Japanese sewage trucks now smell like chocolate

screen-shot-2016-09-30-at-10-45-31-am

The new technology has been developed to help mask unpleasant odours.

Four Osaka-based companies recently got together to develop a new technology to help mask unpleasant odours emanating from vacuum trucks, which are commonly used to collect sewage from homes. On 29 September, the companies jointly announced that the foul-smelling trucks will now be able to emit a sweet, chocolate-like fragrance instead.

▼ And nobody is happier about the announcement than the truck drivers themselves.

screen-shot-2016-09-30-at-10-47-20-am

Yamamoto Fragrance and Shikibo, a manufacturer of industrial products, created a pleasant-smelling “Deo Magic” deodoriser back in 2011, which has since been widely used in diapers and pet products. Realising a need for sanitation vehicles to also improve on their odours, the deodoriser has now been incorporated into the lubricating oil used in vacuum trucks, only this time with the addition of a chocolate-smelling fragrance.

▼ This driver pours the red-coloured “Deo Magic” lubricating oil into the vacuum truck.

screen-shot-2016-09-30-at-10-46-45-am

According to a promotional video, a test run of the sweet-smelling truck out and about in a Japanese community met with positive results from everyone involved, with all of them saying it was great to not have to worry about the foul smell that usually accompanies the trucks and the work they do.

▼ Mmmm…chocolate…..

screen-shot-2016-09-30-at-10-47-01-am

Twitter users, however, had more to say about the new technology.

“Why couldn’t they just aim for something odourless instead?”
“Chocolate companies should sue them over this!”
“Why did they have to use the smell of something brown? They should’ve used a fresh orange fragrance instead.”
“What happens when people want to lick the chocolate smell in the air?”
“I’ll never be able to eat chocolate ever again.”

Toho, who runs a fleet of sanitation vehicles, were also involved in the development of the new Deo Magic VC1 oil, and will begin selling it from October, with 20-litre (5.3 gallon) cans going for 35,000 yen (US$344.21). According to a representative at Shikibo, the new development is all part of their continuing contribution to improving the environment and the everyday lives of local residents.

▼ To find out more about the sweet-smelling truck and the new fragrant lubricating oil, check out the short clip in Japanese below.

Source: Itai News
Top Image: YouTube/Shinmaywa



Credit:

McDonald’s Japan set to reinstate Bacon Potato Pies on its menu, delight former idol singer【Vid】

bp-1

Pies! They’re not just for dessert anymore!

As with many of its menu categories, McDonald’s has offered a number of pies that are exclusive to Japan. Right now, the fast food chain is selling Hakuho white peach pies, and in the past they’ve also tempted us with anko sweet bean and Hokkaido milk cream versions.

But you don’t need a sweet tooth to enjoy McDonald’s Japan’s newest addition to the lineup: the Bacon Potato Pie.

A crispy packet of bacon, potato, and onion filling, the Bacon Potato Pie was a fixture at Japanese McDonald’s locations from 1990 to 2002, making it a nostalgic favorite for many, including former AKB48 idol singer Manami Takahashi, who’s seen in the above video reminiscing about munching on them in her childhood. As part of McDonald’s celebration of 45 years in Japan, it’s resurrecting a few more of its past hits as well, with the Texas Burger, an extra-large sandwich with fried onion, cheese, and barbecue sauce, also set to make a comeback soon.

bp-2

The Texas Burger will be showing up first, on October 5, priced at 490 yen (US$4.75), with the 150-yen Bacon Potato Pie making its grand reentrance on October 12. Both items will be available for a limited, as-yet unspecified time.

Source: IT Media
Top image: McDonald’s Japan
Insert image: McDonald’s Japan



Credit:

Unexpectedly cute stowaway on JR train causes delays, smiles

e233-1000

Usually commuters get upset by train delays, but this time they were all smiles.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Keihin Tohoku Line, a popular commuter line in Tokyo, was delayed by a train stopped at Kamata Station. Was it some kind of technical trouble or an accident? No, the train was stopped so staff could remove a very tiny stowaway.

The culprit? A Japanese bush warbler!

▼ “I heard the Keihin Tohoku line is delayed because of a bird on the train. Do you think they mean this one? This bush warbler was on there this morning!”

Hey, buddy! Wouldn’t it be faster to fly?

Since the confused little bird couldn’t seem to find his way off the train, JR staff had to come in and remove him. After all, he clearly wasn’t holding a ticket or a Suica card!

▼ “There is a bird inside the carriage, so do not enter.”

This wasn’t as easy as you might think though. Perhaps our little feathered friend is a very determined densha otaku?

▼ “This went on forever.”

You’d think with all the time it was taking, busy Tokyoites would be frustrated and angry, but if Twitter is any indication, they were taking it in stride and finding the humor in the situation.

“I can’t stop laughing, Keihin Tohoku has been delayed by a bird in the train.”
“On the Keihin Tohoku now. An announcement: there is a bird flying around. Well, that’s… peaceful.”
“On the Keihin Tohoku and the train schedule had to be adjusted because of a bird on the train! Really?! That’s not bad news… that’s bird news.”

Finally, the staff were able to capture the bird and take it off the carriage.

▼ “In Car 7 (the bird was in Car 6)
JR Staff: ‘We sincerely apologize for the trouble!  … Why a bird would leave all that nice nature out in Ofuna to come to Oimachi, though, I just don’t know.’
Passengers burst out laughing.
This has been a live report.”

No word on whether they charged the bird the full fare before release.

Source: Heaaart
Top image: Wikipedia



Credit:

Toyama man first person in Japan to be arrested for selling jailbroken iPhones

Authorities charging the suspect with “violation of trademark law.”

On 29 September 24-year-old Daisuke Ikeda was arrested on suspicion of violating the Trademark Act. During the spring of this year he is accused of selling five iPhones with modified iOS operating systems that allow them to bypass Apples restrictions over which apps can be downloaded and installed on the device.

In this case, the process – widely known as “jailbreaking” – was reportedly done so that the iPhones could be loaded with a script that would allow the user to cheat at the popular Japanese game Monster Strike.

In the game players must flick their characters to deal damage to monsters. The following video is just an example of a cheat that can be done with a jailbroken iPhone (not the one Ikeda is accused of selling). In it, an app is used to alter the game’s code so that attacks give much more damage than usual for easy victories.

The investigation against Ikeda is still ongoing but his arrest on the grounds of violating trademark law is the first of its kind in Japan and has taken many people by surprise according to comments.

■ “When I first heard the news, I thought the guy was selling like 200 of them, but this seems kind of excessive.”
■ “I think it’s the ones (makers and carriers) selling devices that consumers can’t use freely that are committing crimes.”
■ “I didn’t know jailbreaking a phone was a crime. I think it’s only natural for people to want to use the software of their choosing.”
■ “So many other people did what this guy did and got away with it… I wonder if the people using the phones would be punished too.”
■ “Looks like he’ll have to do some real jailbreaking now.”
■ “Huh? Trademark law? I could see if he was selling them under the premise that they were regular iPhones. But should people be allowed to modify the phones that they own? I’m not sure how I feel about this.”

The reason why Ikeda is being pursued under the Trademark Act is the presence of the Apple logo. Because the phones he altered still bore the Apple brand on them, they could be classified as counterfeit goods, which of course are illegal to sell.

▼ We can expect other jailbroken iPhone dealers in Japan to begin investing in files.

It seems to be a slippery-slope that law-enforcement are heading into that could lead into several other areas. For example, would selling any car that has had some customization work done on it technically be illegal if the vehicle still had the automaker’s logo on it?

However, this process is still the early stages and it will be up to the courts to decide if the concept of ownership still means what it used to.

Source: NHK, Netlab, Hachima Kiko (Japanese)
Top Image: Amazon, Wikipedia/Tottelme (Edited by RocketNews24)
Inset Image: Amazon
Video: YouTube/Sugurusense



Credit:

Japanese Twitter celebrates “Beckoning Cat Day” with cute collection of paw-raising cats

The lucky day on Japan’s calendar brings fortune to cat lovers everywhere with kitties posing in figurine-like positions!

Given the many ways that dates can be pronounced, according to English, Japanese, and Chinese kanji character readings, different days of the year take on special significance in Japan, with creative combinations giving way to “Maid’s Day“, “Mayonnaise Day” and even “Condom Day“.

September 29 is known as “Maneki Neko no Hi” or “Beckoning Cat Day”, due to the fact that it contains the numbers 9 (ku), 2 (fu) and 9 (ku), which, when combined, sounds like “Ku-ru Fuku” or “Coming Luck”, which is what a beckoning cat represents, with its raised paw drawing luck towards it and into the family home in which it lives.

While beckoning felines usually appear as cute figurines on shelves and window sills around the country, on Twitter, cat lovers have come out in force to celebrate the day with a number of real-life kitties posing in adorable figurine-like positions!

According to tradition, a raised right paw is said to bring money, while a raised left paw is said to bring people, customers or friends.

▼ We’re not sure what two raised paws means, but it sure looks extra special!

▼ In true cat style, this kitty raises a paw lying down, mid-preen.

▼ This sleepy cat sure gets a bit of luck with the promise of a human hand pat.

▼ And this cute kitty outfit saves cats from having to lift their paws at all!

With news of the unofficial cat day spreading online, even Japan’s favourite doll, Licca-chan, struck a pose with a couple of cute cat paws on her official Twitter account.

To join in the fun with all the other cats online, all you have to do is add a picture of a kitty in a cute paw-raising position, along with the hashtag #招き猫の日 on Twitter on September 29. Then you can just sit back and wait for your good fortune to roll in!

Source: Togech
Top Image: Twitter/@map_u_chin



Credit:

New Japanese app bribes you with free coffee for putting down your smartphone when driving 【Vid】

db-0

If you’d like more coffee and fewer traffic accidents in your life, this safe driving app is for you.

Positive reinforcement tends to be more effective than punishment in influencing human behavior. That presents a bit of a problem, though, in addressing the issue of people using their smartphones when driving.

See, while the potential downsides of unsafely using your phone while behind the wheel include injury and death, it’s hard for people to perceive a “reward” in refraining from such activity. After all, it’s not like resisting the urge to fiddle with your phone is going to make you more alive than you already are, and without feeling like you’re gaining anything, the temptation to peek at the screen becomes all the stronger.

But Japanese telecom provider au and car manufacturer Toyota have come up with a clever way to encourage people to dive more safely, in the form of a smartphone app called Driving Barista.

db-4

db-1

The app asks drivers to activate it before stepping on the gas at the start of their journey, then place the phone face down on a flat surface such as the center console. Once you’re underway, the app records how far you’ve travelled, and once you reach 100 kilometers (62 miles), you’ll receive a coupon for a free cup of coffee at popular coffeehouse chain Komeda Coffee, which you can redeem by showing your phone to the server. After the first 100 kilometers, you’ll also earn coupons for each additional 200 kilometers you travel.

db-2

So what’s the catch? If your phone’s gyroscope detects that the phone has been turned over while the car is still in motion, it resets the distance travelled.

▼ It also chastises you with a giant “FAILURE” message and a picture of a spilled coffee cup.

db-3

Currently, the app is only for use within Aichi Prefecture, a location that’s significant for two reasons. Aichi is where Toyota’s global headquarters is located, and, on a less proud note, it’s also had more traffic fatalities than any other prefecture in Japan for 13 years running, with 213 people losing their lives in auto accidents on Aichi’s roads in 2015.

It’s unknown if the Driving Barista initiative will eventually be expanded to the rest of Japan, but for the time being, the free app can be downloaded here from the iTunes store or here for Android devices.

Source: Oddity Central
Top image: YouTube/au
Insert images: KDDI, YouTube/au



Credit:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)