Softbank’s iconic commercial series featuring the Shirato family headed by Otosan, a man in a dog’s body as father, wife Masako (Kanako Higuchi) daughter Aya…

Award-winning Japanese artist Taku Inoue is known for his work across a broad range of video expression genres, both analog and digital, including live filming,…

We have had numerous opportunities at grape Japan to introduce the interesting and appealing aspects of Kanji 漢字, the Japanese word for the adopted logographic…

You can always count on Pringles to challenge unusual flavors in Japan. Just recently we’ve seen Fish and Chips and even Ramen flavored Pringles released….

With his 50th anniversary in full swing, everyone’s favorite blue robot cat from the future, Doraemon, is on the minds of many creators in Japan….

Hundred Years Umeshu: Pekora version “Hundred Years Plum Wine: Pekora version” (百年梅酒ぺこらver.), is a new collaboration between sake and alcohol brand Meiri Shurui Co., Ltd.,…

Deer problem in Hokkaido There are currently an estimated 600,000 Hokkaido sika deer, also known as Yezo or Ezo deer (cervus nippon yesoensis), now living…

Supermarket Kakamu is a Japanese web media group that has a special talent for creatively designing awesome and eccentric food-related products. Some of their hits…

The Premium Malt’s – Platinum Just in time for the year-end holiday season, Suntory Beer Ltd. will begin selling “The Premium Malt’s – Platinum” in…

Even with so many goods, games, and tourist locations tied to the hit franchise, Pokémon fans have often fantasized about the idea of Pokémon existing…

Sheila Cliffe, for JAPAN Forward I went to visit Maebashi the other day, to learn a little about the place, enjoy the autumn leaves and…

When Japanese oddity shop isn’t satisfying Japanese RPG fans with glowing USB sticks that look like Final Fantasy save crystals, they often team up with…

At first glance Studio Ghibli and the world of Zen don’t really have much in common. One is a way of life, and the other…

There are two universal facts about cats that any cat owner knows: cats have an unexplainable fascination for cardboard boxes, and cats possess a level…

Japan is the land of cute desserts and animal-shaped food. From donuts with cute animal shapes, to banana sweets that have Pikachu images on them,…