The headline grabs your attention: ¡°The ancient tool used in Japan to boost memory.¡± You¡¯ve been more forgetful recently, and maybe this mysterious instrument ¡ª from the other side of the world, no less! ¡ª could help out? You click the link, and hit play on the video, awaiting this revelation that¡¯s bound to change your life.

The answer? A soroban (abacus). Hmm, that¡¯s not likely to help me remember where I put my keys, is it?

is part of a series called ¡°Japan 2020,¡± a set of Japan-centric content looking at a hodgepodge of inoffensive topics, from the history of Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki pancakes to pearl divers. The abacus entry, along with a titled ¡°Japan¡¯s ancient philosophy that helps us accept our flaws,¡± about that old chestnut kintsugi (a technique that involves repairing ceramics with gold- or silver-dusted lacquer), cross over into a dominant new genre exploring the country: Welcome to the Japan that can fix you.