Some of the innovations here are brilliant and are sure to make you wonder “why don’t we have that?” – others might just seem silly. But one thing is for sure, Japan is full of creative inventions that are lightyears ahead of other countries.
And, of course, people love to say “they have that it _____ too!” Well, sure, but ALL 55 of these extra cool things can be found in Japan.
So scroll through and marvel at everything from refrigerators that come to you to all the ways the Japanese are obsessed with umbrellas.
1. They have face covers in fitting rooms so you don’t get oil or makeup on clothing you haven’t purchased
2. Parents can find baby holders in public bathroom stalls so they can use both hands
3. Some of their toilets let you wash your hands over the tank so it can be reused in the next flush
4. Instead of having janitors, Japanese students tidy their schools to learn responsibility and respect for their surroundings
5. They’ve built a futuristic “cemetary” where creamated remains take up very little space
6. Machines generate handwritten text so you look like you took the time to write a letter
7. They’ve invented an emotion detector for dogs that measures their heart rate so you know how stimuli affects your pup
8. You can find machines that recycle shredded office paper into toilet paper
9. They believe hospital food should actually be edible and appealing
10. Their manhole covers that are both functional and beautiful
11. Japanese fans stayed after a FIFA game to help clean up – and were happy to do it
12. They have over 300 scramble intersections that allow pedestrians to cross the street diagonally
13. Not only do people park inside the lines, they all back into their spots to make parking lots safer
14. ATMs have cane holders to accommodate Japan’s aging populating
15. Supermarkets have object scanners that reduce the need for stickers and bar codes
16. Tourist attractions have phone stands so you can take a timed photo that isn’t a terrible selfie
17. Japanese toilets will wash and warm your bum as well as play music or white noise so no one can hear your business
18. People have banded together to push a train car out of the way in order to help a person who fell in the gap
19. They have a system that shows which bathroom stalls are vacant or occupied so you don’t have to peer under every door
20. They have vending machines for everything – including hot food, umbrellas, produce, and medicine
21. Ceiling fans distribute heat so it doesn’t just shoot down into one spot
22. Someone built a school with a rooftop play space so kids can run around outside during the day
23. They’ve installed automatic plate-clearers in some restaurants
24. Self-service solo dining cubicles are a model of efficiency and the ultimate in not dealing with other humans
25. They invented an infrared calorie scanner to help people manage their diets (within an accuracy range of 20%)
26. People actually pay attention to signs
27. They sell dual exercise machines for owners and their pets
28. Someone created a voice-activated refrigerator that comes to you when you call it
29. Workers use wearable robotic exoskeleton to help lift heavy objects
30. They have a hands- and effort-free shirt wrinkle remover that eliminates the need to iron
31. They are collecting data about chewing via a device that hangs on your ear – it also tells you what animal you chew like
32. Someone created a portable butter stick, just because
33. Japanese bullet trains that are so smooth you can balance a coin on its side during a ride
34. Underground farms and gardens help people cultivate crops in a controlled space beneath busy cities
35. Drink cans have information in braille on top to help those with sight issues
36. Gum comes with little pieces of paper to wrap them in when you’re done so nothing gets sticky
37. Free umbrella lockers can be found in shopping centers so you don’t have to carry one around with you and potentially lose it
38. Their protests really stick it to the man and encourage change
39. Hotel lamps light up on one side in case someone wants to read but the other wants to sleep
40. Airports organize luggage in a way that actually helps you find your bag
41. Ergonomic railings keeps your hand from sliding
42. Some trains have smoking cars (because while smoking is bad for you, people still do it and need to travel)
43. Hospitals have sets of reading glasses with different prescriptions to help people fill out forms
44. Some roadside channels full of koi fish – and they stay alive because roads are clean
45. A beverage company expanded it’s offerings to include vending machines with free umbrellas for those caught in the rain
46. Some lifts have an emergency seat/toilet/supply stash in case of disasters
47. Some taxis have a button that allows you to request a slower ride
48. They’ve invented a device that allows fathers to approximate the benefits of breastfeeding
49. A company sells robotic luggage that follows you around instead of having to be dragged along
50. Parking spots for the disabled can only be opened with a special key card that you have to apply for so no one can steal the spots
51. They have smartphone wipe dispensers so you can keep your phone free of germs
52. You can buy a lightweight “Transformer” bag that turns into a stand for laptops, sheet music, etc.
53. This robotic vaccuum also cleans itself by returning to a station to empty out dust and dirt when it’s full
54. Shopping centers have free refrigerated produce lockers so you can store your perishable items while you do more shopping
55. Some tall buildings have elevator signs that lights up when it’s raining so you don’t have to go all the way back up for your umbrella
So which Japanese innovation is your favorite? Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.