Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
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Aren’t the words “free entry,” “costs nothing,” and “0 yen” exciting to hear? I think we can all agree that there’s nothing better than a good deal, especially when that deal happens to be completely, 100% free.
While attractions marked as free may set warning bells ringing for some people, Japan has plenty of high-quality, worthwhile places to visit that are such a blast, you actually wouldn’t mind paying money for admission—except that they really do cost absolutely nothing to enter!
Leading up to the much-anticipated release of Street Fighter V early next year, trailers showcasing the roster of characters have gradually been popping up online. The most recent of which revealed that Dhalsim, the stretchy yoga master with a penchant for fire, would be making a comeback, something which left some players feeling rather underwhelmed since he’s not exactly a crowd favorite in Japan or abroad.
But whether or you’re a fan of the character or not, few could deny that Dhalsim’s new look is a little bit confusing.
In September, we introduced you to the new line of Ghost in the Shell ukiyo-e prints being prepared by OtakuWorks Inc. The first print was a relatively simple but beautiful take on the original movie poster, and while this second entry is equally limited and beautiful, its inspiration comes from a slightly different source: it’s based on the 24-hour Cherry Blossom Stakeout scene from the newest film!
Some say that baking is therapeutic, but for first-time bakers, making something as basic as plain bread can be a bit of a challenge, even with a recipe. Let’s also not forget the tabletop full of flour you’ll have to clean up after kneading the dough.
But our Japanese reporter Meg recently experimented with a super-simple recipe to make some quick yet yummy ice cream bread. No kneading required, and no messy flour-covered surfaces (well, unless you get clumsy in the kitchen)! Get the recipe after the break!
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a classic game that is considered by many as the greatest video game of all time. Needless to say, it’s pretty popular and people play it over and over and over. One gamer in particular, Runnerguy2489, has played it so many times that he can, in fact, beat it with his eyes closed.
The last couple of years have been benchmark ones for Halloween in Japan. What was once a holiday marked mostly by the infrequent sighting of a handful of mildly embarrassed-looking, costumed foreigners on the Yamanote Line train has grown into a massive industry.
In fact, Halloween has become just as much a holiday about 20 and 30-somethings dressing up as sexy nurses, sexy zombies, sexy superheroes, and other sexy-choose-a-nouns as its American counterpart. But while those costumes were no doubt getting plenty of attention on Shibuya Crossing last night, the Japanese Internet had already decided the undisputed Queen of Halloween was this far more conservatively dressed “once-in-millenium beauty”.
There are millions of people living in Tokyo, and most of them moved from somewhere else to Tokyo in order to find work in the bustling city. Among these millions is a large number of people who choose to forgo a long commute and live on their own in a tiny apartment, so we’re sure many share very similar experiences at home.
A whimsical CG film entered in the 17th DigiCon6 ASIA Supreme Short Movie Contest has captured a ton of popularity for its animation style, which many say is reminiscent of a Pixar movie. But what really sets it apart is the fact that the short film shares Pixar’s playfulness as well.
Michelangelo’s marble interpretation of David is without a doubt one of the most iconic statues in history. I’m sure every one of you out there is familiar with that stony gaze and perfectly-chiseled, rock-hard body as David stands poised and ready to face the giant Goliath.
But after centuries of standing and waiting to fight, David is now ready to strike a few new poses, with your help, as he makes an appearance as your very own personable, posable action figure!
Although the internet has revolutionized our lives in countless ways, one of the most appreciated is the simple yet outside-the-box recipes that appear on it from time to time. Where else can we discover that a rice cooker can be used to make mind-blowing pancakes or crème caramel on top of instant ramen makes for a delicious flavor boost?
Now, a Twitter user going by the handle of @rea941 has unveiled a new way to enjoy Japan’s favorite instant food, Cup Noodle. With the leftover soup you can make a delicious chawanmushi egg custard. It’s so easy the entire recipe could fit in a single tweet!
With easy, delicious, and cheap being the trifecta of RocketNews24 gourmet bliss, we couldn’t help but make some for ourselves.
Think cat ears are only appropriate for cosplay and on Halloween? Think again!
Thanks to a highly successful crowd funding campaign, these amazingly awesome cat ear headphones are now, after what feels like an age since we first discovered them, hitting the market, and just begging to be worn just about anywhere.
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We never stop talking about the different ways that people pay tribute to Studio Ghibli. Artists and designers create some amazing work that stems from the themes and ideas that the famous Japanese animation studio put on the silver screen.
One photographer from Thailand was struck with Ghibli-fluence after watching The Secret World of Arrietty and wondered, “What would life be like from the perspective of miniature people?” Take a look after the jump to see the secret world of tiny people not named Arrietty.
We’ve been telling our fine readers for literally years now about Yo-kai Watch, the Pokémon-esque game/manga/anime series that’s full of adorable yet mischievous collectible yokai monsters. And now that the series has been newly localised and adapted for the West, you’re finally going to see for yourselves what’s been driving Japanese kids to ritually torch bonfires of old Pokémon goods in favour of worshipping the new yokai overlords. Okay, we’re exaggerating, but only a little bit.
Of course, the success of any Japanese import into the Western market hinges on a heartfelt and thorough localisation process. It happened to Pokémon—Satoshi became Ash Ketchum, and many Pokémon were entirely renamed—and now it’s happening to Yo-kai Watch, too.
But is the very Japanese charm of the new franchise about to be seriously lost in translation?
Sports are supposed to bring people together, giving a group a common goal to work towards and developing community spirit. Nevertheless, it can be difficult to find sports that everyone can enjoy, with many left out due to physical disabilities. However, the World Yuru Sports Association, which goes by Yuru Sports for short, has developed a game intended to level the playing field for everyone so people with and without disabilities get on the ground and play together.
And we mean get on the ground literally: the name of the game is caterpillar rugby and it’s incredibly accurate!
October 24 may be seven days before Halloween to most people, but for those in Japan with a Java sparrow (called buncho in Japanese), it’s the day to celebrate your cute little buddy.
Last year the hashtag #文鳥の日2014 (#buncho no hi 2014) was trending and owners all over the country shared pictures of their pet birds. Luckily, this year we were treated to even more pictures of Java sparrows as proud owners wanted to share their joy with the Twitterverse.
Enjoy the best selection of these adorable little guys, after the jump.
Over the summer, people around the world were really excited over a mosquito coil from Japan that gained notoriety because it was shaped like the Nazca Lines in Peru. Unfortunately, it only looked like a mosquito coil and was actually made from wood, but people still clung to the idea that if it was a real product, it would be really awesome.
Months rolled by, and no more news was released about this uniquely shaped mosquito repellent. Many people thought it would be impossible to make a coil in such a shape without it crumbling to pieces. But where there’s a will, there is always someone industrious enough to try to figure it out. It only took them until the seasons had changed, but we are finally seeing the release of “Nazca’s Summer, Peru’s Summer” right in the heart of fall. You won’t be repelling any mosquitoes with this coil, but everything will be smelling fantastic!
Gearing up for Halloween, we’ve already seen our share of humans dressing up like cats, but how about some costuming felines? Of course, as we’re sure all you cat people out there already know, getting kitty dressed up in a ridiculous outfit is a lot easier said than done.
…Or is it? Turns out the owner of Maru, “the most famous cat on the internet” has devised an easy way to get even the most stubborn of felines to get into the Halloween spirit with these cute animal costumes.
Ever since Twitter user @itsIsaaaaaaac tweeted those famous words, “Netflix and chill“, internet meme-dom, and indirect invitations to have a “good time” with it, were forever changed.
As a result, the internet is now packed full of hilarious and awkward examples of what can happen when one puts out that particular call. But what if, mused one net user, instead of offering to Netflix and chill one was to make a similar offer to “Smash Bros. and chill“? What would that even look like?
Thanks to the work of the Internet masses, we now have the answer. And it’s hilariously inappropriate.
Although most online first-person shooters these days allow players to customize their avatar to an extent, with only limited options it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd on the battlefield. You might spot someone with the occasional paid-DLC hat or weapon, but nothing we’ve seen comes anywhere close to the awesomeness of this Hello Kitty-inspired assault rifle.
But just who exactly is the genius behind this masterpiece? You might be surprised to find out they have closer connections to the gaming industry than you might have first expected.
Takayas Custom Jewelry is no slouch when it comes to pleasing their fans, with intricate details in each and every ring they design. In fact, it wasn’t that long ago that we showed you their out-of-this-galaxy Star Wars rings whose beautiful designs meant that there was no need for any hooded strangers to wave their hands in front of us and tell us that we wanted them.
They’ve now released a set of three rings based on the critically acclaimed video game The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, taking design cues from the three Spiritual Stones that play such an important role in the game’s story.
Do you have ears? Do you wish they were a heck of a lot cuter? If so, we have the perfect product for you: Relax Cling Earrings! Featuring hedgehogs, chicks, and soaring birds, these animal-themed earrings are sure to please any pierced animal lover looking to make their earbuds twice as adorable!
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
Kiki’s Deliver Service heroine gets new design from Spy x Family artist for 40th anniversary
Starbucks Japan’s Lucky Bag #3: A fukubukuro surprise we weren’t expecting
Village Vanguard possibly tops its own record for most useless junk in a lucky bag this year
Nephew receives SD card after his uncle passes away, finds treasure trove of gems from the past
Japanese government will check and judge new baby name pronunciations, presents guidelines
Dozens of new photos of Japan’s miraculously romantic Sailor Moon wedding dress line【Photos】
Sadako vs Kayako glass hangers will make your drinks horrifyingly cute
Totoro, Calcifer, other Ghibli stars returning as humidifiers ahead of Japan’s dry winter days【Pics】
Hayao Miyazaki says Happy New Year to Studio Ghibli fans with new art for Year of the SnakeThe top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
McDonald’s Japan has a fukubukuro lucky bag that everyone wants to get their hands on
What’s in Starbucks Japan’s fukubukuro lucky bag for 2025?
Let’s go open a Lego Japan lucky bag…o
There’s an official PlayStation lucky bag, but what’s inside?【Photos】
Square Enix releases a Final Fantasy fukubukuro lucky bag for New Year’s in Japan
Animate Akihabara releases a lucky bag for the first time in years, and it’s amazing
The perfect budget-friendly hot spring hotel near Narita AirportStarbucks Japan’s Lucky Bag #3: A fukubukuro surprise we weren’t expectingThe top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
Bear breaks into house in Japan, quickly begins spending winter exactly like Japanese people doHayao Miyazaki says Happy New Year to Studio Ghibli fans with new art for Year of the Snake
Starbucks Japan is calling it quits with paper straws
Japanese company develops classy heavy metal band frames for glasses
This downtown Tokyo cafe is like a time machine that takes you back 50 years into the pastMcDonald’s Japan has a fukubukuro lucky bag that everyone wants to get their hands onWhat’s in Starbucks Japan’s fukubukuro lucky bag for 2025?
Station of despair: What to do if you get stuck at the end of Tokyo’s Chuo Rapid Line
Starbucks Japan reveals new winter holiday goods to wrap up 2024
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
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
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
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】
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Studio Ghibli releases free-download board game — Here’s how to play it without reading Japanese
Nephew receives SD card after his uncle passes away, finds treasure trove of gems from the past
Japanese government will check and judge new baby name pronunciations, presents guidelines
Dozens of new photos of Japan’s miraculously romantic Sailor Moon wedding dress line【Photos】
Sadako vs Kayako glass hangers will make your drinks horrifyingly cute
Totoro, Calcifer, other Ghibli stars returning as humidifiers ahead of Japan’s dry winter days【Pics】
Please don’t make the stupid mistake of taking an “abandoned” bike for a ride in Japan
Neo Shinjuku Atsushi: New cyberpunk restaurant bar serves post-apocalyptic food in Tokyo
Kyoto’s “ikezu” culture of backhanded compliments explained in hilarious souvenir sticker series
How to get all-you-can eat doughnuts at Mister Donut for just 12 bucks!
The Vatican now has an official anime-style mascot character【Video】
Man who stole two packs of ground beef tracked by police for about 1,000 kilometers across Japan
Johnson Town: A little piece of America in Japan… where all the residents are Japanese 【Pics】
How to get a free Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut with your coffee in Japan
Two crows decided to wreck a Pokémon GO player in Japan during Pokémon GO Fest