SCI-TECH

Reckon you're the chef of the treble clef? Then you'll love Sing-a-Long Tongs, microphone tongs that rock the kitchen! They may not improve your cooking but at least you'll be burning water in style.

Apple's iPod Nano packs a lot of features into a very small package... so small in fact, that it's amazingly easy to drop or misplace. Enter Nanox, who've created an Apple-approved designer conversion kit that turns any sixth-generation iPod Nano into a secure and stylish wristwatch.

Travelers and tourists used to soaking up the world's most exotic sights and sounds can now satisfy their sense of smell as well, thanks to the new, nasally-oriented, "World Stinky Foods" infographic from TripAdvisor Japan.

This Universal USB Charge & Sync Cable from Dexim employs integral blue LEDS that scroll, marquee style, along the path of your current connection. Pimp my USB cable? Dexim has, and you're certain to get a charge out of it!

The massive tsunami that pounded Japan's northeastern coast following the devastating March 11th, 2011 earthquake left few trees standing along the shoreline. Among those few survivors is a battered, twisted pine that now resembles a Chinese Dragon. The so-called Dragon Tree has become a symbol of hope and renewal for the region's hard-pressed residents.

Smokers seeking a more luxurious and relaxing smoking experience need look no further than “The Peace”, an all-new, top of the line canned cigarette from Japan Tobacco. Sold by a selected number of Japanese retailers at a premium price and packaged in sleek metal cans, The Peace is the ultimate expression of an iconic brand first introduced in 1946.

Ear candy just got real thanks to 'Sound Like Chocolate', the world's first chocolate-scented stereo headphones. Thoughtful, tasteful and calorie-free, these sweet smelling headphones from Japan's Fu-Bi are the perfect practical Valentine's Day gift for your favorite cocoa nut.

The Toyota 2000GT SEV is a one-off, electric concept car being shown to the public at the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon. Designed by the Crazy Car Project under the direction of the Toyota Automobile Association, this “shocking” automotive update takes Toyota's iconic late-sixties sports coupe from flower power to solar power.

Finally, a use for armpit hair! Well, sort of. This cute anthropomorphic brush is designed to clean your keyboard's hard to reach nooks and crannies while putting a smile on your face. The unabashedly hirsute “Okite” underarm hair brush comes from Japanese design house and specialty retailer DECOLE, and is one of the popular Humania series of home, office, kitchen and school cool tools.

Where's the beef? Try looking under the foie gras and truffle butter, Jeeves. Wendy's has returned to Japan after a two-year hiatus but former customers might be hard pressed to recognize the burger chain, let alone pay for its high-priced gourmet offerings.

Who says you can't be in two places at once? Introducing Nubot, a smartphone faced robotic avatar doll controlled by Skype and webcam that allows you to interact with others remotely.

SwitchEasy's colorful “Melt” 3D cases for the iPhone 4 or 4S keep your smartphone safe from life's hard knocks while managing to look hot and cool at the same time. The cases feature a slick, shiny, melty-look top portion molded in smooth polycarbonate plastic for easy ingress and egress from the owner's pocket.

Hallow Kitty? Just in time for Halloween, Japan's favorite friendly feline gets her horror on. The Sanrio Hello Kitty Monster Collection scares up 5 BOO-tiful plush dolls modeled after classic fright film stars Frankenstein, The Mummy and more.

Video Memo from Japan's Green House allows you to leave short video messages friends, family and/or co-coworkers can watch. With its 1.77-inch LCD screen and on-board CMOS camera, Video Memo is the 21st century's version of the Post-It Note.

If you haven't been asked to join in any reindeer games, get your antlers to Japan where the Christmas costumes are unlike any those found anywhere else. Check out ten of Japan's oddest seasonal costumes and accessories, offered by the fine folks at Village Vanguard in the spirit of “St. Christmas”... whoever or whatever that is.

Celebrate digital Xmas 2011.0 with the USB Christmas Tree from Japan's Thanko! The tiny tinsel-trimmed tannenbaum merrily glows with fiber optic lighting powered by your PC or laptop computer.

Old and busted: phone headsets. New hotness: phone headrests! The “Dare to Demo” star-shaped plush pillow from Willcom allows users to rest their weary heads while conducting hands-free conversations.

Cool heaters! The FZ Series Oil Radiator Heaters from Japan's Eureks may look film-noir retro but look beyond their finned skins and you'll find environmentally friendly, non-polluting, oil-filled space heaters designed to match the needs of today's power-saving, post-nuclear Japanese households.

Tired of being kicked by bedmates awoken by your snoring? The “Snore Stopper” from Hivox prompts snorers to shift their snore-inducing sleep positions with a gentle electrical zap from a battery-powered wristband.

Offices can be downright chilly in winter, especially for women. Thank goodness Japan's JTT Online Shop is offering these “Hedge Hot USB” powered foot warmers in the shape of cute boy & girl hedgehogs!

If you're looking to freeze the competition with a bitterly cold, icy stare, pick up FX-Neo eye drops from Japan. These cooling drops are formulated with chill minty compounds, invigorating amino acids and beneficial vitamins meant to revive and refresh your eyes.

If you loved McDonald's Japan's quartet of “Big America” burgers last year and the year before, well get out the napkins and the antacid because they're baaaack! This year's fast food final four kicks off with the Grand Canyon Burger, followed by three more hamburger homeland homages filling out the first quarter – not to mention your waistline.

Someday we'll be "flying" our cars and computers by the seat of our pants, if a unique new sensor system developed by engineers at Japan's Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology is adopted by car & chair makers. It seems each person leaves a unique impression when they sit down and the resulting digital pressure patterns can be used to identify drivers from the bottom up, so to speak.

Geek chicks looking to flaunt some geek chic should look no further than Mass Item's “Measuring” line of math set women's jewelry from Japanese designer Kyozo Kawabe. The miniaturized and accessorized rulers, triangles and protractors come in a variety of colors and won't leak ink into your pocket protector.

Sanrio, Japan's kawaii character company and home of cuteness queen Hello Kitty, teamed up with California goods retailer LoungeFly to thank Apple's inspirational CEO, the late Steve Jobs, for a lifetime of creativity. The result was a bizarrely cute "Hello Stevie" love-child that ended up pleasing nobody.