Hobbies And Interests
Carboard Speakers
Muji is a Japanese store that was originally established to sell quality no-name goods. It has, however, become a brand in its own right. Muji is famous for stylish clothes and tasty food, but it also sells novelty goods. On the British version of the Muji website, you can buy a set of fully functional cardboard speakers for 20 pounds, or about $30. They are light and portable and fold flat. When you're ready to use them, fold them back into shape and plug them into the headphone slot of your computer or music player.
Hello Kitty Fisheye Camera
Sanrio is famous for its enormous line of Hello Kitty products. From shoes to board games, there's a seemingly endless array of items branded with the cartoon cat's face. One of the newer products is a lomography fisheye 35mm camera. The blue-and-white camera distorts regular pictures to create strange and funny images. It runs on AA batteries and comes with a carrying strap and leather case, for about $60 on the Sanrio website.
Patterned Slipper Socks
In Japan, wearing shoes inside is considered rude. Many people wear slippers (and offer them to guests) to keep their feet warm. The style available on the Rakuten website are cleft in the middle, separating your big toe from the rest. They're adorned in floral patterns and come in pink or blue, for about 3,000 yen, or $30.