I’m pretty sure that by this point Nintendo is used to being one of the giants on whose shoulders many other video game developers stand. After all, just about every platformer or action RPG owes a debt to the company’s Mario and Zelda franchises, and its Metroid series was so influential in the design of similar exploration-heavy titles that gamers just threw their hands up and decided to call the genre “Metroidvania” (somewhat unfairly giving half the credit to Konami’s Castlevania, which wasn’t nearly as groundbreaking in establishing the category).
Still, it’s one thing when some third-tier software publisher or homebrew video game outfit toes the line between being inspired by your creation and outright copying it, and another when it’s world-famous Disney.
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Fading Tokyo – Horikiri Station, the Arakawa River, and Kinpachi-sensei[Walking course]
Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes
Better know a train nerd: 36 different classifications for Japan’s “densha otaku”
Japanese government wants overseas anime market to roughly triple in 10 years, but are they crazy?
Tokyo turns its phone booths into free Wi-Fi hotspots, and here’s how to use them
Japanese city paints well-known prostitution street bright yellow, adds fish art【Video】
New Travelling Bento pouches turn your luggage into a Japanese lunch box
Our Japanese reporter visits Costco in the U.S., finds super American and very Japanese things
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
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
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
Japanese trains in Sapporo might be better than those in Tokyo, thanks to one special feature
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
7-Eleven Japan’s new baked-in-store sweet treat is only available in three parts of the country
Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations
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
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
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
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
Japanese government wants overseas anime market to roughly triple in 10 years, but are they crazy?
Tokyo turns its phone booths into free Wi-Fi hotspots, and here’s how to use them
Japanese city paints well-known prostitution street bright yellow, adds fish art【Video】
New Travelling Bento pouches turn your luggage into a Japanese lunch box
Our Japanese reporter visits Costco in the U.S., finds super American and very Japanese things
Which Japanese conveyor belt sushi chain has the best aosa miso soup?【Taste test】
Sakura in Japan 2019: The best spots for hanami cherry blossom viewing
The cat returns! Giant cat sells sweet potatoes from a pussy wagon in Japan 【Pics & Video】
14 tips for visiting the Mt Fuji Shibazakura Festival, where beautiful “lawn sakura” blossom
Japan’s brown Lawson convenience store: a unique find in a rural setting
Rumiko Takahashi’s Maison Ikkoku inspires anime/whisky collaboration
Tokyo teahouse serves up a sakura matcha dessert you won’t find anywhere else