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The story of our reporter P.K. Sanjun’s heart attack
There are two phone numbers to remember in a situation like this, but one is much more important.Our Japanese-language reporter P.K. Sanjun is an adventurous guy with a wide range of interests, and if you’re out and about in Japan, you might run into him at a Pokémon tournament, nuikatsu gathering, or just seeing how far away from downtown Tokyo a person can bicycle in eight hours. However, he’s currently on break from field assignments, because he’s in the hospital recovering from a heart attac
Japan’s izakaya pubs closing at record pace, failing to attract foreign tourists
Combination of factors is dimming the shine of one of the stars of Japanese restaurant culture.Izakaya are a unique part of Japanese food culture. Their closest analogy would be pubs, since izakaya serve a wide variety of alcoholic drinks and food meant to be paired with such beverages. Their menus are much more extensive than just basic bar munchies, though, with things such as yakitori chicken skewers, grilled onigiri rice balls, and plates of sliced sashimi being long-standing favorites. As a
Starbucks Japan has a secret breakfast set…and a hack for when it sells out
Japanese customer service turns a disappointing experience into a heartwarming memory. When people hear the words “Starbucks breakfast” in Japan, they usually think of the chain’s “Good Start Morning” offer, which gives you a 40-yen (US$0.25) discount on the in-store price when you buy a qualifying drink and food item together. You can take advantage of the deal until 11 in the morning at most stores, but diehard fans of the chain know there’s a better deal hi
Do Bare Feet of a Gorilla slides really make your legs slimmer?
These bizarre sandals have gone viral on Japanese social media, so we put them to the test.If you’re interested in Japan, your timeline and explore pages are likely filled with photos and videos of influencers promoting the country’s latest finds. A lot of the time, though, these influencers miss the true hidden gems that circulate on Japanese social media, and right now there’s one product that locals are raving about: Bare Feet of a Gorilla.Produced by Osaka-based company Dos
7-Eleven Japan adds macaroni cheese sandwiches to its convenience store food range
New “one piece” sandwich looks set to be another sell-out hit for the popular chain.On “Sandwich Day” on 13 March, 7-Eleven completely revamped its sandwiches in Japan, and among them appeared a new, generously filled single-serve range known as the “Yokubari Sando” (“Greedy Sandwich“). This so-called “one piece” sandwich aims to deliver an overwhelming sense of filling and satisfaction at an affordable price point, and the newest addit
Japan has a new cute and clever sunblock for cat lovers
The adorable bottle is only part of what makes this a fun and convenient way to protect yourself from UV rays.The calendar says we’re still in spring, but the thermometer shows that summer is almost here. With temperatures in Tokyo hitting 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) last weekend, we’re closing in on the time of year when some form of sun protection is a must for many when going outside, which in turn means the time of year when many find themselves thinking “I really should put o
You’ll never win cash or prizes or cash at this Tokyo pachinko parlor, and that’s why it’s so cool
Tampopo is part pachinko parlor, part video game arcade, and part museum.Being a man of culture, when our ace reporter Mr. Sato is out and about in the suburbs and sees on the map that there’s a “game center” (as Japanese arcades are called) on the map, he often goes to check them out. This isn’t because he’s a hardcore gamer (though he’s got some impressive in-game victories under his belt), but because a lot of times suburban arcades have a lineup of retro games, and visiting them feels like t
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Suspected yakuza member arrested for having frequent flyer mile account
Not quite as glamourous as a secret bank account.For most people doing long-haul domestic travel in Japan, the Shinkansen is their default method of getting from Point A to far-away Point B. However, sometimes it’s just as quick, if not quicker, to fly, especially if you’re starting at one end of the country and going all the way to the other.In addition, while Shinkansen tickets are more or less constant in price, airfares fluctuate, so if you time your trip right, flying can be quicker and mor
The Pokémon anime studio’s next project is a Scooby-Doo anime, Yokoso Scooby-Doo
Scooby, Scooby-Doo, where are you? Ah, you’re in Japan!Over the past few years, Japan has become one of the world’s most popular destinations for international travelers, with everyone from overseas otaku to major celebrities putting it on their travel itineraries. And soon Japan will be adding a few more high-profile guests, with the announcement of a new Scooby-Doo animated series that’s not only set in Japan, but animated by a major anime studio.Warner Bros. has unveiled Yokoso Scooby-Doo, a
McDonald’s Japan’s new Chiikawa Happy Meal figures are here![Photos]
New tie-up with hit anime comes with anti-scalper strategy.Fast food and anime figures are two of the reliable simple sources of joy in life, and yet there was some trepidation about combining the two of them as McDonald’s Japan launched a collaboration with the Chiikawa franchise last week. Chiikawa Happy Meals went on sale on May 15, but there was worry that the promotion would be marred by the same sort of ugly behavior from scalpers that’s taken place in some of the chain’s previous high-pro
The Mandalorian and Grogu film inspires a new set of Ginza Cozy Corner mini cakes and more
Three Star Wars-themed collaborations from a galaxy far, far away appeal to both longtime and newer fans of the franchise.We’ve known about Japanese dessert chain Ginza Cozy Corner‘s penchant for mini cake sets for a while now. From home-grown cuties such as Pokémon to international collaborations like Marvel’s Avengers and Pixar films, it seems no characters are safe from getting the Cozy Corner cake treatment–which now includes iconic members of the Star Wars franchise.
Mister Donut’s beyond super soft and chewy beyond mochi mochi donuts have returned
Mocchurin are back, and they brought a new friend with them.As Japan’s leading donut chain, Mister Donut is always cooking up new treats, but last year they invented some new words too: mocchuri and Mocchurin. “Mocchuri” was the descriptor they came up with for something that’s extra mochi mochi, which is itself a Japanese word for something with a soft, chewy texture, like you’d find in a mochi rice cake. Mocchurin, meanwhile is the name Mister Donut gave to a new line of mocchuri donuts that w
Six towering historical warrior floats will grace Fukui’s Mikuni Festival for three days
This annual procession is the perfect stop for samurai buffs who enjoy traditional Japanese festivals with a warrior twist.The streets of Sakai, FukuiPrefecture, are about to be packed when the city’s Mikuni Festival kicks off on May 19 for three days. Considered one of the Hokuriku region of Japan’s “three great festivals,” the annual festival spans approximately 300 years of tradition. This year, six newly crafted floats over six meters (6.6 yards) in height that depict
Studio Ghibli adds mini pillows and massive mats to its anime merchandise store in Japan
My Neighbour Totoro is here to help you look and feel cool in traditional Japanese style. With the weather heating up in Japan, people across the nation are reaching into their cupboards and bringing out their fans, cotton bedding, and other cooling items to help cope with the rising temperatures.Those who like to stay cool in traditional Japanese style, however, will be reaching for items made with igusa, a soft rush grass that has been used here for centuries. Commonly used for tatami flooring
Self-proclaimed Americans arrested for breaking into Punch the monkey’s Japanese zoo habitat
Intruder enters home of beloved stuffed animal-loving macaque.Japan’s Ichikawa City Zoo attracted worldwide attention earlier this year as animal lovers around the globe heard about Punch, a newborn monkey who, after being rejected by his mother, bonded with an Ikea orangutang stuffed animal. Though Punch is the facility’s most famous resident, it has other adorable animals as well, such as alpacas, capybaras, and lesser pandas.However, despite the Ichikawa City Zoo not having any donkeys, there
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
A fun new way to learn kanji… and reward yourself for it at the same time. It’s been just over two weeks since Kanji Ice opened a store in the historic district of Kamakura in Tokyo’s neighbouring Kanagawa Prefecture. The opening on 1 May was perfectly timed to precede Golden Week, a string of holidays on 3-6 May, which is known for being a busy travel and shopping period.While the store’s operators had hoped it would be busy, they couldn’t predict just how sought
This Tokyo Station sweets sensation sells out daily, but we finally got our hands on it
Mont Blanc The Hakuzan is a sweets shop so nice it’s named twice.Tokyo Station isn’t just one of the most important places in the city for travelers and commuters, but for sweets fans too. Both within the station itself and inside the attached Daimaru department store are an array of dessert specialty stores, and we’ve been wanting to try one of them for months now.Make no mistake, the reason we haven’t yet tried the desserts from Mont Blanc The Hakuzan, which opened in October, has nothing to d
Shochu maker on remote Japanese island plays music as its spirits age, flavor varies by genre
Rock shochu and reggae shochu really do taste different from each other.The island of Amami Oshima is part of Kagoshima Prefecture, and Kagoshima is usually pictured as making up the southwest tip of the island of Kyushu, one of Japan’s four main islands. Amami Oshima, though, is far, far away from the Kyushu coastline, so far away that the ferry from Kagoshima City takes 13 hours to get there.▼ The route from Kagoshima City to Amami Oshima, which can alternatively be reached by plane from Tokyo
Choc mint ice cream season hits Japan with a spectacular drinkable ice cream from Tully’s
Why go to Starbucks when you can find hidden gems like this at a locally born chain?Are you a Chokomintou supporter? If you are, then you will be gearing up for a very busy, and refreshing, summer in Japan, because Chokomintou means “Choco Mint Tou”, where “tou” (“political party”) humorously refers to the chocolate mint party, a faction despised by some and strongly supported by others.Choc mint is certainly a divisive flavour combination, but here in Japan,