Takara Tomy in Japan has started selling Manekko P-Chan [JP], a small parakeet toy that repeats what you say (4 seconds maximum), twice, and just seconds after “hearing” your voice. You can also “teach” P-Chan phrases that it stores in its memory and repeats at random times later, just like a real bird would do. → Read More
Japan is crazy about Twitter, and today local toy maker Takara Tomy has announced Twimal (short for “Twitter Animal”) [JP], a super-cute toy “pet” that can reads out tweets loud for you. The white version does this with a female voice, while the blue Twimal uses a male voice. → Read More
Japanese toy maker Takara Tomy has developed a gadget [JP] that turns the body of a human being into a musical instrument (of sorts). Dubbed Ningen Gakki (“Human Instrument” in Japanese), the little toy can be used by four people at the same time. → Read More
Do you remember the so-called Beer Hour, a gadget that makes it easier to pour beer from cans into glasses and which we covered two weeks ago? Our friends over at DiginfoNews in Tokyo have gone out and made a video (in English) that shows the device in action. → Read More
So you like to go fishing but have to sit in school or in your office all day? Takara Tomy might have the solution for you: their so-called “Virtual Master Real” [PDF] is essentially a fishing game built into some kind of “electronic fishing reel”. → Read More
I am not really sure if beer lovers really need this kind of gadget, but Takara Tomy is ready to sell it (in Japan only – at least initially). The company has showcased the so-called “Beer Hour” in Tokyo today, a small device that’s supposed to make it easier to pour beer from cans into glasses. → Read More
Takara Tomy in Japan is offering what they say is the perfect companion for this summer: the Neckphones [JP], travel pillows (kind of) that feature an integrated speaker. The devices are waterproof, making them suitable for use in the bath tub, at the beach etc. (see picture above). → Read More
Do you remember the “Potato Chip Hand” we’ve shown you earlier this year? The silly gadget allowed users to pick up potato chips and protected fingers from getting greasy when eating potato chip. And now maker Takara Tomy is giving us the “Popcorn Hand”, which does the same – but for popcorn. → Read More
Sony has been working on the development of efficient bio-batteries since 2007, but the company hasn’t really come close to commercialization so far. The batteries, which exist as prototypes, can be recharged not by using methanol as fuel but glucose. And it makes sense, as a single bowl of rice contains the same energy as 96 AA batteries.
And using the bio-battery in real products might soon… → Read More
I am true believer of the hypothesis that the sillier a given country’s gadgets, the fewer problems it has. In the case of Japan, we now have the Potechi No Te, which translates to Potato Chip Hand. It’s actually silly and not silly at the same time, as it’s meant to protect your fingers from getting greasy every time you eat chips. → Read More
Here’s something yourself or your sister might be particularly interested in: A digital camera that helps you to pretty up pictures taken with it on the go. The so-called Love-Digi Moving Photo Camera [JP] is made by Japanese toymaker Takara Tomy and based on the cultural phenomenon of Purikura, photo booths in Japan that especially teenage girls use to create decorated snaps of themselves. → Read More
Japan sure has a penchant for weird alarm clocks, as we blogged many times in the past. And Clockman, a new model from major Japanese toy maker Takara Tomy, isn’t really normal either. Reasons: It looks creepy, it can speak, its eyes and mouth can move and Takara Tomy says it even has a personality and “blood type” (seriously). → Read More
Toy maker Takara Tomy’s mini vehicles are being sold everywhere in the world. Marketed as Penny Racers in the US and Choro Q in Japan, the series so far includes mini helis, trains and even small UFOs that attack Tokyo. And now the company has announced Choro Q Hybrid mini cars [JP] for the Japanese market. → Read More
Japanese toymaker Takara Tomy claims it has developed a device that can translate what a dog “says” into human language and emoticons in real time. And the so-called “Bowlingual” [JP] isn’t being marketed as a (pure) gag product.
Jointly developed with an acoustics research laboratory and a veterinarian, the Bowlingual works wirelessly (your dog must wear a wireless mic around the neck). Let the… → Read More
These must be the cutest robots since the thumb-sized Robo-Qs: Takara Tomy (Tomy in the US) today announced the Micropet-i series [JP, PDF], which consists of nine different (very small and adorable) robotic animals. This is the same company responsible for said Robo-Qs. → Read More
Bandai’s everlasting Tamagotchis, which recently got upgraded to color, face some serious competition from another Japanese toy maker. Takara Tomy has developed the Yuruppy, which is as least as cute but requires no care at all. → Read More
Today is a sad day for gadget lovers. Japanese toy maker Tomy is pulling the plug on the North American market. The company behind the i-Sobot, the Dustbot, the digi cam with built-in printer and the AeroSpider said Tuesday it will focus on Europe instead. → Read More
Takara Tomy’s digital camera with built-in Zink printer is out now in Japan (for $350) and having held the thing in my hand yesterday, I can say it’s very bulky. So be ready for a minor disappointment when the camera hits American stores (probably in April/May next year). Takara Tomy is brave enough to export the camera but they will not have the guts to air the Japanese commercial for… → Read More
Last year’s Grand Prize winning robot There should be no doubt that Japan is the world’s leading nation when it comes to the production and promotion of robots of all kinds. Each year, Nippon’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) chooses a handful of robots it thinks are especially cool and gives them the so-called Robot Award [JP]. The ministry yesterday announced the… → Read More
Japanese toymaker Takara Tomy today unveiled a new digital camera that features a built-in printer [JP] and is ailmed at women in their 20s and 30s as well as families. The company says it will soon release more products that are based on the same technology. The so-called xiao TIP-521 comes with the following specs: – 5 megapixels – 4x digital zoom – 2.48-inch LCD screen – infrared port and… → Read More
Japanese toy maker Takara Tomy is famous in Nippon for its Q-series: Choro-Q (extra-small toy cars), Heli-Q and even QFO (small UFOs attacking Tokyo). Now the company has developed the Q-Train, miniature toys that are designed like real trains used in Japan. Each Q-Train consists of 3 wagons that are just 3cm long. Users can make the trains drive forward, backward and also turn left or right via a… → Read More
It’s Takara Tomy again. Following “the world’s smallest walking robot”, the Japanese toy maker today announced the “Setsuyaku Senshi Osaifu Seibaa” (Stingy Soldier Wallet Savior) [JP], a mix of electronic household account book and RPG (seriously). Users will be able to register household expenses with a data pen and collect printed receipts at the back of the… → Read More
Japanese toymaker Tomy Co unveiled Robo-Q, which is what they say the world’s smallest walking robot. The two-legged toy is just 3.4 centimeters high and weighs 12 grams. Robo-Q can detect obstacles and navigate through a maze using built-in infrared sensors. Users can also play games such as soccer with the battery-powered robot via a wireless controller. Charging the battery for 30 minutes is… → Read More
http://blip.tv/play/ih_QtyyJ5FQ Japanese toy maker Takara Tomy announced it will start selling the AeroSpider [JP], a radio-controlled car that can climb walls and drive on ceilings, on October 30 (availability outside Japan is unknown at this point). Just like ordinary toy cars, the battery-powered AeroSpider can also be used on horizontal surfaces. But pushing a switch at the back of the car… → Read More
Takara Tomy announced they will roll out a mixture between a savings box and an RPG in Japan on August 7th. The so-called “Bankquest” [JP] will cost $37. Players will be able to boost their character’s skills by placing any coin from 1 to 500 Yen into the lid of the box. Takara Tomy says the game will feature more than 160 items (weapons, healing drinks, armor etc.) you can buy. → Read More
The following videos I shot show some of the coolest electronic stuff (not including robots) I have come across at this year’s Tokyo Toy Show. Takara Tomy’s Aero Spider was especially impressive. The same company didn’t allow me to shoot a video of their awesome QFOs (mini UFOs attacking Tokyo). Sorry, but the pictures must do. More videos below… → Read More
Today I went to Odaiba, a strangely futuristic island just off the coast of Tokyo Bay, to cover this year’s Tokyo Toy Show. The event takes place every June and is one of the biggest and most important toy exhibitions in the world. Last year’s show attracted over 110,000 visitors. The picture above shows a huge crowd watching a Power Rangers dance show. Sorry, I didn’t see any… → Read More
A lot of us waited for it (or maybe not), but now the singing and dancing flower toys from Takara Tomy are giving a comeback [JP], at least in Japan. The company yesterday announced the updated version, dubbed Flower Rock 2.0, will be sold only in this country beginning October 30th and for $57. The new models are upgraded with a glow function. The petals and leaves will flash in up to 50… → Read More
Yesterday Japanese toymaker Takara Tomy announced [JP, PDF] the development of the world’s smallest Karaoke box, dubbed Hi-Kara. It will go on sale in Japan on October 18th and will be available in white or pink. The Hi-Kara is a complete portable Karaoke system that Takara Tomy managed to squeeze into a tiny cube (7 cm, 150 grams). It comes with a 2.4-inch LED, which can display music… → Read More
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