Knifeless Nose-Jobs Made in Japan 04/01/2012
 Beauty experts have developed a way for women to get the effects of plastic surgery without going under the knife - but the resulting bizarre facial contraptions involved are only for the seriously motivated. Among the amusing range developed in Japan is the Hana Tsun nose straightener - billed as a 'nasal support beauty clip' which has two silicone prongs that are inserted into the nostrils.
Waterproof Japanese Phones coming to Europe 03/07/2012
 Japanese women are so fond of their phones, they even use them in the shower, say manufacturers. This makes waterproofing a must -- also good against rainstorms and accidents while texting on the toilet. Panasonic and Fujitsu are touting their waterproof and dust-proof phones as they seek to charm the overseas market at the world's biggest mobile phone show in Barcelona this week.
 Drivers may soon be able to order food using their car navigation systems en route to restaurants with drive-thru service. A group of 26 private-sector firms, including McDonald's Holdings Co. (Japan) (2702), and the government-backed Highway Industry Development Organization will test a service that makes use of so-called intelligent transport systems.
 Japan is the country with the highest number of vending machines per capita, and you can just about get anything and everything from a vending machine. Apart from the usual physical sustenance that we are used to such as drinks and food, along comes this particular vending machine that takes the place of the chicken – by dispensing eggs, of course.
 Three Japanese semiconductor manufacturers including Panasonic and Fujitsu are in talks to merge their operations to create a national-champion chipmaker that would be backed by the government, according to people familiar with the matter. The discussions, which are still preliminary, could result in the second state-sponsored consolidation in Japan’s struggling electronics sector in recent months.
The Games that changed Japan 02/01/2012
 The first arcades in Japan weren't video arcades, and they weren't even in game centres. In the decades following the second world war, gamers played electro-magnetic games in bowling alleys and on department store rooftops. Families would take shopping breaks, playing carnival-style shooting games or riding rinky-dink kiddy trains.
 Toshiba kicked off CEATEC 2011 with a highly entertaining press conference where it officially announced to Japan the Toshiba Regza AT700 - "the world's thinnest and lightest tablet". The 10.1-inch tab weighs just 558g and is 7.7mm thin. It has a touch display and is powered by the Android 3.2 Honeycomb operating system.
Japanese Food Wins over Foreign Epicures 01/16/2012
 Locally produced foodstuffs also have been "rediscovered" by Japanese and this has helped people regain the confidence they lost in the face of the devastation caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake. However, many non-Japanese are knocking on Japan's door to learn the skills of local chefs.
 A kimono designer is attempting to save the endangered art by introducing it to today's gadget-loving younger generation. Nobuaki Tomita has created cases for Apple Inc.'s iPad tablet computers made of fabric for kimono sashes worn by "maiko" apprentice geisha. "I want to save the true tradition in one way or another while it is still alive," Tomita said.
 Sales of alcohol-free beverages that taste like beer and wine remain on an upward trajectory as an increasing number of people are abstaining from drinking for health reasons or forgoing purchases of alcoholic drinks amid weakening consumer sentiment since the March 11 disasters. Beverage makers have introduced a number of new products, while also seeking to expand into overseas markets.
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