Fun Stuff

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

What makes a Whopper look wimpy? Burger King Japan's new Pizza-Size Burger, that's what! This 8.8 inch (22cm) wide mega-meal is massive for short but not for long: it's only available from December 8th through 25th... and, sorry to say, only in Japan.

Running with scissors again? Japan has something for that: the “Clippy” pocket scissors holster! This kissin' cousin to the classic nerdy Pocket Protector makes it possible for sharp travelers to practice safe snips.

Global warming poses grave consequences for polar bears and penguins. Raise awareness of their plight while you raise your glass... cleverly chilled with global warming warning ice cubes from cups conceived by Japan's Atsuhiro Hayashi.

Too cute for school? Not in Japan, where settling at mere cuteness means you're not trying hard enough. That high-pitched sound you're hearing isn't a school bus in need of a brake job, just its pint-sized passengers squealing "KAWAII!" in unison.