Visiting crap gadget maker Thanko in Tokyo (photo gallery)

Friday, April 3rd, 2009

Dr. Serkan Toto currently works as the first and only Asia-based writer for the TechCrunch network, mainly covering Japan-related technology and web companies for TechCrunch, CrunchGear and MobileCrunch. Serkan also works full-time as an independent web and mobile industry consultant with a focus on the Japanese market. He is sept-lingual, holds an MBA and is a PhD in economics. Serkan... → Learn More

thanko_store_1

For a geek, living in Tokyo has many advantages. Being tempted to go check if infamous crap gadget vendor and USB specialist Thanko is for real, isn’t one of them. But I finally went to Akihabara, the world’s geek heaven in the center of Tokyo to find answers. And the rumors are true, Thanko does exist.

Thanko is a manufacturer that attaches a USB cable to everything. Drink warmer? Check. Humping dog? Check. Cigarette? Check. Mouse containing a floating duck? Check. So when we discovered they were a real company, we were flabbergasted.

They even have a total of four stores where they sell mind-boggling stuff like the USB gloves, the USB boob warmer, the heated PC mouse, and the geek cushion. I took the photos (see below) in their flagship store, which is basically a dump-like maze sized at about 30sqm. The USB boob warmer was sold out, unfortunately.

pervert_pillow

But by accident, I saw the pillow for perverts that I recently covered (no USB, therefore no Thanko connection) for sale in another Akihabara store (see the picture above).

[PSGallery=4vqv723wpv]

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