From Quirky to Genius: Discover Japan's Unique Inventions

2. Glasses for Onion Protection

What it is: fans mounted to glasses to remove odors from onions Invented in 2016; average price not specified The Onion Protection Glasses, created by Kendogu master Kenji Kawakami, are, in Kawakami's words, "un-useless." Fans are fastened to these glasses to remove the odor of onions. It's unclear if US businesses like Sharper Image will have a counter-invention.

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Glasses for Onion Protection @CatsR Cool/YYouTube.com Technically, these glasses do function, even though they may appear ridiculous. Because onions create the chemical irritant syn-propanethial-S-oxide, they cause teary eyes. This irritation triggers your tear ducts, which makes slicing onions quite uncomfortable. The S-oxide is kept out of your eyes entirely by the fans on the Onion Protection Glasses.