April Fools’ Day
Edible watches, Nintendo characters and a handy Lego app all make an appearance on this year’s roundup of fantastic news we wish was true today.
If you guessed the prank is that the model in this picture is actually a man, he makes no secret about that, and the real trick is something else.
Instead he’s been tweeted all over the world for his (partially) convincing transformation into a pretty girl.
What could be a better way to pass the time than singing your favorite songs with your friends?
Our roundup of the country’s craziest April Fool’s Day products and services we actually wish were real.
April Fools’ Day has really taken off in Japan over the past few years, with major companies getting in on the action too. One of our Japanese writers, the one and only Mr. Sato, sifted through the Internet to find products worthy of his time. That is how he came across the “Princess Urine” drink. You better believe that he bought it, examined it and took some hearty gulps, all for our entertainment, of course.
There’s nothing like kicking back in a theater and watching the latest movie release. With so many new flicks coming out every month, it’s hard to choose the best ones. That’s why the humble movie poster is really handy. Every once in a while a poster will jump out at you and catch your attention. Maybe it features a sexy image, or it shows a cool movie star, either way, the movie it is advertising wins a small spot in your memory.
In the case of this movie, the studios are having a little bit of fun at your expense, however. Behold, Will Smith’s new movie, Focus, starring NOT Will Smith! Who could possibly pull off the swagger of the former Fresh Prince of Bel Air?
You may remember Google’s April Fools’ challenge last year, since it was pretty epic. If you missed it, Google came out with a game where you could search for Pokemon on the Google Maps app on your mobile device. It got rave reviews and it’s such a shame that it was only available for a limited time.
This year, Google is reaching out to a slightly older generation of video game lovers, letting us play Pac-Man on real streets of Google Maps!! Of course, being Google and April Fools’ Day, there is a catch, but more or less, you can transform neighborhoods into Pac-Man game screens.
April Fools’ Day, every prankster’s favorite event of the year, is just around the corner, but what kind of amusing tricks will we see this year? Fast-food chain Burger King seems to be well prepared already, announcing a delicious meaty smelling perfume for their burger-loving customers, to be sold exclusively on April 1.
Google Maps‘ elaborate April Fools joke got even better. On April 1, Google launched its Pokémon Challenge game, where users could search real world locations on Google Maps and catch the original 151 Pokémon to complete a Pokédex.
Players who successfully completed the Pokédex received a message from Google Maps to fill out a form for a “surprise.” It turns out their efforts weren’t for naught, as several players, including Reddit user “tinygrump” received a congratulatory letter from Google Maps software engineer Tatsuo Nomura and 10 business cards with the title “Pokémon Master.”
MOST POPULAR
Now
Image-generating AI’s picture of “Final Fantasy VII Cloud” is so wrong, yet so right
The picture-perfect cosplayers of Comiket 100’s Day 1【Photos】
Japanese elementary school student teaches us all how to pronounce English like a native speaker
Sunsoft, makers of the OG kusoge, are back!
Bulky boxes of wagyu beef can be yours with Japan’s rental frying pan/meat subscription service
Yakuza-themed love hotel rooms! Great for couples, friends, and business meetings, owners say
Biannual running of the otaku fails to take place for second time in a row
Robot security guards patrol Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Daiso’s 100-yen ramen egg makers even better in smaller sizes
How to easily make Salmon & Cheese Grilled Rice Balls, a tasty camp food【SoraKitchen】
Weekly
World’s first Ice Whopper now on the menu at Burger King Japan- Image-generating AI’s picture of “Final Fantasy VII Cloud” is so wrong, yet so right
Top coplayer Enako lingerie cosplays new line of One Piece intimate apparel【Photos】
We try Starbucks’ buzzworthy (and slightly gross) new cream pie to see how good it really is
Go shopping with our Japanese reporter as he experiences Costco in the U.S. for the first time
Travis Japan, the hot Japanese boy band winning hearts through America’s Got Talent【Video】
This super easy cold Korean spicy ramen dish will make summer 100 times more delicious- Daiso’s 100-yen ramen egg makers even better in smaller sizes
Japan’s “station closest to the sea” lives up to its name【Photos】
The most expensive ice cream in Japan? Metallic soft serve frays the nerves of staff who make it
Monthly
- World’s first Ice Whopper now on the menu at Burger King Japan
Saitama man’s 7M-yen Rolex stolen after leaving it alone with “potential buyer” for two minutes
Studio Ghibli releases free bulletin board illustration to “use within the bounds of common sense”
New Princess Mononoke accessory line has Kodama for your ears, wolves for your fingers【Photos】- Image-generating AI’s picture of “Final Fantasy VII Cloud” is so wrong, yet so right
Cases of people getting unwanted crabs skyrocketing in Japan, salmon too- Top coplayer Enako lingerie cosplays new line of One Piece intimate apparel【Photos】
The entire Pokémon Red and Blue Kanto region map, built as a 3-D diorama, looks amazing【Photos】- We try Starbucks’ buzzworthy (and slightly gross) new cream pie to see how good it really is
We visit izakaya in Thailand billed as “Middle Aged Man’s Paradise”, try food that’s illegal in Japan
Yearly
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
Sony’s wearable air conditioners selling like cold cakes in heat-stricken Japan
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
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
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Yakuza-themed love hotel rooms! Great for couples, friends, and business meetings, owners say
Biannual running of the otaku fails to take place for second time in a row
Robot security guards patrol Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Daiso’s 100-yen ramen egg makers even better in smaller sizes
How to easily make Salmon & Cheese Grilled Rice Balls, a tasty camp food【SoraKitchen】
Travis Japan, the hot Japanese boy band winning hearts through America’s Got Talent【Video】
World’s first Ice Whopper now on the menu at Burger King Japan
Top coplayer Enako lingerie cosplays new line of One Piece intimate apparel【Photos】
Manga pro’s sixth-grade son floors the Internet with his amazing manga art
The entire Pokémon Red and Blue Kanto region map, built as a 3-D diorama, looks amazing【Photos】
Swiss otaku who threatened to leave homeland over confiscated manga is reunited with his comics
Teacher says Japanese schools’ mandatory extracurricular activity rules don’t benefit students
Japan has seven lucky taxis in Tokyo, and we just boarded one of them
Tried-and-tested ways to learn Japanese while having fun!
-
