Digital World Tokyo
Gadgets, Gear and Good Things from Japan...



NEC language interpreter for phones includes better Wiener Filter (Jan 7)
It’s not the first time we’ve seen phones that purport to translate between languages, but NEC’s claims for its new mobile travel interpreter are certainly among the grandest. The company says its...

Fuel cells powered by sewage and cookie dough (Jan 4)
Hydrogen fuel cells are clearly a great idea, but the fact that much of the gas that goes into them still comes from fossil fuels is a bit of a problem. That’s why researchers are looking at...

Find a new job for 2009 right now on our new Japan jobs board (Jan 4)
If you’re in the market for a new job this year and also happen to be in Japan or still thinking about it, then you might want to check out our new, free-to-use jobs board – you’ll find it up...

Princess Masako may have waved during annual New Year’s event at Imperial Palace (Jan 4)
Japan’s Crown Princess Masako made a rare appearance on Jan. 2 when she joined other members of Japan’s royal family for their annual public New Year’s welcoming at the Imperial Palace in...

The year in review - offbeat Japan news of 2008 (Dec 31)
You’ll never forget that cute little Shibuya-train-station-marauding macaque monkey that made world headlines last summer. But do you remember the secret closet lady or the naked guy in the...

Sony’s new mini PC may not be a netbook after all (Dec 27)
By now, we all know that Sony is supposed to be hitting us with its first Vaio netbook PC at CES next month but, amid the various teases, leaks and rumors, how much is clear? The latest sighting of...

NEC thermal scans at HQ entrance for flu carriers (Jan 5)
We know it’s the season for colds and flu to stop the spread of goodwill to all men, but I was more than a little shocked by the lengths one tech company is going to in order to halt the march of the...

Gadget gift suggestions for the Lost Monkey of Tokyo (Dec 24)
The macaque monkey who’s been eluding police capture since August this year could use some holiday cheer. It’s cold in Tokyo now, much different from that hot summer morning when the cute...

RFID rail pass also tracks your kid’s every movement (Dec 23)
Kids carrying an RFID contactless transit smartcard can also use it to automatically notify parents of their whereabouts. A new security service plan from Tokyu Security integrates apartment and...

Facelift for shiny new Digital World Tokyo mobile site (Dec 22)
I’m not sure if turning the plain-Jane old mobile site into a fancy new version using Winksite counts as a facelift, but I can say that it looks absolutely splendid now. All the content is...

Pekoppa, the listening plant nods while you unload (Dec 22)
This isn’t entirely new, but it’s worth bringing you a snippet on Sega Toys’ Pekoppa – a tiny pot plant that apparently nods in agreement when anyone talks to it. The ¥2,310 ($26) toy...

Gadgets to cut carbon dioxide emissions hit Japanese cars (Dec 18)
Vehicle engine-idling systems are beginning to appear in the auto industry aftermarket equipment sector in Japan as environmental issues move to center-stage. We found two Japanese companies offering...

Anti-pee pill lets women work longer (Dec 14)
A new pill offers relief for women who have to run to the toilet often. Lady Guard is the first OTC pee reliever in Japan. Kowa Company Ltd. introduced the pill foreseeing a need by the current and...

Stopping ATM scams with cellphone jammers (Dec 11)
A Tokyo area bank has begun installing devices that jam cell phone signals in order to prevent elderly citizens from becoming victims of phone fraud. Swindlers have been targeting seniors, telling...

2009 New Year’s postcards purchasing and printing season (Dec 11)
Households are putting in orders now for the traditional nengajo New Year’s postcards. The 2009 Year of the Ox cards are available in thousands of pre-printed designs, or card illustrations can...