Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
horce racing
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).
Kyoto Whopper divides customers at Burger King Japan
Yakuza vending machines coming to real-world Tokyo neighborhood that inspired Like a Dragon games
Chinese internet unusually upset by “most usual Chinese face” composite
Children’s slippers stolen in night at Japanese preschool, police identify weasel who did it【Vid】
Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke teams up with Foxfire for outdoor apparel collaboration【Photos】
Berserk T-shirts coming to Uniqlo for launch of new Manga Curation line【Photos】
Krispy Kreme releases new zodiac doughnuts for the Year of the Snake in Japan
Kyoto becomes City of Yokai, with Night Parade of One Hundred Demons festival this autumn
Forbidden area at Japanese mountaintop shrine opens to the public for first time in 400 years
Japanese ramen restaurant serves noodles with a heartwarming side of history
One of Japan’s most beautiful hot spring towns announces new limits on number of day trippersGhibli’s Princess Mononoke teams up with Foxfire for outdoor apparel collaboration【Photos】Berserk T-shirts coming to Uniqlo for launch of new Manga Curation line【Photos】
Mario Kart Happy Meal toys arrive at McDonald’s Japan, and SoraNews24 has the whole set!【Photos】
After cancelling Halloween, Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood cancels New Year’s Eve too
Tokyo park’s sea of clouds, nighttime illumination, and cosplay days make now perfect time to visit
Samurai ritual suicide contest cancelled by organizer in west Japan
Japanese job-quitting service contacted by other job-quitting service because employee wants to quit
Flying dango: Unique tourist site where Japanese sweets are flown to you over a gorge
American jackass tourist arrested after carving name into gate at Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine【Video】
Nintendo’s controller capsule toys are so cool, even the machine you buy them from is awesome【Pics】One of Japan’s most beautiful hot spring towns announces new limits on number of day trippers
Tokyo Disneyland loses top-attendance crown for Japanese theme parks for second year in a rowGhibli’s Princess Mononoke teams up with Foxfire for outdoor apparel collaboration【Photos】
Ghibli Park debuts first winter illumination display with Howl’s Moving Castle theme
Pringles releases a limited-edition sweet flavour in Japan
Sanrio and magical girl anime PreCure join forces for new merch line【Photos】Japanese job-quitting service contacted by other job-quitting service because employee wants to quitAfter cancelling Halloween, Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood cancels New Year’s Eve too
What’s the deal with akebi, the perfectly purple, alien-like fruit that’s in season now in Japan?
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengers
[Deleted] Article written for April Fool’s Day 2018
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Studio Ghibli releases free-download board game — Here’s how to play it without reading Japanese
Berserk T-shirts coming to Uniqlo for launch of new Manga Curation line【Photos】
Krispy Kreme releases new zodiac doughnuts for the Year of the Snake in Japan
Kyoto becomes City of Yokai, with Night Parade of One Hundred Demons festival this autumn
Forbidden area at Japanese mountaintop shrine opens to the public for first time in 400 years
Japanese ramen restaurant serves noodles with a heartwarming side of history
Should you warm up your convenience store onigiri rice balls in the microwave?【Taste test】
A visit to T-CAT, Tokyo’s often forgotten City Air Terminal【Photos】
Taking the Kyoto overnight bus for the first time
Japan’s ultra-classy overnight bus gives you your own sleeping pod【Photos】
Japanese public toilet in Tokyo has windows that change colour when you use it
Japanese job-quitting service contacted by other job-quitting service because employee wants to quit
Japanese women reveal how far they’ve gone in “stalking” a guy they like in survey
Flying dango: Unique tourist site where Japanese sweets are flown to you over a gorge
Yokohama restaurant serves fried axolotl, along with giant isopod, camel, and crocodile