Japan has created many things that people use worldwide. Some are traditional, while others are modern inventions. Here are some of the most famous Japanese inventions!
Even many Japanese people don’t know that some of these inventions came from Japan!
Instant Ramen
Momofuku Ando, the founder of Nissin Foods, invented instant ramen in 1958. His first product, “Chicken Ramen,” became a huge success. In 1971, he created Cup Noodles, making instant ramen even more convenient. This staple food is now known as one of the great Japanese inventions.
Today, people around the world enjoy instant ramen, with many flavors and styles available in different countries.
Emoji
Shigetaka Kurita, a Japanese designer at NTT DoCoMo, created the first emoji in 1999. His simple 12×12 pixel images appeared on Japan’s early mobile phones. These pictographs are a great example of Japanese inventions that have had a global impact.
Emoji became a global phenomenon when Apple and Google introduced them to smartphones in the 2010s. Now, emoji are an essential part of digital communication worldwide!
Car Navigation System
Honda developed the world’s first commercial car navigation system in 1981. In 1987, Toyota introduced the first GPS-based car navigation system. These advancements are notable Japanese inventions that have improved travel.
Today, car navigation systems are a standard feature in cars, helping drivers worldwide reach their destinations easily.
Utility Knife (Cutter Knife)
Yoshio Okada, the founder of OLFA Corporation, invented the cutter knife (also called a box cutter) in 1956. He got the idea from breaking chocolate bars into small pieces. This tool is a great example of practical Japanese inventions that are used worldwide.
His replaceable, snap-off blade design became the global standard for utility knives.
Selfie Stick
The selfie stick was invented in 1983 by Hiroshi Ueda, an engineer at Minolta. He designed it for tourists who wanted to take photos without asking strangers for help. This item is one of many Japanese inventions that have gained popularity worldwide.
However, it didn’t become popular until the 2010s, when smartphones and social media made selfies a global trend.
Kairo (Disposable Body Warmer)
Japanese companies invented Kairo, or disposable body warmers, in the 1970s. These small heat packs create warmth through a chemical reaction. In cold seasons, Kairo are one of the essential Japanese inventions for comfort.
They are especially popular in winter in Japan, China, and South Korea, helping people keep their hands, feet, and bodies warm.
Sudoku
Sudoku is a number puzzle game that became famous worldwide. While number puzzles existed before, the modern version was created by the Japanese puzzle company Nikoli in 1984. This game is another example of innovative Japanese inventions.
It gained international popularity when newspapers around the world started featuring it in the 2000s.
QR Code
Masahiro Hara, an engineer at Denso Wave, a Toyota-related company, invented the QR code in 1994. It was first designed to track car parts in factories. Today, QR codes are one of the most versatile Japanese inventions, used worldwide.
Now, people use QR codes for payments, tickets, menus, and advertisements everywhere.