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 7)
We’ve previously seen Japan’s amazing cat islands and rabbit island, and today, we’re excited to show you yet another animal wonderland, though this time it’s not in Japan!
An uninhabited island, Big Major Cay, located in Exuma of the Bahamas, is home to what are arguably the world’s happiest pigs! More commonly known as Pig Island or Pig Beach by the locals, this tropical getaway is famous for none other than its adorable swimming pigs!
Fans of the Sailor Moon series would probably be more than familiar with the suave male protagonist in the series, Tuxedo Mask (or Tuxedo Kamen, in Japanese). We all know him as the heroic love interest of Sailor Moon, but since the launch of these mini figurines in Japan late last month, Japanese netizens have been cracking up over pictures of Tuxedo Mask frolicking with other characters (and himself!) in some of the most bizarre poses we’ve seen him in!
As an avid anime fan, I sometimes wish my favorite characters were real humans, but the logical fangirl in me warns that if anime characters existed in real life, they probably wouldn’t be as awesome as they were in the original works. Just take Kuroko’s Basketball as an example, it would be impossible for Kuroko’s unbelievable skill, “Misdirection Overflow”, to happen in real life.
In such situations, I’m glad there are talented artists who create realistic looking fan art of anime characters, such as these amazing portraits!
Last year, Japan’s most successful creator of cute characters, Sanrio, melted our hearts with the whimsical My Melody pop-up cafe. This spring, they’re working their cute-making magic once again to bring us a limited-time Kiki & Lala (Little Twin Stars) Cafe in the newly opened Shibuya Parco Part 1 mall in Toyko! Twin power for double the cuteness!
Did your mom ever tell you not to play with your food? She was probably right, it’s not a nice thing to do when there are thousands of people who are struggling to afford proper meals each day. However, if you’re able to create an art piece out of your food, then we guess you’re in a league of your own. Like these banana tattoo artists, or this banana engraver from Japan who creates stunning replicas of famous characters using bananas!
April Fools’ Day is just a few days away! Are you prepared for it? Perhaps the pranks we picked out earlier this week were lacking some impact. Well, that’s because we kept the best for last!
If you’re looking for something that will shock the entire family or add a little excitement to your otherwise boring workplace, check out this homemade head in a jar! Be it for April Fools’ or for Halloween, this creepy artifact is bound to raise some hairs, and the best part is, no blood is involved in the making. Instructions after the jump!
Time flies, doesn’t it? It felt like we just stepped into 2014 last week, and all of a sudden March is coming to an end. If you haven’t started preparing for the most “dangerous” day of the year, it’s about time you put your thinking caps on. But don’t worry, we’re not talking about the zombie apocalypse, so keep your guns locked up. We’re talking about April Fools’ Day, of course!
If you can’t find your thinking cap, no worries about that too. We’ve got some prank inspirations here for you!
We’ve found the perfect snack to go with those cat marshmallow lattes! The best match for a cup of hot coffee or cocoa with a cute cat floating in it has to be hotcakes loaded with little wandering kitties! The best (or worst) part is, those cats aren’t just decorations, they’re completely edible! More pictures after the jump!
There’s probably a scientific explanation for almost everything in the world, and that includes ice cream. Of course we knew there was some science going on in those delicious scoops of frozen creamy goodness, but this laboratory-themed ice cream parlor in Busan, Korea, works the science right in front of your eyes!
If you’ve never had ice cream made straight out of a laboratory flask, topped with syringes and droppers, read on!
I grew up watching the characters on Sesame Street count numbers, spell words, and sing songs about goldfish and birds. Even after I had outgrown the long-running children’s series, I had to sit through it again while babysitting my little cousins. And my guess is that many of you out there went through a similar experience since the show has been on TV since 1969 and is broadcast in over 140 countries worldwide.
How many of you then subsequently got hooked on to the arcade game Street Fighter II in your school days? I definitely did, and this guy called gavacho13 on Deviantart probably did too, as he has been creating some awesome illustrations of the Sesame Street Fighters!
Last April, a case of overdose on Photoshop caused a group of ‘Miss Korea’ contestants to look like cloned beauties produced by the same plastic surgeon. Though it is now clear that the ladies were not high technology clones created to take over the pageant, the incident made some of us feel that beauty pageants these days are geared towards finding a certain type of beauty standard, rather than celebrating the beauty in different women.
Is it really necessary to “enhance” the beauty of these already stunning women? Let’s take a look at the Miss Korea pageant ladies before the era of Photoshop and cosmetic surgery!
It’s a common sight to see hot dog stands in America. In Singapore, ice cream stands are a lifesaver in the sweltering hot weather. In Japan, however, you’re more likely to find a yaki-imo (roasted sweet potato) stand on the streets, especially during winter. If you’re lucky enough, you might even meet the legendary cat that sells stone roasted sweet potatoes in Kurayoshi City, Tottori Prefecture!
When we were kids, we were often told to “listen to your mother” or “do as dad says”, and many of us probably went through a time when we secretly swore that we’d never listen to our parents again once we grew up. But as age catches up, some of us begin to realize that our moms and dads do make more sense than we do sometimes.
A Chinese couple recently ignored their parents’ objections to their union and secretly tied the knot, only to later discover that they were actually cousins!
How often do you wash your denim jeans? Some people, including famous fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger, say you should never wash them, while others are absolutely grossed out by the thought of wearing a pair of bacteria-loaded pants for months on end. Not to mention, some of these bacteria cause odors that will make people think you just climbed out of a dumpster.
What should you do if you wish to keep your favorite jeans broken in, while ensuring that they don’t carry some hideous stench? You should read on.
All right, burrito lovers, step right up! Burritos are perhaps the most convenient well-balanced meals in the world (in my opinion). You get your carbohydrates, meat, vegetables, and a great burst of flavors, all in a handy-sized wrap that you can basically eat anywhere, even on the go. Perfect!
However, if there’s just one thing that’s better than a burrito, it’s gotta be an animal burrito! All you have to do is look at it and it’ll fill up your empty hearts and souls with an irresistible gush of cuteness that will leave you feeling like a better person (hypothetically)! Here are twenty of them, all rolled up and ready to go!
We’ve seen plenty of cat cafés, maid cafés and even owl cafés here on RocketNews24, but putting living things aside, this themed café in Seoul which features the characters of a Korean online comic MAJO&SADY, could probably top our list of cute cafés!
The simple yet chic café provides a cozy and relaxing atmosphere that anyone can enjoy, even if you’re unfamiliar with the comic’s characters. Check it out!
Perhaps you remember Ladybeard from our previous post a couple of weeks ago introducing the cross-dressing bearded pro-wrestler, performer, heavy metal singer and party rocker. Well, it would seem that Ladybeard recently met up with another iconic cross-dresser in Japan, the “Sailor Suit Old Man”.
A hairy burly man and a balding old man in schoolgirl uniforms may sound like an absolute turn off, but they looked so happy, we couldn’t help but think they actually look somewhat cute. Here’s the most epic schoolgirl combi in history!
These days, it’s not a rare sight to see people playing games on their mobile devices while riding the train or waiting for a bus, or even sneaking in a round or two at work when no one’s looking. It’s understandable that sometimes a worker might need a breather, and a few quick minutes crushing candies, battling monsters, or “farming” on the smartphone could be a great stress reliever. But guess what happens when the whole office is engrossed in games? Somebody shits in their pants.
Or at least that’s what happened at the Liquan County Public Office in Shaanxi Province, China. For real.
Who doesn’t love a good vacation? Particularly for working adults, it’s the only time we can take a step back from our hectic work lives, unleash the wild-child within us, and perhaps do something silly without worrying about (too many) repercussions since we’ll be jetting off in a couple of days.
But wait, hold your horses! The last thing you would want to do on an overseas vacation is to unknowingly breach the law, right? Some of the things that we normally do in our homeland might be illegal in other parts of the world. Things as normal as ladies wearing pants. Strange, huh? There’s more coming up!
We’re all talented in ways that others aren’t; some of us are born artists, while some can barely draw anything more complex than a stick man. It seems that would be the case with elephants too. It is said that in every 200 elephants trained to paint, only about four manage to master the skill.
Of course, in the case of elephants, painting is skill they are trained to remember, not an inborn talent. Even with that said, some of the drawings they make are so impressive, we can’t help but wonder if some natural talent is involved!
New retro museum in Tokyo is like a time portal back to the Showa era【Photos】
Steampunk vending machines appear in Japan, and here’s how to find them
New hug pillow range lets you sleep with Hello Kitty
Weaving history, art and innovation together in a new range of Japanese yukata
Studio Ghibli anime to stream online in Japan for first time ever, but not from any deal with Ghibli
Ramen vending machine brings a new noodle stand experience to Tokyo station
Chinese drivers flocking to Japan for quick and easy route to international licenses
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Mt. Fuji climbing reservation website is now open, and here’s how to reserve your spot
How to make Ukrainian flag origami crane paperSurvey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Tom Cruise brings Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning to Tokyo with special surprises
Japanese restaurant chain installs tip boxes in response to foreign tourists leaving tips, sparks debateNew hug pillow range lets you sleep with Hello Kitty
We visited a “terrible” Japanese hot spring hotel near Narita Airport
Pokémon Ditto Cup uses Transform to turn into jiggly gelatin, rice, sand, and infinite possibilities
Tom Cruise visits Ghibli Museum, poses for photo with TotoroNew retro museum in Tokyo is like a time portal back to the Showa era【Photos】
British couple in shorts, T-shirt call for rescue from Japanese mountain, say it’s too cold for them to move
Fireflies in downtown Tokyo – Beautiful hotel garden begins hotaru season eventSurvey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Beds on a bus: Travel on Japan’s first-ever full-flat overnight sleeper bus from TokyoTom Cruise brings Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning to Tokyo with special surprises
Sailor Moon and others teach foreign tourists Japanese etiquette in Manga Manners art series
Secret stairs at Tokyo Station dungeon come with a serious warning
Japan’s 160-year-old Great Wisteria of Tochigi is now in full bloom, ready for visitors【Photos】
Ghibli Forest Spirit towel series will delight and/or freak out visitors to your home【Photos】
Japanese gamer furniture company creates cabinets just for collectible trading card gamers【Pics】
A close encounter with a dangerous criminal on a Shinkansen bullet train in JapanSurvey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
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
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
[Deleted] Article written for April Fool’s Day 2018
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spacesStudio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
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
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Ramen vending machine brings a new noodle stand experience to Tokyo station
Chinese drivers flocking to Japan for quick and easy route to international licenses
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Mt. Fuji climbing reservation website is now open, and here’s how to reserve your spot
How to make Ukrainian flag origami crane paper
Can Japan’s yami kawaii fashion still work without the yamu? We find out with this lucky bag【Pics】
New squirrel-cheek boob-adjacent video game is all about the nuts, includes “sensitive mode”
Switch 2 release date announced, Nintendo to sell both “Japan-only” and “multi-language” versions
Exhibition on the 1,500 year-history of traditional Japanese women’s clothing to open in Shibuya
Manga predicting a major disaster this July affecting summer tourism numbers
How to protect your umbrella from rampant umbrella thieves in Japan
Japan’s first-ever wanko soba conveyor belt restaurant opens in Tokyo
Japanese train station noodle restaurant with 122-year history closes
McDonald’s Japan’s new Pokémon Happy Meal toys are better than ever