Spirited Away’s No Face also gets into the Japanese New Year’s spirit with a special kadomatsu.
anime & manga
Totoro, Haku, and other Studio Ghibli anime movie stars make the leap from the screen to the table.
Perhaps the weirdest, and definitely the cutest, wish anyone has ever made on the Dragon Balls.
Sangatsu no Lion (March Comes in like a Lion) has a limited-time cafe serving food right out of the manga!
Preliminary results of the Pokémon General Election have been revealed, and it wasn’t long before fans picked up on this error.
Because fujoshi aren’t the only ones who enjoy watching boys getting it on. Finally, some love for fudanshi!
Next time you feel like taking a coffee break, why not head over to the NagaLatte Cafe in Harajuku, where you can try Snow Brand Milk’s newest beverage and experience what it’s like to work as a manga illustrator, animator, or other creative professional?
We’ve seen loads of Sailor Moon fan artwork over the years, but these pieces by Chinese artist Sunmomo are some of the most ethereal-looking by far.
Moe-style anime NEW GAME! gets new official website with TV broadcast and cast reveal info.
It looks like car manufacturer Subaru has their hands on some neat swag that was used on set for the upcoming Attack on Titan live-action film and, for some reason, they’re willing to just hand it off to one lucky Subaru test-driver.
You don’t need to own a Subaru or even like Subaru to be eligible to win an authentic Survey Corps uniform actually worn by a character in the film, plus an actual, “working” 3-Dimensional Maneuver Gear set – the piston-operated grappling hook setup that Survey Corps heroes sport in their fight against the series’ titular titans.
Japan is pretty famous for its packed trains that invite occasional chikan (groping incidents). Luckily, in light of improving rights for women in Japan, the law of late tends to come down pretty hard on train gropers. Assuming a victim or a witness to such a crime speaks up about it, a perpetrator typically faces immediate arrest at the next train station and can probably expect to do some jail time.
While this system works pretty well for the most part, it’s not unheard of for some unlucky guys to face career and life-destroying consequences after being falsely accused of groping. One Japanese Twitter user, in fact, posted a series of Tweets detailing a close call he had himself, relating that he was almost certainly destined for the slammer if he hadn’t been saved by the alleged victim herself.
Artist and T-shirt designer Saqman, who, despite his pen-name inadvertently reminding this writer of genitals, actually seems like a pretty wholesome guy, recently put together this spiffy and kind of spookily appropriate-looking mashup of Spirited Away and Alice in Wonderland, and it really works on a level we never really thought about!
“On that day, the writers of RocketNews24 received a grim reminder. We lived in the shadows of the Titans and had to become the Titans themselves to live in these cages we called the Internet.”
Free Attack on Titan face packs?! Of course we had to try it! We even made some customizations in an attempt to give Satosshi a run for his money, but alas, it seems that none of us have attained his level of Rocket-ness as of yet. Check out our titanic beauty experience after the break!
Although the protester that managed to infiltrate the European Central Bank’s monthly press conference recently got plenty of media attention with her clever deployment of a so-called “Glitter Bomb” – that is, she scattered the notoriously-difficult-to-remove, fabulous substance everywhere – her protest method of choice came a few months too late.
Everyone knows, of course, that the disruptive substance du jour now is the dial-a-bag of dongs. Glitter is just so yesterday. But, our intrepid protester is still getting her due time in the spotlight in Japan because of her resemblance to a certain anime character.
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7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
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Come on, Costco! Sell your Japan-exclusive kabayaki marinade salmon in the U.S. too!
Pocky x Street Fighter II collaboration comes with a special game for a limited time
KFC’s Colonel Sanders is becoming a samurai in Japan this week
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“Hey, Japanese taxi driver, take us to the best seafood joint in Otaru!”
Weekly
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026- 7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade- Cyberpunk anime meets traditional culture in Ghost in the Shell gold leaf Japanese changing screens
Hello Kitty Choco Egg figures are an adorable trip through three periods of Japanese pop culture【Pics】
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Can a dirty butthole make you filthy rich in Japan? We’re starting a New Year’s lottery experiment
Monthly
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo- 7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
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Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
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Yearly
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
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
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】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
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KFC’s Colonel Sanders is becoming a samurai in Japan this week
Mr. Sato eats banana flower, still isn’t sure what it tastes like, loves it anyway【SoraKitchen】
Green onion baths return to Japanese bathhouse to celebrate Labor Day
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
“Hey, Japanese taxi driver, take us to the best seafood joint in Otaru!”
Japanese police are not messing around, with Patlabor robot mecha out on display 【Video】
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Museum unveils its first reconstructed bust of a prehistoric Yayoi-period woman
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Don’t forget that the best convenience store in northern Japan has branches farther south too
No more miniskirts? Changes happening in Japanese schoolgirl uniform fashion trends
Start planning for next year’s Halloween with this official Majin Buu costume
Illustrations show how Japanese makeup trends changed in the last 25 years, and what’s coming next
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