You never know what the Japanese will develop next.  From weird electric cars to cell phone wallets, there's been plenty of the standard invention fare -- and then there are the downright weird ones.  This latest Japanese invention falls somewhere in between -- stink-free underwear.

To get to the bottom of this issue, so to speak, you have to talk to Koichi Wakata, the first Japanese astronaut to live aboard the International Space Station.  One of Mr. Wakata's most unusual research projects is the testing of newly invented odor-free briefs named J-ware.  The briefs were created by textile experts at Japan Women's University in Tokyo.

Koji Yanagawa, an official with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) describes excitedly, "He can wear his trunks (underwear) more than a week."

Yoshiko Taya led the development of the revolutionary new undergarment.  They are designed to kill bacteria, absorb water, insulate the body and dry quickly.  Not only that, but they resist fire and static.  Oh, and according to the Japanese researchers they are also comfortable and "stylish".

To really get the ball rolling, Japanese astronaut Takao Doi gave the briefs a thorough test during a shuttle mission last year.  The briefs remained dry and stink free even after a vigorous workout.  Describes Mr. Yangawa, "The other astronauts become very sweaty, but he doesn't have any sweat. He didn't need to hang his clothes to dry."

Now the project is really lifting off the ground with the second round of testing. 

The project could be a life-saver for the International Space Station, say Japanese officials.  By adopting J-ware, the astronauts living aboard the station could vastly cut cargo costs, by cutting back on clothes shipments without running hygiene risks.  This would ultimately lead to millions in savings. 

The Japanese have lots of plans for the new trunks once the testing concludes.  They plan on sharing the design with NASA and its other space station partners.  Also, they plan on releasing a commercial line, which may one day reach retailers worldwide.

Professor Taya is back to work researching the next generation of the garment, with help from Toray Industries and Goldwin.  The plan is to insert a new microscopically thin layer of chemicals into the underwear this time.

Meanwhile Mr. Wakata continues to enjoy his new wardrobe.  He states, "Nobody has complained, so I think it's so far, so good."