Sumo wrestlers appear in the street view of Google Maps

70 sumo wrestlers appear in the street view of Google Maps this year!

via Japan Sumo Association Twitter

Sumo wrestlers stand in front of Ryougoku Sumo Hall. This is a project by the partner program with Google. In late years, Street view collaborate with various institutions in the world such as museums and theme park. On December 25, 2012, the photography for this partner program was carried out for Ryougoku Sumo Hall. The popular yokozuna is included in them. It is not yet still decided it at the time, but we can meet sumo wrestlers in a street view as soon as data are reflected.

Steve Jobs revives! He became the cool action-figure

Japanese figure maker Legend Toys made cool action-figure of Steve Jobs.

His expression, clothes, shoes, all of life-like. The sculptor of Legend Toys Kato  produced this. The size is 12 inches, and the price is US $ 149.99. Shipment is due to begin the end of January and Legend Toys accepts a reservation. Order page is here.

(c)2012 Legend Toys Limited

Apple start selling e-books in Japan

Japan's Nikkei scooped. Apple start selling e-books in Japan on iPad next month.

via http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASDD31011_R31C12A2MM8000/?dg=1 (Japanese)

According to Nikkei, Apple cooperates with Japanese main publishing companies, Kodansya, Shougakukan and Kadokawa group Holdings.
I think that this is timely. Because 2013 is big year of public domain in Japan. Writers more than 60 became the public domain only on January 1, 2013. A lot of popular novelist and famous scholars are included in them. Japanese e-books users will increase more if Apple really launches e-books business in Japan.

Japanese boys band ARASHI used AR in a music TV show of the last day of the year

A Happy New Year! In Japan, new year began and passed for 2 hours. Japanese public broadcasting company NHK broadcasts a music TV show "Kōhaku Uta Gassen" every year on the last day of the year. The Japanese boys idol group ARASHI showed real-time Augmented reality there.

I was not able to take good photos...

Sensors were attached to their hands, and the AR CG were displayed in link with their dance. There were many audiences in the stage of this TV show. However, they cannot watch AR CG. Only TV viewers were able to watch this. This is direction only TV, and it may be said that it was a project to give added value to TV.

"Real Steel" become "real"

Real Steel is exciting movie! It is a thrilled movie for robot geeks. Would the Japanese TV company obtain an idea in it? Nihon TV recruits the participants of the robot battle TVprogram "Real Robot Battle Nihonichi Ketteisen!(リアルロボットバトル日本一決定戦！)".

This is the TV program that robots of the life size fight in a tournament. Nihon TV says, "We appeal to children carrying the next generation that preciousness of searching technology, pleasure of the invention and Joy to grant a dream".

The rule size of the robot is 150*90*90(cm). The design is a humanoid type.

This is a very exciting project. There are already some of popular humanoid types robots in Japan. Especially, KURATAS became the topic.



However, KURATAS is too big. Size of Asimo is just right.