Only in Japan: Ingenious Inventions that Defy Imagination

13. Amplification of Hearing

What it is: an ear-attached bowl designed to enhance sound Created: Unknown Average Cost: Not Available This "Ear Enhancer" hearing amplifier is far more noticeable than Apple EarPods or standard hearing aids, and it's a touch less than useful. The Ear Enhancer is a pair of metal bowls that go into each ear and face outward. The bowls are fastened to a headphone headband.

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Andrew Joseph's Hearing Enhancer on Pinterest The purpose of the funnel-shaped device is to improve hearing accuracy and amplify sound. This is essentially a less powerful, less expensive version of NASA SpacePlace's Super Sound Cone, a massive cone that directs sound waves. You can hear sounds with the Super Sound Cone that you could never detect on your own.

14. A "Battlescratch" tee

What it is: a tee with a grid on the back to indicate where individuals should make scratches. Originated in: 2016; Average Cost: $18.99–$19.97* Have you ever experienced a back itch but been unsure of how to get someone to properly scratch it? Another Japanese product that will give you precise back scratches is the Battlescratch t-shirt. This t-shirt, which is similar to the grid in the video game Battleship, is sold online at Banazatee and Amazon.

@brain/PPinterest "Battlescratch" Shirt You can find the itchy quadrant (letter or number) and immediately scratch it by using an accompanying pad and paper that have the same grid. This is roughly $18.99 on Banazatee, and comparable items on Amazon will run you about $1 more.