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Belarusian video game and Japanese anime with German title brought together by shared love of tanks

Casey Baseel
Sep 18, 2013
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As an admittedly old-school gamer, I sometimes have a hard time grasping the appeal of modern video games designed with light users in mind. Lining up sparkly jewels in Bejeweled? Growing tomatoes in Farmville? Where’s the excitement in that?

Likewise, the trends of modern anime can be difficult to understand, with a glut of shows lacking any discernible concept beyond “cute girls hang out together, and occasionally participate in school club activities.”

If you ask me, both of these entertainment fields could do with a lot more stuff blowing up. Thankfully, that’s just what we can expect from the new collaboration between online game World of Tanks and anime franchise Girls und Panzer.

The latest souvenir trend amongst foreign tourists in Japan

Michelle Lynn Dinh
Sep 18, 2013

Recently, tourists in Japan have been flocking to Kappabashi-dori, also known as Kitchen Town, before returning to their home countries. They come to the small shopping area located between Ueno and Asakusa, Tokyo in search of a hot souvenir item not entirely unique to Japan.

Anpanman attacks unsuspecting crowd with Gundam lasers during live show

Master Blaster
Sep 18, 2013

The costumed superhero world was shocked recently when once beloved hero with a head of bread, Anpanman, appeared to have suffered a mental breakdown and began firing lasers at the unsuspecting crowd. The carnage was captured on video and is currently being studied by psychiatric experts and federal investigators.

Limited edition Lipton’s iced tea-scented pens to go on sale

Master Blaster
Sep 17, 2013

Japanese stationery company Zebra is celebrating the 10th anniversary of their Sarasa Clip pens, which is why they have teamed up with world-famous tea maker Lipton to launch a unique line of ball-point pens. Coming 19 September are 10 pens each with the aroma of a different flavor of Lipton iced tea sold in the Japanese market.

Ninja language skills: Boost your Japanese with the power of onomatopoeia

Philip Kendall
Sep 17, 2013

It rarely appears in beginner or intermediate textbooks, but spend a day with any native Japanese speaker and you’ll soon realise that onomatopoeia is a vital part of the language. Utterances such as, “The rain fell like ‘pssshaaaa'” and, “My heart was going ‘boom boom boom’ the whole time!” may come across as a little ineloquent when said in English, but in Japanese these kinds of mimetic words are not only considered perfectly acceptable, but pop up absolutely everywhere.

So if you’ve ever wondered what sound a Japanese pig makes, how best to describe a rolling boulder as opposed to a tiny marble, or would be perplexed if a doctor asked whether the pain you’re feeling is more shikushiku than kirikiri, now’s your chance to hone your language skills and add a few new words to your Japanese vocabulary!

Nine professions that drive Japanese women wild

Casey Baseel
Sep 17, 2013

Just as in other countries, having a high-power, high-paying job such as doctor or banker will do a lot to expand a bachelor’s potential dating pool in Japan. Your profession is a reflection of, and at the same time an influence on, your values and identity. As in most countries, it’s inevitable that when first meeting someone, they’ll use your line of work as a shortcut to try to figure out how compatible you’ll be romantically. Success is always attractive, and there’s no quicker way to communicate it than through wealth.

But money isn’t everything, of course! Sometimes more important than number of yen in your bank account is how you earn them, as shown in a recent online survey that found nine occupations Japanese women find attractive in a potential boyfriend.

Blood money: Yesterday’s typhoon leaves one man in an awkward predicament

Philip Kendall
Sep 17, 2013

Tokyo may have escaped with only minor damage compared to poor old Kyoto during yesterday’s powerful typhoon, but it would appear that there is at least one Twitter user who suffered losses of a truly horrific nature.

When dumplings fly: Japan’s most recent typhoon causes random objects to take flight

Michelle Lynn Dinh
Sep 17, 2013

The wind wasn’t quite strong enough to pick up entire houses or bicycling old ladies, but Japan’s 18th typhoon of the season sent plenty of things flying onto balconies and outside windows. Twitter users across Japan were eager to post the evidence, giving us the following photo montage.

“Would you like a fork or chopsticks with your drink?”

Preston Phro
Sep 17, 2013

Convenience stores have gotten a bit of a bad name recently thanks to impetuous freezer divers the world over. But this might be the final…straw.

The above picture (sans pixelization) is blowing up on Twitter, having been retweeted over 4,000 times. But what’s wrong with a little chocolate milk tea??

Gotta ride ’em all! JR West and Pokémon team up for the release of a new ICOCA train pass

Paula Gerhold
Sep 17, 2013

The West Japan Railway Company, also known as JR West, is celebrating 10 years since the launch of its ICOCA smartcard passes. And they’re doing it in style!

Introducing the JR West and Pokémon Center Osaka limited-edition collaboration railway card! Now you can ride all over Western Japan with your Pikachu train pass, which comes complete with a pop-up stand of the cute critter’s head, for just 2,000 yen (US$20)!

Nearly 290,000 people still living in shelters two and a half years after the Tohoku disaster

Preston Phro
Sep 16, 2013

The devastation from the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami will not soon be forgotten. It has left an indelible footprint on the collective consciousness of Japan and, indeed, the rest of the world. While photos of Japan’s speedy response in many of the stricken areas are certainly inspiring, it’s important to remember that the prefectures worst hit by the natural disaster are still in the process of recovery, with a great many citizens continuing to live in refugee shelters.

Fried shark toys: An interesting twist on tempura

Michelle Lynn Dinh
Sep 16, 2013

What will they think of next? From Japanese toy company, Takara Tomy, makers of an indoor kite and robotic tropical fish, comes a fried shark toy that looks good enough to politely refuse to eat.

Kobe University study reveals honesty is the best policy, to the tune of $5,000

Master Blaster
Sep 16, 2013

Quick, think of the one thing your parents always told you when you were growing up. Was it “be nice to people” or “always say thank you”? If the one thing you can remember getting drilled into your brain as a child was “don’t tell a lie” then chances are your making around $5,000 more annually than your peers who don’t remember such lecturing.

At least that’s what Kobe University Professor Kazuo Nishimura suggests after conducting a survey of nearly 16,000 adults in Japan.

Start your day off right with a swarm of gigantic hornets in your window

Master Blaster
Sep 16, 2013

The social problem of hikikomori continues to be widespread throughout Japan. For most it’s a developmental disorder either caused by mental or environmental factors that cause them to not want to leave the house. For just a few, however, I have to think this situation happened. Because I know for sure if I woke up to what this twitter user posted outside my window, I would never set foot outside again.

***WARNING: this picture may be unsettling to some***

Someone uses a note to hold their place in line at the Apple store, the Internet goes ballistic

Michelle Lynn Dinh
Sep 16, 2013

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night will prevent diehard Apple fans from being the first to get their hands on the newest Apple product. One of our reporters has waited in line for eight days to get an Apple lucky bag. An iPhone 5 cosplayer waited in line for the first day release and didn’t even buy an iPhone 5. But the dedication of this next “Apple lover” is questionable. Instead of slumming it with the rest of the iPhone 5S hopefuls in front of the Ginza Apple store, this person decided to leave a note instead, hoping to save their spot in line without having to actually be in line.

When the first person in line at the very same store got there ten days early, sat through an entire night of rain, and made a special rig using a car battery to charge his laptop, this note leaver seems a little weak. Japanese netizens were not afraid to let us know how they feel about this line cheater.

“Architecture for Dogs” gallery in Tokyo will feature bizarre DIY dog houses

Michelle Lynn Dinh
Sep 16, 2013

Architecture for Dogs is a collection of kennels and accessories for canines that are designed by many different architects, most of them Japanese. It is “a new medium, which makes dogs and their people happy” and features unique designs, all of which can be made at home. So if you’re looking for a dog stroller, Chihuahua bubble suit, or a cone that sits on top of your dog instead of going around his neck, you can check out all that and more in Tokyo this fall.

The top 8 fast food chains in Japan

Michelle Lynn Dinh
Sep 15, 2013

Do you have a favorite place to get a quick, cheap meal? Maybe you go through the drive-thru at McDonald’s and enjoy a BigMac or cruise on over to Krispy Kreme for a sweet treat. Even though Japan doesn’t have a strong culture of driving motor vehicles, people in the island nation still enjoy a wide variety of quick bites. But what is Japan’s favorite fast food? News site, NariNari, has the answer.

Lady’s iPhone cries when charging after not being used for a long time

Master Blaster
Sep 15, 2013

These days technology seems to be getting more and more closed off from the consumers that use it. Back in the day you easily could pull out a screwdriver and fix the gear on your Walkman by yourself after it chewed up your new jack swing mix-tape.

Now you wouldn’t know how to pop open an iPhone, even if you wanted to void the warranty. This is why problems like this lady’s have got me baffled. In her video titled The Case of My iPhone Gasping While Charging After a Long Time we can watch an iPhone make sounds not unlike Police Academy’s Michael Winslow when charging from 0%.

Red Bull Holy Ride takes racers through the grounds of Katsuo Temple in Osaka

Michelle Lynn Dinh
Sep 15, 2013

Helmet-clad racers speeding around on mountain bikes is about the last thing you’d expect to find on the grounds of a Buddhist temple, but that’s exactly what you’ll see at Katsuo Temple this November.