Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
virtual reality (Page 5)
Samsung and Facebook’s Oculus VR unit are working together to create a virtual reality device powered by Samsung’s Galaxy S5 line of phones, Engadget reports. You literally plug your phone into the headset and you’re inside a “shockingly good” virtual world, the site reports.
Few people know this about me, but on top of being a huge video game nerd, I’m also both a part-time eco warrior and a big fan of the Tiny House movement, which is all about simple living and not destroying the environment for the sake of building a McMansion. I’ll happily spend a full evening watching video tours of micro homes or looking at floor plans while sketching out my own future home. But no amount of doodles can compare to actually visiting a property in person and snooping around.
Japanese home builder Daiwa House, too, knows the importance of giving potential home builders a chance to experience their residences in person, and is about to launch a special “Try Lab” showroom that invites visitors to slip on a virtual reality headset and wander around inside their new house, whether tiny or huge, and really get a feel for the place before giving the architect the final nod.
Sony Computer Entertainment has just lifted the lid on brand new hardware at GDC 2014 in San Francisco: its own virtual reality headset for PlayStation 4, codenamed Project Morpheus.
Maybe, along with the drive to to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before, we also want to explore our minds and consciousness. And maybe inevitably that sometimes comes out to be inventing new ways to mess with our own heads. And so, the eggheads at Riken Research have developed the “Substitutional Reality System“. Read More
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
Lawson convenience store at popular tourist site is one of the most unusual in Japan
Studio Ghibli celebrates the magic of movie theaters with short video, Hayao Miyazaki illustration
Japanese fashion company’s modernized haori half coats will keep you warm and samurai chic
Pringles Chocolate, but with a Japanese twist, is the snack hack you should be trying right now
Nintendo’s controller capsule toys are so cool, even the machine you buy them from is awesome【Pics】
Drink vending machines disappearing in Japan as number drops to lowest in 30 years
Eight Ways You Really, Really Shouldn’t Use a Japanese Toilet
McDonald’s and Gundam team up for customized anime mecha and fried chicken sandwiches[Video]
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration eventsMt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
Two food hacks take Japan’s convenience store fried chicken to amazing new sandwich heights30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
7-Eleven Japan’s new baked-in-store sweet treat is only available in three parts of the country
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
Peanuts and Coke becomes a viral hit in Japan, but is it a trend worth joining?Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visaPokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
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
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
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
Pringles Chocolate, but with a Japanese twist, is the snack hack you should be trying right now
Nintendo’s controller capsule toys are so cool, even the machine you buy them from is awesome【Pics】
Drink vending machines disappearing in Japan as number drops to lowest in 30 years
Eight Ways You Really, Really Shouldn’t Use a Japanese Toilet
McDonald’s and Gundam team up for customized anime mecha and fried chicken sandwiches[Video]
Family Mart unveils new Japanese bread that elevates convenience store food to mocchiri levels
14 tips for visiting the Mt Fuji Shibazakura Festival, where beautiful “lawn sakura” blossom
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Absolutely wow: Dawn of the new year seen from 30 km up【video】
Howl’s Moving Castle’s scene-stealing dog is here to clean your home as a plushie mop
Muji flagship store in Tokyo’s Ginza reopens after renovation and puts the focus on food【Photos】
Japan’s robot competition for people bad at making robots now accepting contestants