Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Houston, Do We Have J-Ware?

J-Ware is a product line of stink-free jocks, which are being tested by Koichi Wakata, the first Japanese astronaut to actually live on the International Space Station.

The underwear is designed by Japan’s space scientists at the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency.

All of this research got started when the designer, Yoshiko Taya, thought he could kill two birds with one stone. He has a teenage son, yielding skid-marks and dirty shorts; and the space station has no laundry facilities, leaving the astronauts stranded in orbit, also with skid-marks and dirty shorts. It was one of those two O’clock in the morning “Ah-So” empathetic brain-fart storms. Plus, he drove the kid’s early morning car pool and couldn't stand the collective fermentation smell before coffee.

According to industry reports, the underwear is stylish and comfortable; and the material is flame-resistant and anti-static, kills bacteria, absorbs water, insulates the body, and dries quickly.

"He (Wakata) can wear his underwear for more than a week," said Koji Yanagawa, an agency spokesperson. That sounds about right.

After Wakata is finished test piloting the J-Ware, the Japanese agency will share its research with NASA.

They are also planning to commercialize the product, making wash day more palatable.


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