Innovation

Nissin's Big Cheese Meat Cup Noodle Gives Cheeseburgers Stiff Competition

by Steve Levenstein

Cup Noodle can really hit the spot when you're studying, gaming or satisfying the between-meal munchies but it's not really a “meal”, is it? If you believe that, you haven't seen Big Cheese Meat Cup Noodle! Japan's newest flavor sensation is the closest thing yet to a cheeseburger in a cup.

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Innovative 'Shoe Socks' Show Off Japan's Sole

by Steve Levenstein

Like the look of wearing shoes but prefer to leave those dirty soles in the vestibule? Try Kutsu Kutsushita “Shoe Socks”, snazzy socks from Japan designed to look like your usual socks & sneakers combo!

Magic Spiker Slip-On Soles Give Black Ice a Black Eye

Give Black Ice a Black Eye with Magic Spiker Slip-On Soles

by China.new

I see your snowshoes and I raise you: Ice Shoes! Actually these Magic Spiker winter soles stretch over almost any shoe, turning the most mundane loafers into ice-gripping, non-slipping, cold-weather warriors. Pretty slick, huh?

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iPhone Geiger Counter Calls Out Concealed Radioactivity

by Steve Levenstein

The Geiger Fukushima iPhone was designed to be cheap yet effective in exposing radiation hotspots. It accomplishes these goals by working with the owner's iPhone and a dedicated app, thus reducing duplication of components. Bonus: it's made in Japan's hard-hit Fukushima prefecture!

China's Buses Include DIY Emergency Exits Disguised as Bricks

by China.new

In case of emergency, brick glass? Goodbye, yellow brick, road? Have brick, will travel? The puns come fast & furious when attempting to explain a low-tech safety measure found on Chinese passenger buses: yellow-painted, window-breaking bricks.

Pickmaster Plectrum Punch Owes a Debt to Credit Cards

by Steve Levenstein

Attention indebted guitarists, don't be so quick to cut up those maxed-out credit cards. The Pickmaster Plectrum Punch quickly recycles VISA, Master Card and other name brand credit cards into cheap “green” plastic guitar picks. Sing with me now, “E I E I Owe!”

Esthetic Prosthetic Designed for the Disabled

by Steve Levenstein

With prosthetic devices, function comes first while form too often places a poor second. Not anymore! Perhaps inspired by the footwear flaunted by footless South African runner Oscar Pistorius, a Japanese industrial designer has unveiled a very esthetic prosthetic.

The Space Raincoat Keeps You Dry, Makes You Look Fat

by China.new

Marlon Brando may have been The Wild One but who says you can't be The Weird One? Certainly not Taiwan's Feng Yu Development Co., designers and manufacturers of the one and only Space Raincoat.

China Farms Out Human Milk Production

by China.new

Human milk? At my supermarket? It's more likely than you think, thanks to China's genetically engineered cows.

VW's People's Car Project Ad Campaign Really Gets a Round

by China.new

Volkswagen gets back to their roots with “The People's Car Project”, an innovative multimedia ad campaign that's turning heads and winning praise in – where else – the People's Republic of China.

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Campbell's Noodle Chicken, the Cup Noodle Without the Can

by Steve Levenstein

Cross Campbell's classic canned Chicken Noodle Soup with Japan's iconic rehydrate-able Cup Noodle ramen and what do you get? Campbell's Noodle Chicken, of course, and you CAN get it... but only at Japanese Costco stores.

Washable Toilet Seat Liner Warms Hearts, Saves Power

by Steve Levenstein

If your pet peeve is a cold toilet seat and you're dreading the onset of winter weather, Japan's got something that'll warm your heart (and more): fluffy, furry, reusable and washable toilet seat liners. Next time nature calls, don't let American Standard give you the cold shoulder - plop your posterior on a poodle instead!

Chinese Compensation Scheme Saves Wild Predators, Reimburses Herdsmen

by China.new

Cry wolf, prey tell? China's innovative compensation program has proven to be a roaring success, protecting endangered wildlife as well as the pocketbooks of farmers and herders.

'Video Memo' Digitally Updates 3M's Classic Paper Post-It Notes

by Steve Levenstein

Video Memo from Japan's Green House allows you to leave short video messages friends, family and/or co-coworkers can watch. With its 1.77-inch LCD screen and on-board CMOS camera, Video Memo is the 21st century's version of the Post-It Note.

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China Celebrates 'Singles Day' on November 11th

by China.new

If it's true misery loves company, get yourself to China on November 11th for Singles Day! A pop culture holiday of relatively recent origin, Singles Day (Guang Gun Jie in Chinese) celibates, er, celebrates the unmarried and unattached.

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Call it Edgy: The Parental Advisory iPhone 4 Case

by China.new

Got a few choice words to tell those bleepin' telemarketers? Making prank calls to Tipper Gore again? The polycarbonate plastic, custom designed Parental Advisory iPhone 4 Case lets the world know you're the “Bad Apple” of the bunch.

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Eco-Friendly Heat Pad Pencil Combo Composts As You Compose

by Steve Levenstein

Care to shave a few cents off your monthly heating bill? Looking to be the next hot writer? Say “yes!” to both, provided your purple prose is penned with the Heat Pad Pencil!

Japan's Top Pop Singing Group Invites Fans to Make Babies With Them

by Steve Levenstein

AKB48, Japan's wildly popular all-girl idol group, wants to make babies with their fans! Introducing "AKBaby", a curiously creepy app that lets fans - for a low monthly subscription fee to their new ISP service - merge a photo of their face with that of a favorite AKB48 member, thus creating the face of "their" baby.

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Faux Apple iShampo for 'Original, Revolutionary, Surprising and Elegant' Hair

by China.new

Introducing “iShampo”, yet another Apple tribute (copy, knockoff, ripoff) that seeks to parlay the promotional power of the iconic tech colossus. Why change the world again today when you can change your hair care regimen tomorrow?

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Free Solar-Powered TV Sets Bring Programs to China's Western Nomads

by China.new

Thousands of solar-powered TV sets complete with solar panels, batteries and satellite receivers have been donated to ethnic herdsman in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Nomads who've never even seen a TV before can now enjoy 51 channels of programming.

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