We love the direction Japanese technology is heading with this prototype chair for the elderly. It uses a bed of air cushions and air-hockey-like jetstreams to hover above the ground and transport its elderly occupants.

It has a weight capacity of up to 330 pounds – suitable for sumos (with a larger chair we guess) and probably the majority of the (larger) western world. The chair isn’t ready for production yet since it doesn’t work on carpet or Japanese mats, but then we still have a few decades to wait.

Read more on Switched

Technorati Tags: gadgets, hoverchair, hovercraft chair, Japan, Japanese technology

Whilst we can’t deny the usefulness of a USB stick every once in a while, we can’t understand how an industry that churns out different variations of these portable drives thrives. Fun to see, but do people actually buy this stuff?

Well, here’s another device – the USB Chinese Sword Flash Drive. Available in 2GB, 4GB and 8GB capacities, they’ll cost $22, $25 and $36 respectively.

Via Ubergizmo

Technorati Tags: gadgets, USB Chinese Sword Flash Drive, USB stick

Whilst we’ve featured Samurai Sword Umbrellas before, these premium “Kasana” umbrellas, based on the Katana or Samurai sword, come with a forged steel handle and guard and a hefty price tag to match.

However, they’re crafted by the Japanese Katana masters of Gifu-Ken and assembled in Tokyo, so they’re apparently a true piece of art as well as a useful tool to protect from rain.

If the Kasana is a little too big to be practical, then you can opt for the Kasana Mini…

Check out the Samurai Umbrella on the True Beyond Design website, who are the exclusive online distributor of Kasana products.

Technorati Tags: gadgets, Japan, Kasana, Katana, martial arts, Samurai sword, Samurai Sword Umbrellas, umbrella

Ever since visiting the TOTO showroom in Tokyo (hi-tech toilets recommended in our guide book!), we’ve been noticing the brand in practically all the toilets in East Asia. Well, it seems TOTO marketing knows no bounds resulting in a toilet robot action figure, created to promote their latest product.

Apparently, it’s capable of pre-programmed speech. We’ve wondering if that comes gurgle-accented..

Via Ubergizmo

Technorati Tags: gadgets, Japan, toilet robot action figure, TOTO, toys

Dancing isn’t the most natural of activities for a robot and there have been some shamefully useless attempts at it in the past. However, this breakdancing fella caught our eye as possibly the most successful attempt yet. Guys, you might almost cringe when the little mover drops down into the splits.

Via Engadget

Technorati Tags: breakdancing, Japan, robot

Though I probably won’t use something like this, I still love all the utilities you get in this Ninja Tanto Battle Package! The diagram says it all.

Via The Awesomer

Technorati Tags: gadgets, martial arts, ninja, Ninja Tanto Battle Package

I always used to think USB gadgets were a load of crap but that was before I saw these USB breast warming pads! The USB Bust Beauty Pads slip under your bra and then heat up to keep your nipples toasty. Now which of my female friends would like to try these out in front of me? (Just kidding.)

These pads seem to be meant to only last about six months, and the whole set-up costs about $20.

Via TokyoMango

Technorati Tags: breast warming pads, gadgets, Japan, USB Bust Beauty Pads, USB gadget

Forget the new Apple 27 inch iMac, what you need in your life is the Hello Kitty PC! This is actually made by the Korean PC maker Moneual rather than in Japan although its specs are nothing spectacular, coming with 1GB of RAM and 160GB disk space. But that’s ok, looks are everything in the world of Hello Kitty.

Via TokyoMango

Technorati Tags: Hello Kitty, Hello Kitty PC

LED eyelashes appear to be the order of the day here. Apparently, this contraption is a project to give East Asian women prettier (or bigger) eyes.

According to the inventors, very few East Asian women are born with big eyes – a *standard* for beauty – and so the little-eyed ones resort to other techniques such as makeup, jewelry, and plastic surgery to make their eyes bigger. These techniques border on obsession thus being labeled as the fetish of Big Eyes.

The LED Eyelash is meant to satisfy the need for big eyes and “can perceive the movements of the pupil in the eyes and eyelids. If someone wears it and moves her head, LED Eyelash will flicker following the movement.”

We at OneInchPunch do not endorse this kind of equipment. Actually, we’re not convinced anyone apart from the inventors would endorse it either. However, we do think that East Asian women do look fantastic either with or without big eyes!

Technorati Tags: eyelashes, gadgets, LED, LED eyelashes, light emitting diodes

Weird Asia News writes about weird Japanese inventions and the word to describe them: Chindogu. My favourite has to be the Baby Mop!

Read more on Chindogu: Weird and Useless Japanese Inventions

Technorati Tags: baby mop, Chindogu, gadgets, Japan, products, strange products, weird products