Having difficulty in finding the right shade of foundation or lipstick? The advent of digital tryvertising has apparently solved this problem. Every make-up amateur must have landed with the wrong shade of cosmetics, even after having sorted it out by the experts, but this is not going to be the case anymore. The Takashimaya store in Shinjuku has stalled a Digital cosmetic mirror which can accurately predict the suitable shade of beige for your face.

This unconventional method used by the Takashimaya store allows customers to test make-up without having to try it on. The customers have always complained about this mode of cosmetic selection as it exposes their vulnerable skin to the uncountable-times-used testers. This technology will put an end to all the grievances of the customers. It has been employed by the Shiseido, it scans your face, traces all the major contours and the skin tone and allows you to test any shade of the cosmetics they have in the store. You not only get customized suggestions, but also a take away print out of it.

The sad news is, this technology has only been employed in Tokyo and it might take a little longer to reach out to the whole globe. To play the video click here.

via:  japantrends

John Keats introduced us to the ‘truth’ connection with ‘beauty’. And here we are in the second decade of the 21st century looking at The Spirit of Beauty. This one can be seen at the Moris Art Center Gallery showcasing over 100 years of creative jewelry. Each of these pieces flaunts precious stones by Van Cleef & Arpels. In fact, the exhibition even borrows its name from the clip created by the brand which resembles a fairy.

The display is on in Toyo till the 17th of this month. After that it will proceed on a worldwide tour. And from what we hear, this exhibition is an experience in itself.

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If you are as claustrophobic as I am, you would certainly not want to stay in Capsule Hotel Shinjuku 510 in Tokyo. It used to be a hotel where people and businessmen used to stay overnight in case they did not want to go home.

Now, thanks to Japanese recession and economic downturn, many people have started to move out from their expensive apartments and have begun to live in Capsule Hotel Shinjuku 510. The living space is hardly enough to stretch your legs and there isn’t any privacy either as there is no door but just curtains.

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For all that glitters IS gold! This could be the new adage if the current trends around the world are anything to go by. With the soaring rates of the yellow metal, folks have suddenly realised that it makes for the best investment choice available today. On top of this, gold makers and jewelery brands are leaving no stone unturned to further promote the golden cause. Recently, it was a hawk-shaped golden figurine spotted in Hong Kong that is worth $6,290. But it is Tokyo that is the centre of our focus today.

The most hi-end district of the capital city of Japan, Ginza saw the Tokyo Gold Week exhibition which was organised with the sole purpose of encouraging folks to buy more and more gold. A 15 kg pure gold artifact made many a heads turn. Then it was the Tanaka gold jewelry shop that had gold ingots collected form various countries spread out like a casino table.

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Recession might seem like one big joke to those in Tokyo. Well, we don’t mean to only refer to the 12K yen that government shelled out per person in Japan to aid in the financial crisis, but also to the marketing strategy adopted by French jewelry store Mauboussin. Believe it or not, but as part of the launch of its new store in Ginza, the brand gave away 5,000 diamonds for free.

Each diamond was worth 0.1 carat with a cost of $55. This strategy was used to encourage people to invest in luxury gems during the hard times. But we do have serious doubts about the finances of a company who is offering diamonds like promotion cookies.

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Too goofy becomes cool! Yep, that is the funda if the Japanese electric car Eliica is anything to go by! Designed by a team of students led by Professor Hiroshi Shimizu at Keio University, Tokyo, the Electric Lithium-Ion Car (ELIICA) prototype has been around since 2003.

The design of the car is absoultely unique. It comprises of eight wheels with the axles one in front of the other. All four tires in the front turn simultaneously to give a good steering radius. Now they are working on giving the same edge to the rear wheels for easy parallel parking.

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Robots will one day overtake human beings, so say the Science Fiction writers. We have been laughing at them for ages but their prophesies have been coming true time and again. At Tokyo�s CEATEC conference, the new age Ms. Robot, MechaDroid Type C3 has been launched. MechaDroid is the robot receptionist that claims to be more effective, punctual, careful and pleasant than her human counterpart.
Receptionsts typically meet hundreds of new faces everyday, so much so that, it becomes difficult to recognize each and every person. But MechaDroid has been inbuilt with a unique face recognition technology. It has a number of other useful features that makes it truly worth spending $28,000.

This news reminds me of my University days when I played the role of Sulla, the receptionist in a production of Karel Capek�s RUR. It amazes me how the Czech writer predicted a future nearly 100 years forward as he wrote the play in 1921! And What scares me is that the play ended with a rebellion by the Robots. I wonder if MechaDroid also demands worker�s right in times to come! Chuckle!
Via techfresh

Have you ever comes across any product that shields you against frequent mood swings or protects you from harmful cellphone radiation? If you are curious about the existence of any such product then look forward to the Beauty World Japan exhibition in Tokyo that lately unveiled this bra designed utilizing snake oil tourmaline trinkets. Tourmaline is considered as a “miracle electric stone” that fights against harmful radiation coming from cell phones and stops them from entering into your body, thereby improving moods and burning stress. Called the “La-la” tourmaline bustier, manufacturers believe this would counteract harmful emissions by discharging fields of negative ions.

Via 3Yen

Featured above is another luxury product inviting people in a mood to burn their spare amount of dough. Measuring 66cm tall and weighing 57kg, this elephant shaped liqueur tantalus is a striking creation by French luxury crystal maker Baccarat. Exhibited at the Baccarat’s exhibition and Tokyo’s Mitsukoshi department store, this masterpice is up for sale demanding a hefty price of 63 million yen ($612,000).

They say original piece of crystal encrusted elephant bathed in pure gold carrying four decanters on its back, was especially designed and developed for the Paris exposition in 1920 and countee 17 models were replicated.

Via MSNBC

If you want to celebrate the birth ceremony of your one-year young kid in an elite manner, then only read further; otherwise free feel to move to my previous post or wait for next one.

This 18th century wooden cradle clad with gold plates and embedded with a total of about 2,000 gems of diamond, ruby, emerald is displayed at the “Treasures of the Topkapi Palace and the Magnificent Ottoman Dynasty” exhibition in Tokyo.

Besides this, around 140 treasures from the residence of the Ottoman Empire, the precursor to the Republic of Turkey, including the cradle are exhibited.

The occasion is to celebrate the birth of Prince Hisahito on 6 September 2006 to Princess Kiko, the wife of Japanese Emperor Akihito’s second son Prince Akishino.

These riches will be on for demonstration from 1 August to 24 September.