106. “Otter Finger Touch, Fish Catch” Holes

What it is: Lets you touch hands with an otter
Invented: 2013
Average Price: $5*
Otters are some of the cutest animals in the world. One marine park in Japan, the Keikyu Aburatsubo Marine Park, decided to allow otters and visitors to interact via an “Otter Finger Touch, Fish Catch.” You hold out a Wakasagi Smelt through a small hole in the glass, and the otter reaches his/her little hand out.

“Otter Finger Touch, Fish Catch” Holes @Rylee Keys / Pinterest
Basically, you’re able to hold hands with an otter without the otter biting you (otters, like koalas, have been known, occasionally, to freak out and attack people). This costs just $5. It has become one of Keikyu Aburatsubo Marine Park’s most popular attractions, unsurprisingly.

107. Pokemon Airplanes

What it is: Aircraft painted on the exterior/interior in a Pokemon theme
Invented: 1998
Average Price: $378.5 million*
Pokemon first burst onto the scene in 1996, and All Nippon Airways, a Japanese airline, decided to take advantage of the cartoon’s popularity by inventing the Pokemon Jet. This was basically a major overhaul and redesign of a Boeing. The exterior was painted with Pokemon characters and the interior was also Pokemon-themed (Pokemon flight attendant uniforms, in-flight shows, food containers, and more).

Pokemon Airplanes @Nawar Bittar / Pinterest
Far from the standard appearances of jets such as those from American Airlines or Southwest Airlines, these livery designs were exciting and lasted for decades. The last Pokemon jet was removed in 2016, much to the disappointment of fans everywhere.

108. Speed Poles for Cyclists

What it is: Metal poles to stop bicyclists from speeding
Invented: 2000s
Average Price: $0 to use*
Japan’s major cities are very crowded, and dangerous cycling at high speeds is something that could injure a lot of people, were it to get out of control. As Japan Times stated, Japan has been cracking down on reckless bicycling for years. One such measure taken was the installation of anti-speed poles.

Speed Poles for Cyclists @barroda / Reddit.com
These metal poles are placed in a sidewalk in a design that pretty much requires the cyclist to slow down and maneuver his or her way through. New traffic orders released in 2020 include fines of up to 50,000 yen ($471.43) if a cyclist repeatedly fails to heed safety rules.

109. Automatic Transportation Mobile Robot

What it is: Robots that perform the same job as factory workers
Invented: 2015
Average Price: Unknown
Factory and warehouse workers, such as those seen in Amazon or GM factories, could possibly become obsolete with the invention of Omron AI Automatic Transportation Robots. These all-white robots have been around since 2017. They are able to perform the same functions in factories that a human can.

Automatic Transportation Mobile Robot @Todd Reynolds / YouTube.com
The controller of the AI robot just needs to set a course for it. The sensors on the bot’s body allow it to avoid crashing into unexpended objects in its route, such as people or boxes. The robots travel rapidly, and they can carry a maximum load of 286.6 pounds.

110. Calorie Scanners (CaloRieco)

What it is: Scanner that measures a meal’s nutrients
Invented: 2017 (Prototype)
Average Price: N/A (not for sale yet)
Have you ever wondered how many calories are in the meal you’re about to eat? Panasonic, a major Apple competitor, has answered that question to within a 20% accuracy range. The CaloRieco is a calorie-counting machine that uses infrared rays to determine, based on a scan of your food, how many calories are in your meal.

Calorie Scanners (CaloRieco) @The Japan Times / YouTube.com
Panasonic said that it hopes this product will help people who are trying to lose weight or have similar diet restrictions. The CaloRieco has yet to go on sale, as it is still in development. Panasonic is hoping the CaloRieco will be able to store nutritional information and suggest recipes to the user.

111. Dedicated Gaming Seat

What it is: A rearrangeable couch-like seat for comfort while playing video games
Invented: 2020
Average Price: $94*
This is one of the newest inventions on this list, and it has already taken off in Japan. The Buddy the Game Chair is a “dedicated gaming seat.” Japan is one of the most popular nations in the world for video game enthusiasts, and Buddy seeks to help provide comfort for long video game sessions.

Dedicated Gaming Seat @Kristi Taboada / Pinterest
This couch-style seat folds down flat and comes in various colors. You can rearrange it into many different positions and poses. The Buddy the Game Chair has become a viral hit in the country, and it received thousands upon thousands of advance orders.
More importantly, the seat is ideal for taking pressure off of the sitter’s lower back (an area typically compressed in unhealthy amounts from excessive gameplay in traditional chairs). For the avid gamer, this might be a healthy choice in addition to a stylish one.

112. Noodle-Cooling Fan Chopsticks

What it is: A fan attached to chopsticks to blow on your noodles to cool them
Invented: 2018
Average Price: $99*
Everyone in Japan uses chopsticks, and this invention is basically chopsticks with a fan attached. The USB-powered fan latches onto the base of the chopsticks, blowing on your noodles and cooling them while you eat. The fan comes with the sound effects of bubble wrap, and some limited-edition Otaku versions have the voices of anime characters.

Noodle Cooling Fan Chopsticks @Sana Siraj / Pinterest
The noodle cooler is made by YO! Sushi. The fan first launched in 2018, and it has since become pretty popular, as, though it is technically Chindogu (Japanese for “useless invention”), it appears to work. YO! Sushi has also invented a Napkin Hat, Wasabi Stick, and Noodle Splash Guard.
Considering Japanese noodles are traditionally served at near-boiling, piping-hot temperatures, this clever little device is a potential tongue-saver. It’s also lightweight and durable, decreasing the possibility of interfering with mealtime.

113. Voice Training Device

What it is: Trains your voice to become more dulcet
Invented: 2000s
Average Price: $89*
According to Japan Trend Shop, this invention will help you get a more beautiful, “dulcet” voice in just five minutes per day. The Beauty Voice Trainer comes with a mouthpiece, tuning fork, and carrying case. The mouthpiece expands your vocal passage, which allows you to have a stronger sound to your voice.

Voice Training Device @E! Online Asia / YouTube.com
While you might not be able to be a star of NBC’s The Voice right away, Japan Trend Shop states that the Beauty Voice Trainer will help you strengthen your abdominal muscles while you sing. The Voice Trainer is made of ABS plastic and resin, and it comes in purple or orange.

114. Phone Booth Fish Tank

What it is: Old phone booths turned into goldfish tanks
Invented: 2011
Average Price: $5,000*
The city of Osaka, Japan, hosted what it called a “Canvas Project,” which is a major art festival there. The Goldfish Club decided to put its own aquatic spin on the Canvas Project, and it has been turning old phone booths, made irrelevant by companies like Apple and Android, into goldfish tanks.

Phonebooth Fish Tank @Erin Wright / Pinterest
The art festival has been around since 2011, and that was also when the first phone booth aquarium was created. The Goldfish Club is part of the Kyoto University of Art and Design, and its students formed the Club when they were in their second year at Kyoto.

115. Pregnant Doll

What it is: Barbie-like doll with fully-grown baby inside
Invented: 2011
Average Price: $26.99*
Some say that for children, dolls are an ideal way to begin preparing their minds for the trials and tribulations of maturity. Clearly Japanese toymakers took that idea to heart with this bizarre action figure featuring a fully-grown baby inside of a Barbie-like doll’s tummy.

Pregnant Doll @MindChop / YouTube.com
These figurines are apparently quite popular on the Japanese market, with multiple toy companies pumping out their own versions of this idea. Somehow it seems like a less-sure bet on the American market, though.

116. The Shiba Inu

What it is: Japanese-invented dog breed
Invented: 19th century
Average Price: $2,000*
Bred in Japan in the 19th century, these adorable little hunting dogs come in a variety of colors – but thankfully, all share the wonderfully playful temperament of the breed. After generations of assisting Japanese owners in Asia, this dog made its American debut in the 1950s.

Shiba Inu © Rin Seiko / Shutterstock
Within two decades, American breeders began successfully breeding the Shiba Inu in the States, typically as a household pet. At $2,000 per puppy, these beloved dogs tend to demand tons of exercise, but live long lives and are extremely kid-friendly.

117. Shabu-Shabu

What it is: Traditional meat-based Japanese cuisine
Invented: 20th century
Average Price: $3*
This delicious boiled meat dish is a modern staple of Japanese cuisine but largely unknown outside of Japan. To prepare, the meat (typically beed) is sliced into razor-thin strips and then boiled in water with an assortment of veggies.

Shabu-Shabu @japantyme4un / Twitter.com
The result is a savory, delicious meal perfect for chopsticks. This dish has been traced to the Suehiro restaurant in the city of Osaka, which claims to be the inventor of the delicacy. But by now this dish is enjoyed all around Japan.

118. God Jesus Robot

What it is: Japanese Toy
Invented: 1984
Average Price: $19.99*
Also known as the “Uranai Robo,” this bizarre toy was a Japanese designer’s idea of merging the popular Japanese robot fixation with the charms of a Magic 8-Ball. The result – dubbed, inexplicably, the God Jesus Robot – gives its users battery-powered fortune-telling on command.

God Jesus Robot @twistywisky / Twitter.com
Here’s how it works: the users ask the robot a question, the robot “hears” you (and even mimics thinking very hard about the answer), and then delivers one of twelve pre-recorded answers. Oh, and its eyes blink the whole time. Very professional future-telling services.

119. The Kaba Kick

What it is: Japanese Toy
Invented: Unknown
Average Price: $15*
Because what kid doesn’t want to play Russian Roulette? Featuring an array of shell casings which cause the toy to randomly fire, the idea behind this bizarre toy is for kids to… Hit themselves in the face with it.

The Kaba Kick @JotagonzArias / Twitter.com
Needless to say, this product would most likely not make much of a splash in the United States. Research seems to suggest that the Japanese toy market wasn’t exactly jumping over the moon for it either.

120. Kaido Racers

What it is: Cars used for street racing
Invented: 1950s
Average Price: Varies
As one online publication put it, it’s “amazing” that these Kaido racers exist. These cars are unique to Japan, and they have a rebellious, outlaw reputation among a lot of the Japanese public. Kaido racers are a type of street racing car, and they’ve inspired tons of video games, movies, and TV shows, even though they have a tough image.

Kaido Racers @abeer0975 / Pinterest
Kaido racers are often confused with Bosozoku, which is a youth subculture in Japan that is often associated with custom-made street-racing motorcycles. This subculture peaked in the ‘80s and ‘90s until dropping off in the 2000s. Kaido racers are, by contrast, still quite popular.