Aikatsu
Sometimes, the line between hospitality and hostility is a blurry one.
After years of living in Japan, I’ve noticed that the island nation has quite a few merry misconceptions about what it means to have a Western Christmas celebration. Replacing Santa’s cookies with a strawberry-topped Christmas cake is just one of their many mix-ups, though at least they have the gift-giving part right.
Now, you might be wondering why it is that we’re posting about Christmas when it’s barely even October! As it turns out, Japanese parents hoping to surprise their kids with a sweet treat from Bandai have to start planning for the holidays NOW. The Premium Bandai online store has just opened up reservations for their 2013 line of character-themed Christmas cakes called Chara Deco Christmas. These cakes come with toys and other neat treats suited to young fans of everything from Kamen Rider to Pokemon.
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Japanese city loses residents’ personal data, which was on paper being transported on a windy day
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Should you add tartar sauce to Japanese curry rice? CoCo Ichi makes diners an unusual offer
Seaside scenery, history, and so many desserts on Yokohama’s Akai Kutsu【Japan Loop Buses】
Japan’s cooling body wipe sheets want to help you beat the heat, but which work and which don’t?
Smash Bros. director Sakurai stabs Kirby in the face, has delicious justification for it
Tokyo capsule hotel’s low month-long rates are an awesome way to sample life in Japan’s capital
With an Evangelion watch on your wrist, “all is right with the world.”
Akiba Dental Clinic: The Akihabara dentist where a moe maid in cosplay cleans your teeth
A Gintama fan’s emotional 19-year journey to buy a proper Lake Toya bokuto wooden katana【Pics】
Weekly
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods- Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Japanese ramen restaurants under pressure from new yen banknotes
French Fries Bread in Tokyo’s Shibuya becomes a hit on social media
Studio Ghibli releases new action figures featuring Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind characters
New private rooms on Tokaido Shinkansen change the way we travel from Tokyo to Kyoto
Red light district sushi restaurant in Tokyo shows us just how wrong we were about it
Tokyo Tsukiji fish market site to be redeveloped with 50,000-seat stadium, hotel, shopping center
All-you-can-drink Starbucks and amazing views part of Tokyo’s new 170 meter-high sky lounge
Beautiful Ghibli sealing wax kits let you create accessories and elegant letter decorations【Pics】
Monthly
- McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
- Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Studio Ghibli releases Kiki’s Delivery Service chocolate cake pouches in Japan
New definition of “Japanese whiskey” goes into effect to prevent fakes from fooling overseas buyers
Our Japanese reporter visits Costco in the U.S., finds super American and very Japanese things
Studio Ghibli unveils Mother’s Day gift set that captures the love in My Neighbour Totoro- Japanese ramen restaurants under pressure from new yen banknotes
- All-you-can-drink Starbucks and amazing views part of Tokyo’s new 170 meter-high sky lounge
More foreign tourists than ever before in history visited Japan last month
New Pokémon cakes let you eat your way through Pikachu and all the Eevee evolutions
Yearly
- McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Sales of Japan’s most convenient train ticket/shopping payment cards suspended indefinitely
Sold-out Studio Ghibli desktop humidifiers are back so Totoro can help you through the dry season
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Tokyo’s most famous Starbucks is closed
One Piece characters’ nationalities revealed, but fans have mixed opinions
We asked a Uniqlo employee what four things we should buy and their suggestions didn’t disappoint
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
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Smash Bros. director Sakurai stabs Kirby in the face, has delicious justification for it
Tokyo capsule hotel’s low month-long rates are an awesome way to sample life in Japan’s capital
With an Evangelion watch on your wrist, “all is right with the world.”
Akiba Dental Clinic: The Akihabara dentist where a moe maid in cosplay cleans your teeth
A Gintama fan’s emotional 19-year journey to buy a proper Lake Toya bokuto wooden katana【Pics】
Gacha machine backpack is Japan’s hottest new fashion statement
Akihabara pop-up shop sells goods made by Japanese prison inmates
Japan’s massive matcha parfait weighs 6 kilos, contains hidden surprises for anyone who eats it
Super Mario World 1-1 perfectly recreated, animation and all, in Japanese fan’s notebook【Vid】
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
“Hey, Japanese taxi driver, take us to the best seafood joint in Otaru!”
Beautiful short anime about elderly couple’s love, meals looks like Ghibli film, is really miso ad
The good, the bad, and the ugly of a vending machine sushi meal in Tokyo【Taste test】
Brazilian man acquitted of sexual assault after kissing Japanese woman on Nagoya train
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