When you open the door, you’re not just coming home, but stepping into a world of awesome bargains and services that we sometimes overlook.
Have you ever stopped and thought about how awesome your home is?
That might seem like an oddly prescient claim, considering the fact that I haven’t recently been in most of your homes (statistically, I could only be hiding under the living room table of one person reading this at any moment). But trust me, in their own, often forgotten ways, our homes are awesome, and ironically a great way to remind yourself of that is to think of you home like it’s a store.
When Japanese Twitter user @mansooon opens his front door, he isn’t greeted by the heavy silence of a dark and empty entryway. Instead, he’s set up a device that detects when the door has been opened and greets him like he’s a valued customer at a supermarket, complete with a rundown of the day’s amazing special offers!
https://twitter.com/mansooon/status/1028571483017072640His recorded message says:
“Thank you for coming home again today! We’re currently holding our ‘Welcome Home in the Summer’ promotion.
In the kitchen area, yesterday’s leftovers, stir-fried bean sprouts seasoned with salt and pepper, are being offered at an incredible 100-percent discount. There’s yours for free! For free!
In the bathroom area, our popular bathtub can now be enjoyed for only the cost of water and gas!
Don’t miss out on these great deals!”
When you stop and think about it, simple as they may be, it’d be pretty nice if you went grocery shopping and were given a premade vegetable dish for free, or went to one of Japan’s relaxing bathhouses and could take a soak for nothing more than the cost of filling the tub and heating the water, with no profit factor built in. Making the service sector factor feel even more tangible is that the device (called Yobikomi-kun) is playing a jingle often heard in Japanese supermarkets, which set up machines like this to draw in customers and inform them of what’s on sale.
“Ever since I put this in my entryway, coming home feels fun,” tweeted @mansooon, whose innovative Yobikomi-kun use inspired others to comment:
“It’s like there’s a sale going on when you get home.”
“Yep, my bathtub is really popular too!”
“If you used a recording from your favorite voice actress, it’d make you want to rush home right after work.”
“I love how the camera shakes up and down in joy at the end of the video.”
“I want one of these.”
If that last comment matches what you’re thinking, Yobikomi-kun can be purchased online from retailers including Amazon and Rakuten, though not all models include the flashing LED lights of @mansooon’s version. Given the specific nature of your home’s special services and offers, you’ll have to record the narration yourself, but as @mansooon’s 30-second effort shows, it shouldn’t take long to lay down a morale-boosting monologue for when you get home at the end of the day. And if getting out the door at the start of the day is also a problem, there’s a clever solution for that too.
Source: Twitter/@mansooon via Jin
Follow Casey on Twitter, where today his home is offering a free marathon screening of classic anime Patlabor in the living room theater.

Depressed Japanese gamer brightens his days by giving himself a log-in bonus for his real life
How to have a Japanese rotenburo bath experience without leaving your home【Photos】
Japanese woman shows quick-thinking, marginal courage in clever cockroach-fighting plan【Photos】
Japanese genius shares perfect way to shut down blowhards who ask “Do you know why I’m angry?”
Cosplay-friendly interior design — Japanese cosplayer shows off crazy apartment entryway
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Pizza Hut Japan’s new ie-kei ramen pizza is here and weird, but is it tasty too? [Taste test]
Japan’s budget chain restaurant Saizeriya might just be the perfect first date location
We asked our Japanese team of writers how they deal with seasonal allergies in Japan
Are Japanese convenience store sandwiches scamming us with their fillings?
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Japanese man drives truck that’s on fire directly to fire station, drops flaming potatoes[Videos]
Eastern Japan high school graduating class’s wallets robbed during ceremony
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
Major Tokyo subway line shut down by in-train mobile battery fire
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan opens new cafe and art gallery in top Tokyo tourist neighbourhood
Komachi Shokudo: Japanese mum’s-style cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Tokyo
Pizza Hut Japan teams up with creator of one of the country’s best kinds of ramen for ramen pizza
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
The top 10 graduation songs in Japan as chosen by current Japanese high school students
Is Japan’s Crab-shaped Cup Ramen Timer worth the hype?
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Now is the time to visit one of Tokyo’s best off-the-beaten-path plum blossom gardens
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Twitter user finds incredibly clever way to reuse Japanese capsule toy containers
Anime pro’s awesome video shows how to beat stay-at-home boredom: Imagine you’re fighting a ninja
The Lego Super Mario set is way more awesome than it needs to be【Video】
Genius Japanese dad designs T-shirt that tricks your kids into giving you a massage as they play
Japanese designers’ brilliant way to stop people forgetting their smartphones in public restrooms
J-rock band One OK Rock self-parodies with awesome “Complete Stay Home Dreamer” video
Japanese tabloids teaching seniors how to find adult videos online
Nintendo made an interactive alarm clock, and it’s awesome in so many ways【Video】
Kimono snowboarder captivates Internet with awesome Coming of Age Day video【Video】