Sushi Trains, Centenarian Sailors, Free Apps and More [Sunday News]

by 13 Comments

[twocol_one]Born from Japan disasters, Line app sets sights on U.S., China : In a market dominated by Zynga and other US companies, Japan seems to have a tough time breaking into app scene; but now, it seems that Japan has a hope. A free social messaging app called Line, created after the 3/11 disaster, has exploded in popularity and is now eyeing foreign markets. Armed with the allure of free messaging and cute characters only Japan could create, it’s worth keeping an eye on Line. [via News On Japan][/twocol_one] [twocol_one_last]Japan’s ‘Galapagos’ Mobile Dilemma: For years, Japan’s cell phones were known around the world as being more technically capable than phones elsewhere around the globe. Now that smart phones have taken off, people are beginning to realize that the unique traits that made Japan’s cell phones so popular domestically make them virtually unmarketable in foreign markets. So does this make Steve Jobs the Charles Darwin in this Galapagos analogy? I’m confused. [via News On Japan]

Photo by hector garcia

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[twocol_one]Ride a Real Sushi Train! The Newest Attraction at the Hamanako PalPal Amusement Park: Recently, one Japanese theme park added in a new attraction — what is essentially a sushi-themed bumper cart course. The catch? You have to be between the ages of 2 and 12. I’m sure though, that it’s only a matter of time before another company realizes that the adult sushi-themed amusement park ride market is incredibly lucrative.[/twocol_one] [twocol_one_last]Guinness names 106-year-old oldest to circle globe : The Japanese are known for their longevity and, as this 106-year-old man shows why. Saburo Shochi, a professor at Fukuoka university, completed a round trip of the world using public transportation making him, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the oldest person to ever do so. All I can say is that I hope I’m as spry as a centenarian. [via News On Japan]

Photo from the Japan Times

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Header photo by Funny-Leo

  • DAVIDPD

    Just thinking about it, it is a little strange that there is not a big Japanese App out there. Then pondering it a little more it makes sense. As the iPhone is the biggest tech gadget, in recent history, that is not a Korea/Japan product (I know its built in China), it makes more sense. We, Americans have been responsible for creating the bulk of the biggest Apps out there, Instagram, Pintrest, Facebook, all were made for and by Americans. Now I just got to sit back and listen to the “Star Spangled Banner” a few times.

  • 古戸ヱリカ

    Oh yeah, the Star Spangled Banner app is great.

  • averygoodgame10

    Nationalistic views disgust me, especially when people decide to post them on blogs written on the subject of a foreign country.
    The way you should look at it is woah, why does America have so many apps and have to be worried about piracy, making it a serious government debate issue while there are people starving all over the world?

  • DAVIDPD

    Wow. Way to read too much into what I wrote. Maybe you should chill out a little. The only comment that could have possibly be read as Nationalistic was the last sentence and that was obviously meant as humor. If you even think for one second that I am some kind of red blooded, ethnocentric buffoon because of one little throwaway comment I think that says more about you than anything.

  • Loviatar

    Just wanted to point out, that if you’re talking about the Angry Birds-Rovio, it’s not American. Its’ FINNISH. Bad, bad Hashi :b

  • FoxiBiri

    I love the line camera app ^^
    The stamps are so funny and it’s effects are cooler and more fun and less hipster than imgur xD

  • HatsuHazama

    Wow, largest outburst I’ve seen on Tofugu since I started following, like, maybe over half a year ago.

  • HatsuHazama

    Sushi train looks sooo good. Damn my younger sis, between the ages of 2-12…
    And when you say, ‘Real Sushi Train’, does that mean it’s edible?

  • averygoodgame10

    It’s not that I was angry with what you read, I was just making my point. You were pretty much bragging for America. I’m American as well, I just hate it when people do that.

  • averygoodgame10

    Wasn’t an outburst, that would involve cussing and IP banning due to comment content :P

  • DAVIDPD

    I am sorry that it sounded like I was bragging to you, but I was really just stating facts. I am in fact, proud to be an American. I
    acknowledge that we are not a perfect nation, far from it. But you must
    also acknowledge that we have accomplished many great things. And we should be proud of them. Let’s leave it at that.

  • http://www.tofugu.com/ Hashi

    Do’h! My mistake :(

  • http://twitter.com/SactoMan81 Raymond Chuang

    I think the iPhone has not been so well-adopted in Japan because it lacks the ability to do mobile payments using the Sony-developed “FeliCa” near-field communications (NFC) mobile payment system. However, there are persistent rumors that the next-generation iPhone due about a month from now does now include NFC that works with FeliCa, and that could make the iPhone HUGELY popular in Japan as that will make it possible for Japanese cellphone users to ditch their “gala-kei” cellphones for a real “smartphone.”