New goodies also on the horizon with the debut of this insider look in Pokémon Shirts’ operations. Read More
documentary
Hirotada Otatake was born with no arms or legs, but it didn’t keep him from trying to do good things in this world.
The NHK special documentary follows Miyazaki as he comes out of retirement to work on his next projects.
New Japanese film asks, “Who decides which animals are okay to eat and which animals aren’t?”
A “really ordinary person from Australia” attempts to become famous in Japan and is making a film about it.
Does Japan’s legal system force suspects to confess, even if they didn’t commit the crime?
This incredible new video was released by a Lithuanian-born entrepreneur documenting his mysterious 7-day trip to North Korea.
This ultra high-definition documentary is scheduled to come out this year. You can help support its production, and get some pretty cool things for doing so too!
Singaporeans remember David Bowie fondly, as well as his 1980s documentary in which the Southeast Asian city-state appeared.
Just like the Sailor Senshi are always there for each other, so too are the members of this documentary’s group of cosplay collaborators.
Thousands paid their respect when Nintendo company president Satoru Iwata passed away in July, facing the brunt of typhoon at his service in Kyoto or leaving notes and letters at The Nintendo World Store in New York and the Nintendo headquarters in Redmond, Washington.
Netizens on Twitter recently reported that a rather strange phenomenon was affecting their pet cats during the broadcast of NHK’s “Mitsuaki Iwago’s World Catwalk”, a documentary by prominent wildlife photographer and documentary filmmaker Mitsuaki Iwago.
Apparently, the scenes of furry felines in their natural habitat completely captured the attention of household moggies watching at home, to the extent that their owners felt compelled to tweet photographic evidence of the event. Join us after the jump for images of cute kitties viewing images of other cute kitties!
After a tragedy like the April 16 sinking of the South Korean ferry Sewol, many are left wondering how to appropriately commemorate the lives lost without forgetting the awful truth of the actual incident. Last week a South Korean newspaper revealed that a two-hour documentary about the accident is being planned to be released next year to coincide with the one-year anniversary. The film’s backers are relying solely on donations and are seeking just 400 million won (US$392,000) to finance the low-budget project. And with the entire country paying extremely close attention to every tragic detail to come out of the investigations surrounding the accident, this film is destined to be an instant hit in Korean movie theaters.
“Forget the reactor. Forget all the bull$#!^ Facebook posts about how radiation is melting the starfish and mutating our sushi. Forget about what it means to be a disaster, and discover what it means to be Fukushima.”
Filmmaker Cameron Anderson is on a mission to show the world the real Fukushima. Having spend months exploring the region, he – an outsider arriving long after Fukushima became known the world over as the centre of a tragic nuclear accident – has come to learn what Japan’s third-largest prefecture is really all about. Cameron has also seen how the news, careless comments shared via social networks, and a general fear of the unknown have caused people around the globe to label this land as a giant, black spot on the map of Japan, with stories popping up online every few weeks about tides of non-existent radioactive seawater and the prefecture’s potentially hazardous exports.
Hoping to obtain a special filmmaking grant, it is Cameron’s plan to put together a 10-minute documentary that explores this vast, rich part of Japan and introduce some of its genuinely remarkable residents–both Japanese and foreign. But he needs your help.
After the great earthquake and tsunami that came with the calamities of March 11 2011, many residents to the Kanto region of Japan experienced turmoil on an unprecedented scale. If natural disaster wasn’t enough, there was also the explosion at the Fukushima nuclear plant, spreading radioactive contamination even as far as Tokyo. Now after two years, Fukushima’s 20-kilometer radioactive exclusion zone still remains in place.
While most families fled the contaminated areas in the early stages following the explosion, one brave man remained undeterred by it all, staying put in his hometown. Naoto Matsura (53) is believed to be the sole inhabitant within the 20-kilometer red zone.
Matsumura’s determination to remain rooted in the same place and see through the nuclear catastrophe has caught the attention of many, with his accounts even being adapted into a documentary. The documentary tells of the events after the great earthquake and Mutsumura’s reasons for remaining at his home despite all those around him fleeing, never to return. Perhaps even more interestingly, it gives some rather candid accounts of this man’s feelings towards Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the company that operated the stricken Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.



















Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Japanese kindness restores our faith in humanity after a highway bus accident in Tokyo
7-Eleven Japan releases a crazy new viral sandwich: Chocolate Sprinkles and Whipped Cream
Japan’s ministry of economy reminds us to “use sound judgment” before buying toilet paper
Japanese politicians working to promote plastic model culture as a cultural asset
Nine amazing off-the-beaten-path cherry blossom spots in Japan for yaezakura and shidarezakura
How many doughnuts can you pack in a Mister Donut all-you-can-pack deal?
Studio Ghibli releases cute new blanket socks for winter
Public restrooms in Osaka to get in-stall video screens with ads
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Tokyo government organizes food truck event to clear out delinquent/homeless teen gathering area
Japan now has a “for foreign tourists only” Mt. Fuji sightseeing train[Video]
Stunning central Japan wisteria festival is like a purple fantasy straight out of a Ghibli movie
Studio Ghibli releases the My Neighbour Totoro tea caddy, with a magical self-closing lid
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Create a tiny Ghibli anime world on your bookshelf with new miniature papercraft art kits
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
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
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
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 politicians working to promote plastic model culture as a cultural asset
Nine amazing off-the-beaten-path cherry blossom spots in Japan for yaezakura and shidarezakura
How many doughnuts can you pack in a Mister Donut all-you-can-pack deal?
Studio Ghibli releases cute new blanket socks for winter
Public restrooms in Osaka to get in-stall video screens with ads
“Online streamer” tops dream job poll for young Japanese kids, older kids not so interested
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Gackt lashes out at Cool Japan: “Almost no results of Japanese culture exported overseas”
Survey shows drop in Japanese highschoolers who’ve kissed someone, girls still more experienced
Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.
Harry Potter Cafe opening in Tokyo and the menu is nothing short of spellbinding【Photos】
Deer are appearing in Osaka City, may have wandered there from Nara[Video]
Fake police phone scam also highlights dumb stereotype about how foreigners speak Japanese[Video]