31. Umbrellas With Color-Changing Moisture-Activated Prints

What it is: Umbrella that changes color when rain hits it
Invented: 2016
Average Price: $20.51*
RainStoppers invented this color-changing umbrella, which reveals colorful prints once rain hits it. This is one of a long line of umbrella-related inventions that Japan has created in recent year. The prints change, based on what you buy, but one of the more popular ones in the butterfly design, which costs $20.51.

Umbrellas With Color-Changing Moisture-Activated Prints @japantastic / Youtube.com
The RainStoppers company has designed pretty much every umbrella imaginable. The moisture-activated one is made of pongee fabric and has a wooden hook handle, auto-open button, and fiberglass frame. According to Statista, design is the fourth-most important factor for Japanese purchasers when buying an umbrella (behind price, size, and weight).
While the color-changing gimmick might offer more of an aesthetic appeal than any practical use, it does have one interesting side effect: umbrellas will remain color-changed when damp, meaning you’ll have a visual reminder of your umbrella’s status when choosing which one to take out in the morning.

32. Cubic Sound-Catching Pillow

What it is: A pillow that lets you lay on your side and still hear out of both ears
Invented: 2013
Average Price: Currently unlisted (out of stock everywhere)
Made by FUJIPACKS, the cubic sound catching pillow helps you be comfortable while watching TV. The cube-shaped pillow has cube-shaped holes in it, so, when you rest your head on its side while watching TV, your ear isn’t blocked off and you can still hear what’s going on.

Cubic Sound-Catching Pillow @Koleksi Unik / Facebook.com
FUJIPACKS All-Sound Catch Cubic Pillow comes in two colors (Dark Navy and Red), and reviewers have compared the filling of the pillow to “soft, fine sand.” The Cubic Pillow isn’t FUJIPACKS’ first Chigodu rodeo, as it has also invented a mushroom light ($44) and a stainless-steel four-way cylindrical nail file ($102).
Thankfully, despite its strange shape and hollow nature, the sound-catching pillow is surprisingly comfortable. Something important to keep in mind while falling asleep to all those Star Trek reruns.

33. Umbrella Hat

What it is: A hat to keep you dry
Invented: Unknown
Average Price: $5*
Sometimes the best inventions are practical, but not exactly aesthetically pleasing. Japan gets a lot of rain, especially in typhoon season, so if you’re planning a trip you might want to invest in this handy $5 hat.

Umbrella Hat @A Good / Pinterest
The two-tiered accessory is perfect for fishing trips as it allows the wearer to keep their hands free for reeling in the fish, while also keeping them dry. A handy tie around the chin keeps it in place. A swift gust of wind might prove a little uncomfortable, though! It could be worth the strange looks and awkward glances.

34. Portable Toilet Sound Blocker

What it is: A device to mask embarrassing toilet sounds
Invented: 2011
Average Price: $35*
Going to the bathroom in a small apartment when other people are home can be a little embarrassing for some Japanese women. For years, it was common for women to turn on the tap or flush the toilet to cover up less than graceful toilet noises, but then Keitai Otohime stepped in with their toilet sound blocker.

Portable Toilet Sound Blocker @Stacy Orr / Pinterest
The product is essentially a small speaker that emits flushing or running water sounds in a bid to cut back on water wastage. It comes in pink with a ribbon or forest design and is battery operated.

35. Lipstick Assistant

What it is: A stencil to put lipstick on
Invented: Unknown
Average Price: $3*
Putting on lipstick takes a skilled hand for some people, so why not use a stencil to guide you? Although some might argue it’s a pointless tool, lipstick stencils do exist in Japan. Eyebrow stencils may be more popular these days, but getting the perfect pout is just as important.

Lipstick Assistant @Pine Dawson / Pinterest
For around $3 you can get a reusable plastic face stencil that you can put on like a mask. Say goodbye to blurred lines and hello to perfection. Just be careful how you remove it so you don’t end up with smudges all over your face.

36. Mop Shoe Covers

What it is: Mop slippers for your feet
Invented: Unknown
Average Price: $4
Everyone knows that cleaning the house can be a drab chore, especially when it comes to mopping. One wise inventor came up with mop shoe covers. This clever invention allows wearers to clean the floor by simply walking on it, instead of pushing a mop around the place.

Mop Shoe Covers @Home Improvement / Pinterest
It’s not clear who came up with the product as there are thousands of variations out there. They’re dirt cheap, coming in at just $4 on AliExpress. For that price, shoppers could buy an extra pair for their hands and do twice the work by crawling on the floor instead of walking.

37. Exosuit

What it is: A robotic exosuit to help disabled people
Invented: 2018
Average Price: $24,000*
Cyberdene’s HAL exoskeleton is like something straight out of Marvel’s Iron Man. The company first got approval for the interesting piece of technology back in 2018, but it gained further recognition when it was used in the US from March 2019.

Exosuit @KarlZelik / Twitter.com
Patients with spinal cord injuries are able to get into the exoskeleton and walk, using the signals from their bran to control leg movement. A program using HAL isn’t cheap though, costing Americans $24,000 for 60 90-minute sessions which aren’t covered by insurance. According to Cyberdene, it’s worth every penny.

38. Custom Cat Face Mask

What it is: A special face mask to look like your cat
Invented: 2020
Average Price: $2,000*
Most pet owners think their animals are the best thing ever, but some people take it to the next level. Modeling workshop 91 creates hyper-realistic 3D masks so cat owners can look exactly like their feline friends. However, dressing up as your cat isn’t a cheap hobby to have.

Custom Cat Mask @Bored Panda / Pinterest
After submitting a picture of their pet, customers have to hand over upwards of $2,000 before they see a finished product land on their doorstep. Amazingly, there are people out there that will actually pay that to look just like Fluffy.

39. USB Cat Face Mask

What it is: A face mask with a fan
Invented: 2011
Average Price: $24*
Face masks have been commonplace in Japan for a long time, so they’re a step ahead of the game compared to other countries at the moment. Back in 2011, a genius in a lab somewhere came up with the ultimate face covering: a cat mask with a built-in fan.

USB Cat Face Mask @v hart / Pinterest
Some people dislike the muffled feeling a mask gives them and become anxious or overly hot. This mask tasks care of all that with a rechargeable USB or battery powered fan to keep the air circulating around the face. The best part? It will only set you back $24.

40. Cucumber-shaping tool

What it is: A cut-out tool for cucumber
Invented: Unknown
Average Price: $6.45*
When Japanese trendsetters aren’t rocking the fashion world, they can be found on Instagram trying out all sorts of interesting food. For the influencer looking to post some drool-worthy pics, there’s this sweet cut-out tool that can be used in a variety of ways.

Cucumber-shaping tool @Yulius Lukmana / Pinterest | ©Hawk777 / Shutterstock
You can make hearts out of cucumbers instead of boring circles, or even slice fruit using it. Gone are the days of simple fruit cutting. For just $6.45 shoppers can turn their salads into love fests worthy of a million likes. It’s not clear who invented it, but it’ a worthy kitchen staple.

41. Cat whiskers case

What it is: A box for keeping cat whiskers in
Invented: Unknown
Average Price: $30*
In case you haven’t guessed, cats are supremely popular in Japan. So much so that they’re considered incredibly special. Why else would someone have created the Be-Glad Cast Whiskers Case?

Cat whiskers case @ashr_Japan / Twitter.com
The $30 wooden box is designed specially for keeping fallen cat whiskers in. According to the Japan Trend Shop, it’s the “ideal size for long ‘cat beards.’” It’s the perfect gift for overzealous cat lovers that can’t bear to part with memories of their dearly departed kitty. Apparently, the “snug” lid will keep the hair safe from “mold and humidity” while also looking good on the shelf.

42. Butter Grater

What it is: A grater for butter
Invented: Unknown
Average Price: $5*
We’ve all heard of grated cheese, but have you ever stopped to think that grated butter might be just as good? Someone in Japan did and the butter grater was born. Instead of wasting time trying to evenly distribute butter over toast with a knife, this appliance allows you to finely grate the dairy product.

Butter Grater @Planet Shopper / Pinterest
The thin strands of butter quickly melt into the hot toast, making it a much easier spreading experience. If this is a kitchen must-have for you, don’t panic. You can find one for around $5 on the wonderful place that is the internet.

43. Air Conditioned Clothing

What it is: Clothing with built-in air conditioning
Invented: 2011
Average Price: $115*
No one likes to be hot and sweaty when they’re going about their everyday business, but is it really practical to have built-in air conditioning attached to shirts and pants? Several Japanese companies seem to think so. Many businesses have made versions of air conditioned clothes over the last decade.

Air Conditioned Clothing @TheSuperBOO / Youtube.com
Fans are placed into the sides of pants and tops, but they aren’t hidden. The idea is to help the wearer feel cool during periods of hot weather, but whether they work as they’re supposed to without being irritating is still up for debate. You can find out for $115 per jacket.

44. Bathroom Child Seat

What it is: A place to put your child
Invented: Unknown
Average Price: Unknown
Japanese people really do think of every eventuality. Parents the world over know how difficult it can be juggling a baby and going to the bathroom when you’re using a public restroom, but Japan has finally done something about it. Baby seats have been situated in a lot of Japanese toilets for years now.

Bathroom Child Seat ©Wikimedia.org
Parents can pop their child into the seat and go about their business without having to hold their baby while they do it, or put them down on the dirty floor. It’s a simple invention but one that’s a stroke of genius for families.

45. Lip Plumper

What it is: A device to make lips look bigger
Invented: Unknown
Average Price: $3*
It’s no secret that lip fillers have been on the up and up for the last few years, thanks in part to Kylie Jenner’s transformation. Those wanting to emulate Kylie’s pout might want to avoid the needle and purchase this inexpensive (albeit slightly garish) product.

Lip Plumper @MadeMyDay / Youtube.com
This silicone ring sits in the mouth and overlaps onto the lips, giving the impression of a smile that would rival Jessica Rabbit herself. It’s most likely a prank product designed to get a few laughs, but there’s a possibility some may actually wear it out in public. Stranger things have happened.