15 best Japanese products and gadgets you need in your life



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These cool Japanese inventions will make your life better &ndash; from erasable pens to gorgeous coffee and tea drippers
















Written by&nbsp;

Kaila Imada
&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;

Kasey Furutani
Wednesday 15 June 2022






FacebooTwitterPinterestEmaiWhJapan&nbsp;is chock-full of inimitable and wacky products ranging from the fun but&nbsp;not-so-practical&nbsp;novelty trinkets to the inventive and useful solutions for everyday living.&nbsp;If you&#39;re on the hunt for&nbsp;life-changing kitchen appliances and beautiful yet functional homeware, you&#39;ve come to the right place. Corny keychains and snow globes these are not &ndash; here are&nbsp;some products that make great Japanese souvenirs.&nbsp;







Kitchen and dining











Photo: Daiso



Daiso Standard Products Japanese kitchen knives




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A proper Japanese kitchen knife is always a popular item to buy in Japan, but it doesn&rsquo;t come cheap. Daiso&rsquo;s new lifestyle store Standard Products offers high-quality basics at affordable prices, including three stainless steel knives that are made in Gifu prefecture. There&rsquo;s a bread knife, a kitchen knife and a petty knife. These affordable slicers are produced in Seki, a city known for its knives and blades industry, while the handles are fashioned out of Japanese wood. Unfortunately, Standard Products has no online shop, so you&rsquo;ll have to pick this up at the store.&nbsp;

From &yen;1,100, at&nbsp;Daiso Standard Products&nbsp;(in-store only).

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Photo: Ash Concept



Kinome ceramic coffee filter




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This reusable coffee filter makes it look as if you&rsquo;re watering a tiny plant when it&rsquo;s filled with coffee grounds. The little sprout in the filter functions as a guide for the appropriate amount of coffee grounds to put in and water to pour. No additional paper filter is needed to brew your coffee, and you can easily clean the filter by running it under water. When not used for brewing, the pot makes a nice decoration on the kitchen shelf.

&yen;5,500, from&nbsp;Koncent.










Photo: Hario



Hario Cha Cha Dripper




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Forget flimsy tea bags. The new way to brew your tea is with this beautiful dripper from Hario. Similar to making a pour over coffee, this brewing method uses a paper filter, which sits inside the cone-shaped dripper. Simply sprinkle your desired amount of tea leaves into the cone and pour in hot water until your tea is filtered into the heat-resistant glass below.&nbsp;

&yen;3,300, from&nbsp;Hario.

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Photo: Mitani Electric Co., Ltd.



Nonbee Yokocho electric sake heater




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Enjoy an izakaya night at home with this convenient electric sake heater that warms up your sake at the table. While microwaving sake can ruin its taste, this smart device allows you to heat up your sake directly in a decanter or glass using a warm water bath. The portable size also means you can easily keep the heater at the table so the sake stays consistently warm. The settings on the device allow you to choose the temperature between 35 and 59 degrees Celsius.

&yen;6,380, from&nbsp;Rakuten.

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Photo: Kamenoko Tawashi



Kamenoko Tawashi scrubbers




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Kamenoko Tawashi scrubbers are a staple in any Japanese household. Made from palm fibres,&nbsp;tawashi&nbsp;are gently abrasive, making them great for cleaning everything from root vegetables to pots and pans without leaving scratches. In addition to the standard&nbsp;tawashi, you&rsquo;ll also find several variations ranging from heavy duty brushes with coarse bristles to soft hemp fibres for your delicate items.&nbsp;

From &yen;407, at&nbsp;Kamenoko Tawashi.

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Photo: Vita Craft



Vita Craft Temp Pan




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This unique frying pan comes with a built-in temperature sensor to help you cook with precision. The pan is available in two sizes, either 22cm or 26cm in diameter, and also comes with a glass lid. Conveniently, it works with both gas and induction stovetops. The temperature of the pan is displayed on the handle and it just needs two triple A batteries to function.&nbsp;

From &yen;8,800, at&nbsp;Vita Craft.










Photo: Thanko



Thanko bento rice cooker




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Nothing beats the comfort of freshly cooked rice and with this bento box rice cooker, you&rsquo;ll never have to reheat rice again. The size of a small lunch box, this rice cooker is designed to cook a single serving of rice as quickly as possible. It&rsquo;s highly portable and can be plugged in anywhere, including at your desk. The bento rice cooker is a creation of Thanko, an electronics company known for out-there appliances like the&nbsp;underarm air-con, but we say any rice cooker that can double as a lunchbox is genius &ndash; now we just need a mini frying pan with a lid.&nbsp;

&yen;6,980, available online from&nbsp;Thanko.

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Household goods











Photo: POJ Studio



POJ Studio Kintsugi Kit




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Embrace the Japanese ethos of&nbsp;wabi sabi&nbsp;with this DIY Kintsugi Kit from&nbsp;Pieces of Japan. Kitsugi is the art of mending broken pottery by filling in cracks, chips or broken areas with lacquer and gold. You can try it out for yourself, guided by the easy-to-follow instructions on POJ&rsquo;s&nbsp;YouTube masterclass. The kit is created in collaboration with a master restorer and follows the traditional Japanese method, which will help your items last longer. Best of all, POJ ships internationally, so you can experience a bit of Japan from wherever you are.&nbsp;

&yen;14,000, from&nbsp;POJ Studio.

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Photo: Koncent



Michi-Kusa Vase




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This petite flower vase is perfect for small living spaces and adds an instant pop of nature to any room. Unlike a regular vase, this one functions similar to an ikebana holder where you place flowers between the small spikes for easy arrangement. You don&rsquo;t need to go all out with fancy flowers, either. The vase is inspired by&nbsp;michikusa, or roadside flowers, meaning you can simply pluck a cute bloom or leaf from the street on your way home.&nbsp;

&yen;2,200, from&nbsp;Koncent









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Photo: Hibi



Hibi incense




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Incense isn&rsquo;t just reserved for temples and shrines. Hibi, meaning &lsquo;everyday&rsquo; in Japanese, are matchstick-style incense sticks that burn for ten minutes. Scratch the stick against the box, place it on the applicable mat and enjoy natural scents like lemongrass, sandalwood, lavender and more. Highly portable and compact, everything you need is within the box so you can light incense anywhere, anytime.&nbsp;

Starting from &yen;770, available&nbsp;online&nbsp;or at&nbsp;retailers in Japan







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Photo: Frixon



Frixion erasable pens




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From trusty pen brand Pilot, these erasable ballpoint pens and highlighters mean you&rsquo;ll never have to cross-out your work again. Using a special ink that turns invisible when heated, Frixion pens look like magic the first time you erase a line. They&rsquo;re available in a rainbow of colours, and even better, you can purchase ink refills so you can use the same pen forever. Since the ink disappears at high temperatures, though, you might want to stick to a traditional ballpoint when signing a document.&nbsp;

From &yen;189. Available at most convenience and stationery stores.

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Beauty and bath











Photo: Dinos



Soil diatomaceous bath mat




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Produced in Akita and Ishikawa prefectures, this quick-drying bath mat is essentially a large, flat stone made from natural diatomaceous soil that has deodorising and quick-drying properties. Thanks to its porous nature, the mat wicks away moisture instantly and dries fast, too. The mats don&rsquo;t need to be washed, but for general upkeep, gently polish it with sandpaper. It&rsquo;s especially useful when the weather&rsquo;s humid.

&yen;9,680, from&nbsp;Dinos.

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Photo: fb.com/yojiya1904



Yojiya aburatorigami




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Oil blotting paper can be found throughout the world, but&nbsp;Yojiya&rsquo;s&nbsp;aburatorigami&nbsp;is the vintage wine of blotting sheets. Originally used by geisha, kabuki and film actors, Yojiya&rsquo;s oil blotting paper was released in 1920 and soon became popular with Kyoto locals for its gentle texture, perfect for sensitive skin. The paper is now sold in a compact-style notebook that&rsquo;s discreet enough to use in public.

From &yen;530. Available&nbsp;online&nbsp;and at Yojiya&nbsp;stores&nbsp;in Kyoto and Haneda and Narita airports.&nbsp; &nbsp;










Photo: Kisa Toyoshima



Onsen bath powder




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While initially shocking, first-time visitors to Japan are bewitched by the warm waters of onsen, or hot springs. You can&#39;t bring home the onsen water &ndash; however, onsen enthusiasts can turn their own humble bathroom into a hot spring with special boxes of bath salts sold in drugstores. One of the most popular brands is Tabi no Yado, which offers two types of powder, clear and milky, to recreate the warm waters of famous onsen including Kusatsu, Hakone and Beppu.&nbsp;

From &yen;590. Available at most drugstores.

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Photo: Kisa Toyoshima



Kao MegRhythm heated eye mask




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When a normal eye mask just won&rsquo;t cut it, try putting a heated pad on your face. Kao MegRhythm is a heated eye mask that feels like a warm spa towel. Perfect for long plane rides, the mask heats up and soothes your eyes and forehead to prevent puffiness and fatigue when you wake up. The masks come in a variety of scents: lavender is supposed to ease you into sleep, while yuzu apparently energises your body and appearance. For something to wake you up after a quick nap at work, there&rsquo;s the menthol eye mask.

From &yen;980. Available at most drugstores.






Photos: Kisa Toyoshima; design: Saiko Miyasato



10 best confectionery gifts in Tokyo: chocolate, cakes, snacks and more





	Shopping
	Chocolate and sweets






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From cakes and cookies to chocolate and potato chips, Tokyo&rsquo;s souvenir sweets are some of the best around

The source is&nbsp;https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/shopping/best-japanese-products





1. Department Stores

Visiting a department store, such as Mitsukoshi or Takashimaya, is quite an experience. Department stores offer a luxurious shopping experience with a high level of customer service. Every morning at 10:00 am, there is a formal opening ceremony. The doors all open at the exact same time while the staff stands at the entrance welcoming and bowing to the customers.

The basement of a department store features grocery shopping, Japanese sweets, bread shops, flower shops, prepared meals, and bento boxes. The other floors offer clothing, household goods, and premium restaurants.
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2. Specialty Stores

Japan has some interesting specialty stores, including Loft and Tokyu Hands. These stores offer a variety of goods, such as cosmetics, clothing, western items, costumes, household goods, stationary, and sporting goods.

Uniqlo is a Japanese clothing store with simple designs at reasonable prices. Muji is another store with clothing as well as stationary, cosmetics, and household goods.
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3. Electronics Stores

There are several massive electronics stores in Japan, such as Bic Camera, Yamada Denki, and Yodobashi Camera. You can find all the latest cameras, cell phones, computers, and video games at these stores. Famous areas for electronics shopping are Akihabara in Tokyo and Den Den Town in Osaka.
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4. Shopping Malls

Shopping malls are popping up all over Japan. These large shopping centers, such as Aeon Mall, offer clothing stores, household goods, a food court, high-end restaurants, a grocery store, and a movie theater.
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5. Outlet Shopping

Japan has several areas for outlet shopping with the most popular at Shizuoka&rsquo;s Gotemba Outlet. You can find Japanese and western brands at discount prices.
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6. Shopping Arcades

Japan shopping arcades are covered shopping streets with small retail stores and restaurants. There are also underground shopping arcades usually around train and subway stations that offer a vast network of stores and restaurants.
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7. Markets

Every city has fresh markets selling fish, fruits and vegetables, and household goods. One notable market is the Tsukiji Market in Tokyo.

There are also markets near shrines and temples. These are a great place to buy souvenirs and Japanese sweets.
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8. Convenience Stores

Japan has an amazing amount of convenience stores. Found on every corner, you are never far from food and drinks and ATMs.
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9. 100 Yen Shops

100 yen shops offer everything under the sun, all at the low price of 100 yen plus tax (consumption tax is currently 10%). Sometimes you can find really great souvenirs at some of the larger 100 yen shops.
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10. Airport Shopping

Surprisingly, you can find high-quality souvenirs at reasonable prices at the airport. Expect to find t-shirts, key chains, yukatas, dolls, pottery, sweets, and other Japanese goods in the shopping areas before going through immigration.

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Reference:&nbsp;https://japanandmore.com/experiences/shopping-in-japan/


10 TYPES OF SHOPPING IN JAPAN

89 Best Made-in-Japan Products to Buy

There are many amazing products, gifts and themes Japan is famous for or associated with. As a culture, popular Japanese products today are often founded in history, usually growing in popularity due to practicality, religion or tradition. With so many popular Japanese products out there it can be difficult to know which ones are the most suitable to have and use in the home, or which ones to give as a gift. In order to help you decide on your favourite products, to keep for yourself or use as a gift, we&rsquo;ve created this guide showcasing some of the best famous Japanese products there are.

10 Popular Japanese Products



1.&nbsp;Kimono

As far as famous Japanese products go, the&nbsp;kimono&nbsp;is possibly the most globally recognisable. Traditionally made of silk, to represent luxury, kimonos come in a range of colours with beautiful, classic Japanese designs featuring blossoms and cranes. Today, kimonos are available in a range of fabrics including&nbsp;cotton&nbsp;and&nbsp;polyester&nbsp;to make them accessible and flexible for purpose. To find out more about&nbsp;kimono trends&nbsp;and the history behind them, please read our previous blog post for all information.



2.&nbsp;Woodblock Prints

Everyone is familiar with the iconic &lsquo;The Great Wave off Kanagawa&rsquo; woodblock print; well this specific woodblock technique is very traditional in Japanese art and creates a beautiful texture to any piece that is created through the&nbsp;woodblock print&nbsp;method. Traditionally, these prints are completed by hand without any help from machines, via Ukiyo-e carving and printing techniques originating over 300 years ago and still practised today.



3. Japanese Tea Sets

In Japan, tea and, more specifically, Japanese green tea is a very important feature within everyday life which is why&nbsp;Japanese tea sets&nbsp;and&nbsp;tea caddies&nbsp;are very useful Japanese products to own. Not only are they practical, but they also look beautiful and are perfect when hosting others.



4. Kokeshi Doll

Kokeshi Dolls&nbsp;are very popular Japanese products, coming in a range of colours, designs, shapes and sizes, the dolls can represent a variety of themes. If you are looking for a gift, these are the perfect present for a variety of occasions. To find out more about&nbsp;Kokeshi Dolls and the traditions behind them, please read our article dedicated entirely to the subject.



5. Lucky Cat

The Japanese&nbsp;lucky cat&nbsp;has long been a recognisable sign of good luck and good fortune, normally placed proudly in the shop or front window of any Japanese business establishment. The&nbsp;story behind the Japanese lucky cat&nbsp;is definitely worth reading about, as is the meaning behind the&nbsp;variety of different colours&nbsp;lucky cats are available in, so you can determine which colour will be most relevant to you. &nbsp;



6. Furoshiki

If it&rsquo;s a gift you seek, there&rsquo;s no better option than&nbsp;Furoshiki. Traditionally&nbsp;Furoshiki wrapping cloths&nbsp;were used to carry items as well as for gift wrapping. Today the range of colours and designs they are available in makes them a lovely present on its own. Whether you use it to wrap gifts or as the gift itself, the recipient won&rsquo;t be disappointed!



7. Sushi Set

Sushi is so popular globally, not just in Japan and nothing says sophistication more than having&nbsp;sushi set&nbsp;to eat it on, complete with matching plates, chopsticks and dishes.



8. Blue and White Tableware

Any&nbsp;tableware&nbsp;with the classic Japanese blue and white design, as shown in the&nbsp;bowl set&nbsp;above, is instantly recognisable as a Japanese product. Today, these designs have become more modern and abstract, but they still stay true to the iconic colours and essence within the patterning and shapes.



9. Sake Set

The ultimate&nbsp;Christmas,&nbsp;wedding&nbsp;or&nbsp;birthday gift&nbsp;is found in the form of a&nbsp;sake set. Sake has been a famous Japanese product for many years and serving it in the correct&nbsp;glassware&nbsp;shows respect and appreciation for the tradition and drink. If you want to know more about sake and its historical context, then please check out our&nbsp;comprehensive guide to Japanese sake&nbsp;for everything you need to know.



10.&nbsp;Haiku Poetry Collections and Calendars

A traditional Japanese haiku is a three-lined poem made up of 17 syllables with five in the first line, seven in the second and then five again on the third line. Usually, haikus reflect or focus on nature and often have a tone of a philosophical nature. Due to their tranquillity, haiku collections are often printed onto other Japanese products, for example, a calendar or&nbsp;notebook&nbsp;making them a thoughtful gift for anyone who&rsquo;s interesting in the art.

If you would like more gift inspiration for Christmas this year, then please check out our list of&nbsp;top-rated Christmas gifts. Or, alternatively, you can shop products by&nbsp;occasion&nbsp;back on our&nbsp;main online store&nbsp;to find the perfect gift for every moment worth celebrating.

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The source is&nbsp;https://www.thejapaneseshop.co.uk/blog/10-japanese-products-japan-is-famous-for/&nbsp;


15 best Japanese products and gadgets you need in your life

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