Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
We’ve covered the Japanese obsession with corn soup here on RocketNews24 before. It’s a popular flavor for all kinds of snacks and even comes in little cans out of vending machines. But this latest corn soup product might be taking the obsession a bit too far…
LC Love Cosmetics has announced it will be selling a product billed as a “kiss beautifying liquid” that is supposed to give you extra kissablity by adding the taste of corn soup to your lips. Read More
Kao Japan is preparing to release the newest addition to their line of Healthya brand health drinks. In addition to their existing collection of waters and teas, things are getting a little more flavorful with fat-burning “Healthya Coffee.”
GIFU PREFECTURE — With the shuttering of a factory belonging to a Sony subsidiary in Minokamo City at the end of this month, it became clear on the 27th that more than 1,000 people stood to be out of work on April 1 due to the closure.
Google Japan has announced that it is now possible for Google Maps users to access street view images of Namie, a coastal town in Fukushima that was severely affected by the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami before being completely evacuated when the nearby Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant went critical.
Many Asian women believe that having double eyelids is a sign of beauty and many who possess single-eyelids are forever in a quest to achieve a crease above their eye. In fact, double-eyelid surgery is the most common cosmetic enhancement in South Korea and Taiwan, and is very popular throughout Asia. For those who are hesitant to go under the knife in the name of beauty, there are plenty of non-surgical options to create the illusion of a double-eyelid such as special glues, tapes, and plastic devices.
The newest product to hit the double-eyelid market has been flying off the shelves with a reported 7,000 units sold in the first month of sales. Called “Eyelid Trainer”, this special device is worn just like a pair of glasses and claims to “create a double-eyelid with daily use.” It also makes you look ridiculous.
Japan often gets a reputation as a suicide-heavy nation but the social problem of self-destruction is something all parts of the world have to tackle.
The following is a list of five places in the world where suicides have most often occurred. It’s a bittersweet honor in that they are all either places of extreme natural beauty of impressive feats of engineering.
On the other hand, they are also places and countries that clearly do too little to prevent either the mental illness that leads to suicide of the act itself.
The Japanese Football Association has stated that it will be making an official complaint to international governing body FIFA after both forward Yasuhito Endo and goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima had lasers shone in their faces during yesterday’s qualifying match for the 2014 World Cup.
Tokyo District Public Prosecutor’s Office officially announced that it intends to prosecute cyclists who repeatedly violate road traffic laws in Japan. Ignoring a red light or not stopping when necessary may also become subject to penalty, with a three-month jail sentence or a fine of up to 50,000 yen. In addition, riding parallel with other cyclists or failure to make use of one’s light under conditions of poor visibility could carry fines of up to 20,000 yen and 50,000 yen, respectively.
Love lollipops? Love ice-cream? You can now make your own Chupa Chups flavored ice candy! Japanese toy maker Takara Tomy A.R.T.S will be releasing an ice candy making kit this coming 18 April.With the candy kit, making the lollipop flavored ice candy is simple and fun.
Japan worships the bathroom. Heated seats, music players, and carefully calculated washing mechanisms to clean your behind are just a few of the bathroom luxuries that can be found here. Now there’s a new product on the market in Japan ensuring that the toilet paper will smell wonderful even if what it’s cleaning doesn’t.
Tourist shops everywhere in Japan are filled with colorful boxes of local sweets that are perfectly portioned for sharing. These are omiyage. At work, it’s almost expected that you bring back a box of omiyage filled with a specialty product from the area your business trip took place in, and friends and family often purchase omiyage for those who weren’t able to make the trip. Many argue that giving omiyage is a distinctly Japanese custom; Yuichiro Suzuki, author of Omiyage and the Railway, explains in an interview with Yahoo! Japan.
Bon, a fashion house from Hiroshima, Japan, has been creating some buzz on the Internet. What for, you ask? Well, it turns out their clothing, actually intended for fashion-forward Zen priests, is being bought be regular Joes–er, Juns?–as well. Which leads us to ask: what the hell do fashion-forward priests even wear?!
You would think any transportation business would realize that in the event of a massive delay, a steady flow of information to the passengers is crucial.
Still, places like Kunming Changshui International Airport in China and more recently Keihan Electric Railway in Japan continue to leave their customers stranded without a clue about what’s happening with disastrous results.
On 24 March, Keihan Electric Railway experienced a massive loss of power along the entire Main Line running between Osaka and Kyoto. The hour-and-a-half delay ruined many people’s days and resulted in a tongue lashing for one blind lady.
It’s official: Studio Ghibli’s Kazu Tachinu, or “The Wind is Rising”, will be released in Japanese cinemas from July 20 this year.
As has been previously reported here, kimchi, the super-spicy fermented cabbage dish from Korea, appears to be one of the world’s healthiest dishes. Now, media sources in China are reporting that this fiery condiment is also beneficial for those seeking to lose a few pounds.
Every year, pollen counts in Japan are getting worse. In fact, pollen levels in Tokyo were literally off the charts just a few weeks ago. As a result, for four months out of the year, an estimated 15 to 30 percent of the Japanese population suffers from hay fever.
The tragedy of this situation is that Japan’s pollen problems are caused by its own government which encouraged people to plant cedar trees to meet the growing demand for timber in the 1940s and to replace forests that were destroyed during WWII. Hay fever was actually relatively rare in Japan until the 1960s when the millions of cedar trees began to mature and produce pollen.
As cedar pollen levels continue to climb, Japanese scientists may have found a solution to the problem: pollenless cedar trees.
Whether you realize it or not, you’ve probably had a happoshu (発泡酒）or “low-malt beer-like beverage” if you’ve ever had a night out in Japan.
The taste of a typical happoshu can vary from “pretty close to the real thing” to “yes, this is definitely weasel urine.” Going into a convenience store and blindly grabbing a beer can is thus a bit of a gamble in Japan, so, ever the masculine, barrel-chested and dashingly handsome role model father to our readers, we’ve done the work for you and chosen the five happoshu brands that are worth your time:
Osaka’s famous Glico Running Man will be removed and replaced with a new-look sign
Studio Ghibli creates illustrated Kyoto sightseeing map, available at any 7-Eleven Japan store
The cheapest bento at this Osaka shop is only 200 yen, but is it actually any good?
Man in Suzuka offered 9 million yen for his semen, conned out of 38 million yen
Burger King Japan now selling hamburgers minus everything but the meat
Studio Ghibli adds new Totoro and Jiji blanket socks to its merchandise store in Japan
Japanese taxi drivers granted right to kick rude passengers out of their cabs before destination
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
New Studio Ghibli stamps – Too cute to wait until New Year’s to use, so they’re available right now
Shiga woman defrauded 4.4M yen by man asking for money to fly down from the ISS and marry her
What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?
American man runs out of money in Japan, gets arrested for overstaying tourist visaStudio Ghibli creates illustrated Kyoto sightseeing map, available at any 7-Eleven Japan store
Foreign travelers sitting on sidewalks of Tokyo’s Ginza are Japan’s latest tourism culture clashFamily Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in JapanOsaka’s famous Glico Running Man will be removed and replaced with a new-look sign
Studio Ghibli adds Totoro family goods to its anime merchandise store in JapanStudio Ghibli adds new Totoro and Jiji blanket socks to its merchandise store in Japan
New Gundam plush goods mix cosplay and comfort for Char-custom-level coziness [Pics]
We waited three hours to get into the new carb heaven all-you-can-eat bread restaurant in Osaka
Japan announces new permanent residency guidelines, foreigners must earn more than average Japanese person
Starbucks Japan unveils new Pokémon collaboration with Pikachu Latte and exclusive goods
Studio Ghibli’s Calcifer is ready to light up your home as a magical-looking candle lamp [Photos]Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Lady Gaga and Family Mart team up for a Japanese convenience store work video [Video]What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?
New Gundam Base superstores coming soon in the U.S., with one opening this month
Studio Ghibli releases new plush mascot character collection with a focus on friendship
Tokyo train station will play Godzilla theme song as new departure melody
Do Japan’s new single-minded convenience store bento show depressing poverty or satisfying focus?
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Studio Ghibli adds new Totoro and Jiji blanket socks to its merchandise store in Japan
Japanese taxi drivers granted right to kick rude passengers out of their cabs before destination
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
New Studio Ghibli stamps – Too cute to wait until New Year’s to use, so they’re available right now
Shiga woman defrauded 4.4M yen by man asking for money to fly down from the ISS and marry her
Japan’s bean sprout shortage hitting Jiro-style ramen businesses hard
This Japanese sandwich mascot is filled with fiery rage, and he’s got a point [Video]
Foreign travelers sitting on sidewalks of Tokyo’s Ginza are Japan’s latest tourism culture clash
Ghibli/Kyoto crossover artwork decorates goshuin papers for Zen and Ghibli art exhibition [Pics]
We hunt for treasure at an all-you-can-stuff Kanagawa secondhand shop for just 1,000 yen
Japan’s Suica Penguin character is “graduating”, and you can choose its successor
We waited three hours to get into the new carb heaven all-you-can-eat bread restaurant in Osaka
Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest Christmas celebration coming to Yokohama next month
KFC Japan releases its first thigh-meat fried chicken burger in 43 years, but was it worth the wait?
