It’s hard to believe this photo of a barista in a Michigan Starbucks is a real photograph of a real person, not an image created by the team at Square Enix.
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Samantha Tanabata
A Southwestern United States native, Samantha has been a fan of Japanese language and culture since age 12, when Sailor Moon, Pokemon, and Tamagotchi first swept the nation. After years of hard work attaining Japanese fluency, she now lives and works in Tokyo as a translator and game localization professional. She's found that no two weekends in Tokyo are ever the same but a combination of the following may happen: an 8k run, an all-nighter at Nichome, an all-day picnic at Yoyogi Park, a visit to a beautiful shrine, iced coffee on a sunny cafe patio, dodging crowds in Omotesando to wander the shops, going to Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea, watching beautiful men dance and act in a live-action play based on an anime, buying doujinshi in Ikebukuro, and/or spending the day at a public bath.
Posted by Samantha Tanabata
This Michigan Starbucks barista looks just like a Final Fantasy character
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Samantha Tanabata
Oct 19, 2016 - Tweet
- USA
- (cosplayer • Final Fantasy • Starbucks)
We visited Egawa Beach, the closest you can get to walking in the world of Spirited Away【Pics】
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Samantha Tanabata
Sep 15, 2016
- Japan
- (Chiba • Egawa Beach • spirited away • Studio Ghibli • travel)
Chocobo and rider gallop up a Kazakhstan highway in fake but funny video 【Video】
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Samantha Tanabata
Sep 12, 2016
- Japan
- (Chocobo • Final Fantasy • video)
The top ocean-themed anime otaku most want to cool off with this summer ranked
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Samantha Tanabata
Aug 9, 2016
It turns out the otaku of Japan want to watch high school girls who are also Marines in training forced to become pirates on the high seas.
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Recent Posts
- Family Mart’s Shibuya Cat Street shop hosts first-ever rescue cat photo exhibition for Cat Day
- Development of Puyo Puyo puzzle game for use in nursing homes underway
- Survey finds that one in five high schoolers don’t know who music legend Masaharu Fukuyama is
- Saitama is home to the best strawberries in Japan that you’ve probably never even heard of
- Highest Starbucks in Japan set to open this spring in the Tokyo sky
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Highest Starbucks in Japan set to open this spring in the Tokyo sky
Family Mart’s Shibuya Cat Street shop hosts first-ever rescue cat photo exhibition for Cat Day
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
Survey finds that one in five high schoolers don’t know who music legend Masaharu Fukuyama is
Development of Puyo Puyo puzzle game for use in nursing homes underway
We eat at three Japanese family restaurants to find the one with the best-value breakfast
Beautiful blue apple jam is taking the Japanese internet’s breath away!
Osaka establishes first designated smoking area in Dotonbori canal district to fight “overtourism”
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Weekly
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
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Shibuya Station’s Hachiko Gate and Yamanote Line stairway locations change next month
Japan’s new “Cunte” contact lenses aren’t pronounced like you’re probably thinking they are
Monthly
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Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
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Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
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Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
Yearly
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
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
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
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We eat at three Japanese family restaurants to find the one with the best-value breakfast
Beautiful blue apple jam is taking the Japanese internet’s breath away!
Osaka establishes first designated smoking area in Dotonbori canal district to fight “overtourism”
We visit the Hello Kitty theme park to eat an adorable Sanrio meal
We try the new Famichiki Burger from Family Mart
Real-life Spirited Away train line found in Japan?
Nintendo’s controller capsule toys are so cool, even the machine you buy them from is awesome【Pics】
What is a Butter Manju? We try one from this mega popular Tokyo dessert shop
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Sanrio and magical girl anime PreCure join forces for new merch line【Photos】
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