Young children are full of surprises, but sometimes the biggest surprise comes out of their backpacks. Meet Zen and the newest “student” at a Thai kindergarten, his cat.
Looking for romance in Japan? Learn from our experience! Here a few things we’ve learned from foreigners who’ve dated in Japan.
Show off your prettiest historical self at this Nara photo studio where you can dress like the Edo Period’s high-class courtesans!
Feeding fish is an innocent pastime — unless you’ve got a whole pond and a thousand fish instead of a small tank! Then it looks more like a horror movie!
We sent Mr. Sato to Forever 21 with 10,000 yen (about US$82) and asked them to help him put together an outfit. The results may surprise you!
Now you can protect your smartphone with a new line of gorgeous Sailor Moon earphone jack accessories, featuring miniature magical items and weapons from the anime series.
Danso—women dressing and performing as men—has been an element of Tokyo girls’ underground culture for years, but with a recent boom in otaku visibility has become more and more popular. Especially big among young women who see danso as the ideal too-perfect-to-be-true guy, danso is even becoming popular among men who think they can learn a thing or two from their cool style. There are now many ways to experience danso culture in Tokyo, but you can enjoy it from abroad, too!
WIN Gallup International recently announced the results of their international survey on people’s willingness to fight for their country. Despite recent changes to the constitution, it turns out Japanese Johnnies are least likely to get their guns among all nations surveyed.
Nestlé Japan is famous for producing unusual Kit Kats but this December they’re set to release their most unique version yet: a Kit Kat encased in real gold.
Show your off your love for cats and awesome fashion this winter with an adorable “cat scarf” from Felissimo!
With December less than two weeks away, Japanese companies are beginning to make preparations for their annual bounenkai (end-of-year) and shinnenkai (New Year) parties. Even if they’re the kind of people who sometimes duck out on after-work drinks with the boss, most Japanese employees are painfully aware that skipping the biggest corporate celebrations of the year is tantamount to career suicide.
Because large-scale events usually require more space than your average drinking party, many Japanese companies have recently been moving away from typical sit-down enkai banquets and are holding more Western-style events where staff are encouraged to move around freely and interact over a few drinks.
But according to a recent survey, these Western-style work socials are overwhelmingly unpopular in Japan. Here are the top seven reasons why.
If you take a seat on the Yokohama subway next month don’t be surprised if a warlord from China’s Three Kingdoms period advises you on proper public transport behavior.
Wei leader Cao Cao showing you how to give up your seat, or legendary warrior Lu Bu advising you not to run onto trains are but two of the nine posters recently previewed online. Let’s take a look at them all!
If we had to pick one thing that represented how Japanese food maybe isn’t quite as healthy as generally perceived, it would probably have to be the bento lunchbox. Bento are readily available practically everywhere in Japan—when not being handmade for you by a parent or spouse, usually in the shape of Pokémon characters and the like—and are widely consumed by office workers and other day laborers as a cheap, convenient lunch.
Despite healthy origins back in the old days, bento—perhaps by design—have become increasingly unhealthy, with your standard box available from a retailer or food truck usually weighing in at a thousand calories (or frequently even more) and containing a bunch of fried food in addition to huge portions of rice.
But heck, when a filling, albeit cholesterol and calorie-packed bento sets you back only a measly 200 yen (US$1.50) over at discount supermarket Lamu, well, we’ll happily do the extra time on the treadmill.
Looking for something tooty-fruity for your booty? How about these tasty-looking fruit toilet paper rolls?
Pirate manga pirates promptly pinched by prefectural police.
After these passengers got stranded, they walked the rest of the way in such a precise line they practically became a train themselves.
Yohjo Simulator was released into the world this week, but it seems that the world might not have been ready for it.
So hungry you could devour an entire onsen resort’s worth of food? Time to make some noodles—with a twist!



















Sanrio amusement park in Tokyo to host Psycho Game horror event this summer[Video]
What are the worst things about living in the Japanese countryside?[Survey]
Dorayaki from 89-year-old Japanese confectionery shop is one of the best sweets hidden in Tokyo
What’s up with the “mosquito buzz” noise at Shibuya Station?
Same character, different animator – Fans compile comparison charts for anime’s biggest stars
Buddhist priest arrested for using health insurance card he found on the street
Beautiful hotel on Japan’s northern island has frozen rooms, ice outdoor bath【Photos】
We visit super popular tuna specialty joint Izakaya Hitoshi on Okinawa’s Ishigaki Island
Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo
Japan’s Mos Burger discontinues old teriyaki burger and rolls out new recipe, but is it as good?
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Studio Ghibli launches huge new anime movie T-shirt collection with special design details
Brand-new Square Enix Cafe to open in Tokyo…and in Los Angeles too!
Japanese convenience store gives away free ice cream with creative ad at Shinjuku Station
Japan is so hungry for workers it used up its five-year visa quota in record time
Tsujihan sushi bowl restaurant goes viral with foreign tourists, but is it worth the hype?
7-Eleven Japan releases Uji matcha smoothies… but only at select locations
7-Eleven Japan’s cooked-in-store takoyaki is here! How does it fare against the street food king?
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Buddhist priest arrested for using health insurance card he found on the street
Beautiful hotel on Japan’s northern island has frozen rooms, ice outdoor bath【Photos】
We visit super popular tuna specialty joint Izakaya Hitoshi on Okinawa’s Ishigaki Island
Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo
Japan’s Mos Burger discontinues old teriyaki burger and rolls out new recipe, but is it as good?
How to make an epic pizza at a Japanese family restaurant
Tokyo’s new Square Enix Cafe is open, and we just stuffed our faces at the video game eatery
Brand-new Square Enix Cafe to open in Tokyo…and in Los Angeles too!
Enjoy the sweet taste of autumn with the help of Kirby and pals
Glow-in-the-dark Ghibli Kodama figures will give your home a mystical forest mood【Photos】
Starbucks Japan’s new limited-edition Frappuccino tastes great, is good for the planet
Second-generation sumo burger coming to Burger King Japan with return of Baby Body Burger
23 flavors, five top recommendations for the wide world of Kikkoman soy milk【Taste test】