As the nation who gave the world the shinkansen (bullet train) and Walkman, Japan has always been known for pushing boundaries and coming up with revolutionary technological products that make life better. Now entrusted with hosting the Olympics in 2020, Japan has geared up her efforts in research and development so that it can boost its economy and increase hype for the Olympics. Such efforts have certainly reaped dividends in industries as varied as automobile, healthcare and hospitality. So let's now learn about some of these promising products that have made world headlines and are poised to change the world!

Automobile Industry Japanese car brands are formidable market leaders in the global auto industry - and are looking to sustain their lead. At the forefront of innovation is Nissan Motor Co which displayed a self-driving concept car in November 2015. Planning to launch more than 10 such autonomous cars that boast a retractable steering wheel and message-flashing windshield in 2018, it plans to effect changes in stages. So check out for a "single-lane control" feature incorporated in Nissan cars this year in 2016 as this means Nissan cars will be able to drive independently of a driver on highways!

Space Industry Japan is also making great strides in the space industry. NEC, one of Japan's most prominent computer makers, leveraged its sophisticated technology to develop the Hayabusa2, a space probe devised to gather more information about the solar system. Launched on December 3, 2014 from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, this probe is making steady progress as it swung by Earth smoothly exactly one year later in 2015 en route to its destination: asteroid Ryugu.Slated to reach Ryugu in 2018, the Hayabusa2 will still have enough fuel to collect materials and transport them back to Earth. Imagine the mysteries of the universe that will be unravelled then, thanks to the prowess of Japanese technology! Indeed, we are twitching our thumbs with excitement at the prospect of having a deeper understanding of our existence in relation to the solar system!

The Internet of Things Exciting, novel changes are also happening in Japanese homes and offices, thanks to a technology known as the Internet of Things (IoT). Embedding physical objects with sensors, software and network connectivity, the IoT builds up a comprehensive network that facilitates exchange of data between these objects and enables them to be controlled remotely. Touted as the Next Big Thing, many Japanese companies are scrambling over themselves to adopt the IoT in their products. Case in point: Kintetsu International, a well-known travel agency has launched a technology that empowers avid travellers to see for themselves how places of attraction looked like in the past. Likewise, electronics giant, Panasonic is upping the level of security with its Home Monitoring System that comprises a live video and recording system. Best of all, this system can be controlled easily via a smartphone. So make your way to Japan if you want to get a sneak taste of living in a City of the Future!

Robots Due to an ageing population, Japan has always been relentless in developing robots that can take care of elderly and sick people, thus easing the labour crunch. What takes the cake is that some of these robots are adorable to bits. For example, Paco is a "carebot" that is in the form of a seal and helps uplift the spirits of old and ill patients as they feel upbeat stroking its cute fur! These benefits of robots have been found to be applicable in other fields such as the retail industry. Recently, the robot that has captured the public imagination is Pepper, a humanoid robot which can detect your mood and adjust its speech patterns accordingly to create rapport with you. It now serves customers at more than 140 Softbank Mobile stores all over Japan, so see if you can become fast pals with it.

Travelling to Japan promises a trip through the ages as its many ancient shrines and monuments showcase a rich and vibrant history. But on the flip side, it is also a dynamic nation that is pulsating with possibilities, as can be seen by the technological products introduced above. Perhaps this is precisely where Japan's unique charm lies: the ability to straddle tradition with modernity effortlessly.