CD
Which do you think costs more, the most expensive taco in the world or the entire video and musical anthology of magical girl anime franchise Pretty Cure?
Witness history in the making as the first ever musical album composed by a news-oriented website (we assume) hits iTunes and Amazon this July!
Being overweight can negatively impact your life in a number of ways, but many of them don’t become apparent until after years of a hyper-calorific lifestyle. As such, vague warnings about lowered energy levels and increased medical costs at some indeterminable point in the future, or even a potentially early death, don’t always have enough of a feeling of immediacy to be compelling arguments to eat healthy and exercise.
On the other hand, a better chance at winning the approval of women is almost always a compelling argument, which is why a new motivational CD is being released in Japan with a number of anime and video game voice actresses alternatively offering encouragement to dieters and spitting contempt at the “pigs.”
Reol (れをる), a female Japanese vocalist who has gained immense popularity over the last few years through her releases on online video sharing sites, is set to make her major debut on July 29 under Victor Entertainment.
The singer’s first solo album will be titled Gokusaishiki (極彩色), which translates to “Richly Colored.” If the album’s title track is any indication, the rest of the album will be a fantastical feast for your ears as well!
There’s no doubt that many people think Japan is a technologically advanced wonderland that has robots awaiting at every turn. Most people have their images crushed when they step outside any of the main cities and realize just how many rice fields and open spaces there still are. So when it was reported this week that Japan still significantly favors CDs to digital downloads, we weren’t that surprised. Find out the reasons why after the jump.
I’ve written about a lot of strange things from Japan during my time, but this one definitely takes the top spot so far. Have you ever wanted to know what sort of sounds men make in their downtime? Or wanted to capture them on tape so that you could replay them again and again? No, me neither. But apparently there’s enough demand for people to make a CD of these sound effects, and said CD reveals some surprising things going down in this ‘men’s time’.
Man, I wish someone told me this in the days of free AOL trial CDs.
It seems that putting an ordinary Compact Disc into your average microwave creates freaky lightning and a dramatic fiery demise.
Although you might expect them simply to burn up like an iPhone does, these data storage discs actually provide a kick-ass light show first.
This little known scientific gem was beautifully photographed and uploaded to Twitter, which then led to the discovery of a YouTube video documenting microwaved CDs. So please don’t kill your microwave or yourself trying this – just check out these videos and pictures instead.
At the recent International Symposium on Optical Memory in Tokyo, Hitachi, working with Kyoto University, presented their new type of digital storage. It works on a principle similar to CDs but with a few added benefits like withstanding over 1000℃ temperatures.








Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Japanese airport rebrands itself as “Sushi Airport” to attract foreign tourists
Japan reacts to Donald Trump’s “Islamic Republic of Japan” remark
Tochigi man shares his family’s process for creating 16 years worth of rice paddy art
Starbucks Japan puts a bow on peach season with new limited-edition Peach Creamy Tea Latte
Potato-Chip-Flavored Dressing coming to stores in Japan
Foreign tourists injured in Nissan GT-R crash near Tokyo’s Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Tokyo revises accommodation tax amidst tourism boom, Airbnb rentals now included
Studio Ghibli theme park’s new dessert is a drinkable version of Hayao Miyazaki’s pilot daydream
Yoshinoya and Dragon Quest slaying scalpers with shift to made-to-order collaboration merch
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Japan triples departure tax, foreign tourists and locals now must pay more to leave country
A visit to Sri Lanka’s knockoff knockoff Uniqlo (no, we didn’t stutter) to see its rare “Pikachus”
New Mt. Fuji overnight bus takes travelers from downtown Tokyo straight to the most popular hiking trail
Starbucks Japan teams up with Converse Tokyo for a new limited-edition collection in honour of Tanabata
Don’t judge this Kiki’s Delivery Service book by its cover, because it’s not actually a book!
7-Eleven Japan releases chocolate cookies that taste like freshly baked melon bread
Japanese overnight sightseeing train returns for summer with ramen stops and ocean views
7-Eleven Japan now has Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, but how do they taste?[Taste test]
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Studio Ghibli store Donguri Republic announces opening of first-ever store in America
New Japanese overnight train coming to connect Tokyo with Tohoku in sleep-travel style
Japan launches first overnight Shinkansen bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka this summer
Japanese sweets shop sells an ohagi so exquisite it sells out by noon
Forget Tokyo go-karts – there’s a new way to sightsee on four wheels in Japan
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
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Potato-Chip-Flavored Dressing coming to stores in Japan
Foreign tourists injured in Nissan GT-R crash near Tokyo’s Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Tokyo revises accommodation tax amidst tourism boom, Airbnb rentals now included
Studio Ghibli theme park’s new dessert is a drinkable version of Hayao Miyazaki’s pilot daydream
Yoshinoya and Dragon Quest slaying scalpers with shift to made-to-order collaboration merch
Climbing season officially opens for Japan’s Mt. Hiyoriyama, the shortest mountain in the country
Uniqlo looks back to the very start of Pokémon with new black-and-white pixel art T-shirts[Pics]
Kurokawa Onsen celebrates 40 years of its beloved bathing pass with redesign, summer festivities
Japan now has a Pokémon airport that features every species of Flying-type ever[Video]
New Mt. Fuji overnight bus takes travelers from downtown Tokyo straight to the most popular hiking trail
Raw chicken dishes to be regulated by Japanese government
Grandpa Sensei solo art exhibition returning to Tokyo and he’ll be there every day of it
“World’s most beautiful Starbucks” gets a makeover in Japan, but is it still beautiful?
Japan to get new high-speed train connecting Haneda and Narita airports, ease overtourism