In a technoconsumerist Japan driven by novelty, one fad stands out, both for its simplicity and (relative) longevity - puri-kuras, or "print clubs." These ubiquitous kiosks capitalize on the practice of using passport-photo machines to produce goofy adhesive miniature snapshots you can affix almost anywhere.
Now Tomy and Polaroid aim to put the print club in your pocket with the Xiao, a tiny, stylish instant camera focused squarely on the youth market. Available in Japan, the Xiao (Mandarin for "small" or "smile") will be released in the US by midyear.
It works like a stripped-down version of a standard Polaroid - after turning on the flash, aiming at arm's length, and firing, you yank out the film and watch it develop. Even though the results are riddled with small distortions, they are F-U-N. Pretty soon your desk, bulletin board, fridge, and all other free surfaces will be cluttered with these teensy, wacky stickers.
Xiao: ¥3,300 ($24). Nippon Polaroid: +81 (1) 2041 2416 (toll free), +81 (3) 3438 8811. Tomy Japan: www.dir.co.jp/tomy.
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