Shinjuku institution Takano Fruit Parlour quashes rumours of its imminent demise
Takano Fruit Parlour, the long-established Shinjuku specialty fruit store, recently announced that it planned to close its much-loved fruit bar at the end of March…
Made in Japan
Art Fair Tokyo 2021 promises unprecedented fusion of real and VR exhibits
The coronavirus pandemic dealt the world economy a massive blow in 2020. Its impact was also felt by the art market, with around 90 percent…
Crestfallen crane origami makes 140,000 laugh on Twitter; make yours with simple instructions
Even if you’ve never heard the word origami before, chances are you’ve seen a paper crane. Along with the beckoning manekineko cat, the Daruma doll…
Doraemon sweets return with cute expressions perfect for cherry blossom viewing season
Many of our grape Japan readers have seen the cute wagashi Japanese sweets series shaped like popular anime figures or mascot characters known as “Tabemasu.”…
1,000 Anime Figurines Transform Tottori Town Into a ‘Cool’ City
The Sankei Shimbun, JAPAN Forward Tottori town turns around its economy and grows by diving into pop culture figurines and becoming a sacred place among…
Panasonic Begins Crowdfunding for New “Weak Robot,” NICOBO
On February 16, Panasonic announced a new project in development, called NICOBO. NICOBO is a companion robot with a strong personality. It even talks and…
Renowned photographer Xavier Tera takes us to Okinawa with his new photo book & exhibition
Montreal-born photographer Xavier Tera has created an illustrious career for himself by evoking stories through his photos. The way he captures his photos makes you…
The adorable duo Little Twin Stars make a doughnut debut in Floresta’s White Day lineup
Every year, organic doughnut shop Floresta collaborates with character goods giant Sanrio for the new doughnut lineup they release on special occasions. We’ve seen doughnut…
5 Instagram accounts to follow to get that fix if you’re missing Japan
With Japan’s borders currently being closed to tourists due to the coronavirus pandemic, countless people have had their Japan travel plans cancelled with no certain…
Instagram couple designs stylish cutouts and brings their artistic creations to life
You can see a lot of great art and breathtaking photos on SNS. Every internet native is keenly aware of this, and digital NFTs appear…
These iridescent “aurora” umbrellas by Wpc. look great in selfies, are trending on social media
Last year, World Party Co., Ltd. released fashionable plastic umbrellas with an iridescent sheen. Sometimes described as “holographic” (although they don’t display holograms) in other…
This Psyduck Pokemon necklace is achingly beautiful
Poke-fan’s, we’ve all been there. Gazing at our favorite Pokemon, and so enamoured by its coolness or cuteness that all we can do is clutch…
New eyeshadow based on Sailor Moon’s Crisis Moon Compact released in Japan
In celebration of Sailor Moon Eternal, the second part of which is now in Japanese theaters, Bandai’s online hobby store will be selling a new…
Japanese entertainment unit YUSASOBA combines soba making and DJ performance
YUSASOBA YUSASOBA has been performing throughout Japan since 2014, hoping to bring more of Japan’s soba culture to the world with the music they play….
Gorirandoseru! Surreal capsule toys imagine gorilla going to Japanese elementary school
We know we can always count on capsule toy maker Qualia Co., Ltd. to come up with unique and surprising capsule toys. For example, in…