Pokemon plans app to gamify sleep
Japan-based Pokemon is planning a new app to gamify sleep. Pokemon Sleep will “turn sleeping into entertainment,” according to CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara. “The concept of this game is for players to look...
View ArticleMore efficient solar battery panels for recharging vehicles
Spotted: Toyota, together with Japanese national research organisation NEDO and the Sharp Corporation, has recently begun road trials of a car equipped with solar batteries. The solar-powered Prius...
View ArticleJapanese anti-groping stamp marks predators
Spotted: A Japanese company has created an inexpensive, easy-to-use stamp for women to mark predators in public transportation. The “annoyance stamps” are an effort to give women a voice against...
View ArticleDesigner weaves bamboo into strong, bendable building material
Spotted: Japanese architect Kengo Kuma has created a new building material by weaving bamboo and carbon fibre. The resulting “bamboo ring” is stronger and more flexible than bamboo and could be more...
View ArticleKitKat’s new paper wrapper turns waste into origami
Spotted: Japan-based Nestle is piloting paper packaging for its KitKat candy line. The new packaging is part of the company’s aims to create 100 per cent recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025. The...
View ArticleDevice analyses skin health to create bespoke smoothies
Spotted: Panasonic and Layer Design have created a two-in-one device that makes bespoke smoothies based on your skin type and nutritional needs. The SHOT device uses AI technology to make the perfect...
View ArticleAI platform detects emotion in a person’s voice
Spotted: Tokyo startup Empath has developed an AI-based platform that can detect emotion from real-time speech in any language. At the moment, the app is restricted to one of four emotions — joy,...
View ArticlePart-wooden car unveiled in Tokyo
Spotted: At this year’s Tokyo Motor Show, the Japanese Ministry for the Environment unveiled a new car made partly of wood. The car’s body and much of its underlying structure are made of plant-based...
View ArticleJapanese cosmetics brand’s ‘phygital’ retail concept
Spotted: Cosmetics brand SK-II recently unveiled its first travel-retail beauty smart store. The Future X Smart Store provides travellers with access to the brand’s unique ‘phygital’ retail concept —...
View ArticleMitsubishi enters the co-living business starting in Tokyo
Spotted: Japanese real-estate developers, Mitsubishi Estate, have recently expanded into the co-living business. This is a housing arrangement that provides shared living space for tenants with common...
View ArticleConcept store reduces waste by using digital packaging
Spotted: Lush’s new, all-naked concept store in Shinjuku, Japan, has replaced all signage, ingredient lists and price tags with digital packaging. Shoppers use the Lush Labs app to access the icons...
View ArticleDesigner weaves bamboo into strong, bendable building material
Spotted: Japanese architect Kengo Kuma has created a new building material by weaving bamboo and carbon fibre. The resulting “bamboo ring” is stronger and more flexible than bamboo and could be more...
View ArticleKitKat’s new paper wrapper turns waste into origami
Spotted: Japan-based Nestle is piloting paper packaging for its KitKat candy line. The new packaging is part of the company’s aims to create 100 per cent recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025. The...
View ArticleDevice analyses skin health to create bespoke smoothies
Spotted: Panasonic and Layer Design have created a two-in-one device that makes bespoke smoothies based on your skin type and nutritional needs. The SHOT device uses AI technology to make the perfect...
View ArticleAI platform detects emotion in a person’s voice
Spotted: Tokyo startup Empath has developed an AI-based platform that can detect emotion from real-time speech in any language. At the moment, the app is restricted to one of four emotions — joy,...
View ArticlePart-wooden car unveiled in Tokyo
Spotted: At this year’s Tokyo Motor Show, the Japanese Ministry for the Environment unveiled a new car made partly of wood. The car’s body and much of its underlying structure are made of plant-based...
View ArticleJapanese cosmetics brand’s ‘phygital’ retail concept
Spotted: Cosmetics brand SK-II recently unveiled its first travel-retail beauty smart store. The Future X Smart Store provides travellers with access to the brand’s unique ‘phygital’ retail concept —...
View ArticleMitsubishi enters the co-living business starting in Tokyo
Spotted: Japanese real-estate developers, Mitsubishi Estate, have recently expanded into the co-living business. This is a housing arrangement that provides shared living space for tenants with common...
View ArticleConcept store reduces waste by using digital packaging
Spotted: Lush’s new, all-naked concept store in Shinjuku, Japan, has replaced all signage, ingredient lists and price tags with digital packaging. Shoppers use the Lush Labs app to access the icons...
View ArticleJapanese airline’s hyper-personalised marketing campaign
Spotted: Japan Airlines (JAL) has launched a new marketing campaign, “Fly Once, Fly Always”, which uses dynamic content to tailor content to different markets and individuals. The campaign, developed...
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