Art and Design

Beetle Larva Candy... Now That's Good Grub!

by Steve Levenstein

A northern Japanese confectioner has got just the thing for nostalgic Japanese looking to relive childhood memories of raising stag beetles... delicious chocolate beetle larvae!

Japanese Nostalgic Mosquito Coil Charms Gives a Scents of Summer

by Steve Levenstein

Mosquitoes are an unwelcome feature of Japanese summers but for over a century people have sought to banish the biting bugs by burning green spiral pyrethrum coils inside open-ended “Katori-Buta” ceramic pigs. Now you can recall summer's lazy, hazy, buzzy days in miniature with officially authorized Kincho charms from Tokyo's Strapya World!

The Pagani Huayra: A $1.3 Million, 700-HP Road-Jet

by Chris Weiss

One of the hottest cars of the year (possibly the decade), the million-dollar Pagani Huayra made its debut in anticipation of the Geneva Motor Show.

Cool Kids: Environmental Artists Put 193 Baby Cribs on Himalayan Ice

by China.new

A very 'cool' environmental awareness art project at the foot of a fast-retreating glacier in the Himalayas involved nearly 200 baby cribs emblazoned with the flags of all the world's nations.

The Fontessa, Gaetano Pesce's Innovative Customizable Shoe

by Toby

If you're not too skittish to plop down $120 on a pair of shoes these days, then you have to have to plop it down on the Fontessa. These fashion firsts, designed by Brazilian architect/artist/designer Gaetano Pesce, are right in step with today's customizable products....

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Candy Candles from Japan Make a Nice 'Light' Snack

by Steve Levenstein

It's a candle, it's a candy, it's... Candy Candles, candles that look like candies! These wacky waxy wick'd wonders are sealed in clear cellophane wrappers just like hard candies and are small enough to fit in your pocket, purse or backpack.

Dinosaur Chopsticks Make Mealtimes More Messy-zoic

by Steve Levenstein

Gee Mom, Jurassic Pork again? No matter what's on the menu, this set of 3 different Dinosaur Chopsticks will make dining delicious even if your teeth aren't the size of steak knives.

China Balks at Requiring Graphic Health Warning Labels on Cigarette Packs

by China.new

Cigarette packs bearing graphic health warning labels are an increasingly common sight around the world... though not in mainland China. Now health advocacy groups and even the UN are asking why China continues to huff, puff and hold its breath about applying these visually shocking smoking deterrent labels.

A Computer That Grows On You - Literally

by Norm Cassian

It's hot, and food is getting more expensive. The solution? Buy a new computer, of course! Designer Omer Deutsch merges the fields of technology with biology, creating Seconday Growth, a computer that uses water to cool itself down while also providing an innovative way to increase your yield of fresh garden vegetables or decorative ivy. Perhaps a flowering wisteria would be nice?

Evolution Eraser: Intelligent Design that Makes Errors Extinct

by Steve Levenstein

Evolution may be an ongoing process but Japanese designer Hiroyuki Shiratori has made it stationery, thanks to his revolutionary Evolution Eraser.

Hello Kitty & Shokotan Cell Phone Charms: A 'Dream Collaboration'?

by Steve Levenstein

Japanese otaku idol, singer and comedienne Shoko Nakagawa (Shokotan) is teaming up with icon of cuteness Hello Kitty in a new line of netsuke cell phone charms. Has a “dream collaboration finally become reality,” or is the nightmare of celebrity = commodity about to begin?

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Propeller Pen from Japan Keeps Writers Cool

by Steve Levenstein

The Fan Pen Type R combines the best features of a ballpoint pen and a hand-held fan, allowing users to write hot, hard-boiled prose while keeping cool as a cucumber.

Ball-Jointed Stockings Give Girls the Living Doll Look

by Steve Levenstein

You may not be a living dolls but at least now you can look like one. A new type of patterned stocking makes the wearer's knee joints look like ball joints – the type found in some popular Japanese anime figurines.

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'Flying Piggy' Picks Up Where Angry Birds Leaves Off

by China.new

Don't look now, Angry Birds lovers, but the pigs are on the wing in the downloadable new game “Flying Piggy”. Developed on the cheap by Taiwan's Softstar Entertainment for the Apple iPad (and soon, the iPhone), Flying Piggy is bringing home the bacon as the hottest online game for iPad users in 9 nations - and counting.

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Punch Your Own Guitar Picks Out Of Your Old Credit Cards And Hotel Key Cards

by Gadgetry Inc

I went to college with this complete guitar freak who collected, among other guitar and music paraphernalia, guitar picks. He had tons of unique and personalized guitar picks and I'd have a lot of fun just looking over them when we would hang out at his place in between classes.

Super Combo Ramen Fork Spork Keeps Your Noodles Soupy

by Steve Levenstein

This cool designer ramen “spork” allows slurpers to gulp their noodles with a spoonful of soup on the side. Besides dispensing with wasteful disposable chopsticks, the souped-up spork adds a dash of artistic taste to any bowl of delicious hot ramen!

Animal Footprint Beach Sandals Make Walkers Paws

by Steve Levenstein

These stealthy beach sandals from Kiko-Kids have really got sole: animal footprint soles to be exact. Now your kid can make tracks to the beach right through your living room and blame it on the family cat, monkey, owl, gecko or dinosaur.

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Golden Bus Adds Bling to Nanjing's Gritty City Streets

by China.new

Old and busted: Drab, ordinary public transit vehicles. Gold and bussed: A very expensive promotion by a jewelry store in China that saw a Nanjing city bus covered in sheets of gold leaf.

Schick Japan Animates Your Shave with a 'One Piece' Anime Action Figure

by Steve Levenstein

Schick Japan and anime publisher Shueisha have teamed up for the "One Piece" collaboration and campaign running from July 1st through September 30th. The highlight for anime luvvin' shavers is a collectible Schick Hydro razor stand featuring Monkey D Luffy, star of the immensely popular One Piece manga series.

Rifle Umbrella Keeps You Dry, Could Trigger Panic

by China.new

Stop or I'll bumbershoot! The Rifle Umbrella from Brando.com may not be the most well-thought-out gadget but at least it'll keep you dry when sudden storms strike.

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