collectables
The three new designs give us a sneak peek at what McDonald’s has in store for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Bandai is giving otaku (especially of the fourth category) all over Japan yet another reason to be grateful. The mother of all toy, video game and anime distributors is introducing their new figure storage service. That’s right, if your living space looks like an anime convention storage locker, Bandai’s got your back.
For a small monthly fee, you can now store your goodies by the box, which means you no longer have to sleep with your beloved figures in your bed—that is, unless, you choose to.
A few weeks ago, online shopping site Run@Town began selling a series of special edition Star Wars themed notebooks. Although they were basically just a standard-issue school notebooks with jackets featuring images from the original three films, they sold out in the blink of an eye, and there are people still waiting for new stock to arrive. This week, the same online store announced another Star Wars tie-in, this time offering wooden hangers featuring busts of Yoda, C-3PO, a Stormtrooper, and smokes-20-a-day villain Darth Vader.
The best part is, by slipping them over the hanger, you can have the cast of characters wear your clothes, allowing you to create all kinds of weird mash-ups. And would you believe some of them actually look pretty cool? We have a feeling these are going to be Run@Town’s next sell-out item.
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the release of Lucas Films’ Star Wars, just 35 limited-edition, solid gold C-3PO figurines went on sale yesterday for a mere 500,000 yen (about $6000).






Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Nearly one in ten young adults living in Japan isn’t ethnically Japanese, statistics show
Pampered hamsters chill in tiny home, eat pies, win hearts 【Videos】
Akihabara ramen restaurant becomes a hit with foreign tourists
Here’s what our bachelor writers ate over the New Year’s holiday in Japan
The humane (and adorable) way to make a flat hamster 【Video】
Cosplay costume room tour by Japan’s number-one cosplayer Enako is an eye-opener【Video】
The Purple Lucky Bag from Village Vanguard is an extra-large waste of money
Is Japan’s green tea curry worthy of the name or just another matcha pretender?【Taste test】
Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Hayao Miyazaki says Happy New Year to Studio Ghibli fans with new art for Year of the Horse
Cup Noodle tries an authentic Jiro-style ramen, but something’s not quite right
Top Japanese cosplayer Enako returns to Comiket after 6 years, creates mayhem with admirers
The best Starbucks Japan Frappuccinos we want to drink again in 2026
We revisited Sweets Paradise after a decade to see if Japan’s dessert buffet still delivers
That time Seiji called JASRAC to ask why he didn’t get paid royalties for his song being on TV
Pizza Hut Japan’s hot lucky bags are perfect for a New Year’s pizza party
Majority of Japanese mayors say foreign residents are essential but most see good and bad effects
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
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
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
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】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Here’s what our bachelor writers ate over the New Year’s holiday in Japan
The humane (and adorable) way to make a flat hamster 【Video】
Cosplay costume room tour by Japan’s number-one cosplayer Enako is an eye-opener【Video】
The Purple Lucky Bag from Village Vanguard is an extra-large waste of money
Is Japan’s green tea curry worthy of the name or just another matcha pretender?【Taste test】
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to Japan’s snowy Hokkaido Prefecture!
Masterpieces of Japanese art brought to you through cake and cookies
Tokyo ramen restaurant’s brilliant idea: takeout cups of just ramen broth!【Photos】
Yahoo! Japan finds most alphabetic and katakana words Japanese people want to find out about
Dragon Quest Burgers and Slime drinks are coming to McDonald’s Japan【Video】
300-year-old Tokyo comb company sells 30,000-yen wooden hair combs—Are they worth it?
Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
Rakuten randomly offers 58 New Year’s osechi feasts in Japan, but did we get a star or a dud?