Meeting someone through games or social media is becoming just as normal as going to the playground.
friendship
It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows in the beginning, but it sure turned out that way in the end!
We visit the new Tomodachi ga Yatteru Cafe in Harajuku, where staff are paid to pose as your friends.
Who’s the most relatable character in a dating sim? Why, your male best friend, of course!
Find out whether your lady friend thinks you’re a hafure, kisufure, sofure, kamofure, sanfure or ofure.
SoraNews24’s Mr. Sato did something unthinkable in the past, but now he’s going to travel by air and sea to make it right again.
There are probably many of our male readers who have had the experience of sharing a room with a fellow male, maybe as a one-off on holiday or for a long time in dorm, or perhaps you’ve stayed over at a friend’s house after missing the last train after a night of drinking. However, most men probably don’t share a bed when this happens, right? And if your friend suddenly wormed his way into your bed in the middle of the night you’d probably be quite shocked, right?
One of our RocketNews24 Japanese writers recently wrote a column about the time he experienced such a shock himself. Below I’ll give you a translation of his original story, so read on to find out what the heck happened…
Ladies do you think you could possibly get along with a guy just as well as you do with your female friends? Not in exactly the same way, but on the same level without it changing into something romantic. And fellas, do you really think the “friend zone” exists with a woman or is that just her way of getting you off her back.
Japanese bridal information site Bridal Souken conducted a study last March asking 3096 single men and women between the ages of 20 and 50, “Is a friendship between a man and a woman real?” According to the results many more men and women think it is than isn’t, but the deeper we go we can see that gender is but a single piece of a bigger puzzle.












Visiting Japan’s Gyarados Pokémon park in the city with a special connection to Magikarp【Photos】
Majority of Japanese women in survey regret marrying their husband, but that’s only half the story
Bear meat noodles?!? Tokyo restaurant adds a new kind of niku soba to its menu【Taste test】
Does a poopy butthole translate to lottery-winning riches in Japan? The results are in!
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Massive manga collaboration bringing 100 years of Shueisha manga to Uniqlo T-shirts【Photos】
Pikachu’s chunky original design is back as a plus-sized plushie【Photos】
All-you-can-eat doughnuts at Mister Donut: How many can we eat in 60 minutes?
The Yellow Lucky Bag from Village Vanguard is so bad it may damage Japan-US relations
Canned cuteness as Hello Kitty and friends kick off Can Chara capsule toy line【Photos】
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Totoro cream puffs and Catbus cookies are finally available in downtown Tokyo
Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.
Japanese women showing rebounding interest in giving Valentine’s Day chocolate【Survey】
Japan’s kid-friendly ski program is now selling Pikachu snowboards for a limited time only
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
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
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
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
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Massive manga collaboration bringing 100 years of Shueisha manga to Uniqlo T-shirts【Photos】
Pikachu’s chunky original design is back as a plus-sized plushie【Photos】
All-you-can-eat doughnuts at Mister Donut: How many can we eat in 60 minutes?
The Yellow Lucky Bag from Village Vanguard is so bad it may damage Japan-US relations
Canned cuteness as Hello Kitty and friends kick off Can Chara capsule toy line【Photos】
Poké Ball cakes here for limited but long time to celebrate Pokémon franchise’s 30th anniversary
Which Japanese beef bowl chain’s near-identical demon grater onioroshi ponzu gyudon is the best?
We try an unusual buffet of dishes made from wild game at a roadside stop in Chiba
New “boss’ treat” vending machines in Japan give out free drinks if you use them with a coworker
Which Japanese conveyor belt sushi chain has the best hamburger steak sushi?【Taste test】
Pompompurin and his cute little butt take over Shinjuku’s famous 3-D billboard
How to escape the Tokyo crowds with a trip to a hidden gem on a special Japanese train