Solar Power For Houses To Be Encouraged

With the problems that we are encountering with fuel consumption and global warming, the best possible course for us to take would be sustainable source of power. We all know that solar power is one of the most feasible sources of energy and perhaps this is would be what the future holds for us. The Japanese government seems to think along the same lines.

Based on a report by Reuters:

The Japanese government will come up with measures on Tuesday to promote the household use of solar power systems by introducing subsidies and tax breaks from next year, the Nikkei financial daily reported on Sunday.

The paper said the steps, following an environment initiative announced earlier by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, include halving the cost of buying solar power systems in Japan, home to major solar component makers.

These include Sharp Corp, Kyocera Corp and Sanyo Electric Co.

This is really a good move by the government as the more people make use of solar power, less people will be using conventional power sources. I am sure that many of us would love to go solar but the costs of converting to this source are very high. But since the government is giving subsidies, I suppose that more people will be able to afford solar power.

Perhaps other countries in the West should study this example. It is never too early to start making use of more sustainable sources of power.

Photo courtesy of Rich_Lem

Sony TV Goes Green

Everyone is doing it, why not Sony? Undoubtedly one of the world’s biggest names – if not THE biggest – in the world of consumer electronics, Sony has always been in the forefront of new technologies. This time, they are working on a green flat screen TV. Not green, the color, but green as in environment friendly.

The new Bravia KDL-32JE1 is supposed to go on sale in Japan on the 30th of July and is reported to cost 150,000 yen – that’s about USD 1402. Of course, the electronics giant is planning on marketing this product in other countries but as of yet, there is no definite news on the dates of release outside of Japan.

So how much greener is the new Bravia? During a demonstration held at the Tokyo headquarters, it was shown that the new model consumes 82 watts. The image displayed was from a Blu-ray disc. Compare this power consumption to 125 watts, which is what a conventional Bravia uses to show the same image, and you can see the considerable difference in energy use.

This works both ways – consumers are able to save on their electricity bill and they are also able to contribute to the environment. Then again, you have to consider the hefty price tag that goes with the new flat screen TV. Of course, if you are already using a Bravia or you are considering getting one, then you might as well shell out a bit more money to save more in the long run, don’t you think?

Taspo Card Lent To Teenager

Do you remember the entry we had in April about the smart card that will, ideally, deter teenagers from purchasing cigarettes from vending machines? One of our readers, Jacl, commented on that post:

The only thing is … the machine will not “see” who is actually using the taspo card. If a minor is truly serious in trying to buy cigarettes, it wouldn’t stop the teenager from “borrowing” the taspo card from an adult and using it or finding some other creative ways around it.

Was he right! I was browsing Japanese-related news today when I ran across an article talking about a mother who lent her taspo card to her 15-year-old son! The article from AP goes:

Japanese police are demanding charges against a woman who allegedly lent her 15-year-old son an identification “smart card,” which is being introduced to prevent minors from buying cigarettes from vending machines.

The mother, 41, whose name was not disclosed because she has not been charged, lent her taspo to her son Monday so he could buy cigarettes to smoke in their home, a police official in southwestern Fukuoka prefecture said Tuesday.

Police have sent papers to prosecutors demanding charges of violating the law banning minors from smoking, he said on condition of anonymity because he was merely reading from police records. The maximum penalty is a 10,000 yen (US$96; €62) fine.

If parents themselves do not respect the rationale behind the taspo card, then I suspect that the Japanese government’s campaign may not be as effective as they had foreseen it. Then again, with prosecution as a possibility, then parents might think more than twice before doing something like this.

New Hydrogen Powered Car From Honda

Hats off to Honda for taking concrete steps towards environment-friendly cars. We all know, in theory, how cars of this kind can contribute a great deal to the preservation of the environment. The problem is that some sectors want nothing else but to keep status quo. Perhaps a corollary of this fact is that environment-friendly vehicles currently cost way much more than the conventional combustion engine cars.

It is thus good news that such a big name in the automotive industry seems committed to producing vehicles that are good for the environment and, hopefully, not too heavy on the pockets in the future. Japan Today gives a report on the newest hydrogen powered car from Honda:

Sounds good to me.

Miuro: Music Robot

Are you tired of having to crank up the volume of your stereo or computer just so you can hear your music from wherever you are in the house? Then the Miuro is the gadget for you. Miuro is fondly called the music robot and it promises to add a new dimension to your listening pleasure.

Shaped like an egg, it is 14 inches long and comes in white, black, yellow, and red. Miuro is made by ZMP Inc. in cooperation with Kenwood – giving you the assurance of high quality sound.

So what makes Miuro better than other music players? Aside from the fact that it can roll around and groove on its own, it can stream music wirelessly from the PC. It can also be connected to your iPod. What I really like about this gadget is that it is equipped with a camera, a sensor, and a remote. These things allow the user to “beckon” to the Miuro wherever he is (within range of course) and it will come to him – cleverly avoiding obstacles in its way.

It doesn’t stop at that though - once it locates the user, the Miuro positions itself so that it will be at the optimal distance for the best sound quality. THEN, it moves around to the beat of the music! Now, all that is hard to beat!

So how much does this thing cost? Prepare about $1000 (maybe a little under it).

Cigarette Vending Machines That Can Check Age

Trust the Japanese to make use of technology for very practical reasons. This is, in fact, one of their strongest points, in my mind. They have been gifted with the aptitude for innovations when it comes to technology and they have not hesitated to make use of it. As simple as things may be, the Japanese are known to be able to create applications that are quite useful.

One of the latest things that the government is working on is to enable their cigarette vending machines to be able to check the age of the buyer using his or her driver’s license. An AP article gives more information:

The Finance Ministry plans to allow a new type of cigarette vending machine that accepts driving licenses for age verification, in addition to those that read “taspo” smart cards, sources close to the matter said Sunday.

The move is planned because vending machines with the taspo card function have proved unpopular, probably due to the extra procedures required to obtain the integrated circuit card, they said.

In order to prevent underage smoking, Japan plans to restrict access to cigarette vending machines to adults carrying taspo cards by July.

Vending machines that check a buyer’s age by reading a taspo card have already been introduced in some areas, including Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures.

But according to the Tobacco Institute of Japan, only 8 percent of the around 26 million smokers had applied for the cards as of April 13.

To obtain the taspo IC cards, consumers need to fill out applications distributed by tobacco shops and to mail them to a designated address together with copies of personal identification papers such as a driving license.

The new type of vending machine, to be approved by the ministry, can verify a cigarette buyer’s birth date when a driving license is inserted in it, they said.

Wooden Laptops, Anyone?

I have never really thought about a laptop – or any computer – being made of wood. Then again, I didn’t factor the brilliant and innovative Japanese mind into the equation. Very popular and reliable notebook manufacturer Fujitsu recently unveiled a concept laptop made of wood – yes, more earth friendly than the conventional laptops we all have today.

Fujitsu showed off the concept at the Milan Furniture Show 2008. Dubbed the WoodShell. Quite obviously, I have not seen a real one for myself but based on the reactions from various people all over the blogosphere, the WoodShell is being received with mixed feelings.

Some people say that it is merely an attempt to go green and thus have the “right” to charge more for the product. Others have nothing but good to say: “you’ve got to love Fujitsu’s take on a generic 70s sci-fi font, not to mention its black-and-red-ness.” That’s from Gizmodo by the way.

My personal opinion? I love the concept but how would wood stand up to the heat that laptops give off, especially if they are used for prolonged periods of time? I, for one, wouldn’t want my beautiful wooden shell bursting into flames while I am playing online!

The Kasumigaseki Building

We all know that Japan is one of the most earthquake prone countries in the world – if not the most prone. As such, as much as Japan has to offer, one thing that would be sorely missing in its landscape are the high rise buildings that can be found in all of the world’s major cities. This is not to say that the Japanese have not tried their best in overcoming what nature has set for them. After all, the Japanese are not known for their immense capability to use technology for their benefit for nothing.

That is why as early as the 1960s, they started building their first ever high rise edifice. The Kasumigaseki Building is Japan’s first skyscraper. The construction was started in 1965 and finished 3 years later, in 1968. This year, they are celebrating its 40th year in existence – and rightly so. Located right smack in the middle of Tokyo, this skyscraper is the first Japanese building to exceed 100 meters. It has a total of 26 stories and currently houses most of the country’s cabinet offices.

As a matter of fact, the Kasumigaseki Building held the distinction of being the nation’s tallest building for only several years – till 1970. In this year, the World Trade Center Building was built, surpassing the milestone that the Kasumigaseki Building had set. One thing cannot be denied, however. The Kasumigaseki Building showcases the fighting spirit of the Japanese – that they could work with what they have and overcome limitations that may seem daunting at first.

Japan’s “Pimp Pusher”

The Japanese aesthetic is wonderfully quirky and one of the most unique point of views in the world. Just take for example this really funky watch. The Pimp Pusher watch from Tokyo Flash is a wonderful fashion accessory that is not only useful it’s also a great conversation piece. The watch has 72 surface mounted LEDS. These LEDs tell time by lighting up one light for the hour, which is located in the left column. It then also turns on one light for every minute that passes. So for, example, it 3:15, 18 LEDs will be turned on on the watch face.

But where does the “Pimp” come in with this Pimp Pusher watch. Well, between 6 PM and 1 Am, which is considered Pimp Time (go figure), rows of the LED will light up at random in order to catch the attention of people around you. Maybe the light display is a technological equivalent of showing your mating feathers or howling like a banshee like howler monkey in heat.

Be warned though, the watch may look very cool, but telling time will require constantly exercising your math skills. All for the name of fashion, eh?

What’s New with Japan Technology?

The main source of most electronics and technological gadgets today are surely to be easily traced from Japan. Having this distinction for quite some time now, many people are tracing via the Internet the leaks on new releases of modern technology. This of course was made possible through the proper optimization practices such by affordable search engine optimization to local sites as offered by teams like the Los Angeles SEO. There is surely a large market out there looking for first hand news on the latest trends and tricks today.

Moreover, Japan will always be synonymous with electronics. All it needs is to feed the latest gigs and deals and people will surely be raving and making their reviews. Add to this, release dates will be monitored since people always want to be the first to try them out, not matter what the cost may be!

That is simply how people are today, always after distinction.