Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
closed signs
Running your own store and being your own boss can be tough. You have to work long hours, pick up the slack of any slacking employees, and if the customer isn’t happy it’s on your head. But not having to answer to anyone but yourself also has its perks, because you can close up shop at any time and for any reason you want! And the following store owners did just that, as evidenced by these hilarious “closed” signs.
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
All-you-can-drink Starbucks and amazing views part of Tokyo’s new 170 meter-high sky lounge
More foreign tourists than ever before in history visited Japan last month
Starbucks reopens at Shibuya Scramble Crossing with new look and design concept
The oldest tunnel in Japan is believed to be haunted, and strange things happen when we go there
Is the new Shinkansen Train Desk ticket worth it?
Coordinating a whole outfit with nothing but clothes from Japanese convenience store Family Mart
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to your favorite restaurant in Tsuruga City!
Tiny town in northern Japan creates gorgeous, gigantic artwork out of rice paddies 【Video】
Tokyo has a cafe lounge that’s for negative people onlyMcDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Disney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in Tokyo
We try out “Chan Ramen”, an underground type of ramen popular in the ramen communityStarbucks reopens at Shibuya Scramble Crossing with new look and design concept
Beautiful new Final Fantasy T-shirt collection on the way from Uniqlo【Photos】
Foreign English teachers in Japan pick their favorite Japanese-language phrases【Survey】Is the new Shinkansen Train Desk ticket worth it?More foreign tourists than ever before in history visited Japan last month
There’s a park inside Japan where you can also see Japan inside the park
Japanese convenience store packs a whole bento into an onigiri rice ballMcDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Studio Ghibli releases Kiki’s Delivery Service chocolate cake pouches in Japan
Japan’s bone-breaking and record-breaking roller coaster is permanently shutting down
New definition of “Japanese whiskey” goes into effect to prevent fakes from fooling overseas buyers
Foreign passenger shoves conductor on one of the last full runs for Japan’s Thunderbird train
Our Japanese reporter visits Costco in the U.S., finds super American and very Japanese things
Kyoto bans tourists from geisha alleys in Gion, with fines for those who don’t follow rules
Studio Ghibli unveils Mother’s Day gift set that captures the love in My Neighbour Totoro
Domino’s Japan now sells…pizza ears?
New Japanese KitKat flavour stars Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty
Sales of Japan’s most convenient train ticket/shopping payment cards suspended indefinitely
Sold-out Studio Ghibli desktop humidifiers are back so Totoro can help you through the dry season
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Tokyo’s most famous Starbucks is closed
One Piece characters’ nationalities revealed, but fans have mixed opinions
We asked a Uniqlo employee what four things we should buy and their suggestions didn’t disappoint
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Studio Ghibli’s new desktop Howl’s Moving Castle will take your stationery on an adventure
Is the new Shinkansen Train Desk ticket worth it?
Coordinating a whole outfit with nothing but clothes from Japanese convenience store Family Mart
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to your favorite restaurant in Tsuruga City!
Tiny town in northern Japan creates gorgeous, gigantic artwork out of rice paddies 【Video】
Tokyo has a cafe lounge that’s for negative people only
Beautiful 3-D rendered One Piece fan art will have you reaching for the tissues
New Pokémon cakes let you eat your way through Pikachu and all the Eevee evolutions
Randomly running into a great sushi lunch like this is one of the best things about eating in Tokyo
Yu-Gi-Oh! manga is about to get its first new chapters in 12 years
Foreign English teachers in Japan pick their favorite Japanese-language phrases【Survey】
New Dragon Ball anime series announced, turns Goku and friends into babies【Video】
These dozens of beautiful Japanese idol singers aren’t just CG, they were created by AI【Video】
New live-action Spirited Away actresses appear in costume as Chihiro for first time