Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
gambling
It’s often said that nothing in life is certain except for death and taxes, but for one Osaka resident, that maxim was little more than an old wives’ tale.
One day, the taxman came calling to the tune of 816 million yen (US$7.7M) over years of unreported winning horse race bets. However, in a game where the house always wins, this guy managed to flip the script and knock down the money owed to a relatively modest 67 million yen ($635,000).
I think the last truly terrible video game I bought was Gundam v. 2.0 for the PlayStation One. This was back before all you had to do was wait a few hours for reviews from gamers to start pouring in online, and I got suckered in by some touched-up stills from the game in a magazine that made it look awesome. Instead, the one and only redeemable element to the title was it had a cool sound effect for the beam rifle, but that hardly made it worth the $75 it had cost me.
I’ve played subpar games since then, but Gundam v. 2.0 retains a special place of hatred in my gaming soul. It’s the sort of game that drives one to violent fantasies of revenge. Like an evil witch being punished for her sins, or a stubbornly regenerating troll that won’t stay dead, the only just way for Gundam 2.0 to pay for its crimes is by being set on fire.
Somewhere in a box, I still have my copy of the game. Maybe if I dig it out, these police officers in China will let me toss it onto their video game bonfire.
Perhaps one of the saddest things ever written is Hemingway’s famous six-word story: “For sale: Baby shoes, never worn.” Though short in the extreme, it’s amazing how much emotion and information can be packed into six small words. Of course, Hemingway isn’t the only writer known for brevity, and the last 1,300 years of Japanese poetry have been full of brief but beautiful and poignant verses. But when it comes to terse (some might say inelegant) narrative, Hemingway was certainly a master.
However, we may have found someone who’s outdone the old drunkard! Too bad this one seems inspired by utterly real events…
“I like this guy… but is he suitable for marriage?” This is one of the most important questions Japanese women ask themselves in considering a life time mate. Marriage can be daunting even in the best of circumstances, so it’s crucial to have some assurance you’re making a good choice when deciding on that special person that you want to spend the rest of your life with.
Otome Sugoren, a website featuring articles on love, relationships and marriage, surveyed its female readers to get these results. The reporter who compiled the info and wrote the article is a Japanese woman herself, so you can be sure of its authenticity! Here are the top nine things Japanese women check out when Looking for a suitable marriage partner: Read More
Cherry blossom curry is set to bring spring to your plate even before the sakura arrive
Woman asks for eight-hour taxi ride in Japan, arrested when she doesn’t pay gigantic fare
Pringles now comes in karaage flavour in Japan
Sapporo releases a limited-edition Adult Choc Mint beer in Japan
Microwavable okonomiyaki that you can eat with one hand? Yes, please!
We taste the new Japanese KitKat, aged in whisky barrels in Islay, Scotland
Japanese politicians want workers across country to have option for three-day weekends every week
Japanese restaurant from the Edo Period forced to close due to coronavirus pandemic
Official Hololive clear files now available at FamilyMart convenience stores【Pics】
Trio of thieves break into Japanese glasses store, foiled by old-timey cash register
We try a rotating sushi restaurant in New Delhi, are surprised to find no rotating sushi
Japanese media finds out if it’s cold enough to “fry” an egg on the street in Hokkaido
Genital manju sweets, with a dash of “pubic hair”, raise eyebrows in Japan
English mistake on new Japanese beer leads to suspension of sales before its release
Japanese boy whom Ronaldo stood up for in 2014 becomes national soccer champion
7-Eleven Japan’s banana milk sparks controversy over deceptive packagingWe taste the new Japanese KitKat, aged in whisky barrels in Islay, Scotland
NHK announces “substantial” fee reduction, Japanese Internet reacts with jeering
7-Eleven under fire in Japan for mysterious holes in their onigiri rice ballsPringles now comes in karaage flavour in Japan
McDonald’s releases Katsu Curry Chicken McNuggets, but do they taste Japanese?
McDonald’s releases an Oreo and Spam burger for a very limited time
Demon Slayer is so pervasive, it’s starting to affect Japanese children’s kanji reading ability
Top 100 manga of all time chosen by survey of 150,000 Japanese people
Mt Fuji looks unusual, sparks fears of possible eruption
Here’s why Japanese supermarkets play “cheap” background music all day, according to TwitterEnglish mistake on new Japanese beer leads to suspension of sales before its releaseWe try a rotating sushi restaurant in New Delhi, are surprised to find no rotating sushi
Utada Hikaru sings, Eva fights Eva in jaw-dropping new trailer for final Evangelion movie【Video】Japanese media finds out if it’s cold enough to “fry” an egg on the street in Hokkaido
Nintendo puts out important notice for casual gamers who’ve bought a Switch during the pandemic
Jason calls off Friday the 13th activities due to coronavirus
Japan goes beyond rice cookers with new curry rice cooker, the kitchen gadget we need right now
Studio Ghibli releases 400 images from eight movies free to download online
A Pokémon glitch no one discovered in 18 years has been found…by a pet fish in Japan?!?【Videos】
Customers race to Uniqlo for new summer face masks, but are they really worth the hype?
Parasite movie releases free official wallpapers to download as backgrounds for video calls
Japanese students hold graduation ceremony in Minecraft amid school cancellation
Man sheds half his body weight, looks like a handsome model in just one year
Japan’s one-person bento box-sized rice cooker can give you freshly cooked rice at the office
We taste the new Japanese KitKat, aged in whisky barrels in Islay, Scotland
Japanese politicians want workers across country to have option for three-day weekends every week
Japanese restaurant from the Edo Period forced to close due to coronavirus pandemic
Official Hololive clear files now available at FamilyMart convenience stores【Pics】
Trio of thieves break into Japanese glasses store, foiled by old-timey cash register
Donald Trump parades around streets in Japan on the shoulders of Japanese supporters
Four photos, five years – A father’s beautiful pictures of his daughter growing up at Nara temple
7-Eleven under fire in Japan for mysterious holes in their onigiri rice balls
Cherry blossom forecast 2021 released! Sakura set to bloom early in Tokyo again this year
6 years of Pokémon anime, 13 years of One Piece manga free-to-watch/read online due to coronavirus
We tried making traditional Japanese sweets at home then had some fun with the leftovers
We bet you didn’t spot this hidden Catbus message in My Neighbor Totoro!