Bubble wrap has come a long way. From New Jersey, where an unsuccessful attempt at plastic wallpaper created it 50 years ago, to Japan, home of the world's first and only bubble wrap think tank, the ubiquitous packing staple has long been the antidote for idle hands and anxiety-ridden office workers.

Now, with the October debut of Mugen Pop Pop, popping bubble wrap becomes a boundless diversion no longer tied to the UPS man's delivery schedule. Bandai, the Japanese purveyors of cool and quirk who introduced us to Tamagotchi and the Power Rangers, return to the handheld game scene with this pocket-sized, battery-operated square of bubble wrap. Mugen Pop Pop slips easily onto a key chain and features simple games, in addition to straight popping pleasure. The playful stress-buster is already a hit in Japan where the bubble wrap market is saturated with scented varieties, various shapes, and even a high-pressure version—not for packing family heirlooms, but for creating an extra loud pop, of course. Poppity Pop Culture Laboratory, the aforementioned think tank, even decreed August 8 as National Bubble Wrap Day (the lucky day was chosen because the date-hatchi hatchi-sounds strikingly like the onomatopoeic Japanese name—puchi puchi.)

And while we lack a think tank devoted to the stuff, Americans are just as crazy about the cathartic popping paper. Numerous websites and even the iPhone already feature simulated popping for those who find themselves without packing materials or in the library confronted with icy glares.

If you can't wait until October, stop by Fellisimo's Japan-centric exhibit to play with the display models. In fact, head over there anyways to check out the bright green plastic edamame pod, another ingenious Bandai product, which exploits the simple pleasure of popping beans from their husk. What will they think of next? My money is on one of two things: either a set of portable knuckles or everyone’s nightmare—an eternal blemish.

Last week the designers from Boford came by to check out the Japan C exhibit.

Here's a picture of them in front of the Japan C sphere.

Green Capsule is a portable plant cultivation kit and part of a line of "lohas" products from Boford. Lohas means "sustainable lifestyle". Choose from cabbage, basil, green pepper and cherry tomato seeds. It comes with a cell phone strap so you can watch your sprouts grow anytime, anywhere, or it can be worn on a chain as a pendant. Once your plant grows too big for the capsule, you can replant it.

One of the best things about visiting Japan is marveling at the food displays outside of restaurants. The entire menu is displayed in a showcase with amazing plastic replicas. You name it, they can fake it…tempura that still looks crisp, sushi so fresh-looking it glistens, draft beer with a nice head of foam …it’s like the culinary version of Madame Tussaud’s.

There’s a whole artform in Japan dedicated to making things look real. From fake food, miniature robots and dinosaur skeletons, to a tiny, working grand piano, the craftsmanship is impeccable. There’s even a historic battle scene, reproduced with soldiers an inch tall, complete with carnage. Even the more child-friendly edamame keychain has realistically slippery soybeans that you push out of the pods. Why, you may ask? Simply because shelling soybeans is silly, addicting fun. Like the plastic food that makes your mouth water, the plastic soybean dangling from your car ignition is guaranteed to appeal to the primal, bean-popping urges in all of us.

See the Mugen (forever) Edamame and more on display at the Felissimo Design House, now through Saturday.