Kami Kami bite counter keeps your kid masticating

We've no clue what kind of sick, demented parent would ever put their child through this, but for those with offspring who like to, say, swallow their hamburgers whole, we suppose it may come in handy. From the wide, wacky and utterly bizarre world that is Japanese gadgetry comes this: a bite counter from Nitto Kagaku. As you'd expect, the headgear keeps track of how many bites your kid takes, and it even plays a little jingle every 1,000 chews in order to celebrate the occasion. 'Course, there is the proven side effect of obesity, but at least they'll be making mincemeat out of everything they can get their hands on while gradually growing to 385 pounds.

[Via Engadget German]

[Ryan @ Nov 17th 2008 8:36AM]

Because kids in Asia have an obesity problem....

[Kamokazi @ Nov 17th 2008 9:00AM]

In some places in Asia, it actually is starting to become an issue. Western and western copycat fast food chains are showing up in more and more places, with reasonable prices for their growing middle class. It's no where near the problem it is in the US and some parts of Europe, but it is far from nonexistant.

[FluXulF @ Nov 17th 2008 9:20AM]

Obesity is an increasing problem all over the world... also in Asia.

The gadget might be inspired by a recent Japanese study: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7681458.stm

Confirming what we've always known ;)

[Ryan @ Nov 17th 2008 9:48AM]

Then maybe this should be called The Sumo Wrasslin' Starter Kit.

[Flashpoint @ Nov 17th 2008 12:40PM]

Kamikaz is absolutely right.

I've lived in Shanghai and Hang Zhou China as well as Tokyo Japan.

I lost 15 pounds in one month eating chinese food mostly because it is steamed - and because everyone walks, rides bikes or is otherwise very active physically. Japan is very similar, and they have smaller portions of food for the amount you spend. I drank alot of soda and green tea so I was getting alot of calories from sugar, but, I still lost weight.

When I started eating at the western food restaraunts: Pizza Hut, KFC and McDonalds, I gained it all back quick. I see the trend continuing in Chinese kids because they want to "eat like Americans".

For burgers, our favorite topping is ANOTHER BURGER.

Its insane. Take a look at Burger King or McDonald's menus.

QUAD STACKER (1300 calories)
Triple Whopper with cheese (1600 calories)
Quarter Pounders, lol

And my favorite breakfast sandwich, the Omwich.

[Nipponese @ Nov 17th 2008 3:03PM]

As Flashpoint points out, there Asians are getting fatter. That point aside, chewing your food more leads to weight loss, not gain as the author of this article suggests.

[spacey @ Nov 24th 2008 12:53AM]

I thought Eric Cartman was representative of US kids.

[Flaystus @ Nov 17th 2008 8:37AM]

Scary kid.

[Tarnation @ Nov 17th 2008 8:56AM]

thought bubble All work and no play make Eatcha a dull girl. /thought bubble

[ByronGman @ Nov 17th 2008 9:39AM]

@Tarnation


Why would someone think "thought bubble"?

[Lowest Ranked @ Nov 17th 2008 12:40PM]

You gotta start somewhere, Byron.

[loocas @ Nov 17th 2008 8:41AM]

What the f***?!

[kal326 @ Nov 17th 2008 9:43AM]

No joke, Engadget should come up with "a little jingle" to play everytime 1000 gadgets come out of asia that don't make the rest of the world go WTF?

[loocas @ Nov 17th 2008 9:53AM]

It has been in action for ages, too bad Asia has never come up with a gadget that wouldn't make the rest of the world go "WTF?!".

We'll never learn the sound of the little jingle... :(

[John Z @ Nov 17th 2008 8:43AM]

Does it look to anyone else like that poor girl is being tortured?

[fh @ Nov 17th 2008 8:50AM]

Nope

[ethana2 @ Nov 17th 2008 9:21AM]

I guess we know what kind of thing YOU masticate to..

[Vianon @ Nov 17th 2008 10:48AM]

Saw anyone?

[ridahgadgetguy @ Nov 17th 2008 8:50AM]

this.... is...... DISTURBING!
i seriousely wouldn't want this thing on my face , poor little advertising girl :S

[Daniel @ Nov 17th 2008 8:50AM]

What? She looks to old for that thing.

[ironman @ Nov 17th 2008 8:50AM]

that's a pretty young age for someone to start masticating, isn't it?

[From My Cube @ Nov 17th 2008 8:51AM]

shes asian, for all we know she could be 48

[lowdef @ Nov 17th 2008 12:12PM]

props. funniest thing Ive read all day.

[helloUser @ Nov 17th 2008 8:51AM]

Every american, child and adult, should have this.

[GoVegan @ Nov 17th 2008 8:56AM]

The battery wouldn't last very long for Americans.

[Lowest Ranked @ Nov 17th 2008 12:43PM]

Actually, we swallow our food whole, without chewing.

[schmitty338 @ Nov 17th 2008 12:46PM]

@Lowest Ranked: ....Like a duck! *Gug gug gug*

[bob sakamano @ Nov 17th 2008 8:53AM]

Can you please hire me Engadget i cant take this accounting job much longer

[tehCORE @ Nov 17th 2008 8:58AM]

Wasn't this in one of the Saw movies?

[swingin' dick hero @ Nov 17th 2008 9:01AM]

Side effects include less friends and even more bullying because of elephant ears.

[TubeTop100.com @ Nov 17th 2008 9:05AM]

They should hack this thing into a shut-the-fuck-up-device. After too much words, just keep the jaws shut.

[orangecat @ Nov 17th 2008 9:28PM]

That is a great idea! There are a few people I would like to use that on...

[Joe Anstine @ Nov 17th 2008 9:06AM]

NOM NOM NOM

[Saad Rabia @ Nov 17th 2008 9:50AM]

O Rly?

[swingin' dick hero @ Nov 17th 2008 9:07AM]

Or maybe this is just a bullshit gadget reason to keep kids quiet at the dinner table. "No Ping Ping! You mess it up with chewnumber! Quiet now and eat more."

[Jose @ Nov 17th 2008 9:08AM]

Engadget research FAIL: chewing more can actually make you lose weight, rather than gain it - the brain is given more time to process what your eating, digestion is easier and you feel full faster. So it is actually a worthwhile product.

[ran @ Nov 17th 2008 9:30AM]

Call it a translation error.

[swingin' dick hero @ Nov 17th 2008 9:31AM]

Can I sign you up for 2?

[Mike C @ Nov 17th 2008 9:11AM]

and this isn't featured in crapgadget why???

[Skazer @ Nov 17th 2008 9:23AM]

God, if this was invented when I was a child, my mother would've snatched it up immediately. Am I the only one who had parents who always told their kids to eat slower? I imagine this is pretty useful since kids can be trained using this device early on in the privacy of their own homes so they'll lose the habit later in life. I didn't have it so I still swallow my hamburgers whole.

[Jon Doe. @ Nov 17th 2008 9:33AM]

God knows kids LOVE to masticate. I mean in the bedroom, on the kitchen table, in the dining room, in the living room, in the car, heck even at school. They do that shit EVERYWHERE.

Huh....what do you mean we are talking about chewing?

[Jon Doe. @ Nov 17th 2008 9:36AM]

PS- Welcome to the next Wii peripheral. You think I'm kidding don't you. Well yah....I generally am....generally.

[Burzhui @ Nov 17th 2008 9:38AM]

I'm sure this is to teach your child to chew their food properly, the more you chew the faster you get full

[ByronGman @ Nov 17th 2008 9:38AM]

@Tarnation


Why would someone think "thought bubble"?

[ByronGman @ Nov 17th 2008 9:42AM]

That worked well...

[keithwwalker @ Nov 17th 2008 9:54AM]

You can all just bite me....

[Does it matter? @ Nov 17th 2008 10:02AM]

I could actually see this as a good gadget for parents who's kids have some developmental issues, like autism.

[Kevin @ Nov 17th 2008 10:13AM]

It would be cool if it had a button to lock their jaw in place. I might get one for my nephew for Christmas.

[tabaks @ Nov 17th 2008 10:24AM]

Japanese inventors are positively crazy! I mean, WHO buys this stuff? unless the whole nation is...WAIT, I think I got it! 8^/

[Kelmon @ Nov 17th 2008 10:26AM]

I think that in picture #2 they plugged the device in. Picture #3 isn't shown due to too much smoke and complaints from those lucky people equipped with Smell-O-Vision.