Japan has a custom of shouting “Out with the demons!” in early February, but all we can say is “Awwwwwww!”
babies (Page 5)
Japan may not be cold enough for a three-dog night yet, but the season is just right for a one-cat nap, as these heartwarming photos prove.
When performing surgery on a patient, the ideal thing is to sedate them and complete the operation while they are lying still on the table. Unfortunately, there are situations where putting them under is out of the question. When young infants requires surgery, you often can’t fully anesthetize them because their bodies can’t handle it, which means the patient will often be awake or reacting to stimulus during the process.
When a baby was screaming during an operation in China, a nurse stepped in to calm the child down by breastfeeding the patient during surgery. The surgery was completed successfully and the father gave the nurse the nickname “Angel Nurse“. Join us for more details after the jump.
It always seems a little strange when someone looks at a really cute baby and squeals, “He’s so cute I could just eat him up!” I agree, most babies are pretty adorable, and if you said, “He’s so cute I could take on the social responsibility of providing food, clothing, and shelter for him,” or maybe “He’s so cute I could put up with his moody teen years,” I’d probably be right with you.
But eating him? Why would your mind go there? Unless, of course, the baby is wrapped in a sushi roll-style swaddling cloth.
When a 4-year-old tells you his favorite hobby is riding dinosaurs with laser guns on their backs, you’d probably tend to laugh it off as the whimsical musings of a person whose brain hasn’t fully developed yet. But apparently one Japanese researcher thought taking the nonsensical ramblings of very young children seriously was an important research project lending insight into the pre-conception brains of recently born people.
“Doctor” Akira Ikegawa – who is crazy and is possibly also hoping to defraud at least a few people – says his research in prenatal care has revealed that babies sit up in clouds looking down on the world picking and choosing which mother they prefer to be born to before spiriting themselves into those mothers’ wombs to be carried to term.
This short video from Pampers Japan takes a moment to celebrate not just baby’s, but mother’s first birthday. It sounds a little bit cheesy, and yes, it was ultimately made by a multinational company promoting their brand of nappies (or diapers in non-British parlance), but it is nevertheless insanely moving, and we challenge you not to cry, or at least tear up, while watching it.
For any parent that’s ever thought, “My child is super cute, but I wish he looked a bit more like an Italian-American plumber,” do we have news for you.
In many English-speaking countries, it’s common to name children after a parent or relative. My dad, oldest brother, and nephew all share the same first name, for example, which provides a link through the generations, plus makes it easy for my mom to simultaneously call them for dinner.
This isn’t really done in Japan, though, and not being tethered to the past means that baby name trends can gather or lose momentum quickly. Recently, Japan is seeing more and more kirakira names. Kirakira literally means “sparkly,” and usually either the combination of kanji characters used to write the name, or the pronunciation itself, is flowery and unique.
But as a list of the top 20 for girls shows, kirakira names aren’t always just flashy, sometimes they’re downright sweet.
Raising children is always difficult, regardless of the country you live in. Whether it’s changing diapers or dealing with the “terrible twos,” it can sometimes seem like children exist solely to make their parents’ lives difficult.
But certain cultural and social factors can have a big impact on the whole process, as one Japanese mother explains after moving back to her home country after many years in the US.








Starbucks Japan releases two new “chunky” drinks… and matching gel designs for our nails
Mt. Fuji hot spring inn gets even more beautiful after dark with Firefly Festival
Japan releases new ramen sandwiches… that don’t taste like ramen
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
The 3 best secret places to eat a cheap One Coin lunch in Shinjuku
Dr Pepper knockoff Mr Popper is a cult drink in Japan, but does it taste like the real thing?
McDonald’s Japan hack: Make a Chicken Tatsuta in five minutes anywhere in the world
This train station bento boxed lunch shop has been in business for nearly 100 years
Japanese criminals are now using crabs to hunt for burglary targets
Police cracking down on outdoor seating in Tokyo’s liveliest street market neighborhood[Video]
The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows
Japanese hair salons going bankrupt in record numbers
Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
Does one of Japan’s favorite chocolate brands work with the Pringles chocolate hack?
Japanese Pokémon card shop grabs scissors as part of its plan to keep scalpers away
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
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】
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Dr Pepper knockoff Mr Popper is a cult drink in Japan, but does it taste like the real thing?
McDonald’s Japan hack: Make a Chicken Tatsuta in five minutes anywhere in the world
This train station bento boxed lunch shop has been in business for nearly 100 years
Japanese criminals are now using crabs to hunt for burglary targets
Police cracking down on outdoor seating in Tokyo’s liveliest street market neighborhood[Video]
Retro-style Evangelion T-shirts coming to Uniqlo sister brand GU[Photos]
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Naked woman runs through one of Tokyo’s busiest train stations, police say she’s not a criminal
Does one of Japan’s favorite chocolate brands work with the Pringles chocolate hack?
Woman in Japan breaks into home of complete stranger just to slap him in the face
Squeezy Tanuki Testicle toys once again appear in Japanese gacha machines
A letter from our reporter’s deceased mother arrives at just the right time
Samurai Coffee: Try Edo period coffee once enjoyed by Japanese warriors
The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows