New Gadget ★ Bottle Lid Pencil Sharpener

People read books on electronic devices like iBook and Kindle in these days.
People send messages by e-mail rather than writing letters.
People no longer carry around pens and notepad and instead, they have a mobile device that contains all the personal information.

The sales of books and stationary will be moving downwards ... unless the manufactures do not offer the creative goods and services.

One of the most famous Japanese stationary retailers, 'Shachihata' (HP: http://www.shachihata.co.jp/index.php, Japanese language; http://www.artlineworld.com/index.html, http://www.artlineworld.com/wtb/index.html, English site), has released 'Kezuri Cap' in late May 2012 (literary means, sharpener cap) which is a bottle lid pencil sharpener. The company are well known selling stamp pad, (Japanese people even call a stamp pad as 'shachihata') and now becomes a worldwide stationary manufacture and retailer.

 (Above from Shashihata HP:http://www.shachihata.co.jp/catalog/new_item/kezuri_cap/)

 

'Kezuri Cap' is a small gadget with a selection of four lovely colours.

Simply, you put 'Kezuri Cap' on an empty plastic bottle just like a normal lid.

One 500 ml bottle could take as much as 10 pencils' shavings.

The retail price is 315 yen.

 

The children make a mess with a conventional pencil sharpener.

The electronic pencil sharpener is handy but the children tend to sharpen the pencils far too much which get too short to use and go to the bin so quickly.

 

The concept of 'Kezuri Cap' is to reuse the plastic bottle which is environmentally friendly. As long as 'Kezuri Cap' is tightly set, the shavings won't come out even the children drop the bottle.  

It is also convenient to see how much shavings are in a clear bottle. 

 

It is clean, handy and ecology!

'Kazuri Cap' is a great innovative tool which is just what parents have been eager to have.

 

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Hello Kitty English Dictionary★

The internationally acknowledged Japan's brand, neither Sony nor Toyota, but Hello Kitty was transformed in overseas and created more sophisticated item which was re imported to the Japanese educational market.

 

The special edition of the Collins Gem Hello Kitty English Dictionary was released first in U.K. in July this year and it is now widely available in Japan.

 

It is entertaining with colourful pictures as well as suitable contents for serious English language learners. It is just perfect to motivate children to take it, look at it, and enjoy learning with Hello Kitty.

 

''With its clear definitions, spelling and grammar tips, this handy little dictionary is the ideal portable companion to answer all your essential language questions. A special Hello Kitty supplement has been included in this edition.'' (from HarperCollins HP:http://www.harpercollins.co.uk/Titles/65177/collins-gem-hello-kitty-dictionary-9780007457205)

The pocket sized Hello Kitty English dictionary is so handy that it encourages both young and old to open up the dictionary more often.

 

It is surely an unique item with Japan's beloved brand, Hello Kitty.

Fantastic!

 

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Kids' 'Yukata' Fashion Trend in Summer 2012

'Yukata' is a traditional Japanese clothing which is regarded as a casual 'kimono'. It is easy to wear and cool with cotton fabric which are well designed for hot and humid summer season. 'Yukata' is not everyday clothes any longer and people wear it for special occasions like summer festivals and firework displays. Indeed, when you see the people in yukata, it tells the arrival of summer.

There was an eye opening change in kids' yukata this year!

The 'obi' (sash) was replaced with soft see-through fabric.
The 'geta' (wooden clogs or sandals) were replaced with colourful high heel or flat comfy sandals.

And, the straight line form of  yukata has been transformed to the Cinderella dress style.

Even the 'Hello Kitty' brand introduced lovely yukata as pictures below.

The majority of children were still wearing the yukata with pastel colours in the traditional way in Tokyo but more children were enjoying the latest style yukata in the summer festivals in countryside of Japan.

What will never change is that kids love the summer festivals!

The 2012 summer is over in Japan.
Miss it, love it, and wait for summer next year.

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