In the past couple of years, Japanese design philosophy and principles have been discovered by the rest of us, and since then they have slowly but surely taken over the world. There’s something about products with a Japanese touch that instantly makes you feel at ease. They have a sense of warmth and tranquility to them, one that spreads in the space that they’re placed into. There’s something surreal and relaxing about Japanese-inspired products, that just makes you want to introduce some minimalism into your life. And we’ve got you covered with a collection of innovative Japanese designs – from wearing aids to stationery! Whether you’re looking for a lovely levitating pen or a Japanese rubber gear that helps people relearn to walk after an accident– these beautifully designed products are all you need to introduce some Japanese functionality, practicality, and peace into your daily life!
1. The Levitating Pen 3.0
The Levitating Pen 3.0 does complete justice to its name. The pen seems to be suspended in its holder at a 23.5-degree angle and is designed to be a luxurious and grand writing instrument that features a Schmidt ballpoint cartridge, which makes the pen rigid and also super easy to hold.
Why is it noteworthy?
When done writing, you close the pen’s magnetic cap with a satisfying click and position the pen in its holder that has been magnetized to keep the pen floating in that position. To add to the fun, a simple twist leaves the pen spinning in its place for a good 20 seconds, allowing you to interact with the pen on a whole new level!
What we like
- The pen is super fun to interact with
- Relatively easy to hold and write with
- Spinning the pen in certain intervals can be a stress buster
What we dislike
- We wonder how ergonomic or comfortable the pen would be to use for longer durations of time
2. The Lightbone Floor Lamp
Designed by FÄRG & BLANCHE for Oblure, the Lightbone Floor Lamp is inspired by a bamboo forest on a trip to Japan, and features an interesting and unique focal point – the connection point between the spherical glass globes and the wooden sections, which also gave birth to the name of the lamp.
Why is it noteworthy?
You can place the lamp next to your sofa, or place multiple Lightbone Floor Lamps to create a cluster of lamps that look like a miniature and imitation Japanese bamboo forest.
What we like
- Is available in custom color options, so you can create a lamp or group of lamps that perfectly match the interior decor style of your home
What we dislike
- No information on how to replace the light bulbs once they die out and need to be changed
3. Mecricco Catch
Designed by Plus, these interesting elastic page-turning aids are called Mecricco Catch, and they help you turn your paper products with ease. The page-turning aids have an outer rib, that allows you to hold the paper firmly, while the inner rib ensures that your fingers don’t slip while you’re flipping.
Why is it noteworthy?
The elastic page-turning aids feature a concave curve at the bottom, that lets you freely move your fingers as you flip. It has been equipped with holes as well, to provide ventilation, so your finger has some room to breathe.
What we like
- This is useful for those who have some sort of exquisite nail job that you need to protect even as you flip money or paper
What we dislike
- If you have gone entirely digital, then this is something that you probably don’t need
4. Tri Light
This stunning lighting fixture is called the Tri Light, and is a modular sculptural light inspired by the Japanese shoji. What is the Japanese Shoji? It is a door, window, or room divider in the form of a paper screen, used quite popularly in traditional Japanese architecture.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Tri light features an interesting honeycomb-like structure that directly drew inspiration from a shoji. It is designed to be expanded and configured in different configurations and customizations.
What we like
- The lighting design can be divided into multiple zones, allowing each zone to be configured to radiate different light strengths and temperatures
What we dislike
- No personal customization options in terms of materials and colors
- Unsuitable for homes and spaces with smaller footprints
5. The Futto
Designed by Yoshihiro Yamada, the Futto is a rather odd-looking yet ingenious wearable rubber gear that helps your muscles relearn to walk after an injury, or for the elderly.
Why is it noteworthy?
It “replaces” the muscles that you use for walking and strengthens the weak points that may need some support, as guided by a specialist like a physiotherapist. It is not a replacement for rehab exercises but it will be able to help strengthen your walking muscles.
What we like
- Helps to “straighten” your posture by creating abdominal pressure from the corset, while the rubber stabilizes the lower limbs and stretches the spine
- Not heavy to wear
What we dislike
- Can seem weird to onlookers if taken out of context
- The aesthetics can be improved
