healthy
Our team of weight-watching middle aged guys see what they think of Lawson’s new ‘Delicious and guilt-free!’ fried chicken.
Who would have thought that tofu could be a colorful and healthy option for a Valentine’s treat?
Compared to coffee, this fine cup of vegetable and tuna dashi is cheaper and way more stylish.
So hungry you could devour an entire onsen resort’s worth of food? Time to make some noodles—with a twist!
McDonald’s Japan has been kind of hit and miss with its strategies in the last couple of years. And just when they start doing a few things REALLY right (complimentary socks and free smiles!) they come up with another concoction that’s got netizens dry-heaving.
This time, the offending item is the “healthy” chicken veggie patty burger, aka the “Mogumogu Mac” (mogumogu is an onomatopoeia that means chewing), which is designed specifically for kids.
The pursuit of beauty and the relentless quest to look younger is nothing new and has probably been around since the first human looked into a pool of water and realized that the disfigured beastly thing staring back was themselves. A couple of hundred thousand years and many medical technology breakthroughs later, we are spending massive amounts of money, time and pain on that quest to look younger and more beautiful. And last week a Japanese cosmetic company made an announcement that seemed to suggest they found the fountain of youth when they took 30 years off a 67-year-old man’s skin using a breakthrough technology.
Ever sit down to eat a meal and wish you knew how many calories or salt were in your food? Ever cooked a piece of meat or fish only to later wonder whether it might have gone bad? Last week, Chinese Internet giant Baidu announced that it has been working on a pair of wi-fi-enabled high-tech chopsticks that will be able to detect the nutritional makeup of the food it touches as well as warning consumers of any safety issues such as contaminants or expired food.
Living in Japan has done a lot to broaden my palate. For example, over the last 10 years my take on tofu has gone from “jello’s boring cousin” to “actually pretty good, especially with a little bit of sesame or spicy sauce.”
That said, I’m still not sold on soy milk. While the idea of popping open a soybean pod and finding delicious morsels of beef sounds like some sort of wonderful dreamland, the potential magic of bovine/bean cross-over doesn’t do much for me in reverse, and in general I’ll happily pass on drinkable soy.
Hoping to change my mind are two upcoming additions to soy giant Kikkoman’s line of flavored soy beverages: pear and cola.



















Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
These creative, fanciful post boxes from Japan will delight you in so many ways【Photos】
10 things you probably didn’t know about Pearl Harbor
Japanese cat Maru faces biggest dilemma yet: which tiny brown box to sit in
Chikawa beats out Evangelion and Super Mario to win Japan Character Award 2022
Japanese Cabinet to officially announce new romanization spelling recommendation next week
Is it rude to sing along at concerts in Japan? We ask a pro musician for his take
You can now visit a recreation of Evangelion’s Tokyo-3 and live there in miniature form in【Pics】
Chinese Air Pollution Expected to Cross Over to Western Japan
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
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Starbucks on a Shinkansen bullet train platform: 6 tips for using the automated store in Japan
Is this the most relaxing Starbucks in Japan?
Large amount of supposed human organs left in Osaka marketplace
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
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】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
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
Chikawa beats out Evangelion and Super Mario to win Japan Character Award 2022
Japanese Cabinet to officially announce new romanization spelling recommendation next week
Is it rude to sing along at concerts in Japan? We ask a pro musician for his take
You can now visit a recreation of Evangelion’s Tokyo-3 and live there in miniature form in【Pics】
Chinese Air Pollution Expected to Cross Over to Western Japan
Life-size Mewtwo, graffiti Pikachu welcome us to the newest Pokémon Center megastore in Shibuya
Hello Kitty Choco Egg figures are an adorable trip through three periods of Japanese pop culture【Pics】
Unique inclined elevator in Japan leads to a town that inspired Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away
Mr. Sato accosts award-winning actor Hideaki Ito【Interview】
Why you shouldn’t call this food “Hiroshimayaki” if you’re talking to people from Hiroshima
Gem hunting: A top Japanese activity more tourists need to know about
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements