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China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning seems to be affecting Osaka’s Namba and Dotonbori neighborhoods

We head to Osaka’s world-famous canal district and see who’s thriving and who’s struggling with the drop in travelers from China.In November, both the Chinese central government and the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo issued statements telling Chinese citizens to refrain from traveling to Japan, and they haven’t yet done anything that could be construed as taking those words back. Since China accounts for the largest single source of leisure tourists to Japan, this frosty mood could potentially have a

Major Japanese noodle chain is closing on Christmas Eve so workers can spend time with families

Marugame Family Night is for the Marugame families, not the customers.Japanese noodle restaurant chain Marugame Seimen, also known as Marugame Udon, has announced that later this month it’ll be having a Marugame Family Night. From the name, you might expect this to be a one-night promotion with special deals for families dining out together, like a kids-eat-free service or a discount for groups that order three or four bowls of noodles at a time.However, while the goal of Marugame Family Night i

This Osaka laundromat wants to clean more than your clothes; it also wants to clean you

Finally a store that understands that sometimes it’s you who needs refreshing, not just your clothes.Having lived in fairly modern apartments in Japan with decent amounts of space for a washing machine and drying racks, I have always been rather fortunate to not have to make a journey to the laundromat every week or so to wash my clothes. That being said, I do find myself using one now and again to wash my futon or larger rugs that simply don’t fit into my washing machine.After filling up

Trump heads to Asia with trade — and tensions with Xi — on the agenda

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — President Donald Trump arrived in Malaysia on Sunday in his first stop on a three-country Asia tour that is expected to culminate in a highly anticipated meeting with Chinese ...

Foreign driver’s license conversion test passes plummet from over 90% to 33% in Japan

Driving test pass rates as low as two percent in some areas.For a long time, Japan had a very convenient system for licensed drivers from other countries to convert their permits to Japanese ones. For some, this involved a very, very, very simplified version of the written and practical tests to get a license on par with anyone else in Japan, and as a regular license, it could also be renewed independently, regardless of the status of their home country’s license.This is compared to the st

Studio Ghibli adds new Kiki’s Delivery Service music box to its anime merchandise shop in Japan

Heartfelt melody and sweet design features capture the magic of Jiji’s shop.At the centre of Studio Ghibli’s 1989 film Kiki’s Delivery Service is a young witch called Kiki, but in the years since the movie made its debut, her feline friend Jiji has been stealing the hearts of fans. The cheeky black cat, who has a charming ability to dole out advice and make us laugh with his antics, is the companion we all long for, and now he’s making an appearance on a new product from

Nintendo releases Metroid-shaped ice cube/cooking tray and Samus arm cannon pillow【Pics】

As newest Metroid game hits store shelves, Nintendo celebrates with cool and clever merch line.December 4 was a happy day for Metroid fans, and in more ways than one. Not only was it the release date for Metroid Prime 4, a sequel that fans have been waiting 18 years for Nintendo to release, on the same day the company showed off some brand-new, very cool Metroid merch!Since it first opened, the Nintendo Tokyo specialty shop in downtown Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood has been packed with stuff for

Samarkand hosts first CITES summit in Central Asia, gathering nations for wildlife protection

Delegates will discuss sustainable use of natural resources, ecosystem restoration, and regional cooperation initiatives.View ...

Starbucks Japan now offers close-to-closing discounted items through its mobile order app

Usually you have to head to the store to see your options for this win-win-win Japanese shopping custom, but Starbucks has made it extra-easy.In Japan, there’s a common practice of supermarkets and takeout places discounting leftover items as they get close to closing time. It’s a win-win-win policy, as consumers get to save a little cash, the store gets to make some extra sales, and the reduction in food waste is a plus for the environment too.Since these discounts are for leftover items, thoug

Popular Japanese ramen restaurant Ichiran’s lucky bags are great value for money

Even at the cheapest option, you’re getting a fantastic deal.With its hearty pork bone broth noodles and unique dining experience, whereby customers are able to order, dine, and interact with staff all without saying a single word, Ichiran’s popularity is not surprising. It’s not uncommon at all for lines to sprawl out of the door and around the building.Our Ichiran-loving Japanese language reporter K. Masami makes it a yearly tradition to check out what the restaurant has in store for fans each

Japan’s Shinkansen trains are getting a Super Mario makeover【Pics】

Mario is also taking over the Sonic train as part of collaboration with JR.Mt. Fuji may be the most recognizable natural symbol of Japan, but if we’re throwing man-made ones into the mix, the Shinkansen has to be pretty high on the list, right? The crown jewel of Japan’s rail network represents not only technological innovation, but also the culture’s sense of hospitality towards travelers and how there are cool places to explore at all corners of the country.Just about the only way the Shinkans

Chinese government’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning has heartwarming non-effect on Yokohama Chinatown

Mr. Sato heads to one of Japan’s biggest Chinatowns to see how things are following China’s travel advisory.The Chinese government recently made a statement telling citizens not to travel to Japan, which was seconded by the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo on November 26. Since the diplomatic spat started, we’ve been making the rounds of some of Japan’s most popular sightseeing destinations and shopping spots to see whether or not the travel advisory is having an affect on the size of tourist crowds, an

American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) announces dates for 2026 ASCO Breakthrough and begins accepting submissions for novel oncology research

Uniindia: American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) announces dates for 2026 ASCO Breakthrough and begins accepting submissions for novel oncology research

Russia, India aim to increase and diversify trade

By Manoj Kumar and Gleb Bryanski NEW DELHI, Dec 4 (Reuters) - India and Russia want to boost their trade and expand the ...

Push and pull for Southeast Asia as China counters Malaysia’s US trade deal with own pact

Malaysia is already part of several free trade agreements (FTAs) with China, such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic ...

KFC Japan opens a Christmas restaurant in Tokyo…but why???

Fast food chain’s first-ever Christmas restaurant serves to break away from the nation’s fried chicken tradition. With December already upon us, Christmas is just weeks away, which means one thing in Japan – it’s time to put our orders in for KFC chicken. As the Christmas meal of choice for many households in Japan, KFC is in hot demand at this time of year, and to drive that point home, the chain is making its presence known with a limited-time Christmas restaurant in Tokyo&#8

Japan’s EF English Proficiency Index rank drops for 11th straight year, hits lowest ever

What’s behind Japan’s continuing slide down the list?Every year EF Education First, a Switzerland-based company that provides language learning services and assistance in countries around the world, prepares its English Proficiency Index (or EF EPI) report, based on scores from its EF Standard English Test. In the newest edition of the report, released late last month, Japan has fallen to its lowest ranking ever since the EF EPI was introduced in 2011.The index was calculated using the results f

A whole slew of Totoro Christmas cakes are on their way to make the season extra merry【Photos】

Studio Ghibli-themed bakery puts a tasty spin on Japan’s Christmas cake tradition.With December here, it’s time to not only get serious about Christmas shopping, but also Christmas cakes. In Japan, the typical Christmas Eve/party dessert is a strawberry shortcake, but if you want something that keeps that tradition going while still feeling a little more special than the ultra-orthodox versions, a Totoro Christmas cake might be just what you need this holiday season.Pictured above is this year’s

Japanese convenience store chain has beer and sake dispensers that few people know about

Shhh…don’t let anyone know we told you about the secrets you can find inside New Days.Whenever anyone talks about Japanese convenience store chains, they’re usually referring to one of the nation’s top three, Lawson, 7-Eleven and FamilyMart. However, locals know there are hidden gems to be found at other convenience stores, and over at New Days, the chain run by East Japan Railways (JR East), you’ll find some branches that have beer and sake servers inside of them.▼

Burger King Japan’s newest all-you-can-eat burger deal is its smelliest yet

The Ninniku Garlic the One-Pounder is a burger so pungent they garlic-named it twice.It’s often said that the most popular day on which to start a diet is “tomorrow,” and I suppose we could stretch that concept out to say that “next year” is an appealing choice of timing as well. So if you’ve given yourself a pass to eat whatever you want in the remaining days of 2025, Burger King Japan has an offer for you: all-you-can-eat one-pound burgers.The chain has announced the third round of its One Pou