Last month, SoftBank‘s series of commercials depicting several classic anime characters all grown up premiered. The ads star Kyoko Koizumi (Tokyo Sonata, Hanging Garden) as Usagi Tsukino (Sailor Moon), the proprietess at Moon Ribar an atmospheric rooftop bar. She’s assisted by Maruko-chan (Chibi Maruko-chan, played by Suzu Hirose) and welcomes guests like Fist of the North Star‘s Kenshiro (famous Kabuki actor Ichikawa Ebizō XI), Obocchama-kun (played by Shinnosuke Mitsushima), Duke “Golgo 13” Tōgō (played by Fumiyo Kohinata), Joe Yabuki (Ashita no Joe, played by comedian Naoki Matayoshi) and Astro Boy himself, played by Masato Sakai (Honey and Clover).
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan has new rules for bicycle riders, and these 14 things could get you a fine or a court date
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Final version of Sanrio: Beginning of Kawaii exhibition opens in Tokyo[Photos]
Kinotake Mother AI developed to study Japan’s divide between chocolate cookie snacks
Japanese politician arrested on charges of accepting bribes to reduce number of monkeys in park
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Daughter of Osamu Tezuka, God of Manga, discovers his stash of hand-drawn sexy mouse artwork
Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Lawson convenience store at popular tourist site is one of the most unusual in Japan
Japanese trains in Sapporo might be better than those in Tokyo, thanks to one special feature
Japanese government wants overseas anime market to roughly triple in 10 years, but are they crazy?
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
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Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
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
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
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No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Kinotake Mother AI developed to study Japan’s divide between chocolate cookie snacks
Japanese politician arrested on charges of accepting bribes to reduce number of monkeys in park
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Daughter of Osamu Tezuka, God of Manga, discovers his stash of hand-drawn sexy mouse artwork
Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes
Weekly Shonen Champion manga magazine offers several issues for free in light of Noto Earthquake
Sakura season arrives at McDonald’s Japan with new range of exclusive menu items
These creative, fanciful post boxes from Japan will delight you in so many ways【Photos】
What’s the best way to eat Japanese cream stew and rice, “together” or “separate?”【Survey】
Say hello to Japan’s new generation of adults, fresh from Kitakyushu’s 2023 seijinshiki ceremony
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Japanese Godzilla looks set to attack New York in teaser for Godzilla Minus Zero[Video]
Charges dropped against alleged group that broke into vending machine after Noto earthquake
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