Unlike Tamagotchi or the Nintendo DS, the latest Japanese gadget does not bleep, comes without voice recognition system and will not connect to the Internet.

But for ¥500 and hours of dedicated practice, a Pen'z Gear pen, which goes on sale in late February, will come in handy when showing off one's pen-spinning techniques.

"The product was created for pen-spinning beginners. The adjustable weight of the pen and its designated length make it easy to handle in one's hands," said Masaki Tsukada, chairman of Pen Spinning Association Japan.