All About Japan

Musical Wheelchairs Take the Stage in Tokyo

Yamaha Motorcycles and Yamaha Instruments are coming together to bring a whole new meaning to musical chairs.

Akira Fans Eat Your Heart Out

ZecOO, an electronic motorcycle company, has just come out with a smart, futuristic motorbike that will make you think you're on the set of the Akira movie.

New GPS Satellite Tech Accurate to Centimeters

Mitsubishi Electric’s new satellite array may become the best defense against wandering blue dot disorder.

Sharp Launching Robot Smartphone

RoBoHoN talks, walks, gets up, dances and recognizes human faces—and it also works as a phone!

How Japan's Satellites Aid Disaster Response

The technical capabilities of Japan's DAICHI satellites enable a number of relief operations, in any kind of weather.

The Chair Umbrella is Real

Have you ever thought, "Geez, I’d really like to rest, but there’s nowhere to sit"? Well, now you can—as long as it's overcast, at least.

Celviano Grand Hybrid Takes the (Small) Stage

Casio is confident it's created the first digital pianos that truly emulate the sound of a grand—with the obvious advantage of taking up far less space.

Say Sayonara to Instant Ramen

Crank out your own homemade ramen noodels with this Easy-Make Ramen toy.

Automated Instant Ramen Is (Not) A Reality

We’ve got automated hot water dispensers, ice makers, coffee machines and soda fountains. So why not an automated instant ramen maker, complete with onions, carrots and a choice of hard- or soft-boiled egg?

How Instant Ramen is Made

Potluck Video takes a peek inside Sun Noodles New Jersey.

Breaking Olympic Records with Prosthetic Limbs

Ken Endo returned to Japan in 2012 after researching robotic prosthetics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He now aims to help a Paralympic sprinter shatter the Olympic speed record.

Meet the Director of the Cup Noodles Museum

Yukitaka Tsutsui explains the philosophy behind Yokohama's Cup Noodles Museum, where kids can get hands-on with their food.

Panasonic Predicts Carpet Speakers

Smart homes of the future will have speakers in the carpet, mirrors that analyze your skin condition, beds that weigh you as you sleep—and a whole lot more.

Hot Gear from the 2014 Good Design Awards

Every year since 1957, Japan’s Good Design Awards have honored products that are designed in such a way to have a positive impact on people’s lives.

57% Name Instant Ramen Japan's Top Invention

More than ECG machines, electric rice cookers and the Playstation 4, a majority of Japanese pick instant ramen as the nation's top invention.

The Technology of Artificial Spider Silk

With more than 30,000 species of spider in the world—and a single spider using more than seven different kinds of silk—it became nearly impossible for Spiber researchers to define what constituted spider silk at all.

Programmable Idol Robots Dance to Your Design

The robot revolution is coming, and when it arrives, they’ll have an awful lot to be mad about. Like making them dance for our amusement. Thanks, DMM.

Livesaving Device Embedded in Vending Machines

Next time someone on the street looks like they're suffering from cardiac arrest, run toward the nearest... vending machine?

Mechanical Marvels: Japanese Tin Toys

Would you pay $50,000 for a tin can of California tomatoes?

Osaka Vending Machines Offer Umbrellas

DyDo offers free "rental umbrellas" at 60 vending machines in Osaka's Nishi Ward.

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