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Japanese boat racing turns to fantasy sports to boost fanbase, may have turned too far

Master Blaster
Nov 11, 2015
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Despite being one of the few legal forms of gambling in Japan, boat racing (kyotei) is not enjoyed by most people. Many Japanese people have never been to a race and would struggle to give you directions to one of the large-scale venues across the country where they take place.

So Boat Race Biwako has taken the daring move of implementing a new promotional campaign of hardly even acknowledging the existence of boats and instead starting a fantasy sports system based on a quintet of doe-eyed moe girls…because it just wouldn’t be Japan if they hadn’t.

Sony to stop selling Betamax video cassette tapes in March

Anime News Network
Nov 11, 2015

Sony announced on Tuesday that after four decades, it will stop shipping Betamax (or Beta) and MicroMV video cassette tapes next March. The company explained that it is ending sales in these formats in light of the changing marketplace, due to the end of analog television broadcasts in Japan in 2012, the decreased demand, and other factors.

Japanese comedian shares hilarious “magical poses” that make you look like you’re naked【Video】

Oona McGee
Nov 11, 2015

If you sit down to watch Japanese TV during the evening, you’ll be inundated with talk shows filled with celebrity antics, riotous laughter and an array of stand-up comedians.

While the majority of comedians like to poke fun at each other with puns and verbal gags commonly seen in traditional straight-man/funny-man manzai routines, others like to get a laugh by simply taking their gear off. That’s the route chosen by Tonikaku Akarui Yasumura, whose known around Japan for appearing onstage in nothing but a skimpy thong and a number of hilarious “magical poses” that make him look like he’s completely naked.

Now Yasumura is set to conquer the world, by enthusiastically sharing his ‘naked’ poses in several new videos with explanations in various languages, including English. With tricks you can try at home or in an inebriated state at a party, “Don’t worry, I’m wearing” is the next new thing from Japan everyone will be talking about!

Nissan builds an origami car to celebrate the fifth birthday of its Juke crossover 【Video】

Casey Baseel
Nov 11, 2015

It’s been five years since Nissan launched its compact Juke SUV/crossover, and the company is celebrating with a very special fifth anniversary edition: a full-size origami model.

“I want to be the street” — Man arrested AGAIN for hiding in drain to take upskirt photos

ロケットニュース24
Nov 11, 2015

A 28-year-old man has been arrested in Kobe after allegedly hiding in a drain to take up-skirt photos of women. This is his second arrest for the same crime.

Japanese cat becomes blanket, warms sleeping baby’s tummy and our hearts 【Photos】

Casey Baseel
Nov 10, 2015

Japan may not be cold enough for a three-dog night yet, but the season is just right for a one-cat nap, as these heartwarming photos prove.

Final Fantasy fan art with a Western touch creates illustrations just right for any Disney fan

KK Miller
Nov 10, 2015

Just as languages around the world are each unique yet beautiful, art has also developed its own flavor depending on where you are from. When comparing Western and Asian animation, there is a distinct style difference when it comes to the shape of faces, size of facial features, and the overall aesthetic. Both styles are very appealing, but when push comes to shove, all of us probably have a preference between the two.

Art is also a conversation though, and it can be transposed between two different worlds, such as Western art with an Asian flair or vice versa. One artist’s rendition of Final Fantasy characters drawn with a Western touch is making us super-excited because they look like they are ready for their Disney close-ups.

The “Nintendo PlayStation”: a look at the console that could’ve changed gaming history【Video】

Scott Wilson
Nov 10, 2015

For most modern gamers, the idea of rival video game giants Nintendo and Sony collaborating on a project is pretty much unthinkable. But believe it or not, back in the day when the Super Nintendo was king, Sony and Nintendo were supposed to team up to make a new console. Unfortunately the deal went sour, and it was thought that all prototypes of the mythical Sony-Nintendo console were gone.

Until now. A working copy of what has been dubbed the “Nintendo PlayStation” was recently brought to light and shown off online for the world to see. Join us after the jump to witness what could’ve been…

Farting sheep set plane’s alarm bells ringing during flight to Malaysia

Jamie Koide
Nov 10, 2015

We all have different ways of getting through long flights, like settling down for some inflight entertainment, reading a good book, or possibly trolling fellow passengers. But one thing everyone tries not to think about is what might happen if the plane were to suddenly experience an emergency while thousands of feet up in the air.

For one unlucky group of passengers last month, they experienced just that, and for what might be the strangest reason we’ve heard yet: some very gassy sheep.

Adorable Avengers, assemble! Marvel’s heroes getting the Tsum Tsum treatment in new mobile game

Casey Baseel
Nov 10, 2015

Earth’s mightiest and cuddliest super-deformed heroes are set to assemble in a new smartphone game follow-up to the Disney hit.

New cushions let you achieve the dream of sitting on your anime crush’s face

Casey Baseel
Nov 10, 2015

Do you love you anime crush enough to sit on his face?

The big biang theory! How the “most complicated” Chinese character keeps students from being late

Joan Coello
Nov 10, 2015

Most schools expect their students to attend classes punctually and students are commonly penalized when they fail to do so. At a certain school in China, a teacher used to punish his students by making them write English sentences when they were late for class, until he came across the “most complicated” Chinese character, which now has become an effective measure in keeping his students on the ball where punctuality is concerned.

If you’ve ever faced such a punishment and felt that writing “I will not be late for class again” over and over again was a dreadful experience, try writing this!

Young martial artist slices through the competition, takes the internet by storm

Jamie Koide
Nov 10, 2015

Female fighters in Japan and all across the globe and are inspiring a whole new generation of young women to take up martial arts in what has traditionally been considered a male-dominated domain, like this adorable pint-sized warrior who’s starring in a new music video.

But another young female athlete found herself suddenly in the spotlight for her proficiency in multiple martial arts, catching the attention of viewers all across the world by channeling her inner ninja with an amazing video of her performing her best sword fighting techniques.

We visited Rabbit Island in a bunny suit covered in food, to become a rabbit ourselves【Photos】

Scott Wilson
Nov 10, 2015

People all over the world have heard of Okunoshima, popularly known as “Rabbit Island.” It’s a tiny island off the coast of Hiroshima overflowing with adorable little bunnies who want nothing more than to smother you with love and eat your food.

But on our latest trip to Okunoshima, we wanted to go one step further: we wanted to be covered in as many fluffy bunnies as humanly possible. And what better way to do that than by becoming a bunny ourselves? Read on to see more of our pink, furry excursion.

Japanese shopper finds the freshest sliced eel ever in a supermarket…with its heart still beating

Preston Phro
Nov 10, 2015

When it comes to fish and eel meat, “fresh” is the favorite for pretty much anyone. But how fresh is “too fresh?” Well, how do you feel about buying eel with a beating heart?!

Burger restaurant The Burgers Tokyo collaborates with Korean group Big Bang for limited-time menu

Krista Rogers
Nov 10, 2015

Are you a Big Bang fan living in Tokyo who positively can’t wait to see your five favorite singers take to the stage in less than a week? Then perhaps the following deal will help you let out a little excitement before then!

For 10 days between the period of November 9-18, The Burgers Tokyo, a burger and sandwich restaurant located at Tokyo Dome City, will be offering a special collaboration menu with K-Pop mega-group Big Bang. The limited-time menu ties in with promotions for the group’s ongoing MADE 2015-16 World Tour, which kicks off in Japan this Thursday.

Famous Kuwaiti actor is “too handsome”, arrested for causing public disturbance

Audrey Akcasu
Nov 10, 2015

People may think that being beautiful has no downsides; you’re popular, you get drinks for free, you look good in all your clothes.

But believe it or not, being beautiful isn’t always easy! Just ask Kuwaiti actor Abdul Aziz Al Kassar, who was recently arrested in Saudi Arabia for upsetting public order by being “too handsome”.

Noodles before dumplings? Argument over ramen and gyoza ends in arrest

Meg Murphy
Nov 10, 2015

If you’ve ever worked in a customer-facing role, you know just how demanding some people can be. There are times you get talked down to, bossed around, and treated like you’re sub-human just because you’re the employee and they’re the one spending the cash.

On the flip-side, as a customer, you expect to be treated respectfully and get what you pay for. Most of the time there’s a fairly even balance—interaction between customer and employee goes smoothly, both parties are polite and respectful, and all’s well that ends well. But sometimes that balance can be upset, and things can get way out of hand. Like what happened at this ramen restaurant in Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture, when an argument turned into a three-hour sit-in that ended with local police making an arrest…

Japanese high school student becomes the talk of the Internet with magic “floating desk” trick

Preston Phro
Nov 10, 2015

Wherever there are classrooms, you are sure to find class clowns. From making fart noises to intentionally giving absurd answers, these resident jokers are often the best (and worst) distraction for a hard-working teacher. But we doubt many of them have taken their hijinks to the heights of this Japanese student!

Muji enters the tiny house game, showcases its line of wonderfully minimalist ‘Muji Huts’

Philip Kendall
Nov 10, 2015

Japan does small better than pretty much any other country in the world. From intricate origami to beautiful bonsai to sushi made with barely a dozen grains of rice, the Japanese people are known for their dexterity and attention to detail.

It should come as no surprise, then, to learn that Japanese retailer Muji is now getting into the tiny house movement and recently showcased its range of prefabricated ‘Muji Hut’ minimalist homes and hangouts.