The just-concluded APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting held in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, achieved multiple results and consensus, with 2026 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Joint Statement ...
Taste-testing a unique mix of two things Japan loves, but may or may not be meant to be enjoyed together.In Japan, pudding, or “purin” as it’s called locally, isn’t just a dessert. It’s also a flavor, denoting the strong eggy sweetness specific to custard pudding. While you can find puddings with additional flavors such as matcha or strawberry, many Japanese sweets fans are of the opinion that the baseline purin flavor is the best way to enjoy the treat, so it’s kind of a bold move by Japanese c
There have been a lot of dumb hikers needing to be rescued from Japan’s tallest mountain recently, but this time the circumstances are a little different.With June usually being a month of rainy, gloomy weather in Japan, you’ve really got to pack as much summer fun as you can into your July and August weekends. Sometimes that means doubling up on seasonal activities, like going to fireworks shows or shrine festivals on a Saturday and then right again on Sunday.However, one Japanese man spent las
Iconic instant ramen brand now has a cold-water-only version designed to beat the heat.Japan’s most famous instant noodle brand is getting a very cool makeover this summer, with Nissinreleasing itsfirst-ever chilled Cup Noodle.Unlike a regular Cup Noodle, which is made with boiling hot water, this version is specifically designed to be made with cold water, creating a whole new way to enjoy the classic instant ramen during Japan’s hottest months.Called Hiyashi Cup Noodle, (hiyashi means “chilled
Pull off a convenience store heist without breaking the law. A new immersive exhibition opening in Tokyo is giving visitors permission to do something they’d never get away with in real life: steal from a convenience store.There is one catch, though – you have to avoid being detected by the cameras, or else you walk away with nothing.Running from 18 July to 16 August at the Azabudai Hills Gallery, the Giga Mart Exhibition turns the venue into a fictional convenience store filled with bizar
Limited-edition granita with edible flowers gives us a cool alternative to Japanese kakigori.With temperatures now soaring across Japan, Starbucks has announced the return of its super popular granita series, this time with a brand new flavour called White Peach & Lychee Bouquet.The limited-edition release takes its cues from Sicilian granita, giving us a sweet alternative to kakigori, Japan’s traditional shaved ice dessert. Rather than being topped with syrup, as is generally the way with k
This Ghibli mystery makes us wonder if some Pom Poko-esque shapeshifting has been going on.In the entire catalogue of Studio Ghibli films, one of the cutest and most beloved characters of all is Totoro from My Neighbour Totoro. Technically, though, “Totoro” actually goes by the name “Oo Totoro” (“Big Totoro”), because there are other Totoros in the film, namely “Chuu Totoro” (“Medium Totoro”), and “Shou Totoro” (“Small Totoro”).Usually, the differences between them are easy to discern – the Big
Once only available at select stores, this breakfast deal is now available across Japan.There are times when you want to go all-out on doughnuts, forking out money to eat as many of them as you can in 90 minutes, and then there are times when just one will do, like when you’re having a morning coffee and need a little something on the side to help start your day.For those times, you’ll want to stop by a Krispy Kreme in Japan, because starting from 8 April, the chain has been giving away a free d
Make every meal a Ghibli one, with Kiki’s Delivery Service also joining the dinner party.Sometimes a movie can be so captivating that you can barely tear yourself away from the screen to deal with life’s other callings, like getting a proper meal. It’s a quandary that Studio Ghibli is no doubt aware of when it comes to its own stable of animated films, because now it’s giving us a placemat that features all the members of the main cast from My Neighbour Totoro.Called the “Ookina koe de” Pl
The Pokémon Company is going to use the Japanese government’s My Number system. Will it be super effective in stopping scalpers?The Pokémon Card Game’s fanbase has always been a multi-faceted one. In addition to serious competitive players of the game, there are fans who are primarily interested in other branches of the Pokémon franchise, such as the video games or anime, but occasionally dip their toes into the card collecting pool, and there are also plenty of little kids who just like having
Onigiri tendon looks set to become Japan’s newest viral food sensation.For lovers of “tendon” (tempura rice bowls), Tenya is a name that immediately springs to mind. Known for being cheap, tasty and reliable, Tenya is a popular chain that specialises in tendon, and it’s run by Royal Holdings, which operates other big-name chains in Japan like Royal Host, Sizzler, and Shakey’s.▼ Tenya has branches right around the country.So when we heard that Tenya was opening a new spin-off restaurant und
To serve and get plush toys.They say it’s the place where dreams are made. People from far and wide are drawn to the bright lights and all the glitz and glamour that crane games, or UFO catchers as they’re often called in Japan, have to offer, such as stuffed Pokémon, statuettes of anime characters, or curry ingredients.It can be a lot of fun, but we mustn’t let our craving for key chains become a problem that interferes with our daily lives, especially if that involves ensuring the safety of th
Tokyo police issue warning to overseas visitors as dozens of people report scams by suspected touts in the city’s nightlife district.A man has been arrested in Tokyo’s Kabukicho nightlife district over alleged street touting, as police warn overseas visitors about scams involving restaurant and bar “customer pullers” known as kyakuhiki.The 53-year-old Nigerian national was arrested on suspicion of violating Tokyo’s anti-nuisance ordinance after allegedly approaching pedestrians in Kabukich
This might look like brown bread, but there’s nothing savoury about it. Japan is famous for its fruit sandwiches, which traditionally pair slices of crustless white bread with a cream-and-fruit filling. Over at 7-Eleven, though, the chain is rethinking the fruit sandwich as we know it, by adding cocoa-flavoured bread to the mix instead.Called “Fruits Mix” in Japanese, this new-look sandwich contains three different fruits – strawberries, pineapple and yellow peaches – to create
Tokyo and Kyoto are just two of the places where you’ll find these secret gems.It’s always fun to see what hidden treasures await on the menu at global chains outside of their home countries, and if you’re a fan of Shake Shack, you’ll want to stop by a branch in Tokyo to try an exclusive drink you won’t find anywhere else in the world.▼ The “Hojicha Shake” (1,089 yen [US$6.71]) is only available at eight stores in Tokyo.According to the chain, this shake first debuted in November 2024 as t
We find out why people are raving about this new limited-edition burger.While many businesses in Japan are tightening their belts due to rising costs, Burger King appears to be doing the opposite, expanding its footprint across the country. After boasting 337 locations in 2025, the chain brought that total to more than 370 by June, even opening its first-ever store in Miyazaki Prefecture.To help support that expansion, Burger King has been rapidly rolling out new limited-edition menu items to en
J-pop superstars take over Mister Donut with exclusive surprises for a limited time.If you haven’t heard of Mrs. Green Apple yet, you might just be about to become their newest fan. With impressive vocal talent, slick dance moves and a whole lot of charisma, this three-member J-pop group is one of Japan’s biggest acts right now, headlining arena and stadium tours, winning multiple awards and racking up huge streaming numbers. Now, the band is set to take on a new stage by teaming up with top dou
Move aside, deep-fried Twinkies, Tempura Twinkies are in town.While some people might argue that Japan is home to the best sweets and snacks in the world, for locals the fascination can sometimes be reversed, with curiosity about famous overseas sweets leading many to wonder what they really taste like.Our reporter Takuya Inaba is one such curious local, who became fascinated with Twinkies after watching the 2009 zombie comedy film Zombieland, where the character of Tallahassee, played by Woody
Give Totoro, No-Face, and Jiji a little time every day, and they’ll make sure you don’t forget the date.From a practical standpoint, smartphones have more or less made watches obsolete. If your phone can already tell you what time it is, in multiple parts of the world even if you’d like, and includes stopwatch and timer functions, there’s really no need for a separate device that doesn’t do all the other stuff your phone can. And yet, wristwatches are still a thing, as many people like their fas
An island transforms into a wonderland of digital art, musical sea shells, and 1,000 glowing lanterns.Summer heat in Japan can be pretty brutal for some people, so it means that a lot of the fun seasonal activities pop up in the evenings, when the sun has gone down and the weather is a little more bearable. This year sees the return of one of the Tokyo area’s popular day-trip destinations providing everyone with an excuse to stay out late and enjoy some beautiful night views.Enoshima Touro