Feature: Apple Watch hits shelves in Japan as wearable devices move from science fiction to fact

The Apple Watch hit shelves across Japan Friday with tech-forward aficionados quick to snap up the highly-anticipated wearable device from tech lifestyle giant Apple Inc..

Apple's smart watch, the first new piece of Apple technology since the advent of the iPad in 2010, heralds a new era of wearable devices that were once only thought of as science fiction.

But science fact today reveals the watches are capable of syncing with a number of Apple's other gadgets, while offering users a unique hands-free experience, as a new global era of wearable devices is launched in earnest.

The new watch, for example, syncs with the ubiquitous iPhone to answer phone calls and can both send and receive e-mails.

For the health conscious, the device tracks health statistics and offers daily targets to achieve certain health goals and to encourage a more active lifestyle.

"That's why I wanted the Apple watch, I wanted to be healthier and I lack motivation," said Jun Ito, a self-confessed "Applephile " who has bought every device the Cupertino-based manufacturer has developed, except for the iPod Nano as he already owned 7 iPod shuffles at the time.

"I'm a programmer and I guess you could call me a 'nerd', I spend up to 14 hours a day sat at my desk banging out code. For me its heaven as it's what I love do, but I don't move very much. In fact not at all. I even get lunch and sometimes dinner delivered to my desk and it's always unhealthy slop of some sort."

"The Apple Watch is going to change my life. I'll be walking to the station 8-minutes from my home, instead of taking a taxi, and climbing the three flights of stairs to my office. I might even dabble with jogging, if I find the watch to be inspirational enough," Ito said.

"I'm really looking forward to wearing it and becoming healthy, " the 33-year-old said, adding that he preordered the watch a while ago and was trying to figure a way to get it delivered to his desk as he can't be bothered to travel to the store to collect it.

For those like Ito, the health applications could be life- changing, or even life saving, and the device's little quirks like being able to send and receive "taps" to your friends to show them you're thinking about them, or to be alerted to mails and text, and even send friends a digital representation of your heartbeat as based on your actual pulse, are right up Apple lovers' avenue, as Applephiles have come to expect such idiosyncratic and personalized touches from the technology innovator.

But for some the price may be prohibitive, giving Apple's competitors, like Sony Corp. and Seiko Epson Corp. in Japan a chance to capture a portion of this fledgling market.

Prices for the watch range from 42,800 yen (357 U.S. dollars) for the sport model and the standard model's suggested retail price is 66,800 yen.

But the highest end edition, for those with a penchant for 18- karat yellow gold or 18-karat rose gold, will at the upper limit set customers back a cool 17,000 U.S. dollars.

"I like both the aluminum-cased Apple Watch Sport, which is the one I've bought in the space-gray color, but the stainless-steel- cased Apple Watch is also nice and good value for money," Apple expert Ito said.

"The 18-karat yellow gold (limited) Edition obviously reflects the dynamic character and lavish lifestyle I enjoy in some of the RPG characters I transform into online, but in reality I'd have to sell my father's car to afford one," jested Ito. Endi