Held at Tokyo Institute of Technology, Make: Tokyo Meeting 04 (organised by MAKE: Japan) was the largest yet in a series of events that are for tech what Tokyo’s Design Festa is for arts and design. ‘Maker Faires’ have been held in several countries, having been started by O-Reilly Publishing’s ‘Make’ magazine.

Using parts taken from widely available consumer products, and combining them with components sourced from places such as Tokyu Hands or under the railway tracks of Akihabara, these amateur inventers have come up with some incredible gadgets.

With customization becoming a key factor in tech sales, are we going to see this sort of thing becoming mainstream?

Music: ‘Telemetron’ by Hexstatic

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DIY Tech: Make Tokyo Meeting 04 is a post from: Japan TechShow

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From their site:

Tokyo hacker Space is an open community lab, studio, workbench, sewing circle, machine shop+, where people with common interests in technology, building things, gardening, cooking, science, sewing, digital art, gaming+, can find the space, the like-minded people, and the infrastructure needed for these activities.

In this video Lauren Shannon explains the motivation behind creating this space, and what it is hoped it will become.

We also hear from visionary artist Nicole Mizoguchi on why she decided to join, before being sucked into another realm by The Brain Machine, introduced by Karamoon.

This is the second hacker space in Tokyo. Find out more about the first, 4nchor5 la6, here. Learn more about the Barcamp Lauren mentioned here.

Music by Laura Inserra.

Watch the video in High Definition on our Facebook Page – we’d love to have you as a fan on there too!

Watch it on the Japan Podshow YouTube channel (quality not as good as Facebook)

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In this one we focus on the Hitachi Hi-Vision Cam Wooo and some concept devices in the Willcom corner, including the Amaterasu & Tsukuyomi: A Tribal Communication Tool by Seiko Instruments.

It’s named after the Gods of the Sun and the Moon in Shinto and Japanese Mythology, and will ensure that you stay in contact with your friends/community at all time by constantly exchanging GPS locations / moods / thoughts of wearers. (Sounds like something developed for the prison service!)

Thanks to Steve Nagata for filming and arranging the trip.

Your viewing options:

• Download the video here [mp4 format 30.8mb]
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• Subscribe to our iTunes feed
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• Watch on our Facebook page (which we invite you to join!).

Wireless Japan Expo 2009: HD video camera cellphone and concept devices is a post from: Japan TechShow

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They also see a demonstration of a waterproof mobile phone, when an NHK presenter is dropped in a tank of water.

Thanks to Steve Nagata for filming and arranging the trip.

Your viewing options:

• Download the video here [mp4 format 30.8mb]
• Watch the embed below
• Subscribe to our iTunes feed
• Subscribe to our RSS feed
• Watch on our Facebook page (which we invite you to join!).

Wireless Japan Expo 2009: Waterproof and Solar-powered phones is a post from: Japan TechShow

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Need a hand?

In the second of their Welcome to Akiba video-shorts, Steve Nagata and Joseph Tame take a look at some of the weird and wonderful things you can find on the streets of Akihabara.

From body parts to fake mobile phones, you name it, Akiba has it.

Your viewing options:

• Download the video here [mv4 format for iTunes 38.7mb]
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Video: Welcome to Akiba – Body parts and something called ‘film’ is a post from: Japan TechShow

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It’s in here that they come across the ultimate tools for spying on baddies – watches and ties with embedded video cameras!

Next time you go into a meeting with the enemy, make sure you’re prepared. With 4GBs of memory and absolute invisibility, you will never be left without evidence!

The video is also available via our Japan Techshow iTunes feed, or via our audio/video RSS feed, or direct download (m4v format).

It is also being cross-posted on our sister show Japan Podshow.

It can also be viewed on the Japan Podshow YouTube channel, via the Japan Podshow iTunes channel and in the Japan Podshow RSS feed.

Look forward to getting your feedback!

The music in this video comes from Liquicity on YouTube. The ‘Akihabara’ voice is from a Yamanote Line train.

[Image: 56/365 by Practicalowl on Flickr]

Video: Welcome to Akiba – Spy cameras is a post from: Japan TechShow

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Japan Soc’s Nick Ramsay – the extended interview

Anyone who spends any time looking for Japan-related blogs or networks is bound to come across Japan Soc sooner or later. This social bookmarking site for Japan-related blogs has really taken off over the past few months, with members embarking on a variety of projects to encourage people to blog / podcast / photograph / video / tweet / share  …Japan.

Listen now: Subscribe to our Audio/video feed here or listen to / download episode two directly here.

How well do you know your Japan Soc History?

So what’s the story behind Japan Soc? How did it start? Which bloggers played key roles in ensuring its success?

Here, in an exclusive interview for the Pokya.jp network, Nick Ramsay, founder of JapanSoc.com reveals all, talking about the process that led it to where it is today, and also offering a few clues as to where future growth may lie.

In the interview, Nick refers to the Japan Soc Forums – these are no longer in use.

We apologise for the background hiss.

Comments and feedback are welcome.

Japan Techshow Episode 002: JapanSoc’s Nick Ramsay Interview is a post from: Japan TechShow

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Listen to or download episode 001 Here

To register, and for the latest info on Tokyo Barcamp 2009 visit the wiki at http://barcamp.org/BarCamp-Tokyo2009.

Tokyo Barcamp can also be found on Twitter @tokyobarcamp.

Feedback on this first episode is welcome: we can be found on Twitter @japantechshow or email at japantechshow [at mark] pokya.jp, or alternatively please leave a comment on this blog.

If your MP3 player was made in the 1960s or before you may have problems listening to our advanced podcast. In that case, you can subscribe to our MP3 version feed here.

Japan Techshow Episode 001: Tokyo Barcamp Interview is a post from: Japan TechShow

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