grooming
125-year-old Tokyo school wants its boys to think of proper grooming as part of their “gentlemen’s education.”
Sure, planning what to buy at Summer Comiket is important, but so is planning what/how to wash ahead of time.
Verdict handed down in multi-year fight between facial hair and Municipal Transportation Bureau.
After undergoing a three year transformation, he advocates going to great lengths to be popular with women.
No need to slay dragons or delve dungeons! You can now purchase Japan’s Tweezers of Legend with a few clicks of your mouse.
There are few things worse than greasy game controllers. As much as we enjoy snacking while playing our favourite games, doing so can be a recipe for sticky, slippery disaster, so the mere sight of our friends reaching for our Wiimotes or DualShock controllers with their Cheeto-encrusted fingers can be enough to send shivers our spines.
Ordering your pals to go and wash up before handling your precious pads might not foster the most hospitable gaming environment, but thankfully there’s a way to make the situation not only slightly less awkward, but suitably more video game themed: by handing your pal a Game Boy cartridge-shaped bar of soap while pointing them in the direction of the bathroom.
If there are any small children in the room, now might be a good time to send them to bed or off on an errand. We can’t guarantee that they’ll sleep a wink tonight after seeing this “Nintendog” poodle with its fur dyed and made up to look like Yoshi from the Super Mario series.
It’s been said that Christmas in Japan is for lovers, and that’s bad news for someone like our Mr. Sato. That’s not to say he’s unlucky with the ladies, but whenever he goes in for that first kiss his prickly stubble never fails to repel them.
However, Christmas is also a time for miracles, and while walking through the Akihabara streets last week, a blue Oasis appeared before him. Staffed by several sexy women clad in cute blue Santa outfits stood the Gillette Skin Diagnosis Event.
Right now, the temperature and humidity in Tokyo are in a race to see which can climb faster. Yes, Japan’s hot, sticky midsummer is on the way, and for most of us, the deodorant we put on before we leave the house isn’t going to last more than a few short hours before it washes away in the rivers of sweat pouring off of our bodies.
Thankfully, men’s grooming product maker Gatsby is here to help with their deodorizing sheets. One of our reporters recently tried out several items from the company’s curiously extensive lineup of “body paper,” as the products are called in Japan, and then gave us his impressions on which is the best to keep yourself from smelling like the locker room after the annual joint training session of the varsity Greco Roman wrestling team and hot yoga club.
We’ve talked before about how Gari Gari-kun, the popsicle/shaved ice hybrid, is among the most refreshing treats produced by modern society, especially during the hot, humid summer months.
But Japan is a country where a daily bath, as opposed to just a shower, is a way of life. Since most people bathe at night, this presents a problem if you’ve just cooled yourself off with a nice after-dinner Gari Gari-kun and don’t want that feeling to go to waste from soaking in a pool of hot water. Thankfully, toy manufacturer Bandai has a whole lineup of Gari Gari-kun themed bath salts, based on the some of its most popular popsicle flavors, such as soda (really a mix of apple and citrus), pear, and corn…wait, corn?!
Perhaps we should start at the beginning.



















Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
What’s inside Starbucks Japan’s fukubukuro lucky bag for 2026?
Japanese mom’s sketchbook of amazing anime character designs from 50 years ago amazes daughter
We followed Tokyo’s mystery walking map and ended up creating our own bar-hopping adventure
Umamusume anime girl plushie recalled for having parts she absolutely should not have【Pics】
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
Creating a cat island – Japanese organization plans to buy island turn it into kitty paradise
Japanese avoiding domestic travel as foreign tourists increase, possibly creating vicious cycle
Final Fantasy and KFC team up for new collaboration meal, Colonel Sanders/Chocobo figure
The Purple Lucky Bag from Village Vanguard is an extra-large waste of money
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Princess Mononoke magnets return just in time to treat yourself to awesome anime decorations
Top Japanese cosplayer Enako returns to Comiket after 6 years, creates mayhem with admirers
Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.
We ate sushi made from Japan’s most expensive tuna ever【Taste test】
Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
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】
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
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
Human washing machine pods coming to Japanese hotels【Photos】
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
Creating a cat island – Japanese organization plans to buy island turn it into kitty paradise
Japanese avoiding domestic travel as foreign tourists increase, possibly creating vicious cycle
Final Fantasy and KFC team up for new collaboration meal, Colonel Sanders/Chocobo figure
The Purple Lucky Bag from Village Vanguard is an extra-large waste of money
Sanrio lucky bag gives you cute My Melody and Kumori merch, all your money back in burgers coupons
Say hello to Japan’s new stationmaster cat!【Video】
Is real Tokyo as dangerous as the Yakuza video games? Chapter 3: Crazy Town
Magical train ride through Japan’s autumn leaves is like travelling to a different world【Video】
Pokémon Lego kits are finally on their way!【Photos】
Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.
“Denki Anma”: The Japanese traditional torment that you’ll be glad stays in Japan
You can now buy a Japanese train station clock in Japan