50 years of Japanese Concept Cars – Part 2

Nissan 126X, 1970

The 70s, 80s and 90s see Japanese cars flirting with new technologies and modern looks. I am sure they also experimented with drugs and illegal substances, from the looks of some of these cars.

As usual, there are WAY more photos after the jump. Relive your youth aspirations and dreams, or just be horribly embarrased by the cars that you used to adore. Read the rest of this entry »

Portable Watermelon Cooler

So summer is upon us (or already with us, depending where you are located) and you are running out of ideas as to how you can enjoy the great outdoors a little bit more?

Fear not, Jhypers. Here comes the Marugoto Tamachan [JP], a watermelon cooler and heater. That’s right, the machine doesn’t just cool watermelons, but for some reason it can also heat them up. And it’s portable, too. Japan, you have done it again.

Maker Joybond says the heating feature can be useful for keeping other stuff warm, too, for example beverages or food. The Marugoto Tamachan holds 14l and is sized at 50.2×35.4×39.2cm (weight: 6.3kg).  Needless to say, the device is available in Japan only (price: $230). However, if you are REALLY desperate for one, Geek Stuff 4 U can procure and ship it to your doorstep.

Hyper Hybrid Model RX-78-2 GUNDAM

Have USD$3400 lying around? Feel the utmost urge to blow the cash on something completely stupid, yet uber cool? Not sure what to do with all that family inheritance? Neighbours next door just bought a new car and you need to keep up? Need a big toy to keep your 1:1 scale MGS Solid Snake company? Wonder no more as Bandai unveiled the Hyper Hybrid Model RX-78-2 GUNDAM for sale.

It’s a 1/12 scale version of the RX-78-2 Gundam and based on another 1/12 Gundam model Bandai introduced in 2006. Bandai said that the older model sold a solid 1,500 units, which begs the question – Where do these mad cashed up people come from?  The new replica will be shipped with a beam rifle, a beam saber, and a shield. Completely bonkers, completely Japanese, we love it.

More information and pictures after the jump.

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Mojibakeru Kanji – Animal Transformers

Aren’t these some of the coolest toys that you ever come across in life? It’s both educational and fun, it’s form follows function. It’s modern mecha meets cultural roots.

Japanese toy giant Bandai is set to release a series of nifty kanji figures that transform into the shapes of the animals they represent. The shape-shifting critters, called Mojibakeru (moji means “character” and bakeru means “to change”), come in six varieties — 犬 (dog), 虎 (tiger), 魚 (fish), 馬 (horse), 鳥 (bird) and 竜 (dragon) — and are available in black, white, yellow and blue.

Pictures of EVERY awesome transformation and information after the jump.

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It’s raining cats and dogs

So what happens when your dog is desperate for a walk and it’s been raining heavily for the past few days? Dogs usually don’t like the rain and like its human owners, most dogs don’t like wearing raincoats either.

The solution could be in this umbrella for dogs — it faces downwards instead of up and has a leash attachment to it so that it automatically opens up over your dog as he walks. Interesting!

Not sure how it’ll work with your cat though. You can buy the product here.

Via Tokyomango.

Bandai’s Infinite Chocolate

To help celebrate Meiji Chocolate’s 84th anniversary, Bandai had decided to make a special line-up of Meiji “Infinite” (Mugen) chocolate. The item allows one to enjoy the sublime thrill of breaking off a piece of chocolate from the bar, again and again, sugar & calorie free. Sweet! More info and pics after the jump.

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I, Robot

Sorry for the slow updates as of late. The team at JHYPE had been in great demand outside the internet world for a change (i.e. working hard to pay off our christmas indulgences). We will eventually return to normality with more wacky and wonderful Japan.

To make up for it, may I present you the wonderful robots at last year’s IREX (International Robot EXhibition) at Tokyo Big Sight. Here are a few photos from the event. Enjoy!

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House H by Sou Fujimoto

House H is the latest project by Sou Fujimoto Architects in Tokyo. The house is an “experiment to find a balance between volumes, spaces and light”.

The non-designer crowd usually cringe at fancy designer phrases like this, but I have to say that Sou’s House H is pretty spot-on with that phrase.

There’re a lot of stairs in this house too, and where are the bedrooms?

More pictures after the jump.

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Casio EXILIM EX-G1: As Close To Gundam As You’ll Get

If ever you need proof of Japan’s pervasive mecha culture, you only need to look at the latest EXILIM  EX-G1 from Casio. The styling is almost derived from the latest Gundam or Evangelion anime.

The EXILIM  EX-G1 is Casio’s first foray into shock-resistant, waterproof, freezeproof, and dustproof digital cameras.

The EX-G1 claims to be the world’s slimmest shock-resistant camera, too, offering an interesting combination of rugged design with sleek lines to satisfy the taste of any intermediate camera lover – mecha fan or not. More info and pics after the jump.

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Japan Self-Defense Force Sunglasses: Yes, They’re Official

Let’s cut to the chase: these are Japan Self-Defense Force Sunglasses (or JSDF for short – we ♥ acronyms here in JHYPE) and, apparently, they’re officially endorsed by Japan’s armed forces.

Each lens boasts the ability to withstand an impact from an object up to 6.55mm (0.3in) traveling at 171km/h (or 106mph). Of course, those specs probably won’t mean much against a 9mm bullet speeding toward your eye at over 1,000 miles per hour, but that’s more of a concern for the JSDF than it is for us regular folks.

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