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Mishaps at the register as Japan begins charging for plastic bags [manga]
In recent years, Japan has been stepping up its environmental efforts. The country plans to make the 2021 Olympics entirely green, companies are cutting back…
Made in Japan
Recommendations of major summer festivals in Kansai that you shouldn’t miss
Kansai is well-known for its many interesting annual festivals. The region is also home to various events, especially during summertime. If you are planning a…
Drive-in Events this Summer in Japan: From Drive-in Theater to Drive-In Fireworks!
Drive-in theaters have been making a comeback recently because of the pandemic as many cinemas had to close until the situation gets better. Since May,…
Throw your own Japanese festival at home with a box of traditional festive goodies
Japan has a way of doing festivals that’s uniquely their own. Rows of stalls selling aromatic food, mini-games where you can try and win a…
The National Banana Research Institute in Yanaka, Tokyo
In case you’re wondering, this is not a genuine research institute, at least not officially. It’s just a shop that sells Japanese bananas. Still, considering…
New shopping area “Hill Side” opened in Gotemba Premium Outlets near Mount Fuji
One of Japan’s most popular outlet malls, if not the most popular, is the Gotemba Premium Outlets located in Shizuoka, in Gotemba City. The mall…
Japanese illustrator’s “Real ‘Museum Girls’” series reinterprets classic paintings in SNS age
As you can guess from the header image showing Vermeer’s “The Girl with a Pearl Earring” and Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” enjoying selfies together,…
Chasing Ghosts at jiko bukken condemned properties
Like any culture, Japan has its fair share of superstitious beliefs and old wives tales. Consumers avoid facing north while snoozing and refrain from writing…
Atami city’s favorite pudding parlor says thank you in a very delicious way!
Japan has a long history of importing foods from overseas and, through a certain Japanese je ne sais quois, giving them a makeover into exquisite…
Kit Kat and Tokyo’s no. 1 sweets souvenir’s gold caramel banana flavor gets Mt. Fuji packaging
Followers of the never-ending menu of Japanese Kit Kat flavors (including a recent incarnation as a chocolate almond milk stout) will know that Nestle has…
Sukumizuage: Okinawa fishing news wording leads to humorous misunderstanding online
A headline from the Ryūkyū Shimpō, Okinawa’s top newspaper, has gone viral on Twitter today due to a possible interpretation of the wording. The headline…
COCOA COVID-19 App: Guide to the new coronavirus tracking application
COCOA, also known as the “contact confirmation application” is a new smartphone application that can make a difference in our fight with the COVID-19. Whoever…
Look monstrously dapper with new Godzilla dress shoes
The release of the first Godzilla film in 1954 heralded a genre of Japanese pop culture dedicated specifically to giant monsters. From having a larger-than-life…
The Best New Cafe in Tokyo’s Hip Harajuku: Sophisticated Sarutahiko
COVID-19 has undeniably stolen a lot of Tokyo’s thunder in 2020. The Olympics has been postponed and likely downsized to 2021. This leaves stadiums, stations,…
Stay-at-home Sanrio summer goods recreate festival mood of Japanese street fair
You may have seen images of young Japanese people in yukata holding paper fans and eating shaved ice or cotton candy, or stopping by food…