JAPAN TRENDS
If you thought the SpongeBob SquarePant and Yummy Mart was bizarre enough, wait till you see this.
Yummy Mart’s latest branded clothing line is Coca-Cola.
The five items — including a bra and panties set, pajamas, socks, eye mask, and bathrobe — in the new series go on sale from Nove...

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ROCKET NEWS
What’s crucial for a getting a good night’s sleep? For many, a good pillow is key, as a bad one can leave you tossing and turning all night trying to get comfortable and leave you with a crick in your neck the next morning.
If you need a little extra support, a neck pillow can be just...

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JAPAN TRENDS
Is this virtual wearable arm keyboard that future of user interface?
NEC has developed the ARmKeypad, a virtual keyboard that displays on your arm.
The keyboards work in tandem with other wearable tech like a pair of smart glasses and smart watches to display the virtual keyboard int...

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JAPAN TRENDS
While the Tokyo Motor Show is traditionally the event of the year to show off new cars, automobile makers also love to present their latest concepts and other mobility-themed developments.
Alongside its headline-grabbing exhibits like the FCV Plus and steampunk-esque concept car Kika...

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JAPAN TRENDS
An umbrella. A parasol. And a fan. All in one?
Yes, the Rurudo Fan Shade is just that.
Coming in a lacy black design, the shade initially looks just like a typical parasol that many Japanese women carry to keep their skin from developing a sun tan.
It cuts UV rays by 99% and is also ...

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JAPAN TRENDS
One of those myths about Japan is the used panties vending machine.
Well, these blogger at least has heard of genuine panty vending machines (at least the machines were real, though we can’t vouch for the validity of the “used” factor) but at any rate, they were very much in areas of...

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JAPAN TRENDS
The rainy season is upon us: get ready for several weeks of rain around Japan.
Any visit to a major store in Tokyo will mean you are confronted with a mountain of products designed to help you combat the wet time of the year. From umbrellas to raincoats, boots and towels, there is no...

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JAPAN TRENDS
Sonia Rykiel has opened a new store in Aoyama, the designer fashion district of central Tokyo. Located at the former Jil Sander Navy flagship address, the shop features a unique interior with striking red fittings and floor-to-ceiling bookcases.
The Japan branch is part of a global c...

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JAPAN TRENDS
Sanrio are the most successful participant in Japan’s enormous character industry, not least since they gave the world Hello Kitty.
But they aren’t happy to rest on the laurels of profits pouring in from Kitty-chan and co.’s merchandise sales. They keep on making new characters.
Some...

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JAPAN TRENDS
As we’ve mentioned previously on JapanTrends, the Tokyu Toyoko line has recently merged with the underground Fukutoshin subway line at Shibuya Station. The merge has made the commute from outside of the city faster, and the Fukutoshin a little more useful. It’s also left a pretty hef...

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