日本研发可“增强咸味”的电子筷
Japan researchers develop electric chopsticks to enhance salty taste

Co-developed by Meiji University professor Homei Miyashita and beverage maker Kirin Holdings Co., the chopsticks enhance tastes using electrical stimulation and a mini-computer worn on a wristband.这种电子筷由明治大学教授宫下和美（音译）和饮品制造商麒麟控股有限公司共同开发，通过电流刺激和佩戴在腕带上的微型计算机来增强味道。

"As a result, the salty taste enhances 1.5 times," he said.他表示：“这样可以将咸味放大1.5倍。”

The taste-enhancing chopsticks may have particular relevance in Japan, where the traditional diet favours salty tastes. The average Japanese adult consumes about 10 grams of salt per day, double the amount recommended by the World Health Organization.增强咸味的筷子在日本可能会很有市场，因为日本的传统饮食偏咸。日本成年人平均每天摄入约10克盐，是世界卫生组织推荐摄入量的两倍。

"To prevent these diseases, we need to reduce the amount of salt we take," said Kirin researcher Ai Sato.麒麟公司研究员佐藤爱（音译）称：“为了预防这些疾病，我们需要减少盐的摄入量。”

Miyashita and Kirin are refining their chopsticks prototype and hope to commercialize them as early as next year.宫下和麒麟公司正在改进产品原型，并希望最早在明年将其商业化。