Spending nearly three weeks across Japan, one comes across all manner of innovative and interesting ways that Japan harnesses necessity as the mother of invention. Braill-like yellow strips on sidewalks and in subway stairs and platforms aid walking in public of the seeing-impaired. Limited space & energy resources? No problem! Toilets that combine heated seats with low flush and built-in bedettes. Combo washer-dryer machines that include quiet with low energy and low water use. Bicycles are used by salarymen & women, as well as young mothers to get to work or to the grocer. Waiters & waitresses use a remarkable hand held PDA expressly for taking and computing your restaurant order.