen....
Topic: Japanese Tech

Put Your Hands on the Screen. And let my spirit come into you. Do you feel it? The Pongi sends me...To show how good your life can be. We don't care if you're a lost soul. Let the Mirth take you and be SAVED!

IBM Japan to sell easy Internet terminal for handicapped, elderly
www.chinaview.cn 2004-03-04 20:30:21
TOKYO, March 4 (Xinhuanet) -- IBM Japan Ltd. said Thursday it has developed a large-screen computer terminal offering easy Internet access for elderly people and the handicapped, including sight-impaired people.
.... installed its Internet-browser software onto a terminal with a 50-inch plasma TV display.... Users need to indicate what part they want to see enlarged and read out by touching the screen...

Japanese magnetically-operated bra
Topic: Japanese Tech
I've sure some use could used the help of this Japanese invention, although bras seem to magically disappear when not "needed" with any of my help.
Bra wars
japantoday > new products / March 4
Women no longer have to worry about dowdy bra hooks creating unsightly lines and bulges beneath their tops. Lingerie marker Gunze has designed a stylish medal-shaped magnet hook for bras. The two magnets are firmly attached and fasten very easily. Pulling the bra from the side or sliding it up and down won't open it.
See: http://www.gunze.co.jp/sabrina/index.html