Sony – PlayStation Vita – “One Piece: Pirate Warriors 2 (Kaizoku Musou 2)” will be released March 20 with special limited-edition game cover

The latest PlayStation Vita game based on the popular manga series, One Piece, called “One Piece: Pirate Warriors 2 (Kaizoku Musou 2)” will be released on March 20th.
To mark the release, a special One Piece cover film will be given as a gift to buyers of the game on a first-come first-served basis (numbers are limited). The cover film features One Piece characters, Luffy, Teach, and Kuzan. The design can be completed by downloading the matching wallpaper for PS Vita – This …

Toshiba & Sanrio – HELLO KITTY Designed SDHC Memory Cards and USB Flash Drive

In collaboration with Sanrio Company, Ltd., Toshiba is going to release HELLO KITTY designed SDHC Memory Cards and a USB Flash Drive starting March 9 (see schedule below).
It uses the original HELLO KITTY sitting down with a red bow as the design. I think this will be really popular with HELLO KITTY fans and as a gift idea.
Toshiba and Sanrio are planning to produce new memory related items of other Sanrio characters together in the future.
SDHC Memory Card:
4GB – To be released on …

Kirobo, the Robot Astronaut – KIBO ROBOT PROJECT – Robot to join the International Space Station team

We recently wrote about a robot named Robi who is a member of the Japanese family.
Now, Dentsu Inc. has announced the names “Kirobo” and “Mirata” for two humanoid communication robots being developed under the KIBO ROBOT PROJECT, a joint research project being carried out in collaboration with the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, the University of Tokyo, ROBO GARAGE Co., Ltd., and Toyota Motor Corporation.
This project is developing a friendly …

Pioneer – “Potter Navi” – Cycling navigation unit with built-in communication module

Potter in style with the “Potter Navi” cycling navigation unit to be released in late March from Pioneer’s Cycle Lab.
With this navigation system, you can potter about (“putter around” in US English) using all the great tools that are built-in. It has a communication module using NTT docomo’s data and application services that cycling fans might appreciate, for example, for exercise stats, displaying/sharing information such as where your cycling friends …

Panasonic – Emergency light that can run on any size battery – BF-BM10

Another product that would really be useful in the event of an emergency such as a major earthquake is this emergency light by Panasonic.
When there is an emergency, stocks of supplies are often low, if non-existent. Two years ago after the earthquake in Japan, stocks such as water and food were low. And so were batteries as there were rolling blackouts throughout Japan.
This light takes any size batteries, truly making it convenient in the case of an emergency. If only a mixed assortment of …

4 Methods for a More Secure Smartphone

Hacking isn’t just a problem reserved for computers anymore. The newest targets hackers are going after are mobile devices, including tablets and even smartphones. That’s a scary thought when you consider how many messages, photographs, and even passwords are stored on your smartphone, but there are some steps you can take to make any mobile device hacker-proof.
Use a Smartphone Lock

Image via Flickr by m thierry
With so much personal information residing inside a smartphone, …

Yamato Noodle School – Intensive 7-Day Ramen chef school – Learn the Japanese noodle business

Sushi, tempura and teriyaki were the trailblazers of Japanese cuisine around the world.
However, it is now ramen, and other Japanese noodles like soba and udon, that are gaining in international interest.
Like Colonel Sanders’ fried chicken recipe or Coke’s secret formula, the ingredients of the soup and the know-how for making ramen are closely-guarded secrets among Japan’s Ramen restaurants.
It is said that you need to go through a long period of training to get to know the …

Thanko – “Ionic Zone” – USB-powered UV air washer

From Thanko comes a simple but useful product to clean the air around you and eliminate odors in your office or home.
It is a small fan that can be plugged into your computer USB port, with a 6-layered filter and a UV light.
Odors and air particles are removed through the filter and “minus ion” air is generated due to the UV light.
After 2 weeks, you can really see the dirt on the filter that has been taken out of the air.
The air washer comes with 5 extra papers for each layer of …

Panasonic – D Series Windea – Smart intercom unit – check household energy consumption, sync with smart devices, etc.

Panasonic’s new D Series Windea is bringing to reality the next step in the evolution of the “smart house”.
Some of the key functionality with this unit:
– Visitors to your house will trigger a message to your smart device – you can correspond via your smart device – so that even if you are out, you won’t miss contact with your visitors
– Energy consumption in your house can be tracked – electricity, gas, water. You can compare different days and have …

JVC KENWOOD – A Speaker? Wireless wooden speaker from the “Forest Notes” series – “YG-FA30HV and YG-FA2HV

JVC KENWOOD has introduced these new wooden speakers that just look like wooden frames at first sight. But they are finely crafted wood box speakers “with Japanese workmanship” that vibrate with the playing of music.
Smartphones, tablets, and PCs can wirelessly connect through Bluetooth and play music.
Both the large and small model will be released in mid March.
YG-FA30HV – Forest Notes

Size: 310mm x 310mm x 310mm
Weight: 4kg
Amplifier and Speaker: Max output 1W+1W (2 …