Richard Simmonds

Originally from Sussex in the UK, Richard came to Japan for the first time in 2011 to teach English. Deciding that only one stint as a student wasn’t enough he returned to go to university in Osaka where he still lives, working slowly towards his inevitable destiny of being killed in an avalanche of manga and textbooks, surrounded by the discarded wrappers of assorted matcha-flavour sweets and biscuits. Whilst continuing his love-hate- hate relationship with the Japanese language he works as a translator, writer and sometime bar pet gaijin.

Posted by Richard Simmonds (Page 4)

Japanese capital to move from Tokyo to Okayama…according to a “time-travelling” Twitter user

The first question to a visitor from the future who could tell us about medical and technological breakthroughs? That’s right, it was about boobs.

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Starbucks opens its second Roastery, the biggest Starbucks coffee shop yet, in Shanghai

Shanghai, already home to more than 600 Starbucks, is now only the second place to get an extra-special Starbucks Reserve Roastery.

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Fans of cosplay star Enako will now be able to get their hands on her, or at least her new dakimakura cuddle pillow.

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Get US$442 for four hours of having football star Shunsuke Nakamura kick balls near (or at) you

New collaboration between part-time job hunting app an and Soccer King means you can fulfill your childhood dream of being a wall when you grow up.

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Get your favourite page from Shonen Jump manga on a T-shirt!

Publisher of One Piece, Naruto and other hit manga launches new phone app which lets you choose any page to have made into an awesome T-shirt.

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Funeral home in Japan offers drive-through funeral services

When you want to mourn the loss of someone and wish them eternal happiness in the afterlife without getting out of the car.

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We brave the should-be-abomination of raw egg and coffee, is it a taste sensation? 【Taste Test】

Is mixed raw egg yolk and espresso the answer to our morning prayers? We find out.

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Turns out even Japanese people aren’t sure how to use Japanese-style toilets

Japanese Twitter user reopens debate on Japanese-style squat toilet etiquette, but is it just a flush in the pan?

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Hands-free holidaying: Robotic suitcases that follow you around unveiled【Video】

The world of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld, or maybe Pixar’s Wall-e, comes a step closer with the demonstration of suitcases with a mind of their own.

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Our Japanese staff take on the Invisible Box Challenge that’s going viral【Video】

Just another day in the office as our Japanese-language staff prance about the place, jumping other things no-one else can see.

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Chinese guy discovers way to get a seat on a busy train – fake seizures【Video】

YouTube video shows man in China faking a fit just to get somewhere to sit, but at what cost?

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Crabs, umbrellas and the Kraken released: Winners of the 2017 Nanoblock Awards revealed【Video】

Video shows off international competition’s amazingly intricate entries, all made from the tiny Lego-like nanoblocks.

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Chinese “Chinchilla bed”, which looks uncannily like Studio Ghibli’s Totoro, available to buy

Snuggle up with Chinchilla, Totoro’s legally ambiguous futon-style cousin from China.

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Freaky-looking Goblin shark washes up on beach, almost puts us off seafood for life 【Photos】

Rare “living fossil” shark that looks like it’s trying to escape from its own face is a great reminder for us to stay out of the water.

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Japanese netizens fall in love with groovy augmented reality navigation app  【Video】

Japanese iPhone users happy to be shown around by “Uncle AR“, the grooviest wayfinder app guide ever.

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Indie games’ Japanese-language releases overshadowed by developers’ sexy art request

Do you want money? Fame? For these developers, it’s all about the erotic fan art (although fame and money probably wouldn’t hurt).

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Japan’s Bubbly Dance craze is back in its cutest incarnation yet【Video】

Japanese boy’s perfect version of the Bubbly Dance manages to be even funnier and more impressive than the original.

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Is it a burger? Is it a pizza? Yes, it’s both, and it’s Lotteria’s latest insanity

Vegetarian-friendly pizza-burger is the next Lotteria food mash-up, and it looks great.

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Money-less Japanese diner offered chance to pay later, phones police himself

When store manager refuses to call the cops, man who can’t pay for his meal does it for him.

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Hamster anime song has Taiwanese club-goers throwing shapes in the church of dance 【Video】

Surreal scene as dancers in Taipei club go wild for remix of Japanese Hamtaro anime theme song.

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