“Emperor of Anime Songs” Ichiro Mizuki passes away from lung cancer
Japanese singer, lyricist, composer, voice actor, and actor Ichiro Mizuki 水木一郎, known as the “Emperor of Anime Songs,” passed away on December 6th, 2022, at…
Life
Japanese man questioned by police for holding a bag of “greens”
MANNISH is a restaurant chain with branches mainly in the Tokyo area specializing in ramen with salt ginger. As revealed in a recent Tweet by…
Historic Japanese mountain area’s impactful winter driving PSA stuns netizens
In regions around the world where roads often freeze, safety naturally becomes a greater concern due to the increased danger of accidents. Drivers are encouraged…
Nissin’s Chicken Ramen mascot teases netizens about their bonus in viral post
Bonuses. Not all companies pay them but when Japanese companies do so, they’re usually paid out twice, once in the middle of the year and…
Take the hassle out of cleaning your rice cooker with this simple lifehack
If you use a rice cooker at home, you probably know that it can be quite a bother to clean it because it has some…
Why do rich Japanese people throw out less trash? Japanese TV announcer gives theory
On his eponymous YouTube channel 古舘伊知郎チャンネル, TV personality and freelance announcer 古舘伊知郎 Ichiro Furutachi invites various well-known guests to talk about everything from the latest…
![Awkward adult toy question at Don Quijote and other Japanese customer service gaffes [manga]](https://grapeejapan.com/wp-content/uploads/ShopClerkGaffes_top-768x576.jpg)
Awkward adult toy question at Don Quijote and other Japanese customer service gaffes [manga]
Just like in any profession, people sometimes make mistakes in the field of customer service, even in Japan. Whether it’s a mistake in protocol, a…
Sleepy-looking Japanese man’s “day and night” transformation stuns Twitter
“A totally different person! It’s just amazing.” “Are you sure they’re the same person? I had to look twice.” “I actually like both…” These were…
The real reason why Japanese toothpicks have grooves in them
Toothpicks are a very convenient tool. In addition to doing what their name implies, they have all manner of practical applications unrelated to food, such…
Cavachon pup becomes an adorable snow dog after a winter walk
When Cavachon pup もうふくん Moufu-kun returned from a walk earlier this month, his owner had an unexpected surprise in store. The pup’s fluffy coat was…
Discovering Japan in Hong Kong, the city that never sleeps
Japanese translator Miruka Adachi, who was raised in Hong Kong and calls the city her second home, rediscovers the enduring connection between the two regions….
![Japanese woman living in a “house like Ghibli” shows how to make “Ponyo’s ramen” [video]](https://grapeejapan.com/wp-content/uploads/PonyoRamen-768x576.jpg)
Japanese woman living in a “house like Ghibli” shows how to make “Ponyo’s ramen” [video]
The YouTube channel 『しまこさんの家〜暮らしと手仕事〜』(“Shimako-san’s House – Life and Handicrafts”) shows the relaxed lifestyle of Shimako-san, a Japanese woman who lives in what she describes as…
![Confident high school girl’s pick-up technique is flawless except for one important detail [manga]](https://grapeejapan.com/wp-content/uploads/GyakunanFail_top-768x576.jpg)
Confident high school girl’s pick-up technique is flawless except for one important detail [manga]
Whether it’s true or not, in Japan, one often hears that students in single-sex schools have fewer dating opportunities than in co-ed schools. Obviously, being…
Nostalgic Showa era communication tool still being used in Japanese train station
With the proliferation of cell phones and smartphones, it’s much easier to keep in touch with family and friends than it was decades ago. However,…
Hilarious prohibition sign at Japanese discount store Don Quijote has netizens in stitches
Japanese Twitter user ちゃんまな Chanmana (@manachawakannai) was visiting their local branch of Don Quijote, a discount store chain also popular among tourists, when she saw…