HAMAMATSU, Shizuoka -- A company here will launch a schoolbag that floats on water on March 1 to help protect children during water-related accidents and disasters, based on lessons learned from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami. Sakae ...

Japanese gadget company Thanko has always got our backs when it comes to genius inventions we never knew we needed. Tired of doing the washing up? Check out Thanko’s plate scrubbing robot. No hands free for smart phone gaming on a packed train?

In a recent survey, more than 90% of children aged 6-12 who use a randoseru - a traditional sturdy backpack - said the weight of their full bag is a problem. The randoseru is a backpack used in Japan by primary school pupils, they are made from leather and ...