Move over Dennis Rodman–it looks like you’ve got a serious Japanese successor for all of your sports diplomacy. North Korea’s state news agency announced on May 19 that Japan’s Antonio Inoki, a retired Japanese professional wrestler, will be teaming up with officials in the reclusive totalitarian state to host an international professional wrestling tournament in Pyongyang this August. The tournament will also include athletes from two nations that have never participated in a wrestling event in North Korea under Kim Jong-un’s leadership. Find out how all this came to be after the jump.
Tokyo trains now have new first-class Green Cars, but are they a sell-out hit?
McDonald’s Japan renews the Samurai Mac, but not everyone will be happy with the new warrior
Family Mart releases new collection of Uji matcha sweets to make green tea lovers swoon
Uniqlo combines art of Doraemon and Leonardo da Vinci in new Louvre crossover T-shirt line【Pics】
Japanese convenience stores get old-school elegance with their own tokonoma alcoves【Photos】
Real-life Ghost of Tsushima shrine announces ban of all “tourists,” but there’s some fine print
Ghibli, One Punch, Fullmetal Alchemist artists create hand-drawn Major Leage Baseball anime video
Tokyo’s Bread Eating Race to return with a whole new challenge
Mr. Sato is sorry for not taking your compliment well
Nephew receives SD card after his uncle passes away, finds treasure trove of gems from the past
Department store rooftop in Tokyo is a secret oasis above the city
Japanese man who ate at same beef bowl chain for 2,000 days in a row announces he’s gotten married
Van Gogh’s Sunflowers are on permanent display in Tokyo, and here’s where you can find them
Starbucks Japan sells a new water bottle with bonus extras to spark joy
Shinkansen bullet trains adding semi-private booths on most popular travel route【Pics】
Starbucks x Peanuts collaboration brings Joe Kind Snoopy to Japan with exclusive drinks and goods
Hayao Miyazaki and Evangelion creator get together for a photo and a talk about beards
Starbucks Japan’s Snoopy Frappuccino is here!【Taste test】
Studio Ghibli unveils new Mother’s Day gift collection, with flower sets and a special acorn tea
Naruto Shippuden x Maeda Coffee collaboration cafe event is coming to Kyoto this week
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Latest Japan cherry blossom forecast pushes Tokyo date back, sakura now expected first elsewhere
It’s time to say goodbye to one of Tokyo’s most famous landmark meeting spots
Traditional Japanese mochi dessert inspires McDonald’s newest pie flavor
Secret staff cafeteria in Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building serves up an exclusive ramen
Secret onsen hot spring is a hidden gem in Tokyo
Final Fantasy Fat Chocobo and Moogle chairs — perfect for when you need to recover real-world HP
My Neighbour Totoro rice cookers and pots bring Studio Ghibli anime flair to your kitchen
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
Possessing Harry Potter’s Sword of Godric Gryffindor is now illegal in Japan
[Deleted] Article written for April Fool’s Day 2018
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Studio Ghibli releases free-download board game — Here’s how to play it without reading Japanese
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Real-life Ghost of Tsushima shrine announces ban of all “tourists,” but there’s some fine print
Ghibli, One Punch, Fullmetal Alchemist artists create hand-drawn Major Leage Baseball anime video
Tokyo’s Bread Eating Race to return with a whole new challenge
Mr. Sato is sorry for not taking your compliment well
Nephew receives SD card after his uncle passes away, finds treasure trove of gems from the past
Starbucks x Peanuts collaboration brings Joe Kind Snoopy to Japan with exclusive drinks and goods
‘Smell my spit!’ and other Japanese teachers’ corporal punishments
Cockroach-Killer Spider (aka Fighting Nope with More Nope)
Amazing photography from the 1860s shows us some of Japan’s very last samurai
Tourists in Kyoto cause chaos at railway crossing near Fushimi Inari Taisha
Japan’s new trading card game hit has pictures of real-life middle-aged men on every card【Video】
Player recreates Pokémon Red video game within Minecraft
We try a sakura drink from a Japanese coffeehouse chain that isn’t Starbucks