Somewhat Useless Japanese Gadgets

I love Japan, and all Asian countries for that matter. If not for it's kooky, innovative art and fashion, than the mindfuck that is Japanese anime. I frequent the oh so cute and trendy tech blog, Geek Sugar, home to random blips of technology, geek chic laptop bags and devices and some of the strangest Japanese gadgets I have ever seen. From the country that brought us Nintendo, here are the contenders for weirdest Japanese gadgets (The following were all found on geeksugar).

This is an actual woven rug, but in tiny, mousepad form. They are available for $19 each from Museum, Persian, Native American, Gregorian, Designer, and Woolrich collections from joshinweb.jpg. Don't get me wrong, I love me a Persian/Oriental rug. I think they add texture to an otherwise drab room. I never thought however, to put one under my mouse. Sure, it would probably be better looking than my black gel filled pillow mouse pad from Staples, but I would wonder how an optical mouse would fare on it.

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While weird, this is actually kind of useful. Everybody knows that UV rays are slowly killing us all. Limiting one's time is essential these days. Wouldn't it be cool if your cell phone could tell you how strong the UV index is? The neat little charms start out as white and change colour as they absorb sunlight. (If you can read Japanese, you can buy them here). The price starts at $6, but goes up by how many beads and bling you decide to add (there is an option to add real Swarovski crystals). It may be a neat thing for people who, unlike me turn violently red without obsessively reapplying sunscreen, worship the sun.

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This was actually found on gizmodo.com. If I were maybe 10-15 years younger, I would want these for my doll house. Considering I had one of these chairs in normal size (I think it was pink with daisies on it), my tea parties with Barbie, Donatello, a rubber Ducky, and Snoopy would have been much cuter. However, I think the purpose of this mini chair is to act as a stand for one's ipod, cell phone, or as pictured, a pile of paper clips (cause you know, they need a place to sit?). I don't even know where one could buy this thing, or why one would want to. If your ipod says, "I'm tired of laying on your desk, give me a chair," first of all, wonder what you are smoking to make you think your ipod is talking to you, and then maybe consider hunting down this mini chair.

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Remember that scene in Return of the Jedi where R2D2 is serving drinks? Well I think whoever came up with this little dude totally was trying to recreate that scene. According to Geeksugar,

"The robotic refrigerator Asahi - named after the beer of course - not only pours the beer for you, but he keeps it cool in his inbuilt refrigerator as well."

I know a lot of boys who would love to have something like this in their apartments. It requires far too much energy to put down the Wii controller and get a beer! Why not make your little robot do it for you? I would probably replace the beer with really good Sangria, but that's just me. Apparently this is only available in Japan. Can you see this running around at a super bowl party? Hey give it another purpose and put the dip bowl on its head!