Many of us possess all the culinary abilities of an aardvark. Bandai Namco is not about to have Michelin knocking on our doors to try out for its restaurant guide, but it at least promises to enable us to make sushi. The toy maker does this with its new automatic sushi roller. The little orange machine looks a bit like one of the manual washing machines with two rolling pins that were used in ancient times B.E. (before electricity). You simply load up the little orange machine with seaweed, rice and whatever other ingredients you opt for, crank the rollers, and out come the product of hours spent at cooking school. The suggested price is ¥2,940, with more information at www.bandainamco.co.jp/releases/2007062102.html. An ingenious device, as long as you aren't allergic to seafood.

Soba made easy: Takara Tomy is getting its slice of the action in aids for the cooking technique-challenged with its home soba making toy. Again, the idea is to keep it simple to the point of absurdity. Basically a black plastic box with a red bowl and handle, you simply put soba powder and water in the bowl, crank the handle and the gadget does the hard work of mixing the ingredients to produce ready-to-eat soba noodles. The device is due to hit the market in late October.

Gun to your head: Except for the terminally egotistic — at least those with flowing manes to manicure — using a hair dryer provides as much enjoyment as brushing your teeth. Nodoya might not turn the act of drying your follicles into after-dinner entertainment but it does manage to put a bit of fun into it with its new hair dryer. Rather than a utilitarian heater, this device looks like a revolver, complete with handle, barrel and trigger. Just hold the barrel to your head and squeeze the trigger. It comes with blue or pink handles and you pull back the hammer to adjust the settings. It costs ¥4,200, with more information at www.nodaya-net.com/11438.htm. Taking it in your carry-on baggage might provide some unintended airport amusement, although the power cord coming out of the end of the handle is a bit of a giveaway.