Buddha, president of the United States also explicitly recognized as potential characters in surprisingly wide-open competition.
contest (Page 2)
Gudetama, the lovable lazy egg from Sanrio, is again “busy” at work, this time as a limited edition McDonald’s dessert!
Tokyo’s Yamanote loop line is getting its first new station in nearly half a century, and Japan Railways wants you to give it a name.
There’s something even more important than cool characters and a great story, and this contestant completely forgot about it.
Sprint wants to send you and three of your friends to Yokohama for the Pikachu Outbreak Festival in August!
Publisher nixes two of the most common storytelling tricks in the anime playbook in attempt to create something adults can enjoy.
Were you one of the thousands of people who entered our epic KitKat giveaway? Find out if you’ve won here!
Love Kit Kats? Wish you could get your hands on the amazing varieties available only in Japan? How about a whole box of them?
After reading through a mountainous pile of entries, we’re ready to announce the four lucky instant noodle/Pokémon fans who’ve won some Pikachu ramen. Are you one of them? Read on to find out!
Want to get your hands on some genuine, Japan-only Pikachu ramen? Read on to find out how you can in our RocketNews24 reader giveaway!
Because it’s not like it can choose itself, is it?
We all know that smoking is an unhealthy habit. Each year about 200,000 people in Japan alone die from smoking- (and passive smoking-) related illnesses. On a global scale, about six million die from smoking-related diseases every year.
In an effort to reduce the number of smokers in Japan, Japanese anti-smoking NPO No Smoke holds an annual video contest titled “Tobacco is Harmful to Your Health”, calling for original video submissions that raise awareness of the dangers and harmful effects of smoking.
The first-place winner of the video contest held in 2012 created a movie highlighting the simple differences between smokers and non-smokers in terms of financial cost. As we’re about to see, smoking is not only harmful to your health but a horribly expensive habit.


















Starbucks Japan reopens Shinkansen platform store after redesigning it for speed
Family Mart Japan installs red-eyed “Monster Wolf” to keep bears away from convenience store
Japanese man’s gross conveyor belt sushi social media prank video gets him a 500,000-yen fine
Pikachu brings electric style to brand-new Pokémon G-Shock watch featuring every stater trio
Krispy Kreme Japan releases new fruit doughnuts…that taste better cold
The adorable, delicious joy of the Totoro cream puff gift box[Taste test]
Japanese sweets brand creates new drinkable Cigare and we’re totally here for it
Tokyo cops arrest foreigner for suspected visa violation, don’t know what new residence cards look like
Testing Japan’s latest food hack trend: Adding instant corn soup powder to popcorn[Taste test]
Japan launches first overnight Shinkansen bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka this summer
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
Starbucks Japan creates special drink bottle bags, adorable stickers for all 47 prefectures[Pics]
Studio Ghibli store Donguri Republic announces opening of first-ever store in America
“Phantom Egg Shop” opens in Japan, with a dozen rare Japanese varieties
Japanese sweets shop sells an ohagi so exquisite it sells out by noon
New Japanese overnight train coming to connect Tokyo with Tohoku in sleep-travel style
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
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
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
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]
The adorable, delicious joy of the Totoro cream puff gift box[Taste test]
Japanese sweets brand creates new drinkable Cigare and we’re totally here for it
Tokyo cops arrest foreigner for suspected visa violation, don’t know what new residence cards look like
Testing Japan’s latest food hack trend: Adding instant corn soup powder to popcorn[Taste test]
Japan launches first overnight Shinkansen bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka this summer
Starbucks Japan creates special drink bottle bags, adorable stickers for all 47 prefectures[Pics]
Nintendo’s Animal Crossing crosses over to Baskin-Robbins Japan with special ice cream and merch
Japanese theme park adding Immersive Death Game with a “bomb collar” you have to wear
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Beautiful new dangling Totoro socks let the Ghibli mascot sway with every step[Photos]
Japan opens shrine for plush toys in Kyoto, offering memorial rites and a resting place for remains
Starbucks Japan releases three new peach drinks, but the real star isn’t the Frappuccino
Private Shinkansen Supreme Class Cabin pricing, start date, and details announced by Japan Railways
Over a billion yen in smuggled gold found inside sex dolls by Japanese investigators