InventorSpot

Maid Cafe's rule... or in this case, Maid Cafe Rules. Since these chic centers of Japanese otaku (geek) culture began popping up around Tokyo's nerd nirvana of Akihabara, some customers have taken the "maid" concept a little too seriously. These "Ten Commandments" spell out just what Thou Shalt Not do!

Halloween has only recently been embraced by people in Japan but celebrate it they do, wholeheartedly. What's more, fun-loving Japanese have taken the pumpkin and are running with it. Here are eight eerie examples.

Eye, matey! In the olden days, "40 lashes!" was a punishment. Now it's a fashion, but don't blink or you'll miss it. Or more likely, hurt yourself.

Tough economic times are hitting consumers where it hurts - in their wallets. MOMAstore Japan and artist Terrence Kelleman have the cure for your fiscal pain: the Art Lover Wallet.

Japan is widely heralded as being in the forefront of robotic technology, and this new, self-balancing schoolgirl robot is just the latest example. "Seiko-chan" was designed to ride a unicycle because, well, we're not quite sure but we do know it's cool!

Tamagotchi, the digital pet that became a Nineties icon, is making a colorful comeback! Hoping to repeat the phenomenal success of its digital pet, Bandai has added an LCD color screen and upped the digital content to match.

Geeks everywhere are celebrating - salivating, even - with the thought of playing with virtual breasts on their iPhone touchscreens.

Menopause - a delicate issue for many, especially in Japan. In an effort to "humanize" women and The Change, doctor and manga writer Emi Chida has produced a curious comic featuring a menopausal mama mama bear.

Wear your heart on your sleeve, or just clip a Blood Drip Phone Strap to your cellphone and shout to the world "I'm your type!"

Japan's relentless drive to merge terminal cuteness with ultimate technology has taken a turn for the worse, as illustrated (emphasis on "ill") by the Hello Kitty branded Roomba robot vacuum.