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Must-have sports tech: No, not an Apple Watch, a TOMATO GOB-STUFF BOT
Tomaton: The wearable fruit machine we've waited for
Vid Many inspirations and desires cross a runner's mind while pounding the pavement, but few could honestly say a robot sat on their shoulders force-feeding them tomatoes has ever been one.
Thankfully Japanese tomato condiment company Kagome has identified a need consumers never realised they had.
Kagome unveiled its 18lb humanoid-looking backpack device, which can be pre-loaded with six tomatoes, ahead of the Tokyo Marathon.
In order to enjoy the tomatoey goodness, the wearer taps the robot's foot, which promptly triggers its arms to shove a tomato in their gob.
Such a shameless publicity stunt has not been seen since lingerie manufacturer Triumph - of solar-powered brassiere fame - announced its "Abenomics" bra, addressing the issue of boom and bust economics by honouring Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's fiscal policy.
However, the company does have a proud history of championing the humble tom. On its site it states: "Kagome was the first company to introduce such products as tomato ketchup and vegetable-based beverages in Japan."
It certainly has come a long way since founder Ichitaro Kanie cultivated his first budding tomato seedlings in 1899. ®