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

In the vein of Jackass and other people who create entertainment by coming up with quirky urban activities, these guys from Japan created the Kyoto Ghetto Olympics. Though we’re underwhelmed with the skill on show, its amusing to see the guys bat a shuttlecock across a rail crossing and slide themselves on an inflatable along a slippery wall.

Via Urlesque

Technorati Tags: entertainment, Japan, humour, Kyoto Ghetto Olympics

Anyone who fancies themselves as a ninja can slip on a pair of these Ikitabi concept slippers. They’re designed by Paris-based Chikako Inoue and are based on traditional Japanese slippers or tabi and add rubber soles for greater comfort and flexibility.

Traditional Kohaze & Kakeito hook and eye fasteners are adjustable at the opening of the boot, with two different settings to ensure a comfortable and supportive fit. Rubber soles give a unique barefoot feel, both non-slip and ergonomic and they provide arch support and ground hugging comfort making Ikitabi a great walking boot. The sole design is even patented.

From Oki-ni

Technorati Tags: Chikako Inoue, fashion, Ikitabi, Japan, martial arts, ninja slippers, Kohaze & Kakeito, shoes, tabi

While talented kids, such as the guitar prodigy Sungha Jung, makes a great post, kids who sing, play an instrument AND express themselves with their facial expressions made an undeniable post. Check this little guy below play the ukulele.

Via Urlesque

Technorati Tags: music, Jason Mraz Ukulele Kid, talent child, ukulele

Fans of Gundam and other robotic toys may enjoy the stop motion efforts of John Huang who put together a clip containing over three minutes of action (four minutes including credits…). There are some inventive techniques but the feeling is lo-fi. Great inspiration to try your own.

Via The Awesomer

Technorati Tags: gadgets, Gundam, stop motion, toys

We were sent over some promo information about Stevie Hoang, a British Chinese rising star of the UK music scene. We admittedly had never heard of him, but he seems to have created a massive following through social networking – figures below speak for themselves. Read on to find out more.

Stevie Hoang is a rising star of the UK music scene – he’s currently on UK tour with JLS, one of the hottest pop groups of the minute, and he signed to Mercury Music at the end of last year.

He is Chinese British, born in Birmingham and raised in East London to Chinese parents from Vietnam, he has been dubbed the Chinese Neyo and an ‘Asian Sensation’ as he has had more than 15.5 million plays on MySpace, 1.2 million You Tube views for his song ‘Addicted, even though the video was actually a black screen, and sold 65,000 albums in Japan. His track ‘All Night Long’ became Number 1 airplay single in Japan and in the UK he sold 3,000 albums independently.

He’s now releasing his new single ‘No Coming Back’ on 29 March – new video below.

To find out more about Stevie Hoang, check out his website on www.steviehoangmusic.com

Also, visit Stevie Hoang on Visible Chinese for more biographical detail.

Technorati Tags: British Chinese, music, UK music scene, R&B Producer-Artist, Stevie Hoang, United Kingdom

Whilst we’re not ones to pick up anything and everything tagged with Bruce Lee, we felt it was our duty to announce these Nike basketball shoes for 2010. They’re themed according to the legendary Bruce Lee’s Game of Death.

Called the Kobe Bryant Zoom V (5), the inspiration may have been more Kareem Abdul-Jabbar than Kobe, but then, there are also three cuts on the right side of the shoe which come from Enter the Dragon. Go figure.

Thanks OSneaker!

Technorati Tags: Bruce Lee, fashion, Game of Death, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant Zoom V, Nike basketball shoes, Enter the Dragon, sneakers, sport

This video seems to have been shot and reflected along the horizontal half way point to present a seemingly gentle ride along one of Tokyo’s trains.

Thanks Stefan.

Technorati Tags: Japan, night landscapes, night video, Tokyo, Tokyo train ride, video

Here’s some nice camera work shot with a Canon 5D Mark II by Ivan Vania, who travelled through Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It reminds us of our recent travels through those countries, albeit in a calmer light.

Via Pop Wuping

Technorati Tags: Cambodia, Canon 5D Mark II, Thailand, Vietnam

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