While I was browsing iTunes via iPod Touch, I realized the old arcade game Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) from Konami has ranked high as its popular downloads. It has been eleven years since they placed their first arcade game machine, and it seems like a long time since the game created a big hit in Japan.

The concept of the game is still the same in principle: arrows appear from the bottom of the screen scrolling upwards, and users are supposed to press when the arrow comes at the indicator placed at the top. With iPhone version, the game provides two modes called Game Mode and Shake Mode.

Game Mode, which users tap the keys appeared on screen, seem old-fashioned: The fact that the buttons appear properly facing four different directions while the indicator on top showing when to press these buttons placed horizontal, seems like a big compromise, now that we have Nintendo Wii and many other consoles enabling more intuitive controls and feedback.

Shake Mode, was more interesting, as it utilized the accelerometer on the device instead. In principle you simply need to tilt the device towards to instead of the buttons. And in cases when user need to press two buttons at once, since obviously you cannot tilt the device to two directions like left and right at the same time, you simply need to jump instead.

The software is quite expensive, costing about 800 yen (6 Euros), and for me most of those dance tracks are musically unbearable. But I believe the game still has its appeal to male in 30s, who owns iPhone or iPod Touch and have earlier enjoyed the game while it was at its hype. And let’s not forget, iPhone did not come out as a gaming device; Yet it enables games to run smoothly and detects tilts and shakes promptly for such a timing-crucial-game.

Little kids seem to have problem to understand the act of brushing teeth. Looking at how parents do, they simply stick the toothbrush inside and move it back and forth, but not necessarily placing the brush part against their teeth.
A simple idea behind a new toothbrush from Vivatec is to make the brush area everywhere. With this toothbrush there is no longer notion of wrong side and right side, or wrong angle or right angle.

A thought after visiting Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, on a long weekend during
schools’ spring break, in a perfect spring weather. This is the day
when no family can stay at home. And it is also a perfect day, unfortunately, to lose a child in a crowd.

The
situation is not new to this zoo, however, and preventive measures are
taken. As soon as you enter the zoo, you will find people, voluntary
staffs organized by Japan Red Cross, handing over Maigo-Fuda, a
lost child tag. On the small temporary table placed right after,
parents can write down the child’s name, gender, and the phone numbers
to contact, if they wish to do so. Then, the card is to be kept in a
pocket of the child.

A website
run by one of the volunteers mentions that there are two different card
designs: one, comes in a plain form, just like the one in the image
above. Alternative design comes in a panda illustration. According to
her, the latter obviously appeals to children more.

It made me think, that perhaps in this context, it is best that the card does not appeal to children.
Kids, when they like something, they tend to hold on to them. To be
precise, they tend to hold on, until they find something that attracts
them more, like a lion or an elephant. And when that transition of
interest happens, the object in hand is often at a risk of loss.

So
in this particular context, the plain practical card without any pandas
or lions drawn seems like a better idea. That way, kids will not be
attracted to the card from the beginning and they will be safely stored
in a pocket.

Sometimes, we need design that does not attract.

Day cares and elementary schools, the very first homework they give to the kids and their parents is to write down the names on every single item you bring in to the facility.

For example, my two-year-old daughter will need to bring following every single day:
- Three tops, e.g. T-shirts or pull over depending on the season
- Three bottoms
- Three under shirts
- Pajamas
- An under pants and/or diapers
- A pair of socks
- Three bibs
- A plastic bag for dirty clothes
- A plastic bag for dirty shoes
- A towel

In addition, every week you need to bring:
- Shoes
- A plastic bag for dirty shoes
- A large towel to be used as bed covers
- A big bag

It seems almost crazy that we need to write names for literally hundreds of times. Especially when it comes to disposable things like plastic bags or diapers. But then again, I do understand that when there are only few teachers and there are dozens of kids to take care of, what seems like a small hassle of identifying the owner can be tricky.

So far, my problem about writing names is as follows:
- Permanent markers, they aren’t permanent. When clothes go through heavy washing routines, name written with those markers could easily wear off.
- I ordered name stickers that can be placed on clothes using iron. This works but the problem is that kids grow so quickly that in a matter of 2-3 months, many clothes are replaced.
- Embroidery. I like it but I wouldn’t have time for all of them.

This time, my attempt is to use label printers. Label printers are available for both PC and standalone. I type in the name and press print. You can not only type Japanese, but also English, numbers, or let’s not forget, some characters like Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck, depending on the model. I have to emphasize that I do not like those characters myself, but kids like them and also there is more likelihood that they identify their own goods than without. The tape comes in laminated paper or cloth to be used on clothes and other objects. They also come in different combination of ink colors, tape colors, and width.

The fact that I have an alternative to supposedly-permanent markers is great. At least we were happy to see that finally, our mayonnaise tube will remember the date it has been opened, without those dates being eventually wiped off with our hands’ grease. Whether this would be the solution for what seems like an eternal name writing hell, I have to see how it goes as I use these labels. 

I do not know how they manage to do it, but Bandai once again created a hit product, but this time, with their bath product line.

more))

Recently, major design awards such as Japan’s Good Design 2008, iF Product Design 2009 and reddot 2009, have given an award to a design label GRiD, for their new product called TAG, a USB memory stick.

It is just a simple product but it allows us to carry easily and visibly, as it utilizes an elastic material as a tail which ends with a loop to create a strap from itself.

I purchased one to try out. I felt the product is still in its early phase, as I saw a glimpse of glue between the rubber and the USB port. Other than that, you will come to appreciate particularly you start to carrying it with you. It is indeed a nice feel that finally, you have a way to carry these tiny gadget accessories are not lost inside my bag black hole.

Available at amazon.co.jp, currently comes in three colors, black, white, and red. According to their product website, they seem to have other color variants planned.
 
GRid TAG: http://grid.rightning.com/index.html
Design Firm, Rightning: http://www.rightning.com

I wonder how many of us are certain which colors actually look good on us. Or how many of us have experienced shopping failures, like buying new clothes only to realize that you already have a very similar color or a material at home; Or out of a challenging spirit purchased a red dress but despite of all your intention to wear, left sleeping in your closet for two seasons.

At least I have all the experiences I listed above. Then out of nowhere help from a professional  came by chance. Haruhi, a friend from the university, has recently started a consultation business to help us “the fashion confused”, to learn more about ourselves. Three of us visited her to receive a personal color & style consultation.

more))

In modern times where many food go across the ocean, perhaps Natto is not a new term for many. Natto is fermented soy beans, which has strong scent for Japanese food. What is worse, it is sticky. So sticky that you, your chopsticks, and a bowl that contains it, would end up being connected in one sticky slimy string unless you draw big circles in the air to detach one another.

more))