JapanSugoi

For those gamers or net addicts who can’t even leave their computers for one sec but want a hot or cold canned health tonic (read stimulant), Digital Cowboy has just released the  CW-1B USB Powered Drink Cooler and Warmer.

The 3,980 Yen contraption is designed to fit those tiny Japanese aluminum cans or bottles that contain coffee or some health tonic designed to keep you playing another few hours. Only in Japan.

In the old days, doctors made house calls but in today’s busy world, that practice is a rarity.  Technology has stepped in to provide a virtual doctor in the form of the LG and Intel device called “The Health PHS5000″ or “Dr. Touch.”

Dr. Touch is an in-house health device that monitors and checks for problems related to any chronic disease, diabetes, blood pressure and a lot more. Currently being trialed in Japan, the little white box with a friendly UI (smileys mean you’re not dead yet) can even send reports to your doctor’s office with a touch one button.  The device is aimed at Japan’s elderly and immobile population.

It just had to happen (in Japan anyway), Japanese drinks maker Suntory last month released a new Discoveries Starbucks Coffee, the Kyoto Matcha Green Tea Latte.

The Kyoto Matcha latte 抹茶ラテ is the latest in the series following the Seattle latte, Milano latte and Paris latte. Kyoto has the reputation for high quality green tea leaves in Japan so was the obvious city name.

So, next time you are traveling to Japan and want to try something different at Starbucks, try the Kyoto Matcha latte.

Do you prefer this or a mix of coffee and beer?

Starbucks Kyoto Matcha Latte promotion in Shibuya

Not in Japan? Make your own Matcha latte

If you like strong alcoholic beverages but can’t afford sake, Japanese beer giant Kirin is releasing a new sub brand of beer today called Strong Seven ストロングセブン because it has higher 7% alcohol content. This goes against the recent trend of making lighter beers with 3-4% rather than the standard 5%.  Strong Seven is also relatively inexpensive, priced at 141 Yen for a 350m and 197 yen for a 500ml can.

The beer is targeting male beer drinkers aged from their 30s to 50s and the launch comes after Kirin’s vodka-based beverage with a higher alcoholic content of 8 percent became a hit product following its introduction last May.

Source: Fuji Sankeii

The Japanese are not averse to mixing strong flavors together for their drinks ( see Beer & Milk,  Menthol and Coffee)  and Japanese beverage maker Ito-en last month launched a new fruit-juice based drink 健康果実酢 まろやかりんご酢  that contains sweet apple juice and tangy apple vinegar, targeted at health-conscious city dwelling Japanese.  The drink contains 20% pure Apple juice and comes in a 200ml carton for 105 yen or 900ml PET plastic bottle for 375 yen.

Japanese drink manufacturer Kirin has a weird new coffee in a can drink called Fire Menthol キリン ファイア メンソール.  Kirin has a popular Fire brand of coffee and if you like coffee with a menthol aftertaste, this is the drink for you. Released in August, the the 190g silver green can costs 115 Yen if you can find it.

Japanese salarymen who have to wear suits face the every increasing dry cleaning bills when their suits need cleaning.  Since earlier this spring and summer, the Konaka group, a Japanese suit manufacturer which has more than 300 clothing stores across Japan introduced the world first “Shower Clean Suit,” which is the world’s first wool non-iron suit that can be rinsed under a normal shower stream.

The 30,000-50,000 Yen suits were designed by Japanese designer Kansai Yamamoto and British designer John Pearse are marketed under the brand names KANSAINAN Collection and JOHN PEARSE and are aimed at job-hunting students and young business people who live alone.

The brilliance of the Shower Clean Suit fabric design means that dirt, smoke, smells and stains from food and drink are simply rinsed off after a few minutes under a 40 degree shower.  The suit can be washed in the evening, ready to wear the following morning, with no ironing required.

Source: IHT