Just Breathe
The West has always lagged behind Japan when it comes to technological innovation, especially in the realm of robots and heated toilet seats. Humanoid machines and warm bums are indeed exciting, but pale in comparison to the unsung combini (convience store), whose shopping experience Japan has elevated to an artform. And the Pièce de résistance? Canned oxygen.
Now, before you rush out to the nearest Lawsons, Mini-Stop, or Circle K, I have to let you in on a little secret. O2supli is only available at 7-11. If you live in Japan, this won’t make much of a difference since 7-11 stores are located on every other block throughout the nation, but I thought I’d save you that extra five minute walk.
Ever since I passed out at the dentist office after an impromtu removal of some bulbous flesh (yes, that is probably the grossest sentence I have ever written) and was subsequently hooked up to an oxygen tank, I’ve been a fan of the life sustaining gas (not that I wasn’t already). You can imagine my excitement when I heard that O2supli was scheduled to make its debut in 7-11 stores around the nation on June 14th. After a failed attempt at purchasing canned oxygen, in which I mistakenly bought a bottle of minty nose-spray (don’t ask), I found myself in possesion of two cans of O2supli; grapefruit and strongmint. Of course the oxygen is scented, don’t act surprised.
A can of grapefruit scented oxygen, complete with breathing mask.
Billed as a quick pick-me-up for tired office workers, an article on RapidNewsWire sums it up with the following:
The idea behind the product is to allow buyers to replenish their oxygen levels anytime they feel a lack of it due to stress, fatigue, or other factors. Seven-Eleven Japan developed the product together with Tokyo based Hakugen, a manufacturer of miscellaneous lifestyle-related goods.
After sitting around the house huffing oxygen with kzi with the express purpose of gathering empirical data, I can report that there is absolutely no difference between a breath of O2supli and a breath of normal, generic air. Perhaps I’m not fatigued enough. I don’t know what the response has been since the June release date, but based on the stock I see at 7-11, it isn’t flying off the shelves like hotcakes. It isn’t flying at all, in fact. My guess is that they’ll be gone from the shelves within the year…
The mythological oxygen buzz.
hmmmm….
does your co2 output have a bright, citrus-y (or, when appropriate, fresh minty) aroma?
does this have a lingering afterness that might effect, say, kissing, one way or another?
if you have a cold, can you make little minty snot bubbles?
my advice: don’t rely on these things to supplement your next trek up fuji.
let me know when they come up with heated robots that let you hookah like, chocolate air or something…
:)
If they made it cannabis sativa scented, then I bet it’d be flying off the shelves.
:-)
seltix > I think heated hookah robots will do much better commercially than canned oxygen. Mint flavored snot bubbles is pretty inticing… I might have to get another can…
Montchan > They should add trace amounts of THC to those cannibis scented cans… that would really help destress tired workers ;)
Mmmm I guess that ain’t pure 100% O2 + fancy scent…
When I served in the Red Cross we used to knock out the last oxygen from tanks before sending them to refill,it sure worked for us.
Or at least we did nice explosive baloons…don’t try that at home,kids
Braindead > I believe O2supli is 95% oxygen… my understanding is that you need a permit to sell the pure stuff. I need to find a dealer…
how i can get it if im outside Japan im in Qatar and im itersaid to export it there thax
Zurba, I’m not sure. I just bought it in the store as an ordinary customer. You should probably contact o2suppli directly with those questions.