Only in Tokyo, Part 11: great duds!

Tokyo, and Akihabara in particular, you'll have got it by now, is an Ali Baba's cave of hi-tech. There's nothing you can't get, loads of great looking stuff we'd love to have! But also, dare we say, some great duds!

Sometimes, you'd be forgiven for thinking, simply putting a ''made in Japan'' sticker on something is enough to get it on the shelves. We've seen some really poorly finished computers, piles of wheezy storage products (good Chinese or American products can't get a visa. Only Lacie has managed to gain right of entry - thanks to the Starck design).

Sometimes you have to take care not to be conned as they really know how to package something up!

The best among the Great Duds is this magnificent mouse in the form of an egg that you just want to take in your hand and cajole tenderly:


On the second line of the grid, you can see it in its egg carton. Very Kawaï (cute), as they say over here. And underneath in the nest. How darling is that! Go on, pick it up! Ugh... Feels horrible! 0.001 mm plastic, terrible finish and if I squeeze just a little bit I reckon it'll split and probably cut me. The soap version, just above the nests, is even worse! What about that soap dish display!?!

Not everything is good in Japan. They also know how to make poor, useless and expensive products (this one costs 2000 yen, or around £14). You have to have some self control in this temple of temptation. I'm managing it... just about.



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