18 Japanese Inventions We Would Be Lost Without

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Belt out and scream, because karaoke is all about having fun and being free! Japanese engineer Shigeichi Negishi invented the prototype in 1967 due to his love of singing while at work.

After a few adjustments and the addition of a remote microphone attached to an amplificator, the prototype was created, and he was able to start selling his invention, the Sparko Box, to local entertainment facilities. However, due to the popularity of live music, the Sparko Box lost its appeal.

Continuing on the idea, a musician named Daisuke Inoue began selling his karaoke machines in Kobe in 1972. The machines featured music recorded by him to assist artists when singing live, even when he could not be present.

Due to the convenient nature of the machines and Inoue's beginner-friendly design, karaoke took off, becoming an activity that is now famous worldwide. Inoue also designed coin-operated machines for the public to enjoy.

These days, Japan has karaoke companies that offer guests private rooms for unlimited singing and a wide array of songs. In these private booths, guests can order food, drinks, and alcohol while choosing between various karaoke payment plans, from all night to just an hour.

8. Capsule Hotels

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Capsule hotels, also known as pod hotels, are a popular invention that provides affordable accommodation for travelers. Capsule hotels were first introduced to the world at the 1970 World Expo by Kisho Kurokawa, a famous architect whose ingenious design amazed the public.

A few years later, in 1976, he designed and built the world's first capsule hotel, Capsule Inn Osaka (New Japan Umeda). The hotel was primarily targeted toward businessmen in Osaka as a cheap place to rest and recuperate—truly a lifesaver for those who missed the last train!

Capsule hotels consist of rows of small pods, usually measuring around 1.2 meters wide and 2 meters in length—just enough for a single bed! In most modern capsule hotels, each pod will have a power outlet, air conditioning, and, if you're lucky, a small TV.

The capsules are typically separated by gender, and other facilities include public showers and toilets, vending machines, lockers, and lounge areas.

9. Ekiben

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Arguably one of the most exciting things about taking the Shinkansen is the ekiben, boxed meals that can be enjoyed while riding the train!

Invented during the Meiji period (1868–1912) as the train and railway industry boomed in Japan, ekiben was first introduced and made available for purchase to the public in 1885 at Utsunomiya Station in Tochigi.

Not long after, local stations and regions across Japan caught onto the idea, adding their own regional bento boxes filled with delicious ingredients and specialties from each area.

To this day, ekiben remains an important part of Japanese culture and travel. It is not uncommon to see travelers enjoying one of these delicious meals on the train. Each lunch box features its own design and specialties; a popular choice among children is the ekiben shaped like a bullet train!

10. Conveyor Belt Sushi

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Mouthwatering and hypnotizing to watch, conveyor belt sushi is a must-try when in Japan! Affordable, quick, and convenient, conveyor belt sushi was first invented by sushi chef Yoshiaki Shiraishi as a way to keep up with the high demand for orders while dealing with a lack of staff.

Inspired by the beer conveyor belts used by Asahi Brewery, he worked on creating conveyor belt sushi and successfully introduced the concept in his shop, Mawaru Genroku Sushi, in 1958.

After discovering that his invention could cut costs and serve guests quickly, Shiraishi-san went on to open another shop at the Osaka World Expo. This venture proved successful, attracting visitors from far and wide who were wowed by its novelty and uniqueness.

Since then, conveyor belt sushi has spread across the world, offering delicious, fresh sushi at affordable prices! In Japan, popular chains include Sushiro, Kura Sushi, Hama Sushi, and more.

11. Quartz Watches

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Quartz watches took the world by storm, changing the way we manage our time. Shocking the public on Christmas Day in 1969, the renowned Japanese company Seiko introduced a revolutionary invention known as the quartz watch.

The first of its kind, this watch did not rely on the user to mechanically wind it to charge its power, as previous watches did; instead, it was powered by quartz crystals, which are piezoelectric, along with a microchip circuit and a battery.

The quartz watch was seen as highly accurate and unaffected by gravity, ensuring that you never miss out on time. The new invention was so sought after that it disrupted the watch-making industry worldwide, leading to what is known as the quartz crisis.

The Swiss watchmaking industry, which was renowned for its exceptional mechanical clocks, struggled during this time as the world began to shift toward quartz and electronic watches.

12. QR Codes

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How old is a QR code? You may be surprised to find out that QR codes were invented in Japan and are now 30 years old! In 1994, Hara Masahiro, who worked at Denso Wave, an automotive company, was given the challenging task of creating a two-dimensional code that could be read quickly and efficiently.

While the barcode that we often see on items scanned at supermarkets is useful, the information it can store is limited to a single line. In contrast, a two-dimensional pattern like the QR code can hold much more information, making it a major time saver for companies that need to scan and track large inventories, such as Denso.

Inspired by the patterns on the Japanese tabletop game, Go, Masahiro-san created the QR code using two-dimensional black blocks as a pattern. This design allows users to scan the QR code quickly from any angle, making it extremely practical!

13. Gachapon Capsule Toys

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From discovering extraordinary delights to the sound of the gacha machine's wheel being turned, gachapon is an exciting invention that captivates and thrills those who encounter it!

This iconic capsule toy vending machine was first invented in 1965 by Japanese entrepreneur Ryuzo Shigeta, a small business owner located in Tokyo's Taito ward.

Shigeta-san came up with the ingenious idea after receiving a coin vending machine from America that dispensed toys and candy. Unsatisfied with the product, Shigeta-san decided to create his own vending machine, encapsulating the toys individually in colorful plastic capsules. Affordable and fun, the first machine was placed outside his shop, and thus the gachapon culture was born!

To this day, gachapon is enjoyed across Japan, with around 360,000 machines in total! Wacky, bizarre, fun, and obscure items ranging from anime and manga characters to animals and unusual trinkets are sold. What is the most bizarre gachapon you have found?

14. Yakult

Japan's well-beloved and famous healthy probiotic drink, Yakult, is a popular choice for those wanting to stay healthy in Japan.

Invented in 1935 by Dr. Minoru Shirota, the founder of Yakult and the Lacticaseibacillus casei strain Shirota, the first-ever Yakult drink was sold to the public with the hope that many could benefit from its probiotic properties and absorb its amazing health benefits, thereby helping to create a healthy gut flora.

Yakult remains a popular drink to this day. To find out more, why not visit our article below?

15. Tactile Paving

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Life-changing for those with visual impairments and promoting independence, tactile paving can be found throughout Tokyo and its extensive subway system.

Created in 1965 by Japanese inventor Seiichi Miyake, tactile paving, also referred to as tenji blocks, consists of textured yellow tiles featuring raised rows and circles to help individuals navigate through towns and cities.

They were first implemented in Okayama City in western Japan and have since paved the way for countries around the world, with the USA, Canada, and Australia incorporating them into their streets since 1990.

16. Purikura

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A landmark of Japanese pop and Kawaii culture, Purikura, also known as the Purinto Kurabu machine (Print Club), was first conceptualized by Sasaki Miho, who worked for the renowned video game company Atlus.

Inspired by stickers and the way girls took pictures together and decorated them, Sasaki approached Atlus with her idea in 1994, only to be rejected. A year later, Atlus decided to partner with Sega to make Sasaki-san's dream come true, and the rest is history!

Over time, these cute machines have advanced, offering a variety of themed options, stickers, and colorful borders to choose from, as well as makeup brushes and digital effects.

After adding stickers and effects to your captured photo via a digital screen and stylus, the photo is printed within seconds, making for a great souvenir!

Purika photos can easily be recognized, with many young people displaying them on the backs of their phones and adjusting their eyes to resemble anime characters. These machines can be found in arcades, amusement parks, and other locations.

17. Selfie Sticks

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Everyone say cheese! Great for group photos and selfies with amazing backdrops, the selfie stick was first created in Japan in the 1980s by Japanese inventor Hiroshi Ueda.

Ueda-san, frustrated by the difficulties of capturing a holiday with all family members in the frame, was inspired to create the selfie stick, which was originally called the telescopic extender stick.

Designed to hold a small camera, the extender stick featured a small mirror that would clip around the front of the camera, helping to keep it in place and allowing the user to see what the photo would look like.

Unfortunately, the invention was ahead of its time; with the lack of camera phones and camera owners not embracing the invention as Ueda had expected, the telescopic extender stick was ultimately unsuccessful.

The selfie stick as we know it was later popularized in 2005 by Canadian inventor Wayne Fromm, who created an improved and original version of the product.

18. Otohime: Flushing Water Sound Simulators

The Otohime, a flushing water sound simulator, was invented by TOTO, a renowned Japanese company that manufactures washlets and hygiene-related household items.

Designed to mask unwanted sounds in restrooms, Otohime helps provide privacy and comfort for users. It was developed to address noise concerns in public restrooms and has become popular in various settings, including homes and commercial establishments.

This invention was inspired by a historical practice in Japanese aristocratic residences, where a servant would stand outside the toilet while it was being used by a high-ranking individual. The servant's role was to pour water to mask any sounds coming from inside the toilet.

Nowadays, in public restrooms, the sound automatically starts playing when the washlet detects that somebody has entered the cubicle. Other times, you might have to push a button to start the sound simulator. These buttons are usually marked with a music sign or have the kanji character for sound 音 on them.

Enjoy the World of Japanese Inventions

We hope this list of inventions intrigued you. If there is one that you've never used before, why not try it next time you visit Japan?

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