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That time Seiji called JASRAC to ask why he didn’t get paid royalties for his song being on TV
Despite Seiji’s copyrighted music playing on TV for the first time, why didn’t he get a big, fat check?!Our resident pro musician Japanese-language writer, Seiji Nakazawa, has made decent progress the past couple of years in terms of his musical talent finally gaining some recognition. From hearing idols sing a song that he composed live to receiving his first-ever royalties from JASRAC (Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers, and Publishers), Japan’s largest copyrig
We revisited Sweets Paradise after a decade to see if Japan’s dessert buffet still delivers
Can it make both your stomach and wallet happy?Sweets Paradise is the dreamlike, all-you-can-eat dessert chain where sweets lovers can enjoy the sugar rush of their lives at very reasonable prices. Our Japanese-language reporter with a sweet tooth Takuya Inaba often patronized the store when he was a student, relying on its 70-minute course to feed his stomach and get him through his studies.Back then, about ten years ago, the course cost around 1,500 yen (US$9.60), but with the economy being as
Hayao Miyazaki says Happy New Year to Studio Ghibli fans with new art for Year of the Horse
2026 nengajo drawing comes with a never-before-seen photo of the legendary anime director.There are many things we look forward to at the start of a new year in Japan, like lucky bags, special foods, and New Year’s cards known as nengajo, which are commonly sent to relatives, friends and colleagues to wish them good tidings for the upcoming year.Though nengajo have seen a decline since the rise of social media messaging, one person who still keeps the tradition alive is Hayao Miyazaki. Eve
The best Starbucks Japan Frappuccinos we want to drink again in 2026
A round-up of the best limited-edition drinks Starbucks served up in Japan this past year.Starbucks released a lot of bold drinks last year, but for us there were some that shone brighter than others. After looking back at the year that was, we realised there were five in particular that we’d gladly drink again, so as we gear up for another 12 months of Starbucks surprises, we’re sharing our top five picks, in the hopes that they might receive a revival in the coming year.▼THE Strawb
Harajuku’s new permanent Tamagotchi shop is filled with cuteness and a surprising lack of poop
The colorful displays and activities make Tamagotchi feel a lot less stressful than what we remember.If you grew up in the late ‘90s or early 2000s, it’s quite likely you’ll feel an instant twang of nostalgia when you hear the word “Tamagotchi.” The sole purpose of these handheld, egg-shaped digital pets was to be taken care of. You could feed them, clean up after them, and if you neglected them, you would watch them perish.The tamagotchi craze passed, only to have a resurgence within the last d
Pizza Hut Japan’s hot lucky bags are perfect for a New Year’s pizza party
Including fresh pizzas, fried chicken, and a suspiciously familiar tote bag.There are countless food-themed lucky bags up for grabs around New Year’s, where people can sample a selection of delicious food at a discounted price. Back in 2024, Pizza Hut made waves in the market by introducing the industry-first hot lucky bag, containing freshly baked pizzas and a heat-retaining tote bag, and have continued the tradition ever since. So, what’s in the lucky bag for 2026?The lucky bags come in three
Happy New Year from SoraNews24!
Wishing a warm start to 2026 to our community of readers from around the world. Happy New Year, SoraNews24 readers around the globe!After 12 months of wild adventures that took us from the top of a Japanese volcano right through to the Osaka Expo, all while catching Pokémon doughnuts and breathtaking illuminations along the way, we’re buzzing with excitement to flip the calendar over with you to 2026.With 2026 being the Year of the Horse, we’ll be galloping into the next 12 months w
Nagoya’s dark-red miso has continued to capture tastebuds for generations
One taste and lighter varieties may never be enough for you again.If your idea of miso is a light-colored soup, gentle and mild in flavor, then Nagoya would very much like to have a word with you. Miso in Japan’s central Tokai region, consisting of Aichi, Gifu, and Mie Prefectures, is much bolder and far more intense than its more frequently seen counterparts in the rest of the country. Red miso, or “akamiso”, as it’s called in Japanese, can certainly be found nationwide, but it’s a
We found possibly the quietest Japanese-style hotel in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku district
It’s truly an oasis of calm away from the hustle and bustle of Shinjuku…in Shinjuku.We never knew that Keiunso, whose name translates to “auspicious cloud manor,” was practically right under our noses this whole time. A four-minute walk from Shinjuku Station‘s South Exit, the hotel’s main selling point is its almost unbelievable quietness despite being right next to the world’s busiest rail station in terms of daily passengers. That, plus its traditional
Japanese thug wear from Birth Japan perfect for those breaking bad next year
Becoming a Japanese street tough might just be the change of pace you need.They say the new year is a time for new beginnings. For some of us, that might mean graduations, weddings, or new jobs, but for others it might mean a descent into the seedy underworld of crime and violence. That’s not the kind of thing you just jump into with both feet, though. First, you have to look the part.For a long time, our writer Masanuki Sunakoma has always longed to shed off the conventions of society and
Japan’s oldest largetooth sawfish in captivity back on display in Mie Prefecture
You say you saw fish, but have you seen a sawfish?Nature sometimes has the same sensibilities as I did as a seven-year-old drawing pictures. It seems at some point both of us had the idea that sharks are cool and all, but what if you took a shark and put a big chainsaw-like thing on its face?The answer is a sawfish, and while it’s not really a chainsaw nor is it really a shark, these rays are still pretty cool. Unfortunately, they’re also critically endangered species and desperately
Beautiful sightseeing boat is a floating tea ceremony venue in east Japan’s best hot spring town
Daichakai sets sail in Hakone.Nestled in the mountains of Kanagawa Prefecture, the town of Hakone makes for a great weekend or overnight trip from the Tokyo area. In addition to some of east Japan’s best hot springs, Hakone boats beautiful scenery, and a trip across Lake Ashinoko is a must-do for the views of the surrounding forests and, on clear days, Mt. Fuji.On our most recent trip to Hakone, though, it wasn’t just the views from our boat that were beautiful, but the views of the boat itself
Survey finds more than 70 percent of Japanese children have an online friend
Meeting someone through games or social media is becoming just as normal as going to the playground.It wasn’t so long ago that a child making a new friend simply meant walking up to a kid in the park, on the playground, or at school and asking, “Want to play together?” Nowadays, while those scenarios certainly do still happen, a rising number of children are just as likely to meet friends through online video games, social media, and online communities.▼ This used to be one of the only ways you
This is possibly the coziest train in all Japan thanks to onboard hot spring footbaths【Pics】
Train to off-the-beaten-path onsen town gives you a taste of Japanese bathing culture even before you arrive at your destination.One of the coziest things that happens in Japan in the winter is when the rail companies turn on the heaters underneath the seats on the trains. Having warm air blowing on your calves feels so nice that sometimes I almost don’t want to get off the train when I got to the station I was headed to.But it turns out that there’s an even cozier way to ride the rails coming s
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Cute culture in your cup.Time zones and Japan’s geography makes it one of the first countries in the world to ring in the New Year on January 1, but its culture also makes it the first country to celebrate the start of a new Chinese Zodiac year. That’s because Japan is in the unique position of not really celebrating the Lunar New Year but also really, really liking Chinese zodiac theming.So while the Year of the Horse won’t start until mid-February in most places, in Japan it’s less than a week
Beautiful Studio Ghibli photo frames let you put yourself in the worlds of Totoro and Kiki【Pics】
Intricately detailed frames let you mix your real life memories with Ghibi’s unforgettable anime settings.I’ve always though it’s kind of odd when you’re shopping for a photo frame and there’s already a picture of people inside of it. I guess the intent is to help you gauge the overall visual vibe before you commit to making the purchase, but it still feels weird to buy something that comes with a picture of complete strangers included as part of the deal.The people pictured within these photo f
New Japanese menstrual product seeks to help women spot unidentified iron deficiencies
A new test kit checks for hidden iron deficiency using menstrual blood, and it’s super simple to use.Have you ever wound up dragging yourself out of bed in the morning, feeling exhausted even after a full night’s sleep? Or have you often find yourself zoning out at work? While stress and poor sleep quality might be the more common culprits, there might be a hidden player at work: iron deficiency.Iron deficiency is especially common among women, particularly those who menstruate, with frequ
J-horror classic Ring 2 airing on Japanese TV with Zen monk offering prayers every time someone dies
Japan’s most quirkily empathetic monk is back to keep bad mojo away from us as the year ends.There are a lot of different ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Japan. If you want to get orthodox, tradition says you should make a midnight visit to your local temple to literally ring in the new year, offering prayers seeking peace and prosperity while a bell is sounded to drive off wickedness and impure temptations. There’s the cozy approach of a quiet evening at home with family, maybe with your le
7 great places to see Mt. Fuji from without having to climb it
With peak Fuji-viewing season coming up, here are seven spots to add to your Japan travel list.In addition to being Japan’s tallest and most famous mountain, Mt. Fuji is also considered a symbol of prosperity and good fortune. That means that a lot of people will be wanting to get a peek at it in the weeks to come, and so Japanese travel portal Jalan has a handful of recommendations of where to find great views of Mt. Fuji without having to go all the way to the mountain itself (which is closed
Sumo Sanrio! Hello Kitty and pals team up with Japan Sumo Association for new merch【Pics】
Two Sanrio stars slip on sumo loincloths to celebrate the first nig sumo tournament of the year.Some people like to ease into the new year, taking it easy for the first few weeks and not really revving up their work schedules until February. Not so for the Japan Sumo Association, which every year in January holds the Hatsu Basho, or first Tokyo Grand Sumo Tournament. This year, though, the sumo wrestlers and support staff will be joined by someone else with a tireless work ethic, Hello Kitty.San