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15 Crazy Japanese Tech Gizmos

From an electronic unicycle to light-saber chopsticks, you've got to see these ... uh ... innovations.

By Jeff Bertolucci, PCWorld

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Crazy Japanese Tech Gizmos

The Japanese have proven their techie prowess over the decades. Where would we be without the transistor radio, the camcorder, or the Sony Walkman? But sometimes they jump the technological shark with whimsical and weird gear, some of which is downright loopy. Here are our favorite examples of oddball tech that could be made only in Japan.

Sensai Watch: Modern Yet Mystifying

The Kisai Sensai Alloy is more than a wristwatch. It's an artistic statement, a brushed and sandblasted tribute to the future. It's damned hard to use, too. With its sleek aluminum shell and multicolored LEDs, The $162.65 Sensai is a triumph of technological cool over dull, pragmatic concepts like ease of use. How does it work? Red lights represent hours; green are 5-minute intervals; and yellow are, um, single minutes. Bring your calculator.

Photo credit: www.lesnumeriques.com

HRP-4C: Catwalk Robot

Looking startlingly (and creepily) human, the HRP-4C robot--or “cybernetic human,” if you prefer—may have a future in show business. With weight, height, and body movements similar to those of young Japanese females, the HPR-4C could someday replace human models in fashion shows and exhibitions. Hopefully it can pout, look bored, and offer stunning insights such as: “Modeling is hard work!”

Photo credit: www.plasticpals.com

Tuttuki Bako: Poke That Box

Bored with Angry Birds? Tuttuki Bako, or "Poking Box," may bring hours of digital entertainment. Insert your finger inside the diminutive $50 box, and its virtual clone appears onscreen. Your choice of screen characters responds to finger movement; tease one by flicking its nose or performing some other obnoxious act. Lucky for you, they won't bite.

Photo Credit: www.engadget.com

Konkatsu Bra: Support for Marriage Hunters

As Japan's marriage rate falls, one bra maker is doing its best to bolster the institution of matrimony. Triumph's Konkatsu Bra features a marriage-countdown digital clock and an engagement ring holder. Insert a ring in the holder and the countdown clock stops; the wedding march starts to play. Built to help "husband-hunting" women, this supportive undergarment comes with a pen for signing a pre-nup. Ah, romance.

Photo credit: www.pinktentacle.com

USB Humping Dog: Down, Boy

This amorous canine brings new meaning to the term "mounting a drive." Plug your frisky Fido into an available (and hopefully willing) USB port, and let nature take its course. Humping Dog, which comes in various breeds, is priced from $10 to $20. It isn't a USB drive, however, and it doesn't store any data. Other ports are safe from this passionate pup.

Photo credit: www.thinkgeek.com

Honda U3-X: Not-So-Easy Rider

The U3-X is Honda's answer to the Segway. An electronic unicycle that weighs nearly 22 pounds and moves up to 3.7 miles per hour, it allows its riders to lean in the direction they'd like to travel. Still a prototype, the U3-X made its U.S. debut at the 2010 SAE World Congress in April. It's unclear whether Honda's high-tech unicycle will gain mainstream acceptance, or whether it'll end up an oddball novelty like the Segway.

Photo credit: www.fareastgizmos.com www.dannychoo.com

Star Wars: Light-Saber Chopsticks

No one will say, "Use the fork, Luke," when you're holding a pair of these light-saber chopsticks. Available in green, blue, purple, and red, these geek-friendly eating utensils are priced $22 to $24. They can't do to a plate of tonkatsu what Darth Vader did to Luke Skywalker's hand, but that's probably a good thing.

Photo credit: www.thegreenhead.com

RIC Android: From Smartphone to Robot

A bipedal robot that looks like the Android mascot? Well, why not? RIC Android, which made its public debut at the Google Developer Day 2010 in Tokyo is powered by Android, naturally. The brainchild of Japanese tech firms RT Corporation and Brilliant Service, RIC isn't the most graceful robot around, as this video demonstrates.

Picture credit: www.geeky-gadgets.com

Fridgeezoo: Cold Critters with a Message

This cast of cute (if whiny) characters will bring a smile to your face every time you open the refrigerator door. The Fridgeezoo companions resemble miniature milk cartons with animal faces. When you open the fridge, they'll greet you (in Japanese) with a gentle reminder to close the door quickly to save energy and keep things cold for them. The polar bear, penguin, walrus, and seal Fridgeezoos cost $50 each.

Picture credit: www.strapya-world.com

HAL: Iron Man Suit

The Japanese have managed to turn Tony Stark's fictional body suit into reality, albeit without flight capabilities or weapons of mass destruction. The Cyberdyne HAL exoskeleton can multiply the wearer's body strength by a factor of 2 to 10, the company claims. Available only in Japan, HAL is currently used by people with disabilities caused by stroke, spinal injuries, or weak muscles. It's recommended for indoor use only, so discard any superhero fantasies you might have.

Photo credit: www.dailytech.com

USB Eyelash Curler: Geek Beauty

The meeting with the Big Boss is in five minutes...and your eyelashes are a disgrace! Fear not: The Thanko USB Heater Eyelash Curler will give your lashes the swirl they need in seconds. Priced at ¥2,980 (US $35.57), the Eyelash Curler runs on USB power or three AAA batteries. Thanko sells a USB Electric Razor for ¥3,500 (US $41.78), too. What, no USB ear-wax cleaner?

Photo credit: www.inventorspot.com

World-Record Camera: 158 Eyes

No, it's not some Godzilla-like mutant rising from the sea. This experimental camera built by the Nagoya Institute of Technology has 158 lenses and was designed to capture 3D images of flames from multiple angles. Associate professor Yojiro Ishino designed the high-tech device, which has the most lenses in the world, according to Guinness World Records.

Photo credit: www.neatorama.com

Toshiba’s Helmet: Bubble-Head Buffoonery

For an immersive gaming experience, nothing makes you look dorkier than wearing a colossal helmet on your head. This 6-pound bubble contraption provides a 360-degree view for watching TV or playing games. It also resembles a giant television set (from the cathode-ray-tube era), which should never be mistaken for proper headgear.

Photo credit: www.tokatu.com

FaceBank: Money-Grubbing Robot

There's something vaguely unsettling about a robotic piggy bank with a humanoid face that gobbles up coins. Then again, FaceBank could provide hours of money-feeding fun for thrifty types who enjoy that sort of thing. When you wave coins before FaceBank's motion-sensing eyes, the piggy bank's mouth opens wide to receive the loot. Priced from $30 to $80, FaceBank comes in various colors and faces.

Picrure credit: www.alibaba.com

Mimi Switch: Tongue Control

Who needs a touchscreen when a wink, asmile, or a protruding tongue could control an MP3 player or a major home appliance? Researchers at Japan's Osaka University are developing a hands-free remote called the "Mimi Switch," which uses facial expressions to operate electronic devices, according to a March 2009 AFP report. Actually, this idea doesn't sound crazy at all...provided you don't sneeze accidentally.

Picture Credit: www.engadget.com