Meet Nékojita FuFu: The cat-shaped robot that cools your food

Photo: Yukai Engineering

Cat got your tongue takes on a different meaning with this Yukai Engineering robot. The Japanese robotics startup created the Nékojita FuFu, a cat-shaped robot that can blow air to cool your hot food and drinks. The robot gets its name from the Japanese term "néko-jita," meaning "cat tongue," a phrase used to describe individuals with a low tolerance for hot food. The second part of the name, "FuFu," is an onomatopoeia that captures the sound of blowing air to cool food.

The robot has different blowing modes, including a full-force and a gentler one. It uses an internal fan unit running on a rechargeable battery. It also has a specially developed algorithm or the Fu-ing System that randomizes the strength and rhythm to mimic human breath. The Nékojita FuFu can cool hot water from 88 degrees Celsius to 71 degrees Celsius in three minutes or to 66 degrees Celsius in five minutes. This tiny little robot isn't just meant to cool your coffee. It works with any dishware with a straight edge.

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Taste the salt, without the salt: New electric spoon tricks your tongue

Photo: Kirin

If you need to cut down on your salt intake but miss the taste of salty food, Japanese food and beverage company Kirin Holdings created the Electric Salt Spoon. The battery-powered utensil went on sale in Japan in May 2024, but it plans to bring it to the North American market sometime in 2025. The company showcased it at CES 2025.

The Electric Salt Spoon uses a weak electric current to enhance the perceived saltiness of food. The spoon works by drawing sodium ions from the food to the tongue's taste buds. It operates on a 3-volt CR2 lithium battery and offers four intensity levels.

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Mirumi: The cute robot that does absolutely nothing

While everyone goes crazy for Labubu figures, we'd rather have Mirumi hanging off our bags. Yukai Engineering brought the fuzzy little robot to CES 2025 and charmed us with its presence. The clip-on robot is designed to evoke feelings of joy and connection. But beyond that, it has no practical function.

Instead, Mirumi mimics human baby-like behaviour, such as turning its head to look at people and expressing shyness. Its sensors allow it to "detect" its surroundings and interact with those around it.

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R32 Reborn: Nissan electrifies iconic GT-R

Photo: Nissan

Nissan showcased a one-off electrified R32 Skyline GT-R at the 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon from January 10−12. The R32 EV project, led by electric vehicle engineer Ryozo Hiraku, aimed to preserve the R32's driving experience while electrifying it. The EV ran on two 160kW motors and a 62kWh battery borrowed from the Leaf Nismo RC02 to target a similar performance to the original.  

The R32 EV retained the look of the original with a Gun Grey metallic finish, Recaro seats, digital refresh for the original gauge clusters, simulated engine sounds and gear shifts, and paddle shifters to mimic the original driving experience.

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