Last week the government announced a possibility of region-wide blackouts, after the earthquake that shook the Tohoku area on the 16th of March caused a serious power shortage.
Calling citizens to action, the government urged individuals and companies to dim lights, lower heating, and to unplug unnecessary electronics in an attempt to save energy. Although the blackouts were avoided in the end, it seems as though the warning was widely misinterpreted, with some choosing to charge electronics such as phones, laptops and gaming devices as a way to ensure they could pass the lack of electricity in comfort.

It may not seem like it, but these days we are living in a world with one foot in a digital realm – whether it be accessed through the metaverse, a simple mobile game, or through SNS such as instagram or TikTok – and when a situation arises that threatens our ability to access that realm, we may find ourselves wondering in a sort of panic what we can do to pass the time.
Not so long ago, the threat of a blackout would not have caused such an issue, as our forms of entertainment were based in the physical world. Although the world is continuing to change, these types of entertainment still exist, though they often get overlooked. For example, instead of scrolling through internet forums we could pass time reading a book, video and mobile games can be replaced by board games, a digital artist can continue to practice with traditional mediums, and comfort can be found in the images of a physical photo album.

One particular form of physical entertainment that has continued to have a steady fanbase ever since it was released back in the 1980’s is the Rubik’s Cube. A three-dimensional puzzle that is completed once all 6 of its sides consist of one solid colour each, the Rubik’s Cube is capable of keeping someone occupied for hours, and is therefore a perfect tool for passing time during a potential blackout.

Although a traditional Rubik’s Cube comes in solid colours, there have been a range of variations over the years featuring designs and themes inspired by popular media and art, such as with this Pokémon version released by Nintendo in 2021.
Now the cube is getting another adorable addition in the form of a puzzle featuring lovable Sumikko Gurashi characters.

The 2x2x2 puzzle is smaller than a traditional Rubik’s Cube, but just as fun.
Although the cube has 6 sides, there are only three printed patterns that match up, and the puzzle rules state it is officially completed when one side matches. Of course, the difficulty level can be increased by choosing to complete all of the prints and coloured sides correctly.

The cube comes with a strategy book outlining how to complete one side, and with its variation of difficulty levels it is recommended as an introductory product for those who have never attempted a Rubik’s Cube before.

The Sumikko Gurashi Rubik’s Cube measures (H)46mm x (W)46mm x (D)46mm, and will be available to purchase for 1,958 yen at toy retailer MegaHouse from the end of March.