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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →These Japanese gadgets are designed around specific jobs, from washing shoes to steering a fan toward one person. The list below reflects products described in Courtney Holt’s Engadget article, published September 19, 2026; its specifications, prices, and availability are reported figures, not independently confirmed current listings.
What makes these gadgets unusual?
They are not one category of technology. They range from a conversational robot and a flagship phone to a shoe washer and a noise indicator. Their common thread is specialization: each is built to address a particular everyday task or experience. A distinctive design does not, by itself, show that a device is practical or easy to buy outside Japan.
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The source available for this list did not preserve all ten entries: it identifies nine products or product lines, and does not provide enough information to name or describe the tenth. The descriptions and figures below are attributed to Holt’s September 19, 2026 article, rather than presented as independently tested specifications. Yahoo Tech
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Gadgets for companionship and communication
1. Sharp Poketomo
Poketomo is described as a palm-sized, meerkat-inspired AI companion. It can reportedly remember conversations and experiences, recognize faces and surroundings, and respond with movement and light. It may also start conversations, while an app can create a day record from the robot’s perspective.
#1 Best Overall
- Compact: With its compact size and ability to cook as little as 1/2 a cup of rice or oats, this rice cooker is ideal for small families or couples
- Steel Cut Oatmeal Menu Setting: This is a special menu setting for cooking steel-cut oatmeal. The cooking flow is different than the regular Porridge setting and has a shorter completion time
- Brown or GABA Brown Menu Setting: The Brown Rice Activation (or GABA Brown Setting) activates brown rice by keeping the temperature inside the pan at about 104 degrees F for 2 hours. By activating brown rice, GABA, one of the nutrients contained in brown rice, increases its amount by 1.5 times as much as that contained in non-activated brown rice
- Long Grain White Menu Setting: This is a special menu setting for cooking long-grain white rice. The cooking flow is different than the White rice setting because long-grain white rice cooks differently than short or medium-grain white rice
- Easy to Transport and Hassle Free Storing: It can be transported easily with the help of a fold-down handle. The built-in retractable power cord makes moving and storing hassle-free
Holt reported an approximate price of $400 before a monthly subscription, so the purchase price does not represent the full cost of use. The article said Taiwan became the first market outside Japan on July 1, 2026; that is a dated market-launch report, not confirmation of current availability there or elsewhere.
2. Sharp AQUOS R11
The AQUOS R11 is presented as a 2026 flagship-style phone. Reported specifications include a 6.5-inch Pro IGZO OLED display with a variable 1–240 Hz refresh rate and peak brightness up to 3,600 nits. Its listed cameras are 50.3 megapixels for both the standard and ultrawide cameras, plus a 38.5-megapixel telephoto camera with 2.9x optical zoom.
The article also describes an Acharium light-and-sound feature and Smart Fit Zoom, and gives an approximate price of $1,100. These are article-era figures; verify the exact model, bands, software support, warranty, and price in your market before considering an import.
Rank #2
- Fuzzy Logic Technology: Allows this rice maker to sense the moisture content of the rice, adjust the temperature and cooking time accordingly. Results in perfectly cooked fluffy rice every time, without the need for manual adjustments or guesswork. It also helps the rice maker cook other types of grains and dishes to perfection by adjusting the cooking parameters to the specific needs of the food.
- Cooking Versatility: The Japanese rice cooker with 11 programs to suit eating habits like white rice, brown rice, sushi, pasta, soup, stew, saute, steamed veggies. It can easily meet the needs of families and gatherings.
- Effortless Operation: The Multi Use Programmable Rice Cooker is user-friendly with LCD Touch control panel, automatically switches to keep warm. 30 minutes fast cook can be flexible with your cooking plans.
- 6 Cups Capacity: This compact rice cooker can cook up to 6 cups of uncooked rice (12 cups cooked), perfect for families. The portable size and convenient handle, make it easy to store , and also convenient to take out camping.
- Easy to Clean: With the non-stick coating, the cleaning of the inner pot is like a breeze. All the inner pot, steam valve base and upper lid are removeable for hand-wash.
Gadgets for heat and airflow
3. Thanko Fanbrella POLE PLUS
This umbrella puts a fan in its shaft, directing air toward the user’s face or head while the canopy provides shade and UV protection. The article reports three fan speeds, up to about 4.5 hours of operation depending on the setting, a weight of about 350 g, IPX7 water resistance, and airflow 20% greater than the previous model. It lists a Japan price of about $47.
Those figures do not establish how long it lasts in every mode or how well it performs in particular weather. Before buying, check battery charging and replacement details, and whether the listed water-resistance rating applies to the whole umbrella or only specified components.
4. Siroca Mekubari Fan, model SF-HC151
The Mekubari Fan is described as using a human-recognition sensor to direct airflow toward one detected person or toward multiple people in separate modes. It also reportedly has gesture controls and eight airflow settings. The source gives no price, battery or power details, dimensions, or current availability, so a direct value comparison with the Fanbrella is not possible from the information reported.
Rank #3
- Micro computerized fuzzy logic technology. Capacity Up to 5.5 cups / 1.0 liter,Dimensions (W x D x H) 10-1/8 x 14 x 8-1/2 inches. The electrical rating is 120 volts / 610 watts
- Automatic keep warm, extended keep warm and reheating cycle
- Easy to clean clear coated stainless steel exterior, 2 delay time settings
- Interchangeable melody and beep signal
- Built in retractable power cord
Gadgets for cleaning and personal care
5. Thanko Kutsu Araimasenka 3
This compact shoe-washing machine uses water, detergent, and a rotating brush. The article reports capacity for one adult pair up to 10.5 inches or as many as two pairs of children’s shoes, depending on shoe shape. Its brush is removable, allowing the machine to handle other small items. The reported price is around $93.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIt is a dedicated appliance, not a guarantee that every shoe can be machine-washed safely. Check care instructions for the footwear first, and confirm the machine’s size, water handling, and cleaning or replacement-part requirements before importing it.
6. TeteMousse
TeteMousse is described as a water-resistant device that combines shampooing with scalp massage. Holt’s article reports a Japan launch in November 2025, but the available description does not identify the manufacturer or provide further specifications, price, power requirements, or care instructions. Those details should not be assumed from the product category.
Rank #4
- 5-1/2-cup computerized rice cooker and warmer with advanced Neuro Fuzzy logic technology. Wall mountable
- Multi-menu selections; automatic keep-warm, extended keep-warm, and reheat cycles. Electrical Rating - 120 volts / 680 watts
- Spherical, nonstick inner pan allows for uniform heating; LCD clock and timer; retractable cord
- Menu settings include white (regular/sushi, softer or harder), mixed, porridge, sweet, semi-brown, brown, rinse-free and quick cooking
- Measures approximately 14 by 8 by 9 inches; 1-year limited warranty, Dimensions (W x D x H) : 10-1/8 x 13 x 8-1/8 inches
Gadgets for massage and noise awareness
7. Doshisha Gorilla’s Two Grips Massager, model GRM-2501
This calf-and-thigh wrap is described as having eight airbags and two removable textured pads. The article attributes the phrase “a painfully pleasurable sensation, just like being grabbed by a gorilla” to Doshisha. That is product language reported secondhand, not an independently verified quotation.
Holt also reports that the manual restricts use to Japan and quotes it as saying the product “cannot be used in foreign countries.” Because the manual itself was not available in the source material, treat this as an important reported restriction to verify against the official manual before use abroad.
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8. King Jim Oshizukani Light
This noise-level indicator lights when ambient sound exceeds a selected threshold. The article reports sensitivity settings of approximately 60, 70, or 80 dBA and replaceable or customizable display sheets. It also says King Jim specifies Japan-only use. Check the official instructions for the reason and scope of that restriction before importing or operating it elsewhere.
Best Value
- Easy-to-use single switch control
- See-through glass lid with stay cool knob
- Stay cool handles for easy transport
- Durable nonstick inner cooking pan
- Every Zojirushi rice cooker comes with a plastic measuring cup. This cup has a capacity of 6-ounces, or about 3/4 of a U.S. measuring cup. The capacity of the rice cooker is counted in these 6-ounce cups of uncooked short grain white rice. One 6-ounce cup of raw rice makes about 2 to 3, 6-ounce cups of cooked rice
One product entry is not identifiable
9. Archelis product
The available article text says Archelis limits sales to corporations, but it does not preserve a complete product name or description. That is not enough to identify what the item does, so no further product details can be stated reliably.
The same article is framed as a ten-item roundup, but the available text does not identify the remaining entry. Naming a tenth gadget would mean guessing, so this is not a complete ten-product inventory.
What to check before buying one outside Japan
Reported US prices and product specifications should not be treated as live offers or independent verification. For any specific item, establish whether it can be shipped to your country and confirm compatibility and support before purchase.
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Quick Recap
- Availability and total cost: Confirm current stock, shipping, import charges, and any recurring subscription. The Poketomo price reported in the article excludes its monthly subscription.
- Power and connectivity: Check charging or voltage requirements and, for connected devices, radio-band and network compatibility for your region.
- Use restrictions: Read the official manual, particularly for the Doshisha massager and King Jim light, for which Japan-only restrictions are reported.
- Warranty and service: Ask whether the manufacturer supports the product where you live and whether replacement parts or repairs are available.
- Fit for the task: For specialized appliances such as the shoe washer, verify that your intended items fit and can safely be cleaned that way.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
