Cool Products Friday, April 17, 2009

Here are today's "really cool products" that I've picked out for you, out of the 30+ new items we've added to the J-List and JBOX.com sites today. Note that some products may be "not safe for work" but that all links will allow you to redirect yourself either to the J-List or JBOX.com websites. To see all the J-List products, check out J-List or the JBOX.com updated products link.

	Figure Maniacs Otomegumi vol. 31 I am a big fan of Figure Maniacs, the outstanding perfect-bound magazine that presents all the best anime figures for fans perusal in each issue. The new issue focuses on the best female character characters released in the past six months, and it comes with a cool interior booklet for Figma fans!
	Suzumiya Haruhi Special Premium Figures Then, see two great sides to Haruhi Suzumiya with the new Premium Figures we're posting, showing Haruhi staring forward with intense eyes, and another featuring Haruhi with her guitar. Since these are "crane game" prizes, they're rare and hard to find.
	DX Rilakkuma Wallet Then, this is simply the most awesome wallet you will ever see, a soft plush Relax Bear wallet that you can keep your money and other important stuff in. K- K- Kawaii!
	Strawberry Mix Pattered 2-tier Square Bento Box For bento fans, we have an outstanding new bento offering from Prime Nakamura featuring a strawberry theme. Imagine the amazing bento creations you could make with this!
	Shoxx Apr 2009 vol. 194 Japan's music scene is popular all over the world, and you can track the coolest "visual-kei" bands (the kei meaning "related to") with Shoxx, the awesome Visual and Hard Shock Magazine. Special focus on The Gazette in this issue.
	Cyber Figure ARis See fresh stock of the fabulous Cyber Figure ARis, the amazing "virtual figure" that's a computer maid that you can interact with. Using any standard USB camera and a Windows PC, the system created an on-screen virtual made you can have loads of fun with, including, you know, that kind of fun. Voiced by C.C. from Code Geass.
	Retro Postcards Traveler The Showa Period was a time of great changes in Japan, and here's a book of old style postcards from the top vacation spots during the Showa 30's (1955-1965). I love visions of old Japan like this.
	Mameshiba Pencil Case, Japanese Pens Got some great restocked items today, including the unbelievably cute MAMESHIBA pencil case that knows lots of trivia (long story), Sarasa pens (the best pens in the world), finger grippers for working with documents, and the fun KADO-KESHI eraser.
	Awesome New Japanese Snacks Today's new offerings include Green Tea Collon, the cookie snack with the funny name that's filled with matcha milk deliciousness, followed by Watering Kiss Mint and -- wait for it -- Chocolate Doughnut Gummy.
	Nyan Nyan Nyanko Books Then, take a journey around Japan with the strange but cute Nyanko cats by San-X. Visit each corner of Japan, with famous icons of the country like sushi, sumo wrestlers and more transformed into these cute cats.
	New Figures in stock We love Lucky Star, and we love Nendoroid, so we're happy to note that we've gotten in fresh stock of this cute Puchi (Petite) series of anime figures. Also: see fresh stock of several kawaii Pinky Street figures!
	Nintendo DSi & Study Software The Nintendo DS is a great way to play games, but it can do much more -- you can learn Japanese, for example! We've restocked the popular Kanji Test game that help you study at any level. Fresh stock of the Japan DSi, too.
	Ai Yori Aoshi - New Price! I love the story of Ai Yori Aoshi, the tale of love between Aoi, daughter of a rich zaibatsu family, and Kaoru, who left his family behind to find a new destiny for himself. Great new price on this highly recommended game for Windows PCs, fully translated to English.
	Restocked Bento We're adding stock of some really cool bento items, including the niKyoro Round 2-tier Bento Box w/ bowl built into the top, plus a favorite of mine, the Lace and Butterfly Gothic style bento set.
	Easy Boiled-Egg Shapers You could eat a normal hard boiled egg with your next bento, or you could eat one that was made the shape of a rabbit, a bear, a car, or even Hello Kitty. Browse the newly restocked Bento Egg Shapers we've gotten in for you.
	Totoro Cushions, Bento & More We've also gotten fresh stock of the amazingly soft and luxurious Totoro cushion for 2009, which is soft and fun to touch or lay down on, plus Totoro Bento, a Totoro Plush Keychain and more.
	Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea DVD *Preorder* A touching story directed by Hayao Miyazaki, Ponyo is the story of a very special fish who desires to be human so she can be with her friend Sousuke. It's a fantastic film that we hope everyone will watch, and you can preorder it now. Also see fresh stock of the official film comics.
	Lucky Cat Items Like I always say, if you're going to have a tea pot, it might as well be shaped like Lucky Cat. See this item along with several other fun Manekineko items back in stock.
	SHUSHU ~ WA Kimono Patterned Hair Accessory Then for girls who want to wrap themselves in Japan, we've got some attractive hair bands that feature chirimen (kimono pattern) designs.
	Restocked Traditional Items Then see various restocked items that bring Japan home to you, including the Chirimen GAMA-GUCHI metal clip pouch, deluxe lacquered wood soup bowl, and awesome bamboo sandals worn in the Edo Period.
	Japanese Calligraphy Shirt "I Love Alcohol" J-List specializes in wacky kanji T-shirts with fun messages that might just serve as a conversation starter with Japanese people you meet on the street. This shirt says sake-bito, lit. "a person of sake" although a better translation is, "I Love Alcohol."
	Great Music from Japan I consider it my mission to roam the iTunes Japan store for cool music to tell you about, like the Studio Ghibli dance remix I came across the other day, or the great remix of My Boyfriend is a Pilot for old school Macross fans. Or see what computer-generated Vocaloid idol Miku Hatsune is up to! Purchase them with the Japan iTunes Cards available from J-List.
	TIE Figure PC Web Camera *Preorder* Score some geek points with this fantastic Star Wars themed webcam, a standard USB compatible camera that you mount on your PC monitor or laptop. This most excellent device features lasers that light up with the camera is on. Skype compatible.
	Lightsaber Led Light *Preorder* Then, an elegant flashlight for a more civilized age, this is a Lightsaber-style LED light that will guide you to the light side of the Force. Preorder it now.
	Fuko Photobook Restocked Wow, Fuko's brand new photobook sold out in record time, but fortunately we've been able to grab another dozen copies or so. On the site now.
	Mazo Chichi by Icarus Publishing Next up, the legendary Mazo Chichi is available in English from our favorite manga publisher, Icarus. In stock and ready for you to order now!
	Heart de Roommate Naturally, I love Japan's PC dating sims for the cute girls riveting and often uplifting stories. Here's one game we recommend a lot, about a guy who has to live in the girl's dorm, and the amazing adventures he has there.
	Queen's Blade Artbooks See restocked artbooks for everyone's favorite sexy anime girl RPG, with several books back on the site. Also: the last stock we'll ever get of the Queen's Blade Collection Cards w/ Gum, featuring original art, too.
	Other Restocked Artbooks Surprise! The extremely popular Dendrobium artbook by Nishieda sold out again, but we managed to get more copies. This large-format book features the best glossy hentai art we can remember seeing, and comes in a protective box, too.
	Amazing TENGA Toys from Japan If Steve Jobs designed a line of stress-relieving toys for men, I'm pretty sure it would look like TENGA. See all the most popular products restocked, including the U.S. Tenga series toys and the amazing Tenga Warmer.