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May 02, 2024
 

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Rick Martin
For Rick Martin's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
Jan 11, 2012
Cyborg teddy bears, telephonic androids, USB missiles set to stun
Assuming you haven't had your fill of toys already this past holiday season, we have a lineup of three gadgets that look particularly fun.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
Dec 28, 2011
Looking forward to the next year in tech
If you can manage to look past the bummer of Mayan doomsday prophecies, 2012 looks pretty promising from a tech geek's point of view.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
Dec 14, 2011
Perfect toys for retro gamers and karaoke fans
People who were kids during the early days of console gaming often look for ways to recapture the the excitement of that time. Those who spent hours playing the Famicom here in Japan, for example, still have a weakness for retro gaming. And while there are many ways to relive gaming glorydays (Famicom Cafe in Shibuya is a fun one), Hyperkin's SupaBoy might just be one of the greatest.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
Nov 23, 2011
Ultrabook goes Zen; camera sees double
It will be interesting to see how far the 3-D bandwagon can chug along before it runs out of gas. Consumers don't seem too excited about 3-D TVs or 3-D personal computers anymore, but nevertheless, Panasonic hopes that its new Lumix DMC-3D1 camera will inject some enthusiasm back into the market.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
Nov 9, 2011
Project from an iPhone and tell the time at the speed of light
Japanese company Thanko, the creator of an assortment of crazy — if not always practical — gadgets, has recently released an intriguing device targeting iPhone users. The iPhone Mini Projector is tiny, at 48 × 58 × 16 mm, and weighs only 32 grams. But once connected to an iPhone it projects the display onto nearby surfaces.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
Oct 26, 2011
A camera worth saving for, and the first Android 4.0 smartphone
Last week, Canon announced its new EOS-1D X DSLR camera, the latest addition to its 1D series, replacing both the EOS-1Ds Mark III and Mark IV models. The 1D X is Canon's top-of-the-line offering, targeting professionals and high-end photographers. With a hefty price tag of ¥650,000 (for the body only), it doesn't come cheap, but for pros out there who haven't updated in a while, this will certainly be one to consider when it goes on sale in Japan in March.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
Oct 12, 2011
New toys for retro gamers and wannabe rockers
Nostalgic gaming fans old enough to remember "Space Invaders" no doubt look back on it as one of the most memorable video games of years gone by. Japan's Taito Corporation created the arcade game back in 1978, and it has been a classic ever since.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
Sep 28, 2011
A brand new touchscreen device for every pocket
It has been a rough year for Sony after its PlayStation Network security breach this past spring. But it has enjoyed a bit of a respite after rolling out its new pair of tablets this past month, as well as showing off its forthcoming handheld game device, Vita, at Tokyo Game Show.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
Sep 14, 2011
Smartphones replacing cameras? Not so fast!
For many consumers, compact cameras have gone the way of the dinosaur thanks to the growing popularity of smartphones. Why take a camera around in your right pocket, when you already have a camera phone in your left? Indeed, the term "camera phone" is itself somewhat outdated since nearly every mobile phone these days comes with a camera built-in. Nevertheless, there are some specific cases where a smartphone just won't do the job. And we're going to look at two of those today.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
Aug 24, 2011
Panasonic and Sharp betting that, in Japan, 7 inches is enough
It's obvious that tablet computers are making their mark on the electronics world, with Hewlett Packard this past week citing "the tablet effect" as a reason to consider a spinoff of its PC business. That's big. Especially as the company also said that it will cease production of its own tablet, the TouchPad, less than two months after it hit the shelves — effectively throwing in the towel in the battle with the iPad.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
Aug 10, 2011
Keep cool with a cold beverage and a strategically placed fan
Now that we're into August, many of us here in Japan are looking for new ways to beat the summer heat. Some people have purchased "green curtain" kits, growing walls of goya vines to cool their homes or offices. Others are opting for "Super Cool Biz" attire in an effort to stay comfortable in the office.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
Jul 27, 2011
Compact new interchangable-lens camera plus a solar-powered lamp/charger
Japanese camera maker Pentax made the news earlier this month, having been acquired by Ricoh for ¥10 billion. But just prior to that, Pentax rolled out what it hailed as the world's smallest and lightest interchangeable-lens digital camera: the Pentax Q.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
Jul 13, 2011
Toys for all ages at Tokyo show
The 2011 International Tokyo Toy Show was held last month at Tokyo Big Sight, and Japanese toy-makers were in attendance to show their wondrous wares to potential buyers, not to mention a veritable army of kids. This year saw everything from figures to remote-control vehicles, robots to iPhone games. Here are a few of the more notable products at this year's exhibition.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
Jun 22, 2011
Sony's surprising speakers; Minebea's keyless keyboard
While all eyes have been on Sony because of the security breaches on its PlayStation Network recently, the company also quietly rolled out a device for all you audiophiles out there when it announced two new speaker-dock systems made for Apple's iPhone and iPods.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
Jun 8, 2011
Express yourself with a wiggle of Necomimi or make music with the Ningen Gakki
One of the fun things about writing about Japanese technology is that every once in a while you come across a device that elicits both genuine admiration and a jaw-dropping reaction. And I'm delighted to report on two such gadgets today, both of which have generated some pretty significant Internet buzz.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
May 25, 2011
Walkman's latest version and a new camera from Panasonic
It was not without a little sadness that we witnessed the end of Sony's Walkman cassette model last year. Sure it was a long time coming, but the Walkman brand is only rivaled by the iPod in the history of portable music. Thankfully, the brand still lives on in more modern Sony products. The latest of these was revealed earlier this month, as the company announced its new Walkman B Series.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
May 11, 2011
This summer, cute animal gizmos will make 'cool biz' even cooler
Summer is just around the corner, and office workers are starting to don their lighter "cool biz" clothing in order to beat the heat. Japanese gadget-maker Cube Works (you may know them from the infamous humping dog USB stick) has rolled out a series of cute little fans to help you stay chilled.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
Apr 27, 2011
Acer and Toshiba serve up Windows 7 to go
The tablet market continues to be increasingly crowded as the recently launched iPad 2 fends off a veritable Android army. And Taiwanese hardware-maker Acer made the fight even more interesting when it threw its hat into the ring this month, with the announcement that is will soon launch its brand new Iconia W500 tablet in Japan.
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
Apr 13, 2011
A cat-shaped mini-camera and stick-on controller-style gaming pads for iPhone
You could be fooled into believing that necono, from superheadz, is simply a decorative cat figurine to dangle from your key chain. It is, however, a quirky digital camera. and may just be the thing to coax a few smiles out of any camera-shy people you know.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
Mar 30, 2011
New TVs get socially networked while a solar-powered lamp saves energy.
At the Consumer Electronics Show 2011 in Las Vegas earlier this year, Sony previewed its new line of BRAVIA LCD televisions, and the company has now announced that they will be released at the end of April.
'So hot you can't breathe': Extreme heat hits the Philippines
A pedestrian cools himself with a folding hand fan as he waits for a ride along a road in Manila on Wednesday, as extreme heat hit the Philippines.
Did Japan intervene to prop up the yen? Analysts think it did.
A man walks past an electronic board displaying the exchange rate for the yen against the U.S. dollar (right) in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Town to block view of Mount Fuji in response to overtourism
The town government of Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, decided to set up a 2.5-meter-high screen to prevent tourists from taking pictures of Mount Fuji looming behind a convenience store.
Number of vacant homes in Japan hits record high of 9 million
A vacant house in Tokyo is seen demolished in January 2020.
Weak yen fattens tourist wallets in Japan
People visit the Ameya Yokocho market in Tokyo's Ueno district during the Golden Week holiday on Tuesday.
Kishida sets sights on energy and climate in South America trip
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will use a policy speech in Sao Paulo to set out his vision for ties between Japan and South America, almost 10 years after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe advocated for stronger ties between the two in the same city.
Yellow sand allergy: A health issue made worse by climate change
A screenshot of the Meteorological Agency's satellite image of clouds and yellow sand (in pink) on Sunday.
Climate change, chalky grains and the risks for Japan’s rice farmers
A farmer plants seedlings in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Prefecture. Japan’s self sufficiency rate for rice is nearly 100%, compared with 38% for food overall, on a calorie basis.
Japan wants you to spend more with ‘luxury tourism’
Performers play a traditional drum unique to Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, in the prefectural capital of Kanazawa on March 16 to mark the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to Tsuruga Station in Fukui Prefecture.
Theaster Gates’ ambitious ‘Afro-Mingei’ brings Black Chicago to Tokyo
Theaster Gates' “A Heavenly Chord” lines up church pews before seven speakers and a Hammond B3 organ, a type of electric organ prevalent in Black American churches.

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

When trying to trace your lineage in Japan, the "koseki" is the most important form of document you'll encounter.
Climbing the branches of a Japanese family tree
By Alex K.T. Martin

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