One Kind Artifact

The Ibukiyama Cultural Museum in Maibara, Shiga Prefecture, has opened an exhibition exploring the mysteries and treasures of Uesugi Shrine, marking the first show in the prefecture themed on the Sengoku-era warlord Uesugi Kenshin. The display draws on artifacts associated with the shrine, shedding light on the legacy of one of Japan's most famous 16th-century military leaders.

A $649 robotic mushroom designed to sit silently in the home, offering no voice responses or conversation, is drawing attention. Called One Kind Artifact, the device bets that consumers will pay for a calming, decorative robot companion that intentionally does not talk back or listen, positioning silence as a feature rather than a missing function.