Gamertell

Wow! Important Importables falls on the Fourth of July this year! So I figured this week’s column should focus on some fun, Japanese gadgets that you can buy online now, and have in time for the Fourth. You know the kind of things I’m talking about. They’re the items that you look at and go, “That is so cool! Why don’t they have these in (country you live in)?”

But these aren’t just any gadgets or toys. These are things that are perfect for enhancing your summer experience. Every summer has a few days where you’re absolutely stumped as to what to do. While the items I suggest might not totally revitalize your day, at the very least they’ll be a cool discussion starter.

Keitei Air-Conditioner
Ah Strapya World - you bring me such simple amusements. From the endless bubble wrap keychain, to the Baketan ghost detector and finally the AB blood type bag cell phone charm that exploded on my hands.

But for summer, I recommend the Keitei air-conditioner. It is a $6.53, 220mL can of air-conditioning spray. You hold it away from your body and briefly spray yourself. It shoots out a spray that feels like -40 degrees Celsius, which is designed to quickly cool you off. Don’t go giving it to small children though - it can burn you if it is sprayed directly onto your skin or sprayed in one place for longer than three seconds.

Since Chicago’s been seeing 90 degree temperatures since mid-June, the keitei portable air-conditioning spray could come in quite handy. Of course, those little spray bottles with a fan attached probably work just as well, but they just don’t look as cool.

Hello Kitty Mosquito Repeller
The next item will help keep you from being eaten alive while roaming around outside. JBox carries a Hello Kitty Mosquito Repeller which can be worn either on your wrist or around your neck. This battery operated device also comes with the repellent, so you just charge it up and wear it to repel those offensive little bugs. It costs $18.00 at JBox.

Mosquitos, and other biting insects, always assault me when I’m outside with friends or camping. I always end up wearing those strange, neon bracelets from Wal-Mart that are supposed to help repel them. Yet they never seem to work. I don’t know if I’d actually wear the Hello Kitty Mosquito Repeller, but it is pretty cute.

RC-12 Wireless Mini Camera
The RC-12 mini video camera is one of two pricey gadgets from the Japan Trend Shop you can enjoy for summer fun. The RC-12 camera is a 35mm long, 18mm wide and 15mm tall wireless camera that can transmit video to a receiver. It provides a pretty nice picture for its size - 2.7 megapixel images are transmitted with it. It comes with a waterproof case, English language manual and a rechargeable battery.

The only downside is the price. It is the most expensive item on today’s list at $340. However it is extremely handy. You can use it to spy on people, or, well, okay - spying is the only thing that comes to mind when I think about uses for the wireless mini camera. Its still a pretty neat idea.

I guess you could use it for movie making purposes as well. You can use it for grand, low budget, special effects. Just get a whole bunch of plastic toy characters and set them up, place the camera nearby to record and then stage a fake thunderstorm or meteor attack.

R/C Flying Cockroach
The last item also is from the Japan Trend Shop, and is a flying, remote controlled cockroach. R/C helicopters are old news. Everyone’s seen one or owned one.

The $59 R/C cockroach is a slightly over-sized, AA powered flying bug. You put the batteries in the base and attach the roach to charge it. Then, after about a half-hour, you can take the roach off and fly it around. Japan Trend Shop reports that a half-hour charge will provide a five minute flight. Sure, you have to wait a while to charge it up, but just imagine how great that five minute flight will be!

It also looks pretty lifelike. If it weren’t for the size and the conspicuous propellers, it could be quite frightening. As it, it’s a nifty take on R/C flying devices.

COMING NEXT WEEK: Since Daigasso Band Brothers DX was recently released in Japan, Important Importables will celebrate the release with a review of the first game, Daigasso Band Brothers If you don’t miss a single installment of Important Importables, or want to know right away when the next column is up, then sign up for the Gamertell Newsletter and RSS feed.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Last week Important Importables reviewed Pump It Up: Zero Portable.

Site [Strapya World] Site [JBox] Site [Japan Trend Shop]