So you think you’re as smart as the Japanese? -- by Sam

The Japanese. You don’t really understand how smart they are until you realize the smart and obvious things they do. For example: I bought a giant pack of gum that comes in those palm-sized containers and inside the container was a pack of mini sticky notes. The reason for the sticky notes was to use them to spit your gum into. Smart right? 

No icky gooey mess on the street or on your shoes!

 

What about a car elevator that takes your car up to a certain parking spot? It saves you the extra work and saves space.  This is a parking garage for a bank. Cars go in but not the driver or the passengers.  With a press of a button, the car elevator takes the car up to an empty spot.  When you leave, the operator brings the car down and rotates the car for you on the yellow circle.  That way, you don't have to have the space to back it out.  Smart!

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What if you were a blind person trying to find your way through a subway station? How would you know where to walk so you don’t bump into people? Solution: rows of little bumps in the ground so that your feet can use the bumps as a guide.

Suppose you want some ramen for dinner and you go into a ramen shop with only cooks and no waiters/waitresses. How do you order your food?  You go to a vending machine type of thing where all the buttons on it are of food options.You pay the money, press the button with the food of your choice, and then a slip of paper comes out. Most of the restaurants have bar-like seating, so you sit in an open stool and put your slip of paper in front of you. The cooks will come around, look at your order, and then cook the food in front of you for a tasty dinner. I wish we had those in America. 

 

There’s just one more smart thing that I know of about Japan:the  ice cream cones. Japan’s ice cream cones are actually really smart. The top part of the cone fans out on all sides to look like a flower. When the ice cream gets put in the middle, ice cream doesn’t melt off the sides. Think about it. No more washing your hands after because you got ice cream all over them. Now that’s smart. 

Of course, there are other smart things about Japan, but those are the ones I found really interesting. Go smart Japanese!!!(I think Americans should follow their lead)

- Sam

A few more smart/space saving ideas -- by Kathy

Smart packaging!  The seaweed is kept fresh and dry.  If you pull the white tab and pull the corners outward, it opens up the dry seaweed and wraps it around the rice like magic.  So clever!

Is space an issue in your home?  Get one of these space savers.  Sink and toilet in one! 

This baby washes and dries and slices and dices! 

Space saving water bottle holders on the back of the seats on Hato Bus.  There's also a hook for you to hang your purse.