A new tablet may be the last gasp of the Galapagos syndrome in Japan.

Apple's iPad, introduced earlier this year, is not only a smash hit, it has created a whole new consumer space for tablet computing. While competitors such as RIM and Samsung are feverishly working on rival tablets, at present the iPad has the sector all to itself, with even the traditionally closed Japanese market embracing Apple's "magical and revolutionary" device.

Enter the Galapagos tablet from Sharp. The device, recently showcased at the CEATEC conference held at the Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba, comes in 5.5-inch and 10.8-inch sizes, has onboard games and a custom social network, and has a Japanese-language e-book reader along with an online magazine and bookstore.