Japan

We've known for a while now that Canon plans to launch a variety of unusual cameras that will target markets underserved by smartphones, which have largely decimated the point-and-shoot digital camera market. The latest of those unique camera models has appeared on a Japanese crowdfunding website, and it's one that barely even looks like a camera. Rather than being used to snap photos in place of a smartphone, it functions as a type of miniature telescope.

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Japan's previously announced Martian Moons eXploration mission will include capturing the Red Planet and its moons in 8K resolution, JAXA has announced. The mission, which is scheduled to go live the same year NASA will return humans to the Moon, is a joint effort between JAXA and Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK). Under their partnership, the two entities plan to develop the Super Hi-Vision Camera for snapping these images from orbit.

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An initiative from the Nippon Foundation called The Tokyo Toilet Project has launch three of 17 planned public toilets in Tokyo's Shibuya district, including two with a very unique design: transparent walls. People on the outside of the facilities can see within, showing off the toilets' clean, bright interior. When someone claims a stall, however, the walls transform as if by magic.

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Coffee shops, and Starbucks in particular, are associated with relaxing and getting work done, depending on your mission for the day. To help facilitate that, Starbucks offers coffee, laptops bars, and a large number of power outlets, but it is taking things a step farther in Japan with the introduction of a full and proper co-working space...that exists within a Starbucks store.

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Japan enjoys a stereotype for producing rather eccentric products and devices and Sony's latest isn't exactly helping. Born from its internal crowdfunding platform, the Reon Pocket was revealed last year to be a thermal device you can wear underneath your shirt to keep you cool during these summer days. In other words, it is the world's first air conditioner that you can wear and, now, also purchase. At least if you're living in Japan.

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The Sega Game Gear Micro is a new video game console that's about the size of half the palm of your hand. It is exceedingly tiny - and it's made to be collectible. This device will be released in four different colors and will play several different games originally released for the original Sega Game Gear!

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Today we're taking a peek at the game Pokemon Battle Academy, a game that's all about physical gameplay rather than screen taps. Pokemon Battle Academy is called a "board game" but it's basically a "starter box" the likes of which we've seen released for every CCG (Collectible Card Game) since the dawn of the format. Inside the box you get a board, you get damage counters, and you get two decks of cards.

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Coronavirus quarantine and global pandemic for COVID-19 meant Nintendo Swich units sold in high numbers early this year, here in 2020. Now a report from Osaka / Kyoto Japan suggests that Nintendo has ordered a rise in output from producers of the hardware. Parts suppliers informed of the plans have reported that Nintendo expects to produce approximately 10% more units of "the Switch series" in 2020, over the around 20 million units sold last year.

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Japanese company Sharp has revealed that it will dedicate one of its TV factories in Japan to producing face masks amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. The company's facility, which is capable of producing high-end electronics, can churn out tens of thousands of these masks every single day. Though they aren't useful for protecting against the virus, these masks are vital for healthcare workers and can be used by sick individuals to help guard against the spreading of germs.

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United Airlines, the third largest airline in the world, is officially the first US airline to suspend some flights to Asia out of coronavirus concerns. This is bad news for travelers who want to risk trips to outbreak regions -- United offers more service to Asia than any other US airline, potentially forcing customers to seek flights with other services. The changes will take place over the next couple of months, with the specifics varying based on airport.

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A senior member of the International Olympics Committee spoke this week about the possibility that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics would be cancelled due to novel coronavirus (nCoV-2019). According to Olympics Committee member Dick Pound, there was a 3-month window in which the 2020 Tokyo, Japan-based sports event's fate would be decided. He apparently "did not sound alarmist", but did acknowledge a real possibility that the Tokyo Olympics for 2020 could be affected by nCoV-2019 in one way or another.

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Japan's space agency JAXA has approved a mission that will, if successful, achieve a new milestone for human space exploration. The agency will launch the Martian Moon eXploration (MMX) mission in 2024, assuming everything goes according to schedule, with the goal of plucking a sample from the Martian moon Phobos. After studying the moons, MMX will return to Earth in 2029 carrying the small sample of Martian moon dust.

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