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Japan’s ultracompact kei car taxis are now ready for travelers to ride, if you know where to find them

Shift in government policy allows Japan’s smallest cars to address a big problem for the taxi industy.Though Japan has a famously convenient rail network, there are times when the route and timing you have in mind for your travel plans mean that hailing a taxi is actually your best transportation alternative. What’s more, between the polite, uniformed drivers and dainty doilies used as seat covers, a ride in a Japanese taxi can be a memorable cultural experience for international travelers, and

Family Mart’s new Tokyo flagship convenience store doesn’t feel convenient, but is that a problem?

Of course, it’s possible the goal was never really to be convenient anyway.Convenience is supposed to be what makes a convenience store a convenience store, but what exactly is it that makes a convenience store convenient? Is it the ease of access, knowing that there’s one nearby and open 24 hours for whenever you feel the need to pop in and pick something up? Is it prices that, while maybe aren’t the absolute lowest around, are cheap enough that you don’t feel the need to go out of your way to

A donut and sugar-loving bear in Japan is breaking into homes, checking fridges for sweet snacks

Iwate town sets traps to try to catch the bear with a sweet tooth, with some even being installed inside people’s houses.Bears have been in the news frequently in Japan recently, with a sudden increase in their boldness in entering human communities representing a potential threat to residents’ safety and homes…and now also their sweets.Over approximately the past week, there have been at least 10 incidents of a bear barging into homes in the town of Shizukuishi, Iwate Prefecture, and help

Gundam’s Char Aznable normal suit becomes roomwear for doing normal stuff in the real world [Pics]

It’s the perfect outfit for when you want to start relaxing three times as quickly.The mobile suits of the Gundam franchise tend to command most of the attention from fans, seeing as how they’re giant robots. But there’s another kind of suit that frequently shows up in the hallowed mecha franchise: the normal suit.“Normal suit” is the in-anime term used to describe the outfits worn by mobile suit pilots on operations in outer space. As with a lot of Japanese sci-fi terminology, the exact logic b

Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films

Iconic quotes, air pirates and a very subtle Gina reference make this collection a must-have for fans of this Ghibli classic.Back in 2017, Studio Ghibli founded a cool new streetwear label calledGBL. Short for “Ghibli”, the new brand filled the niche for cool and stylish Ghibli gear, bringing out everything from Hawaiian shirts to skateboard clocks and even Russel Athletic clothing, all with details that set them apart from anything else on the market.Now, the brand is catering to Porco Rosso fa

Starbucks Japan releases new Discovery Series collection celebrating local regions and traditions

Get a taste of local culture with a new souvenir range that captures the unique charms of Japan’s regions.Starbucks has always been a great supporter of the neighbourhoods in Japan where it sets up shop, blending into the traditional landscape with uniquely designed branches, teaming up with local craftsmen to create new goods, and even supporting local artists with gallery space for exhibitions.Now, the chain is supporting a wide swathe of the country’s regions by releasing a brand

Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines

Could this be the way of the future as people around the world adapt to rising temperatures?With summers becoming ever hotter in Japan, companies are increasingly thinking outside the box to come up with new and better ways to help people cope with the oppressive heat.One company is making waves for an unusual new invention which it proudly describes as a “human refrigerator“. Called the Do Hiemon Box, this one-person cooling booth looks like a giant refrigerator, but it’s designed t

Mass murder plot stopped by friend of Akihabara mass murderer

A friend to the friendless.On 11 July, Toyama Prefectural police knocked on the door of an apartment in the city of Namerikawa. They informed the 53-year-old resident that he was under arrest for plotting to kill multiple people in Tokyo. Inside the apartment, they found that he had reserved a bus to Tokyo and placed a knife in his backpack.The man admitted to the plan during questioning, telling police that the rising cost of living had driven him to want to die. He decided to accomplish this b

Defacing the Japanese flag is now a crime, says government, punishable by up to two years in jail

Causing “unpleasantness” could put you behind bars.On Friday, the plenary session of the House of Councilors of Japan’s Diet (national assembly) concluded, but before it did, its members made sure to vote on, and pass, a bill that makes it not only illegal to desecrate the flag of Japan, but also to make it a jailable offense.The bill, jointly submitted by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, the Japan Restoration Party (called “Nippon Ishin no Kai” in Japanese), Democratic Party For the People,

After job-quitting service, leave-of-absence-request proxy service sees rising demand in Japan

Sometimes you need to tell your bosses you need a break, but you need someone else to be the one to tell them.Job-quitting services have been a thing in Japan for several years now. Essentially you pay a fee to an agency, and they’ll dispatch a representative to inform your employer that you’re quitting and handle any paperwork or other procedures that need to be done so that you can sever the professional relationship with no loose ends.Now, though, there appears to be rising demand for proxies

Asia And The Pacific’s Agricultural Innovations Take Centre Stage At The FAO Global Conference On Smart Farming

FAO continues to support Member Nations in advancing smart farming solutions. Building on the momentum of the Global Conference on Smart Farming, the Organization will also deepen its focus on ...

Baskin-Robbins Japan’s semi-secret affogato is a perfect mix of fun and fancy [Taste test]

Not every Baskin-Robbins Japan branch has it, but it’s very much worth tracking down.Among the frozen treat faithful Baskin-Robbins, or “Thirty-one” as fans in Japan call it, is known for being a quick, casual, and youthful place to get your ice cream fix. So imagine our surprise when we found out that the chain also serves up desserts that are elegant, sophisticated, and worthy of being enjoying at a leisurely pace.We made this discovery while shopping at the Baskin-Robbins branch at the Bay Qu

Teen girl in Japan refuses to be victim, personally escorts train pervert to police for arrest

Things did not turn out how this creep had planned.Without delving too in depth into the mindset of sexual predators who prey on victims on trains in Japan, their basic M.O. is to stay subtle as they being to commit their despicable acts, whether groping or voyeuristic photography. If everything goes according to plan, if and when their target does finally realize what’s happening to them, they’ll not only be too paralyzed with fear, confusion, or embarrassment to directly resist, by the time th

Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]

The styles of six virtual idols, one modern-day illustrator, and one legend of Japanese art history come together in beautiful ways.Earlier this week, we took a look at a new project for Hatsune Miku that’s steeped in the Japanese tradition of high school extracurricular clubs kicking things up a notch in the summertime. But now the original virtual idol is getting even more traditional, as she and her Vocaloid friends are stepping into the works of Japan’s most famous painter, ukiyo-e master Ka

Is Japan’s tourism boom slowing down? Foreign visitor numbers fall for first time in five years

New report shows a worrying trend, but is it the beginning of the end for Japan’s popularity as a tourist destination?In recent years, Japan has been experiencing an unprecedented tourism boom, with the number of overseas visitors setting new record highs in 2024 and 2025.Now, though, the number of foreign visitors to Japan has dipped for the first time in five years.According to figures released by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) on 15 July, Japan welcomed an estimated 21,0

Tokyo and Osaka make it into this year’s EIU ranking of the world’s Top Ten Most Liveable Cities

Plus, we share our recommendations for off-the-beaten-path places to visit in each of them.The Economist Intelligence Unit announced the results of its annual Global Liveability Index on July 7. This year’s report considered a total of 173 cities throughout the world. Ratings were based on a combination of factors that each carried a different weight towards the total achievable score of 100: Stability (25 percent), Healthcare (20 percent), Culture and Environment (25 percent), Education (

Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea raising ticket prices, free Fast Pass ending next month

New economic realities are coming to the place that bills itself as the land of dreams.A lot of times, when Tokyo Disneyland makes an announcement, it’s something that puts smiles on fans’ faces. The park continuously cycles in new parades, shows, food, and themed merch throughout the year, often previewing them months ahead of time to help people plan their visits.The announcement this week from Tokyo Disney Resort operator Oriental Land didn’t fall into any of those fun categories, though, as

China to host the 2026 APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting

China will host the 2026 APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on July 23. [Photo provided to ...

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