Called “setsuyaku goods” in Japanese, these frugal gadgets claim to save you tons of money in water, gas, or electricity bills. Are the claims true? I can’t tell you, but I can introduce a few interesting looking products.
The Eco-Watt Electricity Use Measurement Device
Price: Y2,940
This is so cool! The Eco-Watt is a simple device that lets you know how much electricity you use with your appliances. Simply plug Eco-Watt into your outlet and plug your appliance into the Eco-Watt.
The EcoWatt will display how many kilowatt hours (KWh) of electricity your item uses, and will display the cost of that electricity. (Energy costs are set at Y25 per 1KWh, and the unit is designed for indoor use with items under 1200Watts.) The EcoWatt is available from a variety of vendors, but I found it here.
The Multi-Function, Water-Saver Shower Head
Cost: Usually Y5,980 – Availble at Rakuten.com for Y2,480
Savings: Approximately Y21,600/year in water and gas costs. This shower head works by stopping the water, and then releasing it again, thus improving water pressure — something that residents
of top-floor condominiums will appreciate, too. Adjustable height and 360-degree rotation are also two additional features.
Sanpatsuki Hair Cutter
Cost: MSRP Y15,000 Rakuten Price: Y8,379
Frugal Japan list members apparently love to cut their own and their family members’ hair. This “Flowbee” like clipper and vacuum-sucker hair cutter might be a helpful tool. The product advertises easy cleanup and three potential haircuts: short boys’/mens’ cuts, bozu (the skinhead cut popular among Japanese high school baseball players), and short girls’/womens’ bob haircuts. Personally, I get a professional to do the job for me, but for the adventurous at heart, this may be something to try!