My Personal Best Buys of the First Half of 2026
2026-08-19
Work has been busy, so I haven't been able to update the blog much.
This time I want to write about the things I bought in the first half of 2026 that turned out to be good, in no particular order.
I called them best buys, but I'll also rate how much I'd recommend each one on a three-star scale.
Dear Beaute Yugami Deep Repair Mask ⭐️⭐️
This is a treatment from HIMAWARI.
I'd been using their shampoo and conditioner ever since I saw HIMAWARI recommended in a certain manga.
But I didn't even know the treatment existed until recently.
It leaves my hair nice and smooth, and the scent is good too.
Systema EX Dental Rinse, Low-Irritation Alcohol-Free 900ml with Floss ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I haven't had a cavity in years.
But my brushing schedule is nothing to brag about, so gum disease has been steadily progressing.
To push back even a little, I started using a dental rinse as well.
I go floss → brush → rinse, though I can't really tell whether it's working.
Clinica Fluoride Medical Coat 250mL ⭐️⭐️
I bought this to go with the dental rinse.
That said, apparently using it together with a dental rinse isn't ideal, so this one doesn't come out all that often.
If cavities are your concern, this is probably the better pick.
Minimo Small One-Touch Folding Umbrella, World's Smallest Class, Water Repellent, Teflon Coated, UPF50+ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I always keep a folding umbrella in my bag when I go out.
Over the years I've tried plenty of umbrellas that are small, light, and have auto open-close.
Among all of them, this Minimo is genuinely tiny, just like the name says, and it still has auto open-close.
Durability is questionable, of course, but that's a matter of taste.
Deka-Raku Size Bub Monster Bubble, 18 Tablets, High-Concentration Carbonated Bath Tablets ⭐️⭐️
I casually picked up a single tablet at a 7-Eleven to try it, and I've been hooked ever since.
It isn't exactly cheap, but the effect feels pretty strong.
The red one in particular really does make you sweat, and the others have nice scents and colors.
Picking one based on your mood that day is the way to go.
Ohto Ceramic Letter Opener, Black CLO-A-BK ⭐️
Bills like my water charges still arrive on paper, and tearing them open into a ragged mess every time was getting on my nerves.
So I bought this, and it's honestly pretty good.
The value for money is bad, though — it feels like something you'd find at a 100-yen shop.
Kokuyo Whiteboard, A4 Size, Posity, Hanging Type, Portrait/Landscape P3FB-A4W ⭐️⭐️
Just an ordinary small whiteboard.
We hang it in the kitchen and use it to jot down groceries and seasonings we need to buy.
HIKSEMI 512GB External SSD, Type-C, Up to 450MB/s, Ultra Compact Portable Storage, iPhone/iPad/Mac Compatible, OTG Support, 5-Year Warranty ⭐️⭐️⭐️
An ultra-compact external SSD — it's barely any bigger than a USB stick.
I leave it plugged into my MacBook and use it as the storage location for Google Drive through CloudMounter.
recolte Cordless Capsule Cutter Bonne Food Processor, 8-in-1, Crushes Ice, Natural Black RCP-7 ⭐️⭐️
I'd wanted one for years, and this year I finally caved.
I haven't been cooking much lately so I haven't used it that much yet, but being able to use it cordless is genuinely convenient.
The other thing is the 9,000-yen price tag — value for money might be a bit iffy.
UGREEN HDMI 2.1 Switch, 3-In 1-Out, 8K60Hz, 4K120Hz, 48Gbps, HDCP 2.3, with Remote ⭐️⭐️⭐️
It's an ordinary HDMI selector, but this model supports Dolby Atmos and HDCP 2.3, which is excellent.
In my setup it's Fire TV Stick → HDMI selector → FPD Google TV → Bose Smart Soundbar, and it works without a single issue.
The value for money feels very good.
Patchwork Board Game, 2025 New Edition, Japanese Version ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A board game review site raved about it, which got me curious enough to buy my first board game in a long while.
Just as the reviews said, it's seriously fun as a two-player board game — I can strongly recommend it.
The rules are simple and easy to follow, the balance of skill and luck is good, and true to the name Patchwork, it's fun to look at and has a gentle feel to it.
There's more strategy to it than you'd expect, so please do give it a try.
Chocola BB Hyper, 50mL × 50 Bottles ⭐️
I'm a heavy Chocola BB user, so I finally went and bought a whole case.
If anyone else is in the same boat, here you go.
Dodecamin Zero, 500ml × 24 Bottles ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Now that I'm pushing 40, the weight has really stopped coming off.
I gain weight easily just eating normally, so to hold it back even a little I looked into zero-calorie drinks.
This Dodecamin Zero is amazing — it tastes genuinely no different from the regular one, and it's incredibly good.
I plan to keep drinking it from here on out.
Aquarius Zero, 500ml PET × 24 Bottles ⭐️⭐️
This is the Aquarius version.
It's a bit lighter than the regular one, but it's perfectly fine too.
As someone who isn't a fan of water or tea, this is a real lifesaver.
Coca-Cola Zero, Label-Less, 500ml PET × 24 Bottles ⭐️⭐️
And this is the Coca-Cola version.
No explanation needed at this point — I even use it to make coke highs.
PC Tower Stand with Casters, Infinitely Adjustable, for Desktop PCs, Heat Management, mugenbo ⭐️
A stand for a desktop PC.
Plainly convenient.
Tinotenda! Battery Checker, Battery Tester for AA/Button/9V Batteries, No Power Needed, Analog ⭐️
A checker for how much charge is left in a battery.
The build feels cheap and it isn't especially pleasant to use, but it's good enough for the job.
Magic Keyboard with Touch ID for Apple Silicon Macs — Japanese Layout ⭐️⭐️
When it comes to a keyboard for a MacBook, I think there are several options.
But where Apple is concerned, going with the first-party one still feels like the safe choice.
I bought it and haven't used it that much, but when I do, I'm reminded how convenient it is.
Reading other people's blogs, a lot of them write that Touch ID is essential, but personally it doesn't feel worth the extra 6,000 yen.
Magic Trackpad — White ⭐️⭐️
And the trackpad to go with it — same story here.
I'm generally anti-Apple, but the build quality really is high. The price is way too high, though.
Sikai 2-in-1 Storage Stand for Apple Magic Keyboard & Magic Trackpad, Tray, Palm Rest, Wrist Rest, Acrylic, Ergonomic Desk Accessory ⭐️
A stand for using the keyboard and trackpad together, and that's all it does.
"Sturdy" sounds nice as a description.
But it's heavy, awkward to move around, and worst of all you have to take everything off it every time you want to charge — surely they could have done better than this!
I keep wishing there were another option.
HORIPAD TURBO for Nintendo Switch™ 2, Navy ⭐️⭐️
I like wired controllers, so this is what I use.
It's solidly good, it's cheap, and I have no complaints.
Caroeas 70L Slim Laundry Basket, Foldable, with Casters, Water Repellent, with Handles and Laundry Net ⭐️⭐️
Putting laundry away is a hassle, so I bought this to pile it up in the meantime.
Our hallway is a bit narrow, so I went with a tall, slim type.
That does come with its own problem — getting the laundry that's stuffed at the bottom back out is a pain. It's tricky.
Still, the product itself is very good, and I get a lot of use out of it.
AEM-422-WH Egg Meister Boiled Egg Cooker ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A boiled egg maker.
I actually already own a Koizumi egg steamer, but I forgot it existed and ended up buying this.
That said, the Egg Meister is honestly easier to use — cleaning it in particular is easy.
It's also cute, which counts for a lot.
Yamazen Slim 4-Tier Rolling Cart, Gap Storage, Smart Wagon Short, W10.5 × D55 × H79cm, Kitchen/Washroom Storage, Easy Assembly, Black FSW-10S ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A cart that slots between the fridge and the sink to hold seasonings.
I'd been on the fence about buying one for a long time, but at 2,000 yen I figured why not.
It's a genuinely simple product, but it's easy to use and it's really great.
CICUFY Kitchen Tool Hooks, Wall Mounted, Adhesive and Suction, Strong Hold, No Wall Holes, Aluminum, Waterproof and Rust Proof, 40cm, 6 Hooks ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I wanted my kitchen tools lined up next to the stove, but leaving them out means oil splatters all over them, which I hated.
I looked into all sorts of wall-hanging types and landed on this one.
It holds on strongly, it's easy to use, and I'm glad I bought it.
It does feel a little cheap, but that's about right for the price.
Marna Standing Rice Scoop, Premium Clear, Non-Stick, Old Model K555CL ⭐️⭐️⭐️
For some reason the selling point is that it stands up, but the impressive part is really that rice doesn't stick to it.
It's so non-stick that serving rice gets slightly difficult, but that's 100 times better than the stress of a sticky scoop.
Unitek 2026 USB PD Charging Station, 6 Ports, PD20W×2 + USB-C×1, Desktop Charging Stand, 60W, PSE Certified, 6 Devices at Once ⭐️⭐️
As someone who likes gadgets, I think wired charging is a problem that will follow me for life.
I wanted to consolidate it as much as possible in one place, so I started using a charging port that doubles as a stand.
Usability is so-so — ordinary, for better or worse.
And the dividers come loose a little too easily. That's about right for the price.
Panasonic Rolling Tap, White WH2129W ⭐️⭐️
Handy in spots where you don't want the plug sticking out from the wall.
The fact that it rotates is quietly nice too. The looks are just tacky, unfortunately.
Naturie Hatomugi Moisturizing Gel 180g, Fragrance-Free/Colorant-Free/Low-Irritation/Alcohol-Free/Large Size ⭐️⭐️
I've had extremely oily skin since my student days, and it still troubles me now that I'm pushing 40.
I'd never once moisturized in my life, but a friend recommended it, so I reluctantly started.
Once I did start, though, the oiliness of my skin does feel somewhat better than usual.
The oil gets held under the moisturizing gel, and I no longer need blotting paper.
Hada Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Lotion, Large Pump Type 400ml, with Gokujyun Sachet ⭐️⭐️
On top of the moisturizing gel, apparently this is good for making the moisture last longer.
Get out of the bath, apply the gel, apply the lotion — what a hassle.
Still, my skin isn't anything you'd call nice, so I suppose it can't be helped.
That's about it. This time I limited myself to things I bought on Amazon.
I've actually been picking up a few gadgets here and there as well, and I hope to cover those in a separate post.