INNOVATORS IN JAPAN ARE MAKING ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS EVERYONE WILL WANT

With the new norm of being eco-friendly, Japanese products like Fufuly of Yukai Engineering, Shellmet of Quantum and Sukesuke of Architect Kengo Kuma are some of the best for their eco-consciousness. 

When robotic startup Yukai Engineering’s therapeutic pillow Fufuly was unveiled at tech show CES 2023 in Las Vegas on Jan. 5, its bizarre appearance and peculiar function won the company a CES Innovation Award and plenty of attention from international tech and design media.

Shaped like a cartoonish puff of air, the Fufuly pillow’s curvy form is designed to be hugged close to the body, where it gently expands and contracts as if it’s breathing. As gimmicky as that may sound, the pillow is actually based on Tokyo University research on controlling “the rhythm of breathing for relaxation by overwriting somatic sensation.” Put simply, we naturally and unknowingly adjust our breathing patterns to match anything in close proximity, such as pets and babies, and that process produces a calming effect.