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 awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Pokémon hot spring footbath opening in Japan this spring
Move aside, convenience store egg sando – there’s a better version of the iconic sandwich in Japan
Studio Ghibli passport cases are here to keep you company while you travel
Does Japan’s “Stinky but Tasty” tonkotsu ramen live up to its name?
Are Japanese convenience store sandwiches scamming us with their fillings?
Japan’s leading maker of giant cat heads needs your help!
Starbucks Japan releases the new Soupuccino, but is it everything it’s cracked up to be?
South Korean design company turns subway maps into beautiful artwork you can hang on your wall
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
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Lawson 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
Japanese government wants overseas anime market to roughly triple in 10 years, but are they crazy?
Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes
Japanese bento shop sells croquettes for 13 cents, but are they any good?
Final version of Sanrio: Beginning of Kawaii exhibition opens in Tokyo[Photos]
Japan’s popular bead bonsai kit is as beautiful as it is gruelling to make
Japan 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]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
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
Does Japan’s “Stinky but Tasty” tonkotsu ramen live up to its name?
Are Japanese convenience store sandwiches scamming us with their fillings?
Japan’s leading maker of giant cat heads needs your help!
Starbucks Japan releases the new Soupuccino, but is it everything it’s cracked up to be?
South Korean design company turns subway maps into beautiful artwork you can hang on your wall
The three ways to say “love” in Japanese, and when to use them
7-Eleven Japan releases a crazy new viral sandwich: Chocolate Sprinkles and Whipped Cream
Haruki Murakami, Uniqlo team up for T-shirt line saluting Japan’s most celebrated modern author
The secret undo codes for Japanese elevator floor buttons
2021 Salaryman Poetry Battle showcases some dark but hilarious poems
Japanese bento shop sells croquettes for 13 cents, but are they any good?
Japan’s new canned chu-hai with fresh lemon slice: disappointing gimmick or drink revelation?
No, that’s not French bread, it’s Japan’s crazy-big gobo!