Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
Dokdo
South Korean netizens are apparently up in arms over their president’s choice of shoes that she wore when throwing the opening pitch of the third game of the Korean Series baseball tournament in Seoul on October 27. Her fashion crime? President Park Guen Hye had the “audacity” to show up wearing a Japanese brand of sneakers!
Released earlier this month, the latest iteration of Apple’s operating system for mobile devices, iOS 7, boasts a sleek, vivid interface that is certainly quite a departure from previous iPhone software. Although the majority of Apple’s customers will likely be more than satisfied with both the OS’s stylistic and functional changes, some Korean citizens have taken issue with iOS 7’s Maps application, which refers to the islets located between Japan and Korea – over which there has been much debate – by the Japanese name of Takeshima.
All around the world, young and middle-aged adults have fond childhood memories of giant robot cartoons. I can remember watching Autobots brawl with Decepticons over their endless hunt for energon cubes. Meanwhile, South Koreans were enjoying Robot Taekwon V.
Robot Taekwon V was such a hit that even today the Korean government uses its robot protagonist’s likeness to promote the nation’s claim to ownership of the Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo in Korea, Takeshima in Japan), a disputed island that has recently renewed some tensions between Korea and Japan. However, a recent plan to erect a statue of Taekwon V has been met with strong resistance from South Korean net users who feel that instead of being intimidating, the statue would cause Japanese citizens to laugh.
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
Pokémon fans aren’t happy with the Mister Donut fukubukuro lucky bag for 2025
Why are there so many Hokkaido food fairs in Japanese department stores these days?
Man who stole two packs of ground beef tracked by police for about 1,000 kilometers across Japan
Sugakiya brings back the ’70s with a retro ramen experience in Nagoya
What’s in a Family Mart lucky bag?
Creating an open-air hot spring bath (without a hot spring) at our cheap Japanese country house【Vids】
Akihabara curry restaurant declaring bankruptcy after 50 years in Tokyo’s otaku neighborhood
Bear breaks into house in Japan, quickly begins spending winter exactly like Japanese people do
SoraNews24’s two most eligible bachelors are still looking for dates, so we’ve updated their photosBear breaks into house in Japan, quickly begins spending winter exactly like Japanese people do
Starbucks Japan reveals new winter holiday goods to wrap up 2024
Ramen restaurant etiquette reminder follows altercation with angry couple: One person, one bowl
After being snatched up by scalpers, Sailor Moon chocolate returns in officially marked-up complete box
Starbucks Japan releases cute new zodiac goods for Year of the SnakeThe top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
Tokyo’s Super Mario Christmas decoration displays are super cool【Photos】What’s in a Family Mart lucky bag?
McDonald’s Japan announces Evangelion burger line, releases crazy anime video for them【Video】
Japanese train station vending machine has the best souvenirs for rail otaku
J-pop mega star Ado reveals she’s been living in the U.S., may not understand language acquisitionBear breaks into house in Japan, quickly begins spending winter exactly like Japanese people do
Starbucks Japan is calling it quits with paper straws
Japan’s most popular castle raising ticket prices by up to 200 percent for non-local tourists
Japanese company develops classy heavy metal band frames for glasses
Furikake rice seasoning sales are soaring, which is bad news for Japan as a whole
This downtown Tokyo cafe is like a time machine that takes you back 50 years into the past
Station of despair: What to do if you get stuck at the end of Tokyo’s Chuo Rapid Line
Studio Ghibli heroine cardigans give you warmth and strength to face everyday challenges
Uniqlo announces first-ever collaboration with horror manga master Junji Ito【Photos】
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengers
Possessing Harry Potter’s Sword of Godric Gryffindor is now illegal in Japan
[Deleted] Article written for April Fool’s Day 2018
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Studio Ghibli releases free-download board game — Here’s how to play it without reading Japanese
What’s in a Family Mart lucky bag?
Creating an open-air hot spring bath (without a hot spring) at our cheap Japanese country house【Vids】
Akihabara curry restaurant declaring bankruptcy after 50 years in Tokyo’s otaku neighborhood
Bear breaks into house in Japan, quickly begins spending winter exactly like Japanese people do
SoraNews24’s two most eligible bachelors are still looking for dates, so we’ve updated their photos
Foreigners can now apply for visas to visit fiancés living in Japan
This Nara workshop has been making deer crackers for more than 100 years and offers tours【Photos】
The best Christmas Market in Japan? Yokohama event is top choice for travellers
Mr. Sato goes back to the junk shops of Akihabara, where the real lucky bag action is
Starbucks releases a Bouquet Frappuccino in Japan…but does it taste like a bunch of flowers?
Saikaku’s Edo-era tales of gay samurai love reimagined for a modern audience as Boys Love manga
How to get all-you-can eat doughnuts at Mister Donut for just 12 bucks!
Travel to a Japanese convenience store at an active volcano