Portable Mosquito Alarm "Toshibareru" Outs Your Real Age

The ability to hear high frequencies deteriorates in humans with age, a phenomenon called presbyacusis which became widely known since the launch of The Mosquito anti-loitering device invented in 2005.

Toshibareru(lit. Give Away Age, no relation whatsoever to Toshiba) by Epoch is an age-exposer device that allows you to perform a quick age-confirmation test by emitting high frequencies sound. We checked the accuracy of the gadget by human ear and digital multimeter.

Videos and pics after the cut!
(Japanese)Toshibareru :: Epoch Co.

"Toshibareru" comes in two colours, 924 yen (about $10.30) each.

"Toshibareru Black"

Mascot mosquito.

Dr. Mosquito(right) invented this device. His assistant(left) exclaims "We'll no longer be deceived at goukon(group blind date)!".

"The ability to hear high frequencies deteriorates in humans with age!"

Emits mosquito sounds in four frequencies, to prove you a teenager, twentysomething, thirtysomething or over-forty.

But the product is aimed at age 6+. Comes with two LR44 button cell batteries.

Instruction manual.

You'll need a screwdriver to replace batteries.

Here's the actual device. Comes with an earbud.

The mosquito.

Choose frequencies and press the crescent-shaped button.

Earpone jack.

"Toshibareru" comes with an earbud, but any headphones will do. People with OCD can enjoy the tone test with their own headphones.

There's also a tiny speaker, not recommended to use in public places.

"Toshibareru Pink"

Comes with the same black earbud.

To check the frequencies we used Metex's P-16 digital multimeter.

Let's start with the most exclusive "Teenager" tone. You can see the frequency is around 19kHz, which is way higher than usual Mosquito alarm (17.4 kHz). Unfortunately, our camera couldn't record a tone this high.
YouTube - Toshibareru "Teenager" Mosquito Tone


"Twentysomething" was about 17kHz. Still couldn't record the sound.
YouTube - Toshibareru "Twentysomething" Mosquito Tone


"Thirtysomething", around 15kHz. This we could record, but the sound was cut off in video encoding process. You can download the sound clip here.
YouTube - Toshibareru "Thirtysomething" Mosquito Tone


"Over 40" is about 10kHz, which you can hear in the video below. Or download the sound clip here.
YouTube - Toshibareru "Over 40" Mosquito Tone


The frequencies were quite accurate and precise, but how reliable will be the estimated age? Some of our twentysomething staff could hear the "Teenager" tone while some could barely hear the tone for "Thirtysomething". So there are great differences between individuals, no need to feel down for having "aged" ears.

Sorry we couldn't record the higher tones on the videos above. You can take a quick test on the following link.

Mosquito Tone Test, or How To Tell You're A Young'un // Plasticmind Journal