Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
Native to the sweltering lands of Singapore, Joan spent a substantial amount of her teenage years gnawing through translated versions of Japanese manga and dubbed anime. Picking up the language sparked off something in her to abandon years of education and experience in design to pursue a career in translation instead. After spending a couple of years localizing Japanese product packaging and mobile games for the English-speaking population, Joan gave in to her longing for the magical land of Japan and leapt into the arms of Tokyo (missing by a bit and landing in Kanagawa prefecture). In her free time, she continues to nibble on Japanese manga and anime, now savoring them in full authentic flavor.
Posted by Joan Coello (Page 6)
If you’re a cat lover, you must love cats’ butts too! Of course, their fluffy expressive tails too! Maybe you love them so much you just wanna hang their perky posterior on the wall of your room… all right, that sounded a bit weird. We’re not talking about hanging real cat butts on your wall. No way, that’s just creepy.
We’re talking about these adorable felted cat bums! More pictures after the jump!
These days, many engaged couples usually choose their gowns and suits, and take a beautiful set of pre-wedding photos before solemnizing their marriage during their wedding ceremonies. In the past, however, not many couples had the privilege of having lavish weddings.
An elderly couple in Hunan Province, China, have been married since 1946, but it is only now, 68 years later, that they put on their wedding dress and tuxedo for the first time!
Men of the world, have you been prioritizing World Cup matches over your wives and girlfriends recently?
Earlier this month in China, a group of women got together and took off their “soccer balls” in order to cheer up their fellow female counterparts who have been neglected by their husbands and boyfriends. We have no idea if that makes any sense, but here’s how it looks!
Everyone has their own studying methods, but no matter which one you choose, learning a language boils down to mastering four things; reading, writing, listening and speaking. I know people who study so hard they literally memorize words out of a dictionary. There are also the people who think that the best way to pick up a language is to live in the native country and speak the lingo as much as possible.
I believe in practicing over studying. And by “practicing”, I mostly mean “surfing the internet”. If you’re currently struggling with learning the Japanese language, or if you hate studying but would like to improve your Japanese, read on!
One of the best things about living overseas is the opportunity to learn the local lingo. By learning to communicate with the locals, it’s easier to get by day-to-day, and you’ll be able to unravel much more about the country’s culture. A Spanish YouTuber living in Taiwan shared a list of must-know pet phrases that he picked up by observing the locals. If you’re learning the Chinese language, starting a new phase in life in Taiwan, or even just imagining taking a trip to the lovely country, hit the “read more” button!
If there’s one thing that we can’t hide, it’s probably our love for Disney animated movies! And we’re pretty sure we are not the only ones who are great fans of Disney’s works. Just last week, we caught a glimpse of Game of Thrones characters in a Disney-esque setting, and this week, we found something even more intriguing…
The Internet’s celebrity feline, Grumpy Cat, is out to thwart Disney’s happily ever after endings in these brilliant illustrations!
As the end of the week closes in, it’s time to slow things down a bit and unwind. It’s been raining in Tokyo for the past couple of days, and we all know what cool, rainy weather does to us, right? It makes us feel oh so sleepy… like these fluffy… real-life Pikachus…
W-what? Did I just say Pikachu? I mean, Viscacha! Just look at them dozing off on the rocks!
How far are you willing to go to save a life? While some people think twice about helping a shabbily dressed man lying in the street, an elderly woman in Shanghai didn’t hesitate to bring home a baby she found abandoned in the bushes, nurse him back to health, and eventually adopt him into the family despite racial differences.
Join us after the jump to read the story of this Chinese granny’s incredible selflessness and compassion.
Malaysia, like many southeast asian countries, is a melting pot of people of different ethnicities and religions. Of course, there are more and more people working and studying overseas nowadays, so you might think that every other country is in the same situation, but you’ll know you’re in a seriously multinational city when almost every new person you meet asks you “are you local?” (my personal experience as a Singaporean).
To that sort of question, 17-year-old Malaysian YouTuber Joyce Chu proudly answers with her song Malaysia Chabor (chabor means “woman” in the Hokkien dialect), which has garnered over 1.6 million views in slightly more than a week!
Creators can be inspired by anything and everything around them. It could be a sight, a sound, a person, or even a website. Italy-based artist and design student Victor Faretina created a series of dresses inspired by some famous websites, titled Web in Vogue.
As people working on and for the Internet, we spend an awful lot of time surfing websites, but the idea of wearing a website certainly hasn’t crossed our minds. However, these amazing gowns designed by Victor are definitely making us look at the websites we visit daily in a different light!
It’s the weekend! Time to kick back, relax, and watch a few baby ducks chase after a full-grown man. A total of 13 little ducklings, to be exact!
Earlier this month, YouTube user NorniTube uploaded a controversial video of a social experiment which looked at how a person’s appearance can affect the responses they get from the general public. One two different days, he pretended to collapse on a Paris street to see if anyone would come to his aid, on one occasion wearing shabby clothes, on the other dressed in a smart suit. (We’ll leave you to watch the video to find out how it went!)
After watching NorniTube’s video, YouTuber Hei Nan decided to test the reactions of his fellow Taiwanese citizens by doing a similar experiment on the streets of his city. Were the Taiwanese more or less likely to help out that the Parisians in NorniTube’s video? Find out after the jump!
It seems that the road to perfecting a selfie doesn’t stop at getting a perfect angle or perfect face. There is a rising trend among brides-to-be to cosmetically enhance their hands for that perfect “I said YES! And btw, check out my sparkly diamond ring!” photo update.
When you’re a little unsure about your love interest, what or who do you turn to for advice? Most of us have read one of those horoscope love readings at least once in our lifetime. In Japan, many people believe that a person’s blood type has influence on their personality traits. This may sound slightly silly, but blood type is a factor some Japanese consider when choosing a date.
Recently, however, a new personality prediction trend has been getting popular among girls in Japan. It seems that the way a girl styles her fringe (or bangs) gives away hints about her relationship personality! Guys, you might want to pay more attention to your love interest’s hairstyle from now on!
Mother’s Day is just around the corner for people who live in countries such as Japan, America, Singapore, Taiwan, Australia and China, among others. A Taiwanese high school teacher recently made the students call up their mothers, encouraging them to verbally express their love and appreciation.
What should have been a touching and precious moment, however, turned out to be a hilarious situation when one mum hurled some vulgarities back at her son instead!
Remember the Sailor Moon lingerie that lingerie brand Peach John released in Japan earlier this year? Thanks to them, we were able to feast our eyes on both lovely models and amateur Twitter users posing in the novelty lingerie.
But now the tables have turned! Chinese artist SoudWrong has created a series of illustrations featuring Sailor Moon characters as lingerie models instead. If you’ve ever wondered what the ladies from Sailor Moon would look like posing in their undies (for whatever reasons, we don’t wanna know), now’s your chance!
There are some things that children do that can ruin a nice day out for an adult or for the whole family, and such behavior is generally tolerated only because they’re kids and they have no idea what a nightmare they’re causing. But when a fully grown adult throws a tantrum in public, you can be sure that it’s probably going to end up on YouTube…
Don’t see what I’m trying to get at? You might have a better idea after watching this couple arguing at an auto show, the woman screaming and pulling at her man’s shirt because he won’t buy her the car she likes.
Have you ever been in a situation where you could have sworn you left an object in a certain place, yet couldn’t find it when you needed it, but it pops up at some unexpected place some time later? Have you ever thought that, perhaps there are tiny people hiding in your room, mischievously fiddling with your things?
That’s probably what fills the mind of Japanese designer and photographer, Tatsuya Tanaka, as he shows in his imaginative portfolio of miniature people having fun among everyday items around us!
Long before we had color television, microwave ovens, mobile phones and the all-mighty Internet, many things had to be done manually and took more time and effort to accomplish. While you may be reading RocketNews24 on your computer or mobile gadget now, the latest news and information used to be only available on handwritten sheets many moons ago.
In many cases, improvement and changes to traditional methods bring greater convenience to the masses, but gone with the olden ways of things are fascinating jobs that once existed to make life easier for the people of their era. How do you think people woke up on time for work before alarm clocks were invented?
Ghibli Forest Spirit towel series will delight and/or freak out visitors to your home【Photos】
Japan’s largest indie ice cream convention returns to Tokyo this Golden Week
Electric conveyor belt sushi kit brings the fun of a revolving sushi restaurant into your home
Foreign travelers’ lukewarm reactions to traditional Japanese inn food causing changes in Kyoto
Are all Starbucks coffee sizes the same? Testing the viral video claim in Japan
A visit to the real-world Like a Dragon/Yakuza cabaret in Osaka【Photos】
Final visit to the last Cold Stone Creamery in Tokyo before it closes leaves us with a bad taste
Tokyo government ordered to search for biological parents of 67-year-old-man switched at birth
The cutest, must-have bento lunchboxes you can buy and eat on the train
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to the best sakura site in Yamanashi Prefecture!
Beds on a bus: Travel on Japan’s first-ever full-flat overnight sleeper bus from Tokyo
Japanese gamer furniture company creates cabinets just for collectible trading card gamers【Pics】
We get our hands on some “Booby Ice Cream” from Kochi Prefecture
Life-size Nier: Automata sword going on sale, includes 2B’s voice if you swing it the right way
Cheapest breakfast in Japan? Hidden find at Japanese supermarket costs less than US$1
Cold Stone permanently closing its final Tokyo branch, but why is the chain struggling in Japan?
Studio Ghibli releases new My Neighbour Totoro furoshiki bag for Mother’s Day in JapanTokyo government ordered to search for biological parents of 67-year-old-man switched at birth
Randy’s Donuts Japan announces grand opening date for Tokyo, Japan-exclusive sweetsA visit to the real-world Like a Dragon/Yakuza cabaret in Osaka【Photos】Japanese gamer furniture company creates cabinets just for collectible trading card gamers【Pics】Beds on a bus: Travel on Japan’s first-ever full-flat overnight sleeper bus from Tokyo
Studio Ghibli bean bag plushies are ready to receive your love and affection
Changes to Japan rail pass make it fall out of favour with travellers
Studio Ghibli bean bag plushies let you bond with animals of Princess Mononoke, Castle in the Sky
Explore Japan’s volcanic beauty at Hakone’s latest attraction
Japan’s official Hello Kitty Airport holds ribbon-cutting ceremony, now welcoming travelers【Pics】
Sleep on Totoro’s belly with Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbour Totoro Nap Cushion
Why is this cafe in Asakusa so popular with foreign tourists?
Fake Japanese whisky countermeasures now include official Japanese whisky emblem
Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengers
Possessing Harry Potter’s Sword of Godric Gryffindor is now illegal in Japan
[Deleted] Article written for April Fool’s Day 2018
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Studio Ghibli releases free-download board game — Here’s how to play it without reading Japanese
Nintendo history you can feel – Super NES, N64, and GameCube controllers become capsule toys
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
A visit to the real-world Like a Dragon/Yakuza cabaret in Osaka【Photos】
Final visit to the last Cold Stone Creamery in Tokyo before it closes leaves us with a bad taste
Tokyo government ordered to search for biological parents of 67-year-old-man switched at birth
The cutest, must-have bento lunchboxes you can buy and eat on the train
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to the best sakura site in Yamanashi Prefecture!
Enjoy the elegance of Edo at Shogun, Tokyo’s new experiential cafe
The pros and cons of working from a Japanese hot spring inn
Experience the “Color of Water” from a 250-year-old Japanese confection maker!
Godzilla hammer from Japan lets you smash nails like a kaiju
Studio Ghibli releases new My Neighbour Totoro furoshiki bag for Mother’s Day in Japan
Pokémon’s Ash Ketchum is crazy strong, can easily carry creatures twice his body weight
The 5 best Japanese bento to buy at Kyoto Station
