Not a Shinkai or Miyazaki anime, nor a CG-created wonderland, this is one of Japan’s best train journeys.
Akita
The sweetest part is that “Silver Tetsuya’s” photographer is none other than his beloved grandson.
This “Festival of Tohoku Bonds” continues to pay homage to six of northern Japan’s most important annual festivals all at one time and one place.
The adorable breed of dogs introduces the Internet to its home in Japan’s northern Akita Prefecture.
Bears have been getting bad press for both their real-life and anime actions this month, which has some bristling at the idea of a Kuma Miko-themed promotion in Akita.
A city in northern Japan unveils its new moe character whose three-pronged mission is “moe x rap x town revitalization.” Yep, rap is included.
Akita, one of Japan’s northernmost prefectures, is beautiful in summer. But as this video is about to show, it’s simply gorgeous in the winter.
Family and nature both feature prominently in this stirring glimpse of a day spent far away from the bright lights of Tokyo.
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?!
We’ve seen impeccable displays of manners from Japanese high school baseball teams on many occasions before, from the respectful bowing of Yamagata Chuo High School to the classy stadium-cleaning deed of Kyukoku just the other day. It seems like the annual Koshien high school baseball tournament in Hyogo Prefecture really does bring out the best in the promising young players, as another team from Akita Prefecture has proven after being eliminated from this year’s tournament with their grand display of thanks in a regional hotel.
We’ve talked before about yuru-kyara, Japan’s adorable illustrated mascots. But cute manga-style horses and anthropomorphic pears aren’t the only local spokescharacters you’ll find in Japan, as some regions of the country are also represented by “Local Heroes,” (Gotouchi Hiro in Japanese), Power Ranger or Kamen Rider-like defenders of their communities.
One of the more popular Local Heroes is Neiger, whose mission is to protect Akita Prefecture’s people, mountains, and seas. Akita is a pretty safe and sleepy part of Japan, though, and not exactly the kind of place that’s under constant threats that require a superhero-level response. So what’s he been doing with all of his downtime?
Growing rice, apparently.
Akita Prefecture is a northern region known for its rice production and other agricultural pursuits. However, our reporter Nakano went out with a different goal. He heard rumors of a village that served a superb donburi (rice bowl) with horse meat.
It doesn’t take much more than that to get one of our reporters on the move, so Nakano booked a ticket and packed his bags to head out to the snow-laden town of Kamikoani. His mission: to try some of their legendary banikudon (horse meat rice bowl).
Here’s one you don’t hear every day – a man was arrested in Daisen City, Akita Prefecture last weekend on charges of entering the hotel room of a female acquaintance through the window before proceeding to strike her about the buttocks with a shoehorn that he found in the room. But just what could prompt such behavior?
Some people see things in black and white while others tend to judge each incident as a unique situation with its own parameters of right and wrong.
Take drunk driving for example. There are many who would say that under any circumstance getting behind the wheel of an automobile with significant levels of alcohol in the system deserves punishment. And then there are some that say there may be exceptions to the rule.
Luckily for some government workers who got picked up by police for drunk driving, more than a few district court judges appear to belong to the latter camp.
The ryokan [traditional Japanese-style inn] in Akita Prefecture called Miyakowasure (都わすれ; “forget the city”), also known as Natsuse Onsen, is unquestionably the best in all of Japan–at least according to our Japanese correspondent Yoshio. Out of all of the ryokan that he has ever visited, he can confidently say that this is his number-one pick.
Yoshio has stayed at literally hundreds of hotels and ryokan across the country for both business and pleasure, but he recently experienced an unparalleled level of hospitality and overall quality during his stay at this particular inn. He even thinks that hotel managers from across Japan and the world should spend a night there to learn a thing or two! That’s how enthusiastically he praises his most recent visit.
Join Yoshio for an in-depth look at this spectacular ryokan in northern Japan after the jump!
Summer in Japan means a few things. For some, the negatives, such as the endless days of heat and humidity, are what always weigh on their minds. But for others, summer means mainly two things: festivals and fireworks! While most cities have a summer festival to call their own, the most common and most popular type is the fireworks festival (hanabi taikai). RocketNews24 wants to introduce you to the fireworks festival that sits at the top of many peoples’ lists as the biggest and best fireworks festival of the summer! The location will definitely surprise you!
Even if you’re not an animal person, there’s a good chance that you’ll still like dogs. Or at least some kinds of dogs! We can understand people not enjoying being around smaller, shriller breeds, but everyone loves Akitas, right? Any animal that can inspire memes and cryptocurrency can’t be all bad, right?
And while there’s nothing quite as heartwarming as a happy Akita, it tuns out that they’re also the dogs you want by your side if you ever happen to run into a bear. At least if this adorable YouTube video is any sign!
Dog is man’s best friend, or so the saying goes. Nowadays, it’s sometimes hard to believe those words when your loyal canine is dragging your dirty pants, underwear included, out into the living room for all your guests to see (true story). But one dog in Japan proved his undying loyalty, waiting for his master’s return in the same location every single day for 10 years after his master’s death. The picture above, the last one ever taken of this loveable animal, is one of the saddest things we’ve ever seen.
MOST POPULAR
Now
Things go from scary to sweet when Japanese traveler meets tattooed man on bus overseas【Manga】
Japanese family hears noises at night from room of dead grandma, finds creatures living in walls
Cuteness goes beyond death in Japan with super-cute memorial urns【Photos】
This London ramen restaurant’s super-strange ramen shocks our Japanese taste-tester
How to stop a chikan pervert from groping on a Japanese train
Uniqlo announces new line of awesome Dragon Ball T-shirts and hoodies【Photos】 
We try a $10 Japanese grape from a bunch that retails for over $400 【Taste Test】
Poop Kanji-Drill toilet paper is the best way to accomplish your Japanese studying doo-ties
Cup Noodle’s Nissin releases ultra-nutritious instant ramen with “all nutrients your body needs”
Factory-outlet bacon and other pork products found in Fukuoka laundromat vending machine
Weekly
- Uniqlo announces new line of awesome Dragon Ball T-shirts and hoodies【Photos】
Japanese manga publishers file lawsuit in New York against four pirate sites
Japanese high school students build crazy wooden roller coaster at school festival【Video】
Man forgets wallet with 2.8 million yen in cash on Japan’s busiest train line
Twitter sympathizes with shivering Shiba Inu during a Tokyo thunderstorm【Video】
Our Japanese language reporter visits a U.K. sushi chain, is blown away by its original “sushi”- How to stop a chikan pervert from groping on a Japanese train
- Japanese family hears noises at night from room of dead grandma, finds creatures living in walls
Mysterious guest house opens in Kyoto, features 11 different bizarre rooms full of oddities- Things go from scary to sweet when Japanese traveler meets tattooed man on bus overseas【Manga】
Monthly
We asked a Niantic insider 30 questions about Pokémon Go, learned a lot of useful information
Why do Japanese recycle bins have two openings but dump everything into the same compartment?
In Kyoto, “Hey, you’ve got a really nice watch” is NOT a compliment, Japanese businessman says- Japanese high school students build crazy wooden roller coaster at school festival【Video】
- Uniqlo announces new line of awesome Dragon Ball T-shirts and hoodies【Photos】
Mr. Sato shows us what happens when you try to cook rice with only eggs 【SoraKitchen】
Here they are: The absolute best Final Fantasy X cosplay photos anyone’s ever taken【Photos】
Tokyo’s amazing 2D Cafe looks like an illustration, but it’s an actual restaurant you can eat in!
Japan now has a giant pizza sandwich called Meat Mountain, packed with 18 different types of meat
Domino’s Pizza now sells Tsundere Pizzas in Japan, wants to both hurt and please you
Yearly
Which Pokémon are you? Official quiz reveals your Poké-personality, and how to take it in English
Uniqlo reveals first-ever T-shirt collaboration with Your Name anime director Makoto Shinkai- We asked a Niantic insider 30 questions about Pokémon Go, learned a lot of useful information
We got a haircut at “Japan’s Leading Barber” and walked away feeling like a million bucks
Japanese woman stumbles on the power of the infamous “gaijin seat” phenomenon during flight- Why do Japanese recycle bins have two openings but dump everything into the same compartment?
Uniqlo announces brand-new line of awesomely beautiful Sailor Moon T-shirts
Tokyo public schools will stop forcing students with non-black hair to dye it, official promises
“They will bounce” promises Final Fantasy director as Tifa joins fighting game cast
Japanese baseball teen refuses walk after getting hit by pitch, follows up with home run【Video】
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Uniqlo announces new line of awesome Dragon Ball T-shirts and hoodies【Photos】 
We try a $10 Japanese grape from a bunch that retails for over $400 【Taste Test】
Poop Kanji-Drill toilet paper is the best way to accomplish your Japanese studying doo-ties
Cup Noodle’s Nissin releases ultra-nutritious instant ramen with “all nutrients your body needs”
Factory-outlet bacon and other pork products found in Fukuoka laundromat vending machine
Mr. Sato returns to the line, waits three nights for an iPhone 11
What does “Konnichiwa” really mean? Understanding Japanese greetings
Japan’s first snowfall of the season comes to Hokkaido before September ends【Video, photos】
New Pokémon Sirfetch’d finally gives original-gen species an evolution after 23-year wait【Video】
X Japan’s Yoshiki apologizes for donating “only” 10 million yen after hometown is hit by typhoon
Top 10 anime women with biggest, most impactful breasts, voted by thousands of Japanese netizens
Mysterious guest house opens in Kyoto, features 11 different bizarre rooms full of oddities
Five magic Japanese phrases to know before starting a job in Japan
Noodle-free ramen? Cup Noodle maker ditches the noodles in new ramen broth soups
-
