Now, Robots run a marathon in Osaka

Bipedal walking robot marathon "Robomarafull vol.3" is held in Osaka, Japan in January 17 - 20.

The rule of this event is simple. Within 72 hours of the time limit, robots aims at the completion of 42.195km. The course of one lap of 75 meters is prepared for in a stadium and the robots run 563 laps in this and compete for time. Time of the champions of the last year is 45 hours 48 minutes 07 seconds.

The sponsor of this event is the Osaka government. This event is held as urgent job creation business. However, it is not the employment of the event staff. The true purpose is upbringing of the robot developer. The event is broadcasted in Ustream.

Japanese technopop group Denki Groove made their figure with 3D printer

Japanese technopop group Denki Groove releases a new album "Ningen to Doubutsu(A human being and animal)" on February 27. Such photo is placed in it.

These are the figure that reproduced them.

These were made in OMOTE 3D SHASHIN KAN which opened in Tokyo, Omotesando until January 14. There was the world's first "3D photo booth". The guest scanned oneself with 3D scanner and was able to make whole body figure of full color. It became the big topic and popular. And it was placed in many overseas media.

See Also:
http://www.dezeen.com/2012/11/23/omote-3d-printing-photo-booth-shashinkan-by-party/

Now, 3D printer becomes the topic in Japan, but it is not yet common. However, the popularity may rise by a famous musician having used it.

LINE Camera broke through 20 million downloading

NHN Japan announced that camera apps for smartphone "LINE Camera" broke through 20 million downloading.

"LINE camera" is camera apps linking popular messaging application LINE. We decorate photo and can post in LINE. This was released on April 12, 2012 and it broke through 20 million downloading from release in about 10 months. According to NHN Japan, it is popular in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Nepal. So LINE Camera links with the social networking except LINE such as Twitter, Facebook, mixi, Sina Weibo, Renren, me2day and Cyworld.

Of course I like LINE Camera, too. It has many functions and useful. We can use 22 filters, various writing brushes, and frame and stamp more than 100. Furthermore, it has function that puts some photo together to make collage.

This resembles J-style photo booth "Purikura". Therefore it seem to be supported by women.

Game arcade prize of LINE characters

I wrote an post of Nameko yesterday. However, there are popular characters like Nameko in Japan. These are characters of messaging apps LINE.

These were displayed in the recommended section of the game arcade with Hello Kitty and Rilakkuma.

These are prizes of the crane game. Cute mascot stuffed toy and a cushion!

Furthermore, they are popular as capsule Toy(Gacha).

These are a sticker and mini-figure.

Now, they are loved like characters of anime, comics and other Fancy character.

Nameko came to Oomagari, Akita!

Today, I went to huge shopping mall AEON Oomagari to meet Nameko.

I already wrote it several times about Nameko(Please search "Nameko" in this blog). His popularity is still crazy in Japan. Therefore the suit which reproduced him goes on a trip to the all over Japan.

KAWAII!!
Akita is the very poor country. First, I was skeptical about popularity of Nameko in Akita. However, it was imaginary fears.

Many people equalled a long line to photograph a souvenir photo with Nameko.

Nameko is drawn on the signboard of the shop. The staff of this shop is good at an illustration! :)

Furthermore, there was a crane game of Nameko in the game arcade, and this was extreme popularity, too. 1 time of crane game is 100 yen(about 1.1USD). Because too many people played this, the stuffed toys of Nameko have run low immediately. I played this, too, but unfortunately I have failed :(