‘No contact’ app lets you check in to hospitals and hotels with QR code
Under the ‘state of emergency’ the Japanese government is encouraging people to minimise physical contact as much as possible. Yet lots of buildings, including hospitals…
Kombucha in the konbini: Healthy new soda combines kombucha and fermented fruit juice
The notion that kombucha comes from Japan is a common misconception. According to the Japan Times, English speakers very likely mistook the Japanese word kombucha…
Move over Amabie, Japan’s list of virus-fighting “prophetic creatures” is growing
Although Japan seems to have weathered the worst of the coronavirus pandemic, at least in its first wave, many here are still understandably cautious and…
Owner Feels Uneasy After Watching Her Cat Stretch
犬と猫とどっちも飼ってると毎日たのしい Every Day is Fun Raising Both a Cat and Dog Known for works like さばげぶっ (Survival Game Club!) and 猫色保健室 (Cat Colored Infirmary), Japanese…
Burger King Japan’s Strong Super One Pound Beef Burger does not care about diets
In Japan, if you see a snack or sweet labeled with “STRONG” on the package, it’s an indicator that the existing flavor (sweetness, spiciness, etc.)…
Learn about sake-making with livestream of sake shibori pressing at Japanese brewery
In sake brewing, shibori 搾り, or more formally, jōsō 上槽, is the pressing stage of sake production. The sake mash, or moromi 醪, is pressed…
16-year-old Develops Contact Tracing App as Japan Reopens Its Economy
Like the rest of the world, Japan has been walloped by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many restaurants and small businesses have shuttered shops as shopping districts…
Super realistic cute toy poodle rice ball even has family dog charmed
Japanese rice balls (onigiri or musubi) come in all shapes an sizes (even dessert cakes!), but one of the appealing traits of the traditional Japanese…
Dog food maker Petokoto offers free LINE veterinary consultation
Living in lockdown under the state of emergency, many of us aren’t getting as much exercise as we should. The same goes for our pets,…
The Happy Science Religious Movement Claims to Hold the Cure for COVID-19
The religious landscape in Japan is complex. While traditional Shinto culture dates back to time immemorial, its practice is intermixed with the later-to-arrive Buddhist tradition….
No Nintendo Switch? Escape Lockdown With Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp
With the state of emergency lockdown keeping us all cooped up inside, it seems there is one thing that is keeping people sane as they…
Ghost in the Beer: OGA Brewing & “Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045” collaborate on IPAs
“Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045,” the cyberpunk manga and anime franchise’s first full installment in 3D computer graphics, debuted exclusively on Netflix on April 23rd…
Parent’s Genius DIY Sushi Carousel is a Hit
2020 has been a tough year so far due to the coronavirus outbreak. People have been advised to stay home and refrain from nonurgent and…
How a ninja mask gave its user extra power to face the coronavirus
Demand for face masks has been outstripping supply in Japan ever since the ‘state of emergency’ was declared on April 7th. Do they really work?…
Japanese supermarket “Life” lauded for support of employees during pandemic
During the initial novel coronavirus outbreak and even now that the state of emergency is in effect, many supermarkets and drugstores remain open to serve…