Inhabitat » Japan

Nissan Uses Fish-Inspired Design to Increase Car Safety

Believe it or not, vehicle designers can learn a lot from fish, which have the impressive ability to glide around obstacles, all while staying in a tightly controlled pack. If cars were able to do the same thing, traffic jams and fender benders might be virtually eliminated. That’s why Nissan built the fish-inspired EPORO, a robotic vehicle that communicates with other cars to avoid collision. Although we wish that there were more sustainable features, we do want to point out that the new technology centered on biomimicry also encourages better fuel efficiency since hard breaking may be avoided.

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NTT Docomo Reveals Scrap Wood Cell Phone Concept

by Ariel Schwartz, 09/25/09

We’ve covered wooden gadgets before, but NTT Docomo’s TOUCH WOOD concept phone is possibly the first wood-encased smart phone ever. The phone, developed in conjunction with Sharp, Olympus, and a reforestation project called “more trees,” contains surplus wood from forest-thinning operations in the Kochi prefecture of Japan.

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Japan Plans $21 Billion Solar Space Post to Power 294,000 Homes

by Ariel Schwartz, 09/01/09

The concept of space-based solar power was introduced way back in 1968, but it’s only recently that the world has latched on to the idea. Japan is definitely getting in on the action with its latest spacey plan – a $21 billion solar-powered generator in the heavens to produce one gigawatt of energy, or enough to power 294,000 homes. The Japanese government announced the plan back in June, but there has been an important new development – Mitsubishi Electric Corp. and industrial design company IHI Corp. are now teaming up in the race to develop new technology within four years that can beam electricity back to Earth without the use of cables.

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Japan’s Otake House Showcases Sleek Passive Solar Design

by Danielle Rago, 08/12/09

This sleek modern hilltop residence was designed by Japan-based architecture firm Suppose Design Office to make optimal use of passive solar building principles. Every aspect of the residence’s innovative design has been carefully considered to make the best use of available sunlight and natural ventilation, demonstrating how efficient building practices can inform and give shape to elegant modern architecture.

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Remote-Controlled LED Light Bulbs Offer 7 Shades of White

Energy-efficient LED light bulbs may be more expensive than CFL’s, but Sharp’s new DL-L60AV LED could be worth the high cost. The tricked-out bulb comes with a remote control that features a dimming function as well as the ability to select seven different shades of white… so your guests can never complain that they don’t like the ambiance.

Bubbletecture H by Shuhei Endo

When Japanese architect Endo Shuhei adds another delectable design to his repertoire, you can expect a project title just as incredible as the structure itself. He names each of his projects by letter and then style, with appellations ranging from “rooftecture”, to “slowtecture”, to “refurbitecture” and beyond. His recently completed ‘Bubbletecture H’ building in Hyogo is the 8th (Hth) project he has created that is bursting with bubbly bulges and arches. Designed with curves of the land in mind, this open-air environmental education center aims at minimizing its environmental impact while blending in naturally.

Kawasaki Reveals The Fastest Bullet Train in Japan

Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. recently announced that it is developing the country’s fastest high speed train! Named the “Environmentally Friendly Super Express Train” (efSET), the modern marvel will propel passengers along at 217 miles per hour, besting the record-holding Shinkansen’s 186mph. The streamlined design also promises to be less noisy, more energy efficient, and will feature a state-of-the-art electrical control system.

ONIGIRI HOUSE made entirely from cedar

This beautiful Onigiri House was created by NKS Architects in Oita, Japan. Constructed entirely out of locally-sourced cedar, the wood-paneled wonder features a gorgeous light-laden interior that celebrates clean, simple lines and an elegant, uncluttered floor plan. Modeled after the triangular shape of one of japan’s favorite delicacies, the project is the latest in NKS’ line of architecture that take its cues from the purity and precision of traditional Japanese food.

WIND-LIT SOLAR LEDs: Powered by the sun, moved by the wind

Imagine your next summer backyard party: the sun has just gone down, the music is playing, and, as the breeze picks up, the lights come on from a string of solar powered, wind-lit LED lights. This innovative design for enchanting outdoor lighting is from Yoshihiro Shimomura, a circuit designer design lecturer at Chiba University in Japan. Shimomura first used battery powered prototypes for his wind-lit creations but has since upgraded to tap into the sun’s energy to light up summer nights.

Pleated Recycled Textile Chair by Nendo

It’s no secret that needless waste and heaps of scraps are part of the equation in today’s textile and garment manufacturing process. Granted there are some amazing results in terms of cutting edge fashion and eye-catching furniture designs, but this often comes at a huge cost in terms of the throw-away elements. The Cabbage Chair by Japanese designers, Nendo, defies this trend by taking waste paper from the pleated fabric industry and turning it into an organic marvel. This gorgeous recycled textile waste chair was designed for the XXIst Century Man exhibition curated by Issey Miyake. It’s no coincidence (visually) that ‘Pleats Please‘ has found a new expression in this layered demonstration of waste as upcycled renewal.

AR AWARDS: Taketo Shimohigoshi’s Suspended Gardens

Architect Taketo Shimohigoshi has overcome the challenge of finding green space among dense, urban skylines with an elevated installation of vegetation. His design concept frames the city sky with slices of moss-covered beams, which define and connect the cityscape in a greener perspective. His vision has earned him a 2007 AR Award for Emerging Architecture – the definitive honor for young architects.

LIVE EARTH TODAY!

In less than 10 hours one of the biggest events in music history, Live Earth, is set to begin in Sydney. With an expected audience of over 2 billion people, the organizers of the event hope that this 24 hour worldwide concert will raise awareness on the issue of global warming and get people to take action in solving the climate crisis. Artists performing at the event range from Madonna and James Blunt at the London Event to Dave Matthews and the recently reunited The Police in the United States, and many many more! Check the website for the full lineup- the music starts tonight at 9:10pm EST!

NO! ECO SHOPPING BAG BRA

This is definitely one of the weirder attempts we’ve seen to make environmentalism more “sexy” to mainstream consumers, but you gotta hand it to the Japanese for creativity anyways…