Japan’s Crown Princess Masako joined other members of the royal family to wave to crowds gathered at the Imperial Palace as Japan Emperor Akihito offered his annual New Year’s greetings on Jan. 2, 2009. Princess Masako has suffered from depression for several years and has rarely appeared in public. In December 2008, it was reported
Interview for Lets Japan by Rosey the Robot. Rosey/LJ: Assistant Robot, you really are following in the footsteps of your grandfather Roll-Oh the Robot. Assistant Robot: (laughs) Yes. But I actually roll. R/LJ: Let’s talk about your… AR: Before we get started, I just want to say you are my idol. You inspired me. R/LJ:
The camera-police-hotline-alarm-equipped Coca-Cola vending machine installed in a park in Toyohashi, on October 10, 2008, has been vandalized. (Crime-Fighting Vending Machine) LJ October 12) Police report the top-mounted security camera wiring had been cut and the camera was dangling over the front of the machine. "Surveillance society" (in Japanese) had been sprayed in black paint
Coke machine guards park A new vending machine has a built-in direct phone line to the police department, an alarm buzzer, a 24-hour video-recording surveillance camera, and a revolving red light on top. "The "Help Vending Machine" was provided by Coca Cola in cooperation with the Aichi prefectural police. The machine is located in Iwata
The life-size mechanical clown mascot in front of the landmark Cui-daore restaurant in Osaka since 1950 retired July 8 when the business closed it’s doors for the final time. The restaurant had been popular with tourists because of Cui-daore Taro, the bespectacled drum-beating clown, and its novel menu. Taro is not the only life-size figure
The Wine Advisor reads the bar code on the bottle label and offers food recommendations to match the wine. The electronic scanner terminal is installed over wine racks at the 10 newest Peacock supermarkets in Japan. Newsweek International reports the machine recommended roast beef, Maribo and Samsoe cheese and pain de campagne to go with
