Japanese homes are not the largest of places so any appliance that combines more than one function is going to be popular.
Sharp’s Plasmacluster Mosquito Catcher Air Purifier Katori Kuusei does just that. It cleanses the air using Sharp’s patented Plasmacluster ion technology but also catches mosquitoes, which will prove very handy in the humid summer months when the pesky insects are always sneaking into people’s residences.
It doesn’t use insecticide or chemicals, so you can have it on while you sleep without being bothered by smells. Mosquitoes are attracted by the sleek black color and UV light, but then will be trapped by adhesive pads inside.
Sharp has made a suitably “cute” video to promote their product, which almost makes you forget that you are ultimately killing the mosquitoes.
The name is a reference to katori senko, the mosquito coils whose sweet smell when they are lit is a familiar part of summer life in Japan. The most famous mosquito coils are made by Kincho Uzumaki.
Sharp is hoping to sell 3,000 units of the Katori Kuusei a month and it is available for overseas orders from Japan Trend Shop.