Smallest Rubik's Cube Ever Goes on Sale in Japan
2020-09-26
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1An extremely small Rubik's Cube has gone on sale in Japan for 198,000 yen, or about $1,900.
2Advertised as a "super-small" Rubik's Cube, it was created to mark the 40th anniversary of the box-shaped puzzle in Japan.
3The cube measures just 9.9 millimeters by 9.9 millimeters, and weighs 2 grams.
4The puzzle is made of metal and comes with a box for its display, says MegaHouse Corporation, a business of Japan's Bandai Company.
5The Rubik's Cube is very small but playable.
6People can buy it now and expect shipment beginning in December.
7Erno Rubik of Hungary invented the Rubik's Cube in the 1970s.
8At the time, he was an architecture professor.
9An American company, Ideal Toys, turned the puzzle into a hit product in the 1980s.
10It was an immediate hit in Japan, where more than 4 million were sold in the first eight months after it went on sale in July 1980.
11By 1982, more than 100 million Rubik's Cubes were sold worldwide.
12The new tiny cube was shown this week at an exhibit in Tokyo organized by the Hungarian Embassy.
13The exhibit also includes an artwork made with Rubik's Cubes.
14The show ends on November 9.
15Norbert Palanovics, the Hungarian Ambassador to Japan, said he tells anyone who will listen about the Rubik's Cube.
16He said it represents the small, simple but intelligent qualities of the country that he is so proud of.
17"The Rubik's Cube is part of our everyday life, here in Japan, too, and inspires everyone," he said.
18I'm Caty Weaver.
1An extremely small Rubik's Cube has gone on sale in Japan for 198,000 yen, or about $1,900. 2Advertised as a "super-small" Rubik's Cube, it was created to mark the 40th anniversary of the box-shaped puzzle in Japan. 3The cube measures just 9.9 millimeters by 9.9 millimeters, and weighs 2 grams. 4The puzzle is made of metal and comes with a box for its display, says MegaHouse Corporation, a business of Japan's Bandai Company. 5The Rubik's Cube is very small but playable. People can buy it now and expect shipment beginning in December. 6Erno Rubik of Hungary invented the Rubik's Cube in the 1970s. At the time, he was an architecture professor. An American company, Ideal Toys, turned the puzzle into a hit product in the 1980s. It was an immediate hit in Japan, where more than 4 million were sold in the first eight months after it went on sale in July 1980. By 1982, more than 100 million Rubik's Cubes were sold worldwide. 7The new tiny cube was shown this week at an exhibit in Tokyo organized by the Hungarian Embassy. The exhibit also includes an artwork made with Rubik's Cubes. The show ends on November 9. 8Norbert Palanovics, the Hungarian Ambassador to Japan, said he tells anyone who will listen about the Rubik's Cube. He said it represents the small, simple but intelligent qualities of the country that he is so proud of. 9"The Rubik's Cube is part of our everyday life, here in Japan, too, and inspires everyone," he said. 10I'm Caty Weaver. 11The Associated Press reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 12____________________________________________________________ 13Words in This Story 14puzzle - n. a question or problem that requires thought, skill, or cleverness to be answered or solved 15display - n. an arrangement of objects intended to decorate, advertise, entertain, or inform people about something 16architecture - n. the art or science of designing and creating buildings 17inspire - v. to make (someone) want to do something : to give (someone) an idea about what to do or create 18proud - adj. very happy and pleased because of something you have done, something you own, someone you know or are related to, etc. 19We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.