Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
Another Tokyo
We’re pretty big fans of Odaiba’s full-scale Gundam statue, which towers over Tokyo Bay at an incredible 18 metres tall. But there’s nothing quite like homespun charm, and we’re equally delighted to discover the existence of a plastic bottle version, built single-handedly by one enthusiastic sake shop owner in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo.
Our friends over at off-the-beaten-track Japan travel site Another Tokyo went to check it out last month, and this is what they found.
Deep beneath the ground, 19 miles north of Tokyo, lies a truly incredible feat of engineering. The G-Cans Project is the largest storm drain on earth, a colossal series of underground silos and tunnels, built to protect Tokyo from flooding during typhoon seasons. Its main hall (actually an enormous water tank) is held up by 59 columns each 25 metres high, and is known as the “Underground Temple”.
The facility is free to visit by guided tour, and the folks at Another Tokyo, a Japanese website introducing off-the-beaten-track places from around the country, recently went to check it out. This is what they found!
After cancelling Halloween, Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood cancels New Year’s Eve too
Tokyo park’s sea of clouds, nighttime illumination, and cosplay days make now perfect time to visit
Japanese job-quitting service contacted by other job-quitting service because employee wants to quit
Beautiful Japanese garden green tea crepes waiting in Tokyo’s historical Asakusa neighborhood
Samurai ritual suicide contest cancelled by organizer in west Japan
Sanrio and magical girl anime PreCure join forces for new merch line【Photos】
American jackass tourist arrested after carving name into gate at Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine【Video】
Simple wrist test shows whether your body type is that of a model, athlete, or sumo wrestler
Starbucks Japan unveils New Year’s collection for 2024, with daruma, dragons and Mt Fuji for luck
Right now is the very best time to go to Japan’s “castle in the sky,” and here’s why【Pics, Vids】
Ghibli Park debuts first winter illumination display with Howl’s Moving Castle themeSanrio and magical girl anime PreCure join forces for new merch line【Photos】
Tokyo restaurant isn’t kidding about the name of its overflowing rare wagyu-ju【Photos】
New Ghibli papercraft kit gives you a little Princess Mononoke forest on your desk【Photos】
Pringles releases a limited-edition sweet flavour in Japan
Starbucks releases new Wicked tumblers in JapanJapanese job-quitting service contacted by other job-quitting service because employee wants to quit
Off-the-beaten-tourist-track observatory tower in Tokyo has great views of the city…for free!After cancelling Halloween, Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood cancels New Year’s Eve too
Japan’s Pokémon donuts are evolving as Diglett grows into Dugtrio churro!
Nintendo’s controller capsule toys are so cool, even the machine you buy them from is awesome【Pics】
Tokyo Disneyland loses top-attendance crown for Japanese theme parks for second year in a row
Adult Jam Bread causes a stir at store in TokyoGhibli Park debuts first winter illumination display with Howl’s Moving Castle theme
What’s the deal with akebi, the perfectly purple, alien-like fruit that’s in season now in Japan?Pringles releases a limited-edition sweet flavour in JapanSanrio and magical girl anime PreCure join forces for new merch line【Photos】
Kyoto becomes City of Yokai, with Night Parade of One Hundred Demons festival this autumn
Totoro, Calcifer, other Ghibli stars returning as humidifiers ahead of Japan’s dry winter days【Pics】Tokyo restaurant isn’t kidding about the name of its overflowing rare wagyu-ju【Photos】
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengers[Deleted] Article written for April Fool’s Day 2018
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Sanrio and magical girl anime PreCure join forces for new merch line【Photos】
American jackass tourist arrested after carving name into gate at Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine【Video】
Simple wrist test shows whether your body type is that of a model, athlete, or sumo wrestler
Starbucks Japan unveils New Year’s collection for 2024, with daruma, dragons and Mt Fuji for luck
Right now is the very best time to go to Japan’s “castle in the sky,” and here’s why【Pics, Vids】
Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood bans public Halloween drinking following mayhem
New Ghibli papercraft kit gives you a little Princess Mononoke forest on your desk【Photos】
Cockroach-Killer Spider (aka Fighting Nope with More Nope)
“What the hell are you doing to my woman?” attacker asks man feeding stray cat in Tokyo park1,200 Japanese workers convert above-ground train to subway line in a matter of hours
Japan’s Pokémon donuts are evolving as Diglett grows into Dugtrio churro!
Is the all-you-can-eat KFC buffet in Tokyo really as good as they say it is?
Senkoji: The Japanese temple that’s more like a theme park to heaven and hell