Tokyo Times

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Technology Stuff

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Fourteen-year-old forger

With a great deal of fanfare, the Bank of Japan recently released new and improved bills to reduce the growing number of forgeries in circulation. With their intricate designs, watermarks, and even holograms, the new notes are thought to be almost impossible to reproduce.

It’s a good job they did too, as on Wednesday Tokyo police arrested a 14-year-old-boy for copying old (but still in use) 1,000 yen bills on his home computer. Using nothing more advanced than a standard printer and scanner, the entrepreneurial youngster managed to produce notes that when compared with the genuine article were relatively easy to detect, but on their own would not have aroused suspicion.

And it seems that once again the evil internet played a telling part. The crafty counterfeiter learnt how to forge bills from an article in a magazine that he bought online.

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Cut, paste, print, and you are all done

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PSP preservation

After a surprising lack of hype up to now, the Sony PSP bandwagon seems to be finally gathering a bit of speed. And at some of Tokyo’s busy stations, PSP’s are on rather prominent display.

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Now it has to be said that whilst I was in Tokyo station, people weren’t exactly moving en masse to get a look at Sony’s new baby. But presumably wild and unruly crowds were expected, as security was tight.

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Tokyo Motor Show

This year’s Tokyo Motor Show is mainly geared towards commercial vehicles, but thankfully there are still a few interesting models (both transportation and female) on display.

The van below looks pretty cool as it is, and would certainly turn a few heads if it were to cruise down a busy road.

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But looks aren’t all this little beauty has to offer. As which self respecting DJ could be without a van that mutates into a music lovers dream? As the side doors open, decks, lights, and video screens shift into place. Something I’m sure would raise a few eyebrows around the neighbourhood.

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But if clothing rather than music is your thing, then don’t feel left out. Whilst personally I could probably fit my whole wardrobe into a small backpack, for the more discerning dresser this car/closet may be ideal.

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Tuna technology

It’s probably not much of an exaggeration to say that the Japanese are obsessed with food. Trips, TV, and traditional events often seem to be based solely around eating. And whilst perhaps not devoured to quite the same degree, the nation isn’t all that averse to new technology and gadgets either.

So it seems perfectly natural that the two should be combined. And what better way to do it than with some sushi USB memory?

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For anybody tempted, the SushiDisk comes in two sizes. The 128 MB model will set you back a steady 8,200 yen (42 pounds), and the smaller 32 MB version a more reasonable 6,000 yen (30 pounds).

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English elimination

The National Institute for Japanese Language (NIJL) is on the warpath. After its third meeting in an ongoing campaign, the organization is seeking to eliminate another 32 English words or phrases that have been deemed a standard part of daily Japanese. Providing this latest grouping is accepted, it will bring the total number of purged words to 141.

Now personally (and for obvious reasons) I’m more than happy to have English words used in everyday conversation. The more the merrier is my motto. But at the same time I can understand the NIJL’s concerns, especially as many of the words could presumably be just as easily said in Japanese. A few from the latest batch are, solution, mission, literacy, and initiative. I certainly couldn’t imagine imported Japanese words being used for similar examples in English.

But in its quest to limit the number of borrowed words, the NIJL is in danger of going a little too far. Some other examples up for elimination — and that are said to be a part of daily Japanese — are hazard map, road pricing, and my personal favourite, bottleneck manpower. Yes, bottleneck manpower! Is that a real word (or phrase) in any language, let alone one used in everyday conversation?

Perhaps of greater concern however is the NIJL’s process for selecting these words and phrases. It is rather worryingly based upon the comprehension of those aged 60 and over. If a word is misunderstood by at least a third of those canvassed, it is deemed worthy of inclusion. That’s it.

My fear concerning this it-has-to-be-understood-by-seniors approach is that other groups may latch on to the process, and before we know it, VCR’s, text messages, and video games could all become a thing of the past. Heck, if my father is a good indicator of his generation, then the internet, DVD’s, and even washing machines could also become purging potential.

Luddites rejoice!

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Toilet technology

Naoko Ito, a 60-year-old waitress, used to cringe in embarrassment at the thought that others could hear the sound of her efforts on the toilet.

But for Ito-san (and apparently thousands more like her), help is finally at hand. The fear of people hearing one’s grunts and groans, or splashes and splutterings, have been forever banished by Toto Ltd’s Sound Princess.

A simple wave of the hand over the device’s sensor makes a flushing sound that (unless the user is having a particularly torrid time) masks the sound of their bodily function. Toto claims to have already sold 500,000 Sound Princess units, with orders surging by an impressive 125% in 2003. Company spokesperson Kumi Goto said, “Japanese women are very embarrassed by the sounds they make in the toilet.” And as far as sales go, “the core of our clientele is schools and companies.”

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But not only does the Sound Princess prevent women’s blushes, it’s also good for the environment. Without such a masking device, it is from all accounts common for Japanese ladies to (and at times furiously) flush and re-flush the toilet to cover any unseemly sounds. Which whilst quite efficient on the noise prevention front, is not especially good for the environment.

And if all this wasn’t enough justification for the Sound Princess’ existence, parasitologist Noriji Suzuki claims that for a long time going to the toilet has been an embarrassing and shameful practice for Japanese women. The Kochi University professor said, “Sometimes you see people talking to each other over a stall in the West, but that would never happen in our culture.”

Up to now though the demand for the Sound Princess has been limited to ladies bathrooms, with Ms. Goto confirming that, “I still haven’t heard of men who say that they want a Sound Princess in the men’s room.”

Maybe not, but perhaps a sister (or even brother) device along the lines of Odour Prince would get my wholehearted support.