Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
Japan (Page 1129)
One of the simple pleasures of summer is all the amazing sweet fruit in season, like watermelon, cherries, apricots, berries and peaches. Now Freshness Burger have come up with a way to combine one of your favourite summer fruits with the humble hamburger. The latest item on their special menu is a peach burger, which went on sale August 14. If you can’t decide whether you want something sweet or savoury to snack on, this burger should do the trick!
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How do you automatically make anything cooler? By making it transparent, of course! We’ve seen transparent coke and transparent smartphones before, but what about transparent food? Being able to see through something while you eat it has to make it more delicious, right?
Well, that’s what the people who made transparent potato chips thought. Yamayoshi, the same company that brings you delicious wasabeef (wasabi and beef flavor) chips, tried their hand at making chips that give a nice, clear crunch. Check out their video demonstrating the creation of the glass-like chips to see their reaction and then try making some yourself!
Citizens of Japan and fans of baseball were treated to an incredible feat on August 12, 2015 when Hisashi Iwakuma became only the second Japanese born player to throw a no-hitter in a Major League Baseball game. Even if you don’t sport sports, you’ll want to read on to see why this is so amazing after the break!
Wagakki Band is keeping busy this summer! Even though they released a video just two weeks ago, a new one has just appeared today! This time, it’s for “Hangeki no Yaiba,” the theme song for the new Attack on Titan series produced from dTV. That’s right, now you can get your Wagakki Band fix and your Attack on Titan spin-off fix all in one place!
The video features the band performing in a crumbling church and wielding weapons that look like they were taken straight from the set of the show. The song itself features Wagakki Band’s distinctive sound and it sure to get your blood pumping. Check it out below and blast it while you get ready to fight some giants!
Those of you braveand crazy) enough to attend Comiket this year obviously read our tips to surviving Comiket, but it turns out we forgot one little tip that would make things infinitely easier: bring your own bodyguards/servants. That’s exactly what this “oil tycoon” did as he was seen walking the Comiket floor flanked by his army of intimidating bodyguards. People parted ways and made room for the petrol baron as he flashed the wads of cash he had stored in his special briefcase. What sort of oil magnate buys dojinshi at Comiket? Find out after the jump.
Siro-A (白A; siro/shiro means “white” in Japanese) is a “technodelic dance group” from Japan that incorporates seamless video-mapping and miming into their carefully choreographed dance routines.
The group has been picking up legions of fans across the U.S. as they compete on Season 10 of the popular performance show America’s Got Talent. As you may remember, Japanese robotic dancer Kenichi Ebina won the same show two seasons ago. So far, Siro-A seems to be dominating the rest of the competition, winning over the judges and national audiences in the process. Do they have what it takes to become the second Japanese act to win the hearts of America?
A few days ago, we heard that Nissin, maker of Cup Noodle, was now selling ice cream topped with meat, chives, and all the other fixings that are found in instant ramen at the Cup Noodles Museum. One of my coworkers, who lives not far from the Osaka Cup Noodles Museum, bravely volunteered to try it out, and I was all set to let him be our guinea pig, since I’ve already taken one for the RocketNews24 team as far as strange desserts go.
But as it turns out, the Cup Noodle Ice Cream is available exclusively at the second Cup Noodle Museum in Yokohama. Hey, wait a second! That’s where I live!
Uh oh…
So you’ve mastered the use of chopsticks and can proudly turn down the offer of a fork when you go to your favorite Asian restaurant. Many upscale eateries will probably supply you with a hashioki or chopstick rest to set the eating-end of your utensils on when not in use. At more casual restaurants, though, you have no choice but to lay them across your plate or setting them on a napkin so as not to touch the table’s surface.
Or, if you’re feeling crafty and would like to try your hand at some origami, you can use the paper wrapper your chopsticks came in to create a cute and useful peacock chopstick rest!
On August 14, 1945, US President Harry Truman announced the unconditional surrender of Japanese Emperor Hirohito, thereby ending World War II.
The surrender came after months of bombing raids across the Japanese countryside, two atomic bombs, and the Soviet Union’s declaration of war on the island nation.
The iron resolve of the Japanese was a major factor the US anticipated while planning the invasion of mainland Japan. The culture known for literally putting death before dishonor with practices such as hara-kiri would not, by any stretch of the imagination, go softly into surrender.
Comiket 88, the world’s largest dojinshi fair, is now underway at the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition centre. And while thousands of people are already rushing to buy some of the best and rarest anime, manga and video game merch money can buy, others were there for one thing only: cosplay.
Despite the beating sun and intense humidity that comes as standard with Summer Comic Market (you did read our Comiket survival guide, right?), the almost complete lack of shade outdoors did not deter Tokyo’s cosplayers, who stood out for photo after photo, striking their best poses and wowing our reporters with their incredible outfits.
Join us after the jump for a look at some of our favourites!
Okay class, who’s ever tried aburi sushi, or seared sushi before? Sushi prepared in this manner has its own unique savoriness that’s different from that of the raw kind.
Our Japanese reporters recently got it in their heads that they wanted to try preparing some roasted sushi for themselves…and when they do something, they go all out. In other words, forget regular kitchen tools–a flamethrower was obviously called for in this situation! Would they find that bigger flames equal bigger flavor?
“Why did you come to Japan?”
It’s a simple question, and if you spend enough time here, you’re sure to be asked it countless times by Japanese people. In fact, Japan has a whole television show dedicated to asking foreigners this very question, called YOU wa Nani shi ni Nippon e?
For those of us who came for to learn a specific trade or study the language, or who are married to a Japanese spouse and/or have family in Japan, it usually isn’t a hard question to answer honestly. However, for those foreigners that were drawn to Japan’s shores through things like anime or manga, cosplay, robots, or schoolgirls, it can be a question that’s difficult to come up with a socially acceptable answer to.
Still, not all foreigners are ashamed of coming clean about some of the strange hobbies that brought them here, like one Polish Twitter user who is proud to be living out his some of his wildest dreams in good ol’ Nihon. After arriving in Japan, he was presented with the chance to act out one of his many perverted fantasies, leaving otaku on Twitter both amused and green with envy.
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Men’s rhythmic gymnastics may still be considered a minor sport, but the boys at Kagoshima Business High School in Japan are leaving a huge impression with their amazingly synchronized moves, high-flying flips, and hilarious little acts, which is helping to draw more interest to the sport.
Their performance to music from Attack on Titan last year was a huge hit, and this year’s, set to a number from popular children’s anime Yokai Watch was no less loved. Watch the full performances below, laugh, and be amazed!
Japan’s ganguro fashion started among Japanese girls in the mid-90s. Ganguro fashionistas are difficult to miss with their deep-tanned (or darkly made-up) faces contrasted by seemingly sporadically-placed white makeup, wildly-voluminous hair, and brightly colored clothing and accessories.
While ganguro are a dwindling breed, specimens can still be found, like this Twitter user who has decided to take her manicures to the next level as well, leaving us wondering how she goes about her daily activities with those impressive talons.
This month marks the 70th anniversary of end of World War II. There’s a lot to remember from that time period, much of it horrific, some of it humorous, and some of it downright amazing. But perhaps the most powerful images from that time are just of ordinary people getting on with their regular lives.
And now, thanks to a Belgian DJ, we can catch of glimpse into the life of ordinary Japanese people in the years right after WWII. The background video to one of his songs is an absolutely beautifully recorded film of daily life in Tokyo. And this video is not your typical 1940s quality; it looks like it could have been recorded today!
So prepare to take a walk down the street of 1940s Tokyo and see how different, and similar, it is to now.
In Japan, playing video games isn’t really considered to be a “geeky”, boys’ hobby as much as it can be in the west. The rise of smartphone games in particular have made playing video games in public totally normal, and you’re just as likely to see a young, besuited salarywoman (virtual) button-mashing away on the train as you are a teenage boy.
This commercial for smartphone MMORPG Avabel Online shows what we mean! In it, a group of female friends (who are actually budding actresses who won a competition to be the promotional “faces” of the game), are shown playing together in various locations – a cafe, someone’s bedroom, and more. It doesn’t hurt that it’s also a pretty cool ad to watch.
Our love for adorable animals is well-documented at this point – we’ve sighed and squealed over everything from adorable cats to surprisingly cute sea slugs to deer waiting out the rain with humans. Today, we bring you more adorable animals, but this time it looks like they’re being real jerks!
Japanese Twitter users went crazy today after four deer were found ambling along some railroad tracks…and holding up the train behind them!
It’s hard to believe that our beloved, voracious powderpuff Kirby is over 20 years old now! “Born” in 1992 on the Nintendo Game Boy, the adorable little guy is actually a fully grown adult now, possibly with a driver’s license and, like, maybe even a family we don’t know about. We picture him holding down a boring office job somewhere in Tokyo, willing himself not to snap at his irritating boss and hoover him up (thus gaining his incredible powers of bureaucracy and micromanagement).
But, even though everybody’s favorite non-Jigglypuff pink ball creature is all grown up now, that doesn’t stop him from enjoying a good picnic!
A Poopoopoo picnic, to be exact.
Just how big is Comiket, the dojinshi (independently produced comics) event held twice a year in Tokyo? Over the three days of the event, some 35,000 creative groups and roughly 600,000 fans are expected to attend. In terms of size, Comiket isn’t so much an anime convention as it is a temporary city that roles through the Big Sight conference center.
Comiket is such a large-scale gathering that it changes the whole atmosphere of the neighborhood on the weekend it’s held, and with this summer’s iteration right around the corner, the local train station and convenience store are looking a lot more otaku-centric, as these photos show.
Here they come again. Worming their way into the black matter of my brain. I told myself…they cannot touch me. They’re long dead…
That’s right folks! It’s Obon time again. This is when the spirits of our deceased ancestors are said to visit the realm of the living. And so Japanese people have several traditions to make that visit a comfortable one for their loved ones.
One such custom is the shoryo uma which traditionally are little horses made from cucumber or eggplant and designed to symbolically transport the dead across these planes of existence.
In recent years these horses have evolved into a variety of things from tanks to Gundam vehicles., but now it seems shoryo uma makers have been inspired by the hit movie Mad Max: Fury Road and created vehicles in its image to transport loved ones across that great apocalyptic divide.
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
All-you-can-drink Starbucks and amazing views part of Tokyo’s new 170 meter-high sky lounge
Beautiful Sailor Moon manhole cover coasters being given out for free by Tokyo tourist center
More foreign tourists than ever before in history visited Japan last month
The oldest tunnel in Japan is believed to be haunted, and strange things happen when we go there
Mister Donut ready to make hojicha dreams come true in latest collab with Kyoto tea merchant
Who makes Japan’s best Spam-style onigiri convenience store rice ball? Let’s find out【Taste test】
Randomly running into a great sushi lunch like this is one of the best things about eating in Tokyo
10 awesome ice creams available from convenience stores in Japan
No coins? Not a problem for Japan’s new cashless gachapon capsule toy vending machinesMcDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Disney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in TokyoMore foreign tourists than ever before in history visited Japan last month
Starbucks reopens at Shibuya Scramble Crossing with new look and design concept
Beautiful new Final Fantasy T-shirt collection on the way from Uniqlo【Photos】
Is the new Shinkansen Train Desk ticket worth it?
Foreign English teachers in Japan pick their favorite Japanese-language phrases【Survey】All-you-can-drink Starbucks and amazing views part of Tokyo’s new 170 meter-high sky lounge
Japanese convenience store packs a whole bento into an onigiri rice ball
We try out “Chan Ramen”, an underground type of ramen popular in the ramen communityMcDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Studio Ghibli releases Kiki’s Delivery Service chocolate cake pouches in Japan
Japan’s bone-breaking and record-breaking roller coaster is permanently shutting down
New definition of “Japanese whiskey” goes into effect to prevent fakes from fooling overseas buyers
Our Japanese reporter visits Costco in the U.S., finds super American and very Japanese things
Studio Ghibli unveils Mother’s Day gift set that captures the love in My Neighbour Totoro
Foreign passenger shoves conductor on one of the last full runs for Japan’s Thunderbird train
Domino’s Japan now sells…pizza ears?
New Japanese KitKat flavour stars Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty
Kyoto creates new for-tourist buses to address overtourism with higher prices, faster rides
Sales of Japan’s most convenient train ticket/shopping payment cards suspended indefinitelyMcDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Sold-out Studio Ghibli desktop humidifiers are back so Totoro can help you through the dry season
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Tokyo’s most famous Starbucks is closed
One Piece characters’ nationalities revealed, but fans have mixed opinions
We asked a Uniqlo employee what four things we should buy and their suggestions didn’t disappoint
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Mister Donut ready to make hojicha dreams come true in latest collab with Kyoto tea merchant
Who makes Japan’s best Spam-style onigiri convenience store rice ball? Let’s find out【Taste test】
Randomly running into a great sushi lunch like this is one of the best things about eating in Tokyo
10 awesome ice creams available from convenience stores in Japan
No coins? Not a problem for Japan’s new cashless gachapon capsule toy vending machines
Osaka’s creepy cute mascot speaks for first time, adds more fuel the creepy OR cute debate【Video】
We investigate the newly released film revival of Hayao Miyazaki’s Sherlock Hound
Does Japan’s “body fat-burning” bottled tea really work? Our 30-day investigation 【RocketScience】
Pokémon Colors interactive digital art exhibit returns this summer, makes first stop in Yokohama
These are the 11 most crowded trains in Japan…and surprise! They’re all in the Tokyo area
Men Who Disappoint at Goukon (Group Blind Date), Nine Types That Shouldn’t Even Bother Showing up!
Nozomi Shinkansen bullet train abolishes low-priced unreserved tickets during peak travel seasons
Korean Pokémon baked goods are so popular you can’t find them anywhere, but why?
