The complete guide to sushi in one handy picture

Japanese food is becoming more and more common outside of Japan. In fact, many people enjoy it because of the use of fresh fish and lots of vegetables. Those who get the craving have also discovered that it’s pretty easy to find a Japanese restaurant in their town, but there are still some people who find the idea of raw fish and sushi intimidating. There is so much information out there for the sushi novice that even figuring out where to begin can be daunting. Just as we brought you the handy “counting in Japanese” infographic, we have found a useful guide that assembles all the sushi basics in a really easy to understand fashion. Sit back and get ready to scroll through Sushi 101.

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Japanese netizens attempt to answer our questions about confusing things that happen in anime

As much as we all love Japanese anime and manga, we also have to admit that they can be a little… confusing. For almost all of us, there’s probably been a few times when watching a show or reading a manga that something happened to make you go, “Wait, what?”

Why is that guy’s nose bleeding? Why are they eating a “Christmas cake?” Our cultural misunderstandings can be pretty funny to the Japanese, so much so that they’ve been compiled into a book: If Japan’s So Safe Then Why Are There So Many Chikan? With all the questions in one place, Japanese netizens have stepped up to finally provide some potential answers.

Ready to finally clear up some of your anime misunderstandings? Read on to find out the answers!

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Gudetama stops by Hong Kong with a pop-up store and irresistibly cute displays【Photos】

Have you ever felt like you were going to melt into a puddle because of the summer heat? Some months it just feels as if the weather is simply draining every ounce of energy and motivation out of you. And with how hot and humid summers are in Japan, there are days feel like doing nothing but lazing around in a puddle, just like Gudetama.

Everyone has lazy days, so it’s no wonder Gudetama, the laziest egg in Japan, is so popular, even outside of Japan. Though Gudetama rarely displays any intention to get anything done, it has managed to move its lazy bum all the way to Hong Kong to delight overseas fans with a pop-up store. More details after the break!

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Japan’s largest all-you-can-eat-and-drink offer spans eight different restaurants in Osaka

Since 1 July, a small corner of the Chayamachi district in the downtown Umeda area of Osaka has been holding a huge deal: All-You-Can-Eat-and-Drink Alley. For a flat rate of 3,500 yen (US$28) you can have three hours to run wild and eat as much as you want from eight different restaurants in the alley, going back and forth among them freely.

Still not enough? Okay picky pants, how does also having all-you-can-drink of any drink from coffee to wine sound? We thought that would convince you! Let’s take a quick look at what’s in store (or stores rather) for you there.

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Five things you need to know about Obon–one of Japan’s biggest holidays 【Videos & more】

If the idea of your loved ones leaving this earth never to return again seems unfair, then you should consider the Japanese view of the afterlife. While nothing can change death itself, it is comforting to know that in Japan there is a special time of the year when the souls of the dead come back to visit the living. This is called Bon (or Obon using the honorific “o”) a holiday period from August 12-16 (exact dates may vary depending upon location), a time when the entire country takes a break to celebrate the “festival of the dead.” It’s a lively few days when the living and the dead can once again unite to eat together, drink together and share good times.

The Bon tradition gives the country some of the unique dances that Japan is so famous for. Tokushima’s Bon dance, called Awa Odori, for example, draws over one million tourists every year. Traditional Bon entertainment is so lively, colorful and intriguing that a Bon dance is a must-see on every traveler’s itinerary.

Today we’ll introduce you to a five things you should know about Obon. Needless to say, it’s a very exciting time to be in Japan as a tourist!

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Got a bunch of old rice lying around? Let us show you how to revive it!

Most of the food you find in supermarkets in Japan comes in small packages, and people tend to buy just enough for a few days. You won’t find many supersized, bulk discount items at the local grocery store, with one big exception: Rice! Many families eat bowls of rice with most of their meals, so it’s easy to go through a few pounds a week.

But what happens when you overestimate and end up with bags of rice that go untouched for years? While it won’t exactly “go bad,” it will end up pretty stale. You could throw it out, but what  a waste that would be. Instead, try our lifehack to get your old rice tasting fresh and yummy!

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Introducing five of Japan’s most popular kid-hosted YouTube channels! 【Videos】

On a recent episode of TBS’s morning informational program Asachan! (あさチャン!), a segment titled “YouTuber Kids” explored some of the most popular Japanese kids in the world of online vlogging. Their videos are popular among both peers and parents looking for some fun activities to do, and the most popular ones have amassed millions of online views.

Today, we’d like to introduce you to five of the most popular and watched Japanese child YouTube stars out there. These mini celebrities have already become so famous in the span of their short little lives that we can’t wait to see where life takes them next!

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Aubergine the kitty is looking for a new home, prices himself at 100 yen (and inspires copycat!)

In rural areas of Japan you can often see little vegetable stands set up by the side of the road, where farmers sell their surplus produce for small amounts of money, usually 100 yen per bag. The stands are unmanned and work on an honour system, so you just put your money in the little box and take your pick of produce.

The stands are a pretty common sight in Japan, but we had to do a double-take when we saw this Twitter picture of a kitty named “Aubergine” (or eggplant to our readers in the US) apparently offering himself up for purchase – and at 100 yen (US$0.80), he’s a steal! However, he’s not the only kitty to have attempted this little trick…

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Rules of tea, business cards, and bowing – 10 Japanese business manners young people are tired of

The corporate culture at RocketNews24 is pretty casual, but before I joined the team I spent several years working in the service and hospitality sectors. As a country that takes both work and etiquette very seriously, it’s probably not a surprise that Japanese business etiquette has a detailed code of proper conduct, all in an effort to foster an atmosphere of mutual respect and smooth cooperation.

Still, even for some people born and raised in Japan, the list of dos and don’ts can feel a little too long, and those who’d rather not have to stand on ceremony compiled a list of their own of the top 10 Japanese business manners young adults could do without.

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Prestigious Japanese university comes up with cheesecake … made with Gorilla bacteria!

Alongside the famed Tokyo University, Kyoto University is definitely one of the top universities in Japan, known in particular for their innovative scientific research. It so happens that the university is currently holding its annual Open Campus event from August 6 to 8, and many prospective students are sure to be visiting for a chance to take a look inside one of the most prestigious institutes of learning in Japan.

Visitors to this year’s event may be surprised to find out, however, that they’ll be able to try a dessert made using a very unique ingredient indeed, and one that was discovered by one of the university’s own research teams — a bacterium found in the gut of gorillas!

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Shima City’s new ama girl mascot faces backlash from real-life deep sea shellfish divers

Last November, a quiet little town in Mie Prefecture asked locals to name their newest anime mascot character, a cute shellfish diver that represented the industry the town of Shima was famous for. The name with the most votes was Aoshima Megu and thus Shima City had its brand new, super popular city mascot.

End of story, right? No quite. Unfortunately for the city, concerned citizens are now publicly airing their issues with the 2D mascot, and the criticism is originating from the women on whom the mascot is based – the female freediving experts themselves.

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Cardcaptor Sakura becomes Day Planner Sakura with this cool anime organizer

We recently talked about an elegant iPhone case inspired by anime/manga franchise Cardcaptor Sakura, and judging from the enthusiastic response, it seems like many of you still have a special place in your hearts for creative team Clamp’s magical girl series. We couldn’t help but notice that a few of you mentioned you don’t have an iPhone to put inside the case, though.

So if you’re iPhone-less but looking for functionality in your anime merchandise, or simply prefer to keep track of your appointments the old-fashioned way, we recommend this Cardcaptor Sakura day planner.

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Foreign otaku stars in How to Survive Comiket instructional video

If you’re the outdoors type or athletically minded, summer might bring to mind trips to the beach or ballpark. But for anime and manga fans, summer means heading to Comic Market, also known as Comiket.

The country’s largest dojinshi (independently produced comics) convention will run from August 14 to 16 at Tokyo’s Big Sight. And while fun and passion are what draw the half-million-plus attendees, with so many people in one place it’s important for everyone to follow some basic rules of conduct, as explained in this English-subtitled video titled How to Survive Comic Market that follows one foreign otaku on his trek to the dojinshi paradise.

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A lot of gamers have a soft spot for Resident Evil 2. Maybe it’s because the second chapter of Capcom’s survival horror franchise introduced us to fan-favorite Leon Kennedy, or because of its unique dual scenario system that added longevity to the game by slightly altering its events depending on whether you choose to begin play as Leon or fellow zombie fighter Claire Redfield.

In recent days, we’ve seen a group of Italian fans start crafting a remake of the classic title, but they’re not the only ones channeling their love of the game into creative endeavors, as one Japanese cosplayer has put the finishing touches on an incredible cosplay outfit of Resident Evil 2’s last boss.

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Japanese Internet users react to Super Saiyan MMA fighter Ronda Rousey

In the world of professional fighting, there are any number of big names and talented fighters who are a joy to watch. But without question one of the biggest names, particularly in mainstream media, is Ronda Rousey. She’s become the leading icon of women’s MMA, and, some might argue, for MMA in general. With her impressive record, she’s captured the imagination and hearts of fans around the world.

And considering her status, it’s hardly surprising that someone has given her the Super Saiyan treatment! But how have Japanese Internet users reacted to seeing the fighter “enhanced” with the imagery of one of the most popular anime ever?

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You might think the job of high school textbook editor might just be one of the most mind-numbingly mundane around, but it turns out such a career can be risky business indeed. There’s constant updating required, plus you have to keep a keen eye out for the occasional bonkers writer that might try to slip in some historical revisionism now and again, plus test questions and whatnot need to be challenging without being overwhelming, etc.

And now, it looks like you can add “making sure no one secretly slipped an image of a Japanese porn star into the review questions section” to the list of high-stakes tasks facing the humble textbook editor.

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North Korea establishes its own time zone in order to stick it to “wicked Japanese imperialists”

Were they granted the ability to manipulate time and space, we’re fairly certain that most world leaders would choose to go back in time in order to benefit their own country somehow, replaying disastrous moments in their history and righting wrongs that would later cost them dearly. (One can only imagine a world in which the likes of Katie Hopkins and Donald Trump were never put in front of a camera…)

But today, totalitarian dictatorship North Korea declared that it would be turning the clock back by just 30 minutes, thus establishing “Pyongyang Time”, in order to mark its independence from the “wicked Japanese imperialists” who meddled with their clocks to begin with.

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Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan helps transform once arid desert into lush paradise 【Pics】

Japan and Afghanistan – two countries that you wouldn’t normally imagine to have an especially good relationship, or indeed any relationship at all. But in truth they get along pretty well. The Japanese embassy in Afghanistan assists in a wide variety of projects, from anti-terrorism security to investing in education to funding hospitals.

And there’s one other thing they do that’s a little unique: helping to transform the Afghanistan landscape from a barren desert into a beautiful oasis.

The results of their efforts are truly amazing. You have to see the pictures to believe the difference that they’ve made in just a few short years.

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Attack on Production: Titan extras dish about miserable working conditions and arrogant staff

It’s looking more and more like the highly anticipated live-action adaptation of Attack on Titan released on August 1 will amount to nothing more than a critical flop, based on the majority of reports from Japanese film critics and fans of the anime series. Some of their reviews were even bad enough to provoke the ire of the film’s director and special modeling director into posting angry rebuttals on their social media accounts.

Now, adding even more fuel to the fire are the voices of dozens of Japanese extras in the film, who seem unanimous in their declaration that the film turned out the way it did because its production staff was incredibly arrogant and treated everyone like dirt.

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Survey reveals Shiba Inu named Maru to be Japan’s second most popular Instagram account【Pics】

Just about everybody has an Instagram account these days. It’s not just for hipsters, foodies and wannabe photographers anymore – everyone from school kids to famous models and actors has their own account.

But whose account is the most popular? A recent survey revealed Kiko Mizuhara, star of the newly released, but so far not especially well-received, Attack on Titan movie, to be the Instagram user with the most followers in all of Japan. As for person – or perhaps ‘star’ – who came in second place…

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