Maybe you want privacy. Or maybe you want to sing karaoke or talk online. Or maybe you want to be alone. Good news, there's a box for you. A six hundred dollar box.
It's called "danbocchi," which is a pun on the Japanese word for "cardboard" ("danbooru" or 段ボール) and "lonely" ("bocchi" or ぼっち).
Danbocchi is a reinforced cardboard box, designed for people who sing karaoke or gamers who want to voicechat online. On average, it is soundproofed up to 30 decibels, which helps to cut down loud voices.
Danbocchi isn't a soundproof booth, but a sound dampening one. If you live in an apartment with thin walls or reside with fussy family members, using danbocchi means that you don't have to worry as much about talking or singing.
The danbocchi was first shown off this spring in Japan as part of a promotion for PS3 karaoke game Joysound Drive. It goes on sale later next month in Japan for 59,800 yen or around US$600. Not exactly sure who is going to buy this, but hey, that's cheaper than a wooden study box!
だんぼっち [Official Site]
Photo: だんぼっち