Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
football (Page 3)
KFC Japan has announced it is getting in on the fast food giant’s tie up with international soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo starting April 28 by offering new menu items at all Japanese stores. Ronaldo’s face may be all over this stuff, but something tells me this kind of fully fried meal doesn’t actually go in his face very often…
Adidas Japan recently launched its newly designed official shirts for the Japanese national football (or soccer if you’d rather) team, no doubt prompting thousands of fans to rush out and place orders in the name of supporting their side while wearing the same style “samurai blue” uniform.
Ordinarily we wouldn’t pay too much attention to the launch of a mere sporting garment – though we have to admit it is pretty stylish – but the promotional ad that was released alongside it really knocked us for six. Check it out after the jump.
In Japan, the manga series Captain Tsubasa was a veritable bible for young aspiring soccer players now active today. Practically every J. League player on the pitch today was reading the series or watching the anime during the ’80s.
This wasn’t just limited to Japan though; the popularity of the soccer-themed comic had spread around the world touching the hearts of young athletes everywhere. Professional soccer player Lionel Messi professed his love for the story, as did Andres Iniesta, Francesco Totti… The list goes on and on.
Among these many pros, German forward Lukas Podolski recently found himself in the loving cyber-embrace of Japan after posting a picture of his new shin guards complete with image of Captain Tsubasa‘s Kojiro Hyuga.
To achieve your dreams, you have to really want it. You need drive, determination and, if this video is anything to go by, a good pair of legs.
Taken in Hanoi by a member of English Premier League football club Arsenal, the following video sees one young Vietnamese fan chasing after the team’s tour bus for some five miles, waving and pounding the badge emblazoned on his chest with such vigour that the team eventually decides to welcome him on board for a once-in-a-lifetime private autograph and photo session.
For any young man in Japan looking to get into professional soccer, enrollment in Yasu High School in Shiga Prefecture would be a good decision. This school has graduated several pros in Japan and is continuing to build a reputation for soccer skills since winning the National High School Soccer Championship in 2006. In case you don’t believe them, they posted a promotional video on YouTube showing a brief minute-and-a-half flurry of fancy footwork along with surprisingly good cinematography for a high school video.
The Japanese Football Association has stated that it will be making an official complaint to international governing body FIFA after both forward Yasuhito Endo and goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima had lasers shone in their faces during yesterday’s qualifying match for the 2014 World Cup.
The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has had their hands full for a long time with their lackluster international national team. To add insult to injury, fans of Chinese soccer have grown even more disillusioned due to allegations of corruption in recent years.
Chinese media reports that the longstanding woes of the national team were due to some bad qi floating around the CFA headquarters. Apparently, having a building facing North by Northwest makes your executives degenerate gamblers.
However, by applying the principals of feng shui to their new offices perhaps the association can flow into a reversal of fortune.
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Japanese bento shop sells croquettes for 13 cents, but are they any good?
Japanese government wants overseas anime market to roughly triple in 10 years, but are they crazy?
Lawson convenience store at popular tourist site is one of the most unusual in Japan
Our latest 10,000 yen food challenge is downing 80 croquettes on top of noodles
Pikachu Outbreak 2018 photos! Pikachus parade through Yokohama, bust out dance moves at night
The results are in! One Piece World Top 100 characters chosen in global poll
Bat soup in Palau is pretty intense
Mega meat noodles in Tokyo: 2.6 pounds of meat, one bowl of soba, no regrets【Video】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visaJapan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to TokyoWisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring viewLawson convenience store at popular tourist site is one of the most unusual in Japan
Japanese trains in Sapporo might be better than those in Tokyo, thanks to one special feature
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes
Howl’s Moving Castle’s scene-stealing dog is here to clean your home as a plushie mopJapan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
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]Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
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 timeWisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
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
Our latest 10,000 yen food challenge is downing 80 croquettes on top of noodles
Pikachu Outbreak 2018 photos! Pikachus parade through Yokohama, bust out dance moves at night
The results are in! One Piece World Top 100 characters chosen in global poll
Bat soup in Palau is pretty intense
Mega meat noodles in Tokyo: 2.6 pounds of meat, one bowl of soba, no regrets【Video】
Freakishly muscular life-size statues of Grappler Baki anime/manga cast intimidate and amaze【Pics】
Drink vending machines disappearing in Japan as number drops to lowest in 30 years
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
Downtown Tokyo’s meaty monster Kaibutsu ramen will challenge your stomach, thrill your taste buds
The etiquette rules for visiting Shinto shrines in Japan
Will listening to Japan’s biggest earworm song for five hours drive you insane? Let’s find out!
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
We get a taste of Starbucks Japan’s new coffees and sweets, including one that’s here to stay