Gadgets

A survey comparing the Showa and令和generations reveals that while community supervision for children has doubled, parental anxiety has increased by 13%. This paradox is attributed to the rise in dual-income households and longer periods of separation between children and parents, creating a significant "82-minute gap" between children's desire for independence and parents' comfort zones.

FourM Inc., in collaboration with Alibaba Inc., will host 'AliExpress Gadget Discovery 2026' on February 26, 2026. This experiential meetup offers gadget media and content creators an exclusive opportunity to test and review the latest unreleased and unannounced gadgets from AliExpress, fostering cutting-edge content creation.

ASUS's Republic of Gamers (ROG) brand has announced the ROG Kithara, a next-generation gaming headset featuring planar magnetic drivers developed in partnership with HIFIMAN. This headset aims to deliver audiophile-grade Hi-Fi sound and precise in-game audio positioning, launching via a GREEN FUNDING crowdfunding campaign starting February 20, 2026.

Cerevo Inc. has announced the start of a project to create a 1/1 scale replica of the legendary weapon "Psychogun" from Buichi Terasawa's classic SF manga "COBRA THE SPACE PIRATE." The product is slated for release in Winter 2026, with a special novelty distribution planned for Wonder Festival 2026 [Winter].

Taiwanese bicycle accessory brand KiLEY has unveiled its "Brass Collection," a limited-edition series of its popular Eye Lights and Coin Reflectors crafted from solid brass. This collection offers a unique aesthetic that deepens with age, enabled by KiLEY's new domestic battery replacement service, allowing cyclists to enjoy these premium, serialized accessories for an extended period.

Sanwa Direct has released the "400-BTAD014" open-ear wireless earphones, designed for clear, low-latency TV audio without the need for pairing, offering an effortless listening experience.

CCH Sound, located in Keihanna Science City, has introduced "Sound Ball(R)", the world's first wired earphones utilizing cartilage conduction technology, and "cheero Otocarti LINK", a new neckband-style cartilage conduction hearing aid, offering innovative auditory experiences.

Qualcomm has announced the official launch of the Qualcomm AI Program for Innovators (QAIPI) 2026 – APAC. This regional startup incubation initiative aims to empower startups in Japan, Singapore, and South Korea to drive the development and commercialization of innovative edge AI solutions across various industries.

The third annual TOKYO DIGICONX, a business world event for XR, Metaverse, AI, Web3, and content industries, successfully concluded in Tokyo. The three-day exhibition featured approximately 200 exhibitors, attracting around 8,000 visitors, and included business seminars, a pitch event, and interactive experiences, fostering new business opportunities and showcasing cutting-edge digital technologies.

SoftBank Robotics has announced that its humanoid robot "Pepper," which has been popular for over a decade, has been officially certified by Guinness World Records as the world's first mass-produced humanoid service robot. Celebrating 11 years since its birth, Pepper continues to evolve, with the company also launching "Pepper+" today, integrating the latest AI and video analysis technologies to expand its capabilities in various fields.