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Kyushu yakisoba Sofuren’s new food truck ventures into the Kanto region for the first time

This “Kyushu soul food” also has a fun connection to the creator of a manga/anime series of titanic proportions.For 70 years, the Hita, Oita Prefecture-based restaurant Sofuren has been filling the bellies and hearts of locals with legendary yakisoba noodles. The chain is the originator of Hita-style yakisoba, which are made by placing uncooked noodles directly onto a grill plate so that the end result is pleasantly crispy.In a new development, beginning this month for the first time

7-Eleven Japan releases new sandwich that technically contains fruit but isn’t a fruit sandwich

Japanese convenience store chain makes us rethink the fruit sando with a beautiful new release.When you walk into a Japanese convenience store in search of a beautiful sandwich, or “sando” to use the Japanese term, your eye will likely be drawn to the fruit sandwiches, with their gorgeous fillings of whipped cream and carefully placed slices of fruit.Soon, though, you might find yourself drawn to the savoury sandwiches, because 7-Eleven has just unveiled a variety that’s every bit as

Starbucks Japan adds new Frappuccino, Tea, and Chillax Soda to its limited-edition summer menu

Exclusive drinks showcase two fruits, done three ways. It was just the other day when Starbucks Japan unveiled the final peach drink in its early summer lineup, but now the chain is already moving on, with the announcement that a trio of new drinks will soon be on its way.This time, two fruits will be sharing the spotlight, appearing as the main ingredients in three very different beverages.▼ The star of the show is the “Gyugyutto Orange & Mango Frappuccino” (Tall size only; 707 yen [US$4.75

Evangelion beautifully reimagined as iconic classical Japanese folding screen art series [Photos]

Fujin and Raijin take a break and leave divine duties up to the Eva units.Before solidifying their reputations as some of the most iconic designs in the history of anime, back when Evangelion first started airing on TV in 1995, the series’ robots looked pretty weird to a lot of viewers. Instead of taking styling cues from suits of knightly armor like so many other animated robot series, the major inspiration for the Eva units were oni, the horned demons/ogres of Japanese legends.But as Evangelio

Studio Ghibli releases huge new wooden clip collection featuring 25 anime movies

From Nausicaä to Earwig and the Witch, this collection celebrates all but one of Ghibli’s major feature films. Part of what makes a Studio Ghibli film so memorable is the cast of characters you meet along the way, with each one bringing an individual charm to the storyline.While these characters stand out in our memories long after the credits roll on the film, there’s now a way to make them stand out on our desks too, thanks to a massive new wooden clip collection from specialty Ghibli re

Shinkansen trial of moderately air conditioned cars draws mixed reactions from travellers

Some passengers are grateful for the warmer carriages, while others say they’re the last thing Japan needs during an excruciatingly hot summer.One of the unique quirks of train travel in Japan is the ability to hop on a moderately air-conditioned carriage. These carriages, which have the air conditioning set at a higher temperature than the rest of the train, are commonly found on a number of commuter railways across Japan, offering a more comfortable environment for passengers who are sen

Japan has otaku/fan event insurance to cover oshikatsu expenses when events are cancelled

If you don’t want to travel if you can’t see your oshi, JCB understands.Before we get to our main topic, let’s start with a quick linguistics refresher. In Japanese, oshi literally means “support,” but in modern pop culture circles it’s taken on the meaning of a fan’s favorite character or performer, especially in the idol and anime spheres. The idea is that a fan is earnestly devoted to the continued success of their oshi, making them especially active about attending meet-and-greets, concerts,

APEC trade ministers’ meeting bears fruitful outcomes; Suzhou Statement injects new growth momentum into Asia-Pacific economy: MOFCOM official

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 ...

Can instant TKG from Don Quijote really recreate Japan’s beloved raw-egg-on-rice dish?

“TKG Anywhere in Seconds!?” promises to taste like tamago kake gohan, so we put it to the test. Raw egg on rice, known in Japan as “tamago kake gohan” or simply “TKG”, is one of the easiest and tastiest meals you can make, but taking it to work or packing it in a lunchbox can be innately difficult. Either you have to bring a raw egg with you, and hope to God that it doesn’t crack during the journey, or transport it premade, which runs the risk of having stools as runny as the yolk later on.There

Japan now has a takoyaki sandwich…created by a Michelin-listed restaurant

Osaka’s popular street food gets a new life in sandwich form.Takoyaki is one of Osaka’s most famous specialties, instantly recognisable to foodies as piping hot octopus-filled balls topped with sauce, mayonnaise and bonito flakes.However, the other day while browsing through gourmet food options online, we came across something that made us do a double-take.▼ A takoyaki sandwichThis was one of the most unusual sandwiches we’d ever seen, and what made it even more surprising was the fact th

Japan’s new Calpis pudding: The right call for summer, or tampering with purin perfection?

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

Hiker needs to be rescued from Mt. Fuji two times in two days, but system is working as intended

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

Cup Noodle unveils first-ever cold-water instant ramen in Japan

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

Tokyo’s Giga Mart lets visitors “steal” from a convenience store… if cameras don’t catch you

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

Starbucks Japan adds shaved ice desserts to the menu at select locations

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

Studio Ghibli releases new Totoro coin purses…but who’s the blue character?

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

Krispy Kreme Japan’s free doughnut deal could sway you from a convenience store breakfast

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

Studio Ghibli brings anime characters to the table with new Totoro placemat that’s like a movie cell

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

Japanese government ID card and app to be required for certain Pokémon card purchases next month

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

Onidon opens in Tokyo with unique fusion tempura rice balls you won’t find anywhere else

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