Twenty-year-old Ayaka Sawada has a lot going for her. To begin with, she’s currently a junior in the Faculty of Education at the University of Tokyo (Todai for short), the most prestigious university in Japan. Secondly, she is the newly appointed weather forecaster on NTV’s Sunday morning program Shuichi. Thirdly, she’s drop-dead gorgeous, and was even crowned “Miss Todai 2013”! Is there anything this girl can’t do?
It’s also safe to cross art off that list, because it turns out that Ayaka’s also talented at drawing. Her profile lists drawing as one of her special skills, but we were still impressed by the following adorable sketches made by her!
Hello Kitty Choco Egg figures are an adorable trip through three periods of Japanese pop culture【Pics】
Can a dirty butthole make you filthy rich in Japan? We’re starting a New Year’s lottery experiment
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Cyberpunk anime meets traditional culture in Ghost in the Shell gold leaf Japanese changing screens
7 great places to see Mt. Fuji from without having to climb it
160-year-old Kyoto sweets maker crafts beautiful Pokémon treats【Photos】
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade
Real-world Nausicaa Ghibli anime glider completes its final flight in Japan【Video】
Ramen lovers continue to eat noodles as restaurant goes up in flames around them【Video】
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take “radio calisthenics” to an interesting new level
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 starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Starbucks on a Shinkansen bullet train platform: 6 tips for using the automated store in Japan
Large amount of supposed human organs left in Osaka marketplace
A Japanese dating app matched our bachelorette with a Buddhist monk, and she learned some things
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
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
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
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
160-year-old Kyoto sweets maker crafts beautiful Pokémon treats【Photos】
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade
Real-world Nausicaa Ghibli anime glider completes its final flight in Japan【Video】
Ramen lovers continue to eat noodles as restaurant goes up in flames around them【Video】
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take “radio calisthenics” to an interesting new level
Godzilla-shaped ice cream on sale in Tokyo near the sight his most adorable rampage
Full-color anime art wall appears in Tokyo station as Jujutsu Kaisen returns to Shibuya【Photos】
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Studio Ghibli releases anime art calendars for 2025
Flex and pose your way to fitness with the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure exercise program!【Video】
A Japanese dating app matched our bachelorette with a Buddhist monk, and she learned some things
64 Sanrio characters, decades of kawaii culture history all on one cup from 100-yen store Daiso!【Pics】