Space is not so much the final frontier as the last aggravation that drives you to the bottle in a Tokyo apartment. Short of a rich relative passing on their fortune, or robbing a bank, you won't be getting any more of it. So, you just have to get creative with what little you do have. In keeping with Japan's status as master of the cubicle, Thanko is turning out a nifty idea with its Chair Desk, a standard office chair on wheels with an attachable, adjustable miniature desktop to serve as a platform for your laptop. The outfit carries a price tag of ¥9,980. Check it out at www.thanko.jp/chairdesk/.
Taking it with you: Coleman Japan is equally adept at thinking way outside of the box to cope with a lack of infrastructure. Its new portable shower consists of a collapsible plastic water tank, battery-powered pump and rudimentary shower hose and nozzle. Using just four AA batteries, it can pump out 20 liters of water, although "pump" might be too strong a word to describe the water pressure that it can muster. But it beats driving home caked in sand and sweat after your day out. It costs ¥3,780, with details at www.coleman.co.jp/shop/goods/goods.aspx?goods=170-6438.
Fake felines: The only infatuation that can rival the one Japan has for pets is the obsession with their robotic ersatz rivals. Taking its place in the electronic menagerie is a new robot cat from Sega Toys, the Yume-Neko Smile (Dream Cat Smile). It looks like a pretty standard fluffy white or gray feline with slightly odd eyes, but reportedly technology allows it to act like a real cat. Five sensors in different parts of its body provide for different behaviors. Pet its head and it starts purring and flicking its tail; stroke its back to make it sleepy. Supposedly it also "enjoys" having its tummy rubbed. But don't touch its tail. The robot is priced at ¥8,379, with more information at segatoys.co.jp/yumepet/yumeneko/index.html. Now, if it's really true to life, it will simply wave its tail at you while it walks out the door when you call it . . .