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Why you shouldn’t feel guilty about using manga for studying and the top series for learning

Survey reveals that the power of storytelling in manga can do a lot for learning more about the world around us.Was there ever a time growing up when you got yelled at for reading comics instead of studying? At the time, little did those grown-ups probably know that you were actually learning in one of the best ways possible.Japanese online illustration school Atam Academy recently conducted a survey of 500men and women of various ages (with the highest proportion in their 30s) to explore people

Sleep at Hoshinoya Nara Prison, one of the most unique hotels in Japan

One-of-a-kind accommodation includes former prison cells that have been transformed into guest rooms.If you’re looking for a unique place to stay in Japan, then Hoshinoya Nara Prison might just fit the bill. Opened on 25 June, this hotel occupies the former Nara Prison and is operated by Hoshino Resorts, one of Japan’s leading luxury hospitality companies. Using its expertise, the company has retained many of the prison’s original features and even transformed former prison cells into guest room

Live-action Persona adaptation to be produced by Netflix, probably not set in Japan

Has enough of Persona’s identity been retained to keep fans happy?As audiences show signs of comic book superhero fatigue, an increasing number of Hollywood executives are looking to video games as a source of adaptable IPs, and it appears Persona is going to be the next series tapped for that purpose. Variety is reporting that Netflix is in the process of developing a live-action streaming series based on the hit RPG originally published by Atlus and now part of the Sega corporate family.In rec

We try out the joys of Japan’s kakuuchi wine vending machine

A new take on a fading part of Japanese drinking culture.Our Japanese-language writer Kouhey was feeling thirsty while out and about the other day, and so he decided to treat himself to a glass of wine. Actually, he decided to treat himself to two glasses of wine, but instead of being poured by a bartender, he got them from a vending machine.This unusual situation came about when Kouhey was at Aeon Tsudanuma South, a shopping mall that opened this past spring in the town of Narashino in Chiba, t

Speed trap camera stolen from Saitama Police while in use

They must have stolen it very quickly, but it looks like we’ll never know how fast they were going.When it comes to catching motorists driving too fast in Japan, speed traps are sometimes referred to as “mouse traps” (nezumitori) and are often done in a very coordinated fashion of several officers working together. Usually, one person is operating a speed measuring device in one location, and when someone is found going too fast, another officer is alerted up the road who then flags down t

Tokyo has only two barley tea makers, and we visited one to see how mugicha is made

With barley tea going into glasses as the weather heats up, we find out what goes into making barley tea.With summertime here, people in Japan are increasingly reaching for one of its favorite drinks to cool off with: barley tea. Barley tea is called mugicha in Japanese, written with the kanji 麦茶, which literally translate as “barley” and “tea,” so it seems like it should be a pretty self-explanatory drink. It’s a mixture of tea and barley…right?But wait, do you just toss raw grains of bar

New live-action Pokémon adaptation announced for Pokémon Unite

News of fifth-anniversary project for the Pokémon MOBA mobile game is drawing a mixed reaction.Adapting a franchise with as whimsical a setting as Pokémon to live-action is no easy feat, but 2019’s Detective Pikachu beat the odds and turned out to be a successful crowd-pleaser. Since then, there have been no fewer than three Sonic the Hedgehog movies that have further shown that audiences can be convinced to show up for mixed human/video game character casts, and yet there still hasn’t been anot

Studio Ghibli combines anime and craftsmanship in new Totoro and Jiji Gobelin tapestry bags

Traditional craft brings hand-drawn anime characters to life with unique warmth. Studio Ghibli is known for championing old-school traditions through its animated storylines and love of hand-drawn animation, and its appreciation for craftsmanship also extends to its official merchandise collections.A good example is the studio’s latest release, which shines a light on Gobelin tapestry weaving, a centuries-old European textile technique renowned for its rich texture and intricate woven designs. I

Sanrio Character Poll announces winners, Hello Kitty absent from top 10 in many countries

70,647,379 votes tallied, and one European nation apparently loves Sanrio’s often-forgotten grannie character.Hello Kitty may be the face of Sanrio, but she’s far from the only adorable icon at Japan’s leading cute character company. As a matter of fact, Sanrio has so many loveable stars that every year fans make their favorites known in the Sanrio Character Ranking election.This year the poll set a new record with 70,647,379 votes being cast, a 12-percent increase over last year. When those we

Mt Fuji installs new emergency shelters ahead of the 2026 climbing season

New reinforced shelters are designed to protect climbers from volcanic eruptions, falling rocks and lightning.As Mt Fuji prepares for the start of the 2026 climbing season on 1 July, two new emergency shelters have been installed on the Yoshida Trail, improving climber safety in the event of a volcanic eruption or other mountain hazards.The reinforced concrete shelters have been built along the Yoshida descent route near the seventh and eighth stations, and are designed to withstand volcanic deb

Live-action Spirited Away stage play announces world tour with first-ever U.S. and Canadian dates

The Spirited Away stage play will cross over to the other side of the Pacific for the first time ever, plus make its return to the U.K.Though in-the-know overseas otaku, cinephiles, and animation enthusiasts had sung the praises of films such as My Neighbor Totoro and Princess Mononoke after catching screenings at conventions and art house theaters, it wasn’t until Spirited Away came along that the works of Studio Ghibli really gained recognition around the world. Now, after international audien

Here’s what Shibuya’s famous scramble intersection looked like after the Japan vs. Sweden match

Did the aftermath of Japan’s final match in the World Cup group stage result in order or chaos at one of Tokyo’s biggest gathering spots?The FIFA World Cup currently taking place in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. has sparked all kinds of excitement in the air in Japan. The Japanese national team’s performance had been solid in the group stage, drawing in its first match and winning its second, prior to its last matchup against Sweden on June 25 local time.We had tried to grab tic

International fugitive Carlos Ghosn says he’d be best person to head Nissan now

I think I have a better chance of becoming CEO of Nissan at this point.In the evening of 30 December, 2019, when much of Japan was gearing down for the New Year’s holidays, a small team led by a former US Special Forces soldier were quietly breaking former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn out of house arrest and helping him flee the country back to his home in Lebanon.Prior to that, Ghosn had been under arrest for over a year, both in jail and then under house arrest, while he faced mounting charges, inc

Japan’s Mos Burger goes super-premium for summer with eel burgers that require pre-orders

Summer is the season for unagi, and Mos Burger has some very special, and very expensive, sandwiches on the way to celebrate Doyo no Ushi no Hi.Despite having a name that sounds intimidatingly identical to “moss burger,” Japan’s Mos Burger fast food chain has a broadly accessible menu. “Mos” is actually meant to represent “mountain,” “ocean,” and “sea,” symbolizing the chain’s championing of fresh, naturally delicious ingredients.That accessibility usually extends to Mos’ pricing too, since whil

Taco Spaghetti appears in Japan, and our taco fan rushes to try it[Taste test]

Tacos and spaghetti have earned love around the world, but will their meeting in Japan be a tragedy?Japan loves spaghetti, but doesn’t necessarily feel bound to tradition when it comes to the dish, So while you can find authentic Italian-style pasta in Japan, so too can you find things like Napolitan (spaghetti with ketchup sauce, bacon, bell peppers, onion, and mushrooms) and spaghetti with tarako (cod roe) sauce.And now restaurant chain Spaghetti no Pancho is expanding the concept of spaghetti

Blind Tokyo commuter explains the easiest place for him to stand while riding the train

While waiting for the train, there’s always one spot he hopes will be empty when it comes.Today, we’re featuring the writing of a special guest columnist, Ryoku. Ryoku works as a producer in the TV industry, and his hobbies include singing karaoke and traveling the country in a search for Japan’s tastiest gyoza.Ryoku also happens to have glaucoma, and has been almost completely blind since about four years ago. In this article, he’d like to talk about his experiences riding the train as someone

Beautiful new dangling Totoro socks let the Ghibli mascot sway with every step[Photos]

Lacework designers turn their talent to Totoro for adorably fashionable socks and clutch bag.As any Studio Ghibli fan can tell you, Totoro’s natural habitat is a lush forest. That doesn’t mean he’s confined to the woodlands, though. Between his flying top and apparent free pass to ride the Catbus, he’s actually a pretty mobile guy, and now he’s got a new way of getting around with these adorable Totoro socks.Newly added to the lineup at the Ghibli Museum store, these stylish socks are a collabor

Krispy Kreme Japan releases new fruit doughnuts…that taste better cold

We find out if these limited-edition treats really taste like the fruits that inspired them.
Krispy Kreme Japan is going fruity this summer, with not one, not two but three delicious creations designed to satisfy our sweet cravings. On the menu from 24 June, we were able to pop by for a taste of all three, to find out if they really taste as good as they look.▼ The three new doughnuts take their inspiration from watermelon, peach and pineapple.Each doughnut has a brilliant, glossy fruit glaze th

Japanese man’s gross conveyor belt sushi social media prank video gets him a 500,000-yen fine

Cost of sushi? 132 yen. Cost of being a moron? 500,000.In addition to being tasty, casual, and convenient, low prices are a big part of the appeal of Japan’s conveyor belt sushirestaurants. At the most popular major chains, for example, you can usually get a two-piece plate of mainstays like tuna or salmon for 200 yen (US$1.25) or less.A 43-year-old man’s meal at a branch of conveyor belt sushi chain Hama Sushi in Saitama Prefecture, though, is going to end up costing him a lot more than that, b

Testing Japan’s latest food hack trend: Adding instant corn soup powder to popcorn[Taste test]

A two-ingredient food hack promising a delicious upgrade.From time to time, Japan sees interesting and unusual food hacks popping up on the internet, preparing food in new ways for unexpected delights, or combining several to create unique flavors. Here at SoraNews24, we are keen to put our tastebuds and stomachs to the test in the neverending quest for culinary bliss, so when we spotted the latest idea and the positive reviews, we knew we had to give it a go for ourselves.The idea itself comes