We call them “rice balls” in English, but the real-meaning of “onigiri” is something a lot of Japanese people don’t find appetizing.
COK (Page 158)
After topping Hello Kitty in the Sanrio character popularity poll, Pompompurin wants to welcome travelers to Tokyo and Sapporo.
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Akihabara arcades aren’t dead yet! New six-floor game center opens in Tokyo otaku quarter next month
Our reporter samples Sendai’s most popular food souvenir for the first time and is overcome by emotion.
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Studio Ghibli releases new plush mascot character collection with a focus on friendship
Studio Ghibli unveils new anime stationery collection, with a Spirited Away River God memo stand
Pikachu plushie actually goes into space as part of Pokémon/European Space Agency collaboration
Famous Kyoto shrine has a message for foreign tourists who think it’s okay to dance at sacred sites
Final Fantasy VII’s Buster Sword gets real-world practicality as a giant towel [Photos]
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New Gundam Base superstores coming soon in the U.S., with one opening this month
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Japan’s final Penguin Suica train cards have already shipped, and when they’re gone, they’re gone- Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Studio Ghibli unveils new anime calendars and diary planners for 2027
Japan approves foreign resident visa renewal fee increases of up to 967 percent, starts soon
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Kyoto temple bans visitors from wearing kimono
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Farewell Final Ceremony announced for Tokyo’s life-size Gundam statue, will stream live
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Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
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]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
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Japanese sweet potato ice cream season! Häagen-Dazs and Muji take different paths to our hearts
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Three amazing Japanese convenience store sweet potato desserts to eat right now (and 11 for later)
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
My night trapped in Nagoya’s flood: what do you do when Japan’s trains shut down?
Japanese convenience store is very focused with its new bento…maybe TOO focused
Denny’s Mapputatsu? Parfait is hiding a big secret in plain sight that splits us down the middle
Car-floating sheets selling well to cope with increasing flood risk in Japan
Here’s why you’ll never want to hit a hole-in-one in Japan
Three Daiso ideas for a super-cheap but still cool (or cute) Halloween look
New Gundam Base superstores coming soon in the U.S., with one opening this month
Only two Yoshinoya branches in all of Japan are on a train platform, and this is one of them
Studio Ghibli releases new anime socks that pay tribute to characters from four different movies
JAL first class cakes can be bought for a bargain, but are they as bougie as they seem?
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