Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
Ami Takeuchi
Beauty queen and “too cute to be true” Japanese model Ami Takeuchi released her first idol DVD on May 17 at a handshake and photo event for fans. Takeuchi’s DVD is not only the model’s first – it’s also being touted as the first ever idol DVD by a “new half” – the Japanese term for a trans female.
And at the launch event, Takeuchi spoke of the need for change, and her hope that Japanese society can become a place where it is easier for trans people to come out.
Ami Takeuchi is a beauty queen with pageant awards under her belt, legions of fans and a new idol DVD out, and boy, is it sexy. She also happens to be a “new half”, which in Japan refers to a trans female. Her catchphrase, in fact, is “the new half that’s just too cute!”
Warning: Things are about to get a little bit NSFW (unless you work at RocketNews24, in which case, congratulations! Pretty much nothing is NSFW!)
Turning a crazy cheap country Japanese house into a home — Step 1: Tegowashi【SoraHouse】
First copy of centuries-old ninja training manual discovered, doesn’t understand dogs【Video】
Is Daiso’s 500-yen grilling plate good enough for at-home yakiniku dinners? We find out!
Fuji-Q Highland theme park is opening its newest attraction next month: The Fujiyama Slider
Receipt from Japanese kid’s first shopping trip is a heart-melting symbol of his love for his mom
CBD oil drinks now available in Japanese vending machines
Bugs for dessert? Taste-testing Japan’s wasp dumplings and locust rice crackers【Taste test】
McDonald’s Japan gives us a taste of the anime world with new series of Gundam burgers
A trip down one of Japan’s most terrifying park slides【Video】
Best field trip ever? Japanese schoolkids get to control the full-scale moving Gundam’s hand
Is roughly half of Japan preconditioned to hate mint chocolate sweets?
Cold karaage vending machines take fried chicken to new extremes
Make Fried-Chicken-Pepsi-Fried-Chicken with our slow and difficult recipe!【SoraKitchen】
People in some parts of Japan now legally allowed to smile for their driver’s license photos
Japanese company develops trash can that freezes garbage to prevent bad smells
Chicken nugget ice cream? A feast for the eyes as well as the stomach
We test out the new gaming chopsticks that bring gaming PC looks to your dinner table【Photos】
Genki Sushi now has a range of sushi…that isn’t really sushi
Anna Miller’s announces closure, immediately becomes Tokyo’s top must-visit cafe
Add this year’s GBL line of Studio Ghibli shirts for adults to your casually stylish collection
We bought a low-rated levitating speaker on Amazon that made us want to cry
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Roughly 40 percent of single Japanese men in their 20s have never been on a date, survey says
How much money do you need to live in your own apartment in Japan?【Survey】
Train conductor left behind by own train in Japanese countryside, proves he didn’t really need it
How long should you date someone in Japan before going on a trip with them?
This unstaffed Japanese train station is like a Ghibli anime come to life
Four (actually five) important manners tips for attending anime stage shows in Japan
Real-world forest that inspired Hayao Miyazaki to create Totoro will become a nature preserve
The smallest Family Mart in Japan closes down
Mandarin orange peels aren’t trash, they’re treasure! Three chimpi tips to reuse your mikan skins
Move over grilled cheese — we’ve discovered the tastiest toasted sandwich yet【Recipe】
One Punch Man manga artist’s amazing “practice” drawing is so good we think he might not be human
How to use the new floating hologram registers at 7-Eleven
Liev Schreiber’s son deemed “too beautiful” in Japan
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Top 10 anime women with biggest, most impactful breasts, voted by thousands of Japanese netizens
Japanese woman finds better way to make potato salad, we may not be able to go back to old style
Miss Universe 2021 Japan entry slammed for wearing “dead person’s kimono”
One Piece characters’ nationalities revealed, but fans have mixed opinions
CBD oil drinks now available in Japanese vending machines
Bugs for dessert? Taste-testing Japan’s wasp dumplings and locust rice crackers【Taste test】
McDonald’s Japan gives us a taste of the anime world with new series of Gundam burgers
A trip down one of Japan’s most terrifying park slides【Video】
Best field trip ever? Japanese schoolkids get to control the full-scale moving Gundam’s hand
Top 10 anime women with biggest, most impactful breasts, voted by thousands of Japanese netizens
We spend 24 hours trying to keep a Tamagotchi alive, it ends up doing something weirder
Sexy Japanese model famous for curvaceous butt wins praise for photos of her otaku-style bathroom
Is roughly half of Japan preconditioned to hate mint chocolate sweets?
How to make an imitation katsudon pork cutlet bowl using imitation katsu【SoraKitchen】
How to properly pronounce “Ghibli” and other fun trivia about the legendary animation studio