This sushi mat inspired chopping board rolls up to occupy less space in your kitchen





A folding chopping board is more genius than you’d think! Imagine this… the board occupies the same amount of space as a rolling pin, but just when you need it, open it out and it unfolds into a beautiful surface to prep your veggies, chop up some fruits, or even butcher your meat. Plus, the mat curves up as you lift it, making it much easier to empty your chopped/diced/julienned food into a saucepan or skillet!

The uniquely flexible Trebonn Roll mat is made of two parts. Individual vertical strips made from a knife-friendly polymer, connected together by a flexible, food-grade, dishwasher-friendly silicone mat. The silicone is responsible for the mat’s hinges, and a magnetic closure at one end lets you snap the mat shut in place. Open it out and the mat unfolds to reveal a flat cutting surface… just make sure your knife-work isn’t parallel to the silicone hinges (you don’t want to accidentally cut the hinges through and through). Once you’re done cutting and chopping, the mat’s flexible design makes it easy to collect all your chopped bits and pour them into your crock pot, saucepan, skillet, or mixing bowl. The mat’s easy to clean – it rinses under tap water, or conversely, you could just place it in the dishwasher with the rest of your cutlery. When you’re done, it rolls right up into a nice scroll that fits right in one of your kitchen drawers, occupying a mere fraction of the space any regular cutting board would!

Designer: Rich Clough for Trebonn

Mocoro Rolling Mop Ball Gathers no Moss, Only Dust Bunnies

It seems I can’t go more than a couple of days without finding another wacky Japanese gadget that seems to solve no real problem. Here’s another crazy product from the island nation. This robotic ball that works like a rolling dust mop.

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While most of us would resort to using a vacuum cleaner or maybe a Swiffer to perform the task of sweeping up dust bunnies, the folks who designed the Mocoro rolling mop ball opted for something decidedly more whimsical.

Just release the Mocoro on your hardwood, tile or vinyl floors, and it’ll roll around collecting dust for about 15 minutes. Once it’s done, it’ll sing a little song to let you know its work is complete. It seems like a great idea until you realize that you have to wash it off between cleanings. The point is moot though, as your dog will probably use it as a chew toy before long anyhow.

Normally available only in Japan for ¥3,980 (~$40 USD), the folks over at White Rabbit Express should be able to help you get your hands on one.