Interview with Venture Café Tokyo’s directors: using the power of community to shape innovation in Japan
Innovation in Japan Japan is on a drive to be more innovative. This may sound strange as for many of us Japan is synonymous with…
Japan
Doraemon’s “Stay Home” Message
The Covid-19 pandemic has unquestionably affected most people’s day-to-day lives over the last few months. With Japan’s government declaring a nationwide state of emergency in…
Disney Plus Coming to Japan This June
Last November Disney launched their online streaming service, Disney+, in six countries including the United States, Canada, and Australia. Netflix subscribers may have noticed last…
Shibuya Pixel Art 2020: Submissions Now Open!
Submissions for the Shibuya Pixel Art contest 2020 are now open. The competition which focuses on the production and appreciation of retro art is accepting…
Animal Crossing: New Horizons player’s Pokémon Johto region island is awesome
Animal Crossing New Horizons was released on March 20th for Nintendo Switch. The game revolves around players using in-game tools to design their own island….
The Alley launches “Japanese Yogurt” drink series with red beans from Hokkaido
Trendy Taiwanese boba tea shop “The Alley” is cautiously reopening some of its locations in Japan tomorrow, May 14th, 2020, adding Kobe Sannomiya to their…
Japan debates leaving behind the ancient custom of hanko seals
Despite Japan’s high-tech image abroad, there is, at times, a surprising lack of modern technology. This is particularly true in business settings. Many offices still…
Petition For Tokyo’s Homeless To Use Olympic Athletes Village As Shelter
A change.org petition requesting the use of the (currently empty) Olympic Athletes Village as a temporary shelter for Tokyo’s Homeless has gone live online.Started by…
Interim results of 2020 Sanrio Character Ranking: Dogs in the lead for top three spots
Every year, Sanrio announces its most popular characters based on the results of entries submitted by fans online through its website, by postcard, and through…
Luxurious Uji matcha donuts at Japan’s Mister Donut make a surprise comeback
A season for tea May is a time of renewal and fresh beginnings for green tea. It’s when shincha 新茶 (new tea), tea made of…
Japanese mascots that are as cute as they are peculiar
Japan is the country of kawaii: many things are overly adorable here, and brands notice. Many companies take to painfully cute marketing strategies without a…
Japanese politicians and whalers ignore criticism as whaling industry is revived
Japan has a long history of whaling, purportedly dating back to the 12th century. Historically, whale meat was a dietary staple. The nutritious and protein-rich…
Mount Fuji Under Lockdown: Trail Closures
If you were planning an escape from the clutches of societal expectations and the roar of the media screaming “COVID-19” by taking a break at…
Stay cool with Chocolate Mint Sablé sandwich cookies from Ginza Cozy Corner
With summer just around the corner and the temperatures already exceeding 30 C (86 F) in some parts of Japan, it’s only natural that many…
Hello Kitty World 2 now available internationally in English version
Fans of Hello Kitty probably now about Hello Kitty World, the adorable theme park simulation game app which allows you to enjoy a theme park…