For generations, Japan has been a mystery to the western world. To a foreigner looking in, many inventions that originated on the island nation seem as though they are from a different time, but once taking a closer look, the usefulness of the objects become quite evident. In fact, some of Japan's inventions have become even worldwide hits. Let's have a look at 40 products that originated, or became popular, in Japan. Readers be ware, some of them are downright ridiculous.
"Grate Minds"
Anyone who has ever tried to spread cold butter onto bread knows how frustrating it is when, in attempting to spread the butter, the bread tears.
One would be justified in believing that this person was grating cheese (or pasta) onto their toast, but they would be wrong. The butter grater has become more of a household item in Japan than most people would have thought.
"Is That A Banana In Your Pocket?"
Ever started eating a banana but didn't realize until halfway through that it was far too large to finish in one sitting? Well, so has someone in Japan.
With the "Banana Case", say goodbye to smashed half-eaten bananas. This case is a must-have for anyone who loves to have a quick potassium fix while on the road but isn't quite hungry enough to eat an entire banana. It even has an airhole to help the fruit breathe and prevent it from browning too quickly.
"Stay On Target Red Leader"
People have been complaining for years about their partners and children getting pee on the toilet seats. Sometimes it can be accounted for because of laziness, sometimes bad aim, and sometimes because of sheer exhaustion. If only there was a way to prevent all that unnecessary slash back...
The toilet kneeler is perfect for anyone who has had a long day and is just too tired to stand up when they pee. There are few things that someone looks forward to more than getting up close and personal with a urinal (take note of the restroom slippers).
"Say, 'Fromage!' "
Not all of Japan's creations seem absurd to Westerners, in fact, some of them have even been borderline revolutionary. If it weren't for this next invention, we'd still be awkwardly holding our phones trying to fit everyone into a picture.
Thanks to selfie-sticks none of us need to have friends with long arms around anymore, and most pictures turn out to be a lot more in focus.
"The Ground Is Lava"
When kids are too big for their strollers but too small to leave alone while we use the public restroom, the only choice is to bring them into the washroom with us. The problem is, there is nowhere to put the child in North American washrooms. So, it's either we hold them or put them on the floor, and neither option is that great.
In Japan, they have no reason to be concerned about what the little one might touch while crawling around on the floor in the public restroom, because most public washrooms in Japan have been fitted with built-in baby seats. Just wipe down the seat and put the kid in. There won't be going anywhere until we're ready.
"Don't Forget To Wipe"
Whether they are willing to admit it or not, the majority of people take their mobile phones into the washroom with them, in order to keep occupied while "doing their business".
There are public restrooms in Japan that have "smartphone" toilet paper. That's right, it's sanitized, scratchproof toilet paper, designed to clean someone's phone of all restroom-related dirt and bacteria.
"A Circle Isn't Always A Circle, Sometimes It's A Square"
Stacking circular fruit for a display at a grocery store, if not done with care, can lead to a hilariously disastrous outcome. Grocers all over the world have felt the pains of restacking a display over and over again because of one stray fruit. In Japan, they just decided to find a way to stop their fruit from being round.
In Japan, their watermelons aren't circular, they're square. By growing watermelons in boxes, the melons, with nowhere to grow to, take the shape of the box in which they live.
"Hang On Buddy!"
Instant noodles are a fantastic meal for workers, or students, who don't have a great deal of time to eat their food. In Japan, they have come up with a way to save us the hassle of constantly checking to see when our noodles are ready.
Thanks to the "Cupmen2" we can say goodbye to burnt fingers and half-cooked noodles. This little man sits on top of a cup of noodles and once the noodles are ready, he magically falls off, signaling that the meal is ready to be eaten.
"What Up Dog?"
Ever notice how when dogs go out for walks they tend to squint a little? In the winter, the reflection of the sun in the snow could be too much for our little furry friends' to handle. And in the summer, well, let's face it, they would just look adorable with some protective eyewear.
Introducing "Doggles", the goggles for dogs. Never again will man's best friend have to expose their eyes to the brightness of the sun. If we think it's too bright, chances are they do as well.
"Filtered"
Instant coffee is a great alternative for those who do not have the time or capability of making a cup of coffee using ground-up coffee beans, but no matter how much people try to fool themselves, it just doesn't quite taste the same.
Single-serve coffee filters have become rather popular in Japan recently. Just like instant coffee, the only thing they need is hot water. They are great for any coffee lover who's constantly on the go and tired of instant coffee.
"Ever Want To Know What It Feels Like To Be The Stuffing At Thanksgiving?"
In Japan, people are known to work exceptionally long work weeks and have very little time to rest. In order to help people get some much-needed shut-eye, without leaving their workspace, someone created the "Ostrich Pillow".
This pillow is meant to provide its user with the utmost comfort while blocking out as much sound as possible. It might look like someone is sticking their head into a turkey's keister, but hey, every bit of rest counts.
"Every Now And Then I Get A Little Bit Tired"
Not only do some of the trains in Japan have outward-facing seats, but a large number of them have seats that swivel as well.
Not enough leg room? No problem, just turn the chair smidge. Need a better angle for taking a nap? No problem. These seats are made to accommodate almost any of a commuter's seating needs that might arise.
"That's Our 4th New Pot This Month..."
There have been countless cooking pots ruined over the years by people who haven't known how to cook rice properly. A few decades ago, an invention came out of Japan that changed everything.
For those who have not used one, the rice cooker is to rice, what sliced bread was to bread. The machine is a game-changer. Just pour rice and water into it, and let it do the rest. Say goodbye to scrubbing burnt and sticky rice off the bottom of the pot and say hello to a perfectly cooked bowl of rice every time.
"A Lap Top Nap"
As a result of the working culture in Japan, there are many people who work long hours and don't spend as much time with their loved ones as they would like. Because of this, a number of people find themselves looking for comfort outside of their homes.
Lap pillows are both a weird and slightly disturbing substitute for the working person who is missing a bit of human affection during their long days spent at work.
"Well, It Is The Fastest Way From Point 'A' To Point 'B' "
We waste a considerable amount of time standing around on street corners waiting for traffic lights to change. In order to help cut back on unnecessarily wasted time, in Japan, they started using diagonal crosswalks.
These crosswalks bring automotive traffic to a temporary halt while pedestrians can safely cross to the other corner of the intersection by taking 1 straight path. This style of intersection has been adopted in many of the major city centers around the world.
"A Massage Wouldn't Be A Bad Idea Either"
It might look like a portable massage table for a leprechaun, but it's not. This is the ultimate pillow for anyone whose rear end is in need of a break from the work chair, while there's still work to be done.
Forget about numbed arms and strained necks from trying to do work while laying on our backs and holding our phones up. With this Utsubusene cushion, it's possible to send e-mails or play Marvel's Puzzle Quest with ease and have complete feeling in our arms and hands.
"Look, Squirrel!"
The commute to and from one's place of business can be long and boring, especially if the only view we have, is of the back of the person's head who's sitting in front of us on the train.
In Japan, some of the trains have outward-facing seats. That way, commuters can watch the scenic landscape and try and find their "zen", for even just a few passing moments, before the start of their daily grind.
"Three, Two, One, Start!"
A few years ago, an event took place in Japan that millions of people have been dreaming of for almost 3 decades. A life-sized Mario Kart track was constructed.
The course wasn't just created in order for fans of the game to look on in awe, it is a life-sized fully functional course (right down to the mystery boxes of items to throw at each other). Just like any other type of activity, participants rent time on the course and are able to participate as their favorite Mario Kart character. For those who were hoping to race on Rainbow Road, unfortunately, there are currently no plans in motion to recreate the psychedelic track.
"Everyone Likes To Feel Like A Rockstar Once In A While"
A home karaoke set is a wonderful idea...for about a day or so. After that, the initial excitement of having the ability to "oke" anytime one wants wears off, and the realization of how terrible of a singer everyone in the household is, kicks in pretty quickly.
...And then came silent karaoke. It looks like they are either singing into a couple of toilet plungers or are in need of oxygen after such an epic "oke" performance.
"Raindrops On Roses"
There are some inventions that look absolutely ridiculous the first time we see them, but the more we see them in action, the benefits of the product far outweigh the absurd way that we look while using it.
This head-to-toe umbrella is a product that everyone doesn't know they need. It prevents that awful sideways rain from becoming a problem and gets its user to their destination completely dry except, of course, for the bottoms of their shoes.
"Not Recommended For Games Of Hide-And-Go-Seek"
When buying furniture for a new place, finding stuff that all matches in one way or another can be difficult. In order to help out, a Japanese inventor came up with a way of combining multiple pieces of furniture into one convenient piece.
A kotatsu is a blanket, a table, and a heater all in one. It's great for the cold Japanese winter, but it can also lay flat down if the table, or extra heat, are not needed. Just make sure to turn off the heater for the kotatsu, when not using it, so as not to create a fire hazard.
"Cleanliness Is Godliness"
There is no need to worry about getting one's feet dirty while going to the washroom in Japan because a number of people don't just have slippers for their guests to wear while visiting, but also washroom slippers.
These are slippers that someone can put on top of their regular slippers or wear with just their socks. And the best thing is, they are only used in the washroom. These should catch on in North America. Never again would a restroom user need to be concerned about stepping on something gross or wet while using the facilities.
"I Thought Those Were Building Blocks..."
Personally, I know that I am tired of searching through endless racks of clothing at retail stores, in order to find the shirt I'm after. Apparently, I'm not alone.
Instead of clothing racks taking up precious floor space in Japanese stores, patrons search through bucket after bucket of compressed clothing. All they have to do is look for the color they want, and check the side for the right size. Compressed shirts also eliminate the question as to who else has tried on the shirt we're about to buy.
"They Look Like A Lizard's Hands"
When our feet get cold in the winter, there are few things better than some nice thick woolly socks. But what happens if we drop something on the ground and don't want to bend down to pick it up? With thick wool socks, it's nearly impossible to pick anything up with our feet...or is it?
Tabi socks look like oven mitts for someone's feet. They are warm and allow for a little bit of the use of one's toes. I know that a lot of us use our feet to pick things up off the ground these days, but I had no idea it was so popular that they needed to make socks that allowed for the big toe to have a full range of motion.
"Open Sesame"
Opening a can has the potential to be a rather frustrating task, because the tab is usually resting flat against the lid, and is rather difficult to slide a finger under in order to open said can. With just one simple alteration, the fine folks from the "Land of the Rising Sun" have solved the problem of the "difficult to open beverage can."
That little dent would make all the difference when our fingers are too cold on a winter's day or too sweaty on a hot summer's day.
"I Might Try The Place Next Door..."
Through different television programs and films, we have been given a bit of a look at how dinosaurs could be either terrifying or friendly. For example, the T-Rex from "Jurassic Park" was terrifying, however, Denver from "Denver, The Last Dinosaur" was friendly.
For some reason, somebody in Japan thought it would be a good, and not terrifying, experience to have an animatronic dinosaur as a receptionst who checks guests in at a hotel.
"Pop-Pity Pop Pop"
If it weren't for the little things that make us happy, the hassle that's involved in packing and moving would be a lot more tedious. Thank goodness for bubble wrap. But bubble wrap only lasts as long as its last remaining bubble.
The Japanese must enjoy popping bubble wrap more than many other things in life because they invented a device called "Mugen Puchipuchi", whose purpose is to simulate the feeling of popping bubble wrap. The catch, it doesn't run out of bubbles...
"Why Does She Always Look So Happy?"
Eating a meal in public can become messy and embarrassing, depending on what's being eaten, of course. I think most people have been in a situation when they are about to take a bit into a nice big sandwich, and then realize they can't fit the whole sandwich in their mouths. Well, in Japan, there's no need to be concerned about making a mess.
Sandwiches and burgers can be as big and messy as someone wants in Japan because, thanks to face napkins no one will even know we're eating...
"I Sure Hope The Plumbing Was Done Right..."
There are many countries around the world, where the amount of fresh water, that is available for use, has become a problem. Shortages of usable water are a very real thing for billions of people.
This Japanese-designed toilet incorporates the washroom sink into the top of the toilet tank. That way, when someone finishes brushing their teeth with the clean water, it drains back into the other side of the tank to be used for the next flush.
"Would You Like To Check Your Umbrella?"
On a rainy day, there are few things more helpful than a trusty umbrella. That is, of course, until we get to where we're going, and have to worry about what to do with a wet umbrella.
In Japan, that's not something that the locals concern themselves about. Umbrella storage can be found in malls, grocery stores, and office buildings right across Japan.
"Mine's The One With The Handle And The Zipper"
Waiting for luggage at the airport is a time-consuming adventure that we would all be better off not needing to take. Searching for our bags, that are recognizable only by a specific colored string or sticker on a conveyer belt of identical-looking bags is bad enough, but trying to grab the bag before it's out of reach and circling the belt again, is a whole other story.
In Japan, and a few other countries, there are airport luggage attendants, whose jobs are to unload all of the bags and line them up, in an orderly fashion, for passengers to collect when they arrive in the baggage claim area. What an amazing way to prevent unnecessary, luggage-related injuries.
"Once You Pop, You Can't Stop...Slurping"
Pringles have been around for more than 50 years and, as a result, there are numerous flavors and Pringles products. With all of the flavors to choose from, I suppose the next logical step for the chip company to take, would be to branch off into flavoring different cups of noodles as well...
Pringles flavored noodles actually come in a Pringles style cup to eat them out of. I really do hope they haven't made all of the flavors into soups though, because I'm not quite sure the pecan pie or mayo cheese flavored noodles would be very tasty.
"There Were An Extra Set Of Feet In There..."
Using a public washroom is already something that most people don't want to do. They are usually dirty and smell really bad. What's worse, is having to check each stall, one by one, in order to see if it's occupied, or if it's available for use.
Public restroom users in Japan don't need to check to see if there are anyone's feet under the stall doors. All they have to do is check the digital map at the restroom's entrance. If the color has changed, it's occupied. Why hasn't the whole world switched to these yet?
"What Year Is It?"
One of the things that we have been revisiting is the need that people in Japan have for a moment's rest. Heading to a hotel for a few hours can have a fairly provocative meaning in the western world, but it has taken on a whole new meaning in Japan.
No, this is not the set of the latest "Star Trek" film, these are sleeping pods. Hotel sleeping pods have become popular amongst the over-worked locals in Japan. The pods are usually soundproof and come fully equipped with everything one could need to get a few hours or a few minutes of sleep.
"Tinker Bell's Umbrella"
Apparently, umbrellas are a very important part of daily life in Japan, at least, during the rainy season they are.
Shoe umbrellas are an adorable idea, however, I believe the full-coverage umbrella would probably be of more use. These toe-tip umbrellas would probably keep the top of the shoe dry, however, the splashes coming from the puddles would most likely negate any use that they might actually have.
"Mugatu's Follow-Up To The Piano Tie"
It has happened too many times that someone who is on their way to a very important interview will get caught in the rain, and they show up to, possibly the most important interview of their lives, soaking wet.
It's a good thing the umbrella tie exists. The only thing a potential candidate will need to worry about is showing up a little late with a wet tie.
"And Please Cut Them In Triangles As Well"
We all know someone who likes their grilled cheese crustless. They are the same person who will tear the crust off of their sandwich in public, instead of eating it like a regular member of society.
There must be a lot of people in Japan who prefer their bread to be crustless, how else can this crustless bread be explained. I like to imagine that there are some very happy ducks somewhere who are feasting on all of the crusts that would have been removed from these loaves.
"Their Biggest Fan"
People have tried many different methods to cool down their soup to a temperature that will make it palatable. But adding ice makes the soup a bit too watery, and blowing on it just takes too long for the soup to cool off.
Introducing the chopsticks fan. It cools the soup and noodles while we're eating. It's hard not to be a fan of this invention.
"These Should Be Made Mandatory All Over The World"
One of the most common items of litter that can be found anywhere in the world is cigarette butts. They can be found scattered through parks, roads, and footpaths no matter where we go, except maybe in Singapore. In Japan, they are trying to find their own way of cutting back on cigarette butt litter, without going to the extremes that Singapore does, in order to keep the city clean.
I know it looks a lot like a tobacco pouch, but it's not, it's an ash pouch. Instead of carrying around rolling tobacco, people carry these around in Japan to put ash and cigarette butts into them, instead of throwing them on the ground.
"Don't Go Digging Around Where You Shouldn't Be"
I think it's fairly safe to say that our last item is the most practical of all of these inventions and that everyone needs to have one of these at home...
Yeah, not so much. If we need to see what's going on in there, it might be a good idea to seek professional help instead of doing having a look at home. They have special doctors for this sort of thing.