Japan has a reputation for producing some of the most widely used gadgets in the world. These gadgets range from home appliances to game consoles and cameras.
However, Japan’s genius also has an eccentric side. This weird side is sometimes evident in their anime, movies, and candies. So it’s no surprise that when Japanese companies release weird tech gadgets that are as cool as they are efficient.
The Japanese use the special word, Chindogu, to describe unusual gadgets. Chindogu translates to “weird tools”, and it has been a popular feature in Japanese homemade magazines for years. Most of the time, Chindogu is not designed for commercial sales, which is why some of these items are unavailable in known-brand retail stores. But make no mistake; they do exist in troves.
In this article, we will check out some of the weirdest gadgets from Japan.
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Also Read: Best Japanese Household Gadgets
1. Hitori de Karaoke DX
Most people love to sing, but singing is not without its problems; namely, noise. Bystanders or your roommate may simply be disturbed by your singing practice or personal karaoke time. The Hitori de Karaoke DX makes it so you can sing as loud as you want without disturbing others.
The device has a funnel with a microphone inside that covers your lips while still giving them enough freedom to move. Most of your singing, whistling, screaming, or talking will be captured by the device and sent into an earpiece or a recording device. Since it comes with a 3.5mm audio jack output, you can connect it to a smartphone, TV, computer or any audio recording device.
Also Read: Japanese Collaboration Audio Gadgets
"Hitori de" is Japanese for "solo", so with this gadget, you can enjoy your own private solo performance without bothering others. Although you might find it weird at first glance, it's easy to see (and hear!) the possible benefits of the device, even including singing at night. The device package comes with the AC adapter you need to use it.
Get the Hitori de Karaoke DX
2. Shoe Deodorising Machine
The next weird gadget is a shoe deodorizing machine. This device deodorizes and freshens your shoes by using hydroxyl radicals generating Nanoe X ions to dissolve and eliminate odors. Nanoe X targets and neutralizes isovaleric acid, the common cause of unpleasant odors in shoes. The human feet produce this isovaleric acid when sweat combines with bacteria.
The shoe deodorizer releases Nanoe X from six outlets, spreading into every corner of the shoe and eliminating smell-causing bacteria from the toe to the heel. The gadget comes with two main modes: the normal mode for five hours of optimal use and the long mode for seven hours of straight use. The normal mode is for people with regular smelly shoes, while the long mode is appropriate for eliminating stubborn odors. Simply place this device in your shoe overnight and wake up to fresh-smelling footwear.
Also Read: Best Japanese Bathroom Gadgets
The shoe deodorizer is portable and operates on a mobile battery, so you can have fresh shoes even when traveling. Like many Japanese gadgets, this device is stylish and can be used outdoors. Until air-conditioned shoes become a thing, this is the best option!.
Get the Panasonic Shoe Deodorizer
3. Mini Desktop USB Washing Machine
Many of the small objects we carry around require cleaning, but we don’t always make the time. We should regularly clean items such as glasses, watches, and keyholders as they can harbor harmful germs that cause ill health. The Mini Desktop USB Washing Machine is the weird tech gadget that solves this problem.
Powered by a USB cord that you can plug into your computer, the mini washing machine will effectively clean small items. Simply add water and some detergent as required into the machine, switch it on and watch it clean your device. Although it comes in a small package, this powerful device can complete a cleaning cycle in two minutes, leaving your items sparkling clean. It is suitable for up to 10 minutes of continuous use.
Also Read: Best Japanese Home Gadgets
You might only come to fully appreciate this weird gadget once you’re done washing and you notice how dirty your item really was. This device is powered by four AAA batteries and weighs only 169 grams. Take care not to knock this device over, as it may spill water on your PC, thereby damaging it.
Shop Thanko Gadgets now
4. Monica Minolta Kunkun Body Odor Checker
This body odor checker by Konica Minolta works like a breathalyzer but for body odor. Monika Minolta developed this product in conjunction with the Osaka Institute of Technology, with the aim of tackling societal problems relating to odors. This device differentiates odors using sensors linked to neural network-based AI technology. This device not only detects bodily smell but other odors around us.
This is a groundbreaking yet weird tech gadget trained to determine three major body odors: sweat odor, old-age odor, and sebum skin odor which is prevalent among middle-aged persons. Consider getting this device to check if you are giving off the right odor for your age.
It is common knowledge that people cannot smell their own odor because they have become so accustomed to it, which is why gadgets like this are useful. It works with a smartphone application that measures smell from the scalp, armpits, feet, and the skin behind the ears. The data is shown in the application and rates your odor out of 10. The stats make it easy to know when you should use a deodorant or deodorizer. You can use this device before you step out to ensure you won't make others uncomfortable, and are smelling your best.
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The device is portable, and the app works with most recent android and iOS devices. It transmits to your mobile device over Bluetooth and can last up to 10 hours on a full charge. It comes with a USB charging cable and synchronizes well with most devices.
Get the Kunkun Body Odor Checker
5. Compact Balcony Rain Sensor
The Compact Balcony Rain Sensor stays outside with your laundry and alerts you when it is about to rain. It helps you avoid your laundry getting soaked by surprise rain showers when they should be getting dry. The compact gadget is easy to install and use as it works with two AA household batteries. Place it anywhere on your balcony, or next to your laundry for best results.
The gadget comes as a two-part system connected by a cable. The device's smaller sensor stays outside next to the laundry, while the receiver sits quietly indooors until the rains begin to drop. When rain is imminent, the recceiver will alert you with both sound and light, which is your signal to get your laundry inside before the downpour begins. It is made from water-resistant materials which can resist a reasonable amount of water. Although weird, this chindogu might actually come in handy for anyone air-drying their clothes outside!
Buy the Laundry Rain Sensor
6. Eco Melody 3201 Toilet Sound Blocker
Though entirely natural, when using public toilets many people get self-conscious about others hearing the noises our bodies make. No one wants the person in the next stall to hear them pee or make other noises while handling their business. In the past, Japanese women used to flush the toilet multiple times to hide their noise—a not so eco-friendly solution to hide embarrassment.
The Toilet Sound Blocker provides an alternative solution by playing the sound of running water. This practical device can be attached to the wall of your toilets, and you simply have to switch it on when you step in. You can choose between quiet and loud sounds. This weird gadget is a simpler way to disguise your toilet sounds and avoid embarrassment, without the need for constant flushing.
Also Read: Japanese Gadgets For Your Bathroom
The Eco Melody 3201 comes in a sleek square design that fits seamlessly in the toilet space. It can produces sounds at loudnesses up to 80dB, is powered by AA batteries, and can easily be attached to the wall using wood screws.
Get the Eco Melody Noise Machine
7. Kaltech Turned K Wearable Personal Disinfectant
After the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have wondered how they can keep the air in their personal space as clean as possible. Some people use hand sanitizers and soaps daily, but have you ever considered your own personal disinfectant system?
The Kaltech KL-P01 disinfects the air around you, ensuring you breathe clean and odor-free air. This wearable device weighs just 75g and comes in white, black, and metallic orange. Hence, you can wear it as an accessory or place it on a desk like a decoration. However, it is not waterproof.
Also Read: Best Japanese Gadgets For Your Kitchen
The average person breathes in about 7 liters of air per minute, and this weird tech gadget ensures that every ounce is clean and fresh. It is powered by a lithium-ion battery and can deliver about 8 hours of clean air. It comes with a photocatalytic filter which should be washed monthly for best results.
Get your own Wearable Personal Disinfectant
8. Metex Butter Grater
If you have tried to use cold butter straight from the fridge, you know how hard and difficult-to-spread it is on a piece of bread. The butter grater developed by Japanese company Metex is the perfect solution to that problem. By twisting the bottom section of this device, it will push out butter as thin vermicelli-style noodles, giving it more surface area to warm up so you can easily spread to your satisfaction. This weird tech gadget saves you the trouble of having to wait for a block of butter to warm up enough to spread.
It works like the butter version of a cheese grater, and the manufacturer's website states that you can also use it for cheese. The benefit of having fluffy butter is that it allows you to use less butter, thereby controlling calories. It makes spreading on toast, pancakes, crackers, and other surfaces easy.
Check out the Metex Butter Grater
9. Camera Mouse
This is one of the weirdest gadgets from Japan on this list, and it is as confusing as the name sounds. Is it a mouse with a camera or a camera that doubles as a mouse? That is part of the mystery of this Japanese wonder. It might be the next level in office appliances, where multiple gadgets are combined to make a single unit.
This device comes in handy when you need immediate pictures of documents or your office surroundings and cannot get a camera. As seen in the image below, you do not require extra USB cables or memory cards to transfer the data from this device.
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This device can take still images and videos and scan QR codes using its two-megapixel camera. It supports media files of many different formats such as JPG, BMP, PNG, AVI, WMV, WMA, and WAV. You will, however, need to attach a microphone to record sound.
Get the Camera Mouse by King Jim
10. Chopstick Fan
Ramen is a staple in Japan. These Japanese-style noodles are usually served piping-hot. This means that this comfort food can cause much discomfort by burning your mouth with every bite if not cooled properly. To minimize the burning pain, Japanese manufacturer YO! Sushi came up with a fan that you can attach to your chopsticks. You can attach this USB-powered device to your chopsticks, which will cool off the noodles for you as you eat.
This weird tech gadget has become a very popular product concept in Japan as it is seen as a durable tongue-saver. The chopstick fan, or noodle cooler, will also save you from having to wait for your bowl of noodles to cool off before diving in. However, some users wonder why they need the extra load attached to their chopsticks while trying to enjoy their bowl of noodles. Hence, despite its meme-y popularity on social media both in Japan and globally, the chopstick fan never really gained serious traction, and is not on sale.
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Conclusion
This list covers just a few of the weirdest gadgets from Japan. While some are designed just to be concept art, others are the perfect gifts for your friends and family. Interestingly, many of them come in handy, like the rain sensor and toilet sound blocker.
Remember that Chindogu items are not usually produced for widespread commercial sales, so you should get your preferred gadgets before they run out of stock. Good luck with your weird explorations!
Our Japanese gadgets shopping page has tons more gadgets than what you see here. If you're interested om gadgets from Japan, you should definitely check it out.
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