
Recently, our Japanese reporter Yoshio visited his parents’ house and decided to finally take a stab at tidying up his childhood room, which had been left untouched ever since he moved out. In the process, he was surprised to find many lost relics and treasures from his childhood, and became caught up in a wave of nostalgia for several hours. Needless to say, he didn’t get much cleaning done in the end…
If you’re the nostalgic type, perhaps you’d like to take a peek at the treasures that Yoshio dug up, some from over 20 years ago!
New York Times Square postcard
“This postcard is from sometime in the 1990s. You should take a look at the billboard advertisements in the background–there’s one for Suntory, and right above it is an ad for Samsung. Super nostalgic!”
MiniDiscs
“MDs truly revolutionized the development of portable music. I wonder what kids nowadays would say if they saw one of these?”
Sakura Bank bankbook
“Sakura Bank was one of the predecessors of Mitsui Sumitomo Banking Corporation. Now that I really think about it, Sakura Bank has a pleasant, Japanese-sounding name…”
J-PHONE cellular phone
“I was curious to see what pictures were saved in the phone. I tried charging it, but it didn’t turn on.”
Tons of collectible cards
“I found a variety of cards from shows like Downtown no Gottsu Ee Kanji [a Japanese variety show from the mid-90s] and packages of J-League Chips. Kids in those days loved getting the freebie cards that came bundled with certain snacks.”
“Your life will change [GOOD LUCK]” CD
“I can’t remember when or where this CD came from. Apparently, it’s supposed to have a subliminal effect on your mind when you listen to it, and get rid of any stress you have.”
NBA basketball cards
“I collected these cards in middle school. They were sold in packs, and I spent all of my New Year’s money on buying them. I’ve got thousands of cards lying in storage here.”
Tons of old games
“Here are Dragon Quest III and Game Boy Basketball. In any case, Dragon Quest III was a masterpiece. My games are still in really good condition.”
Voice clock
“I assembled this voice clock in my middle school drawing and manual arts class. I recall that using the soldering iron was a terrible hassle. What kinds of things do you remember making in your classes?”
Mr. Children [a Japanese pop rock band that’s now been around for over 25 years] CD single
“I listened to this song a lot when I got really bad test grades. It’s really nostalgic for me. However, when I opened the case, Mr. Children’s ‘Es’ CD single was inside. Where did ‘Everything (It’s You)’ go?”
Here are some more close-ups of some of the loot that he found:
Yoshio was born in 1981, so that makes him 34 years old today. Did any of our readers in their mid-30s or above feel particularly nostalgic? By the way, Yoshio still hasn’t finished cleaning his room yet, so we might be back for a second round of his treasures!
All images © RocketNews24






















Cup Noodle unveils first-ever cold-water instant ramen in Japan
Japanese government ID card and app to be required for certain Pokémon card purchases next month
Studio Ghibli releases new Totoro coin purses…but who’s the blue character?
Tokyo’s Giga Mart lets visitors “steal” from a convenience store… if cameras don’t catch you
Starbucks Japan adds shaved ice desserts to the menu at select locations
Cup Noodle unveils first-ever cold-water instant ramen in Japan
Japanese government ID card and app to be required for certain Pokémon card purchases next month
Studio Ghibli releases new Totoro coin purses…but who’s the blue character?
Tokyo’s Giga Mart lets visitors “steal” from a convenience store… if cameras don’t catch you
Starbucks Japan adds shaved ice desserts to the menu at select locations
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Uniqlo looks back to the very start of Pokémon with new black-and-white pixel art T-shirts[Pics]
Hiker needs to be rescued from Mt. Fuji two times in two days, but system is working as intended
Studio Ghibli brings anime characters to the table with new Totoro placemat that’s like a movie cell
Onidon opens in Tokyo with unique fusion tempura rice balls you won’t find anywhere else
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Japan reacts to Donald Trump’s “Islamic Republic of Japan” remark
Japanese airport rebrands itself as “Sushi Airport” to attract foreign tourists
Three new starter Pokémon Jets to fly in Japan, first begins carrying passengers this month
New Mt. Fuji overnight bus takes travelers from downtown Tokyo straight to the most popular hiking trail
Tokyo revises accommodation tax amidst tourism boom, Airbnb rentals now included
Yoshinoya and Dragon Quest slaying scalpers with shift to made-to-order collaboration merch
Tochigi man shares his family’s process for creating 16 years worth of rice paddy art
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Studio Ghibli store Donguri Republic announces opening of first-ever store in America
Japan triples departure tax, foreign tourists and locals now must pay more to leave country
Japan launches first overnight Shinkansen bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka this summer
Japanese sweets shop sells an ohagi so exquisite it sells out by noon
Sanrio Character Poll announces winners, Hello Kitty absent from top 10 in many countries
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Uniqlo looks back to the very start of Pokémon with new black-and-white pixel art T-shirts[Pics]
Hiker needs to be rescued from Mt. Fuji two times in two days, but system is working as intended
Studio Ghibli brings anime characters to the table with new Totoro placemat that’s like a movie cell
Onidon opens in Tokyo with unique fusion tempura rice balls you won’t find anywhere else
Japanese recipe for Tempura Twinkies takes America’s favourite snack to a whole new level
7-Eleven Japan reimagines the fruit sando with new chocolate bread version
Man arrested in Tokyo after allegedly luring foreign tourists into shady Kabukicho establishments
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Japan reacts to Donald Trump’s “Islamic Republic of Japan” remark
Studio Ghibli calendar figures are back, look amazing whether you check the date or not[Photos]
Burger King Japan goes viral for its new Big Mouth Dirty, but is it really worth the hype?
Krispy Kreme Japan’s free doughnut deal could sway you from a convenience store breakfast
Three new starter Pokémon Jets to fly in Japan, first begins carrying passengers this month