Ibaraki
Can the collective Internet come up with a possible solution, or just crack a bunch of monkey jokes?
With sakura season done in the Tokyo area, it’s time to switch from pink to blue and the 4.5 million Nemophila flowers of this amazing park.
This promotional video series will leave you with chills, planning your next trip to Japan
Muscles, hot springs and stunning scenery combine to create some memorable slow motion bathing experiences.
Everyone notices the girlish clothes, but those with a trained eye have also spotted the boyish wings.
Chef Yuji Ota shows us how to turn McDonald’s food into Ribollita, Carrozza, and Gattò di Patate with three easy recipes.
Last week, we discussed the possible etymology of Kinugawa (“Angry Demon River”), which has been the scene of intense flooding in eastern Japan this month. While the overflowing river has devastated the surrounding towns and landscapes in its wake, a single building in Joso City, Ibaraki Prefecture has been gaining particular attention for being the only structure within sight to stand firmly in place in the face of a deluge of muddy water.
When disaster zones are inaccessible by ground—such as the areas of Japan hit by widespread and deadly flooding last week—news broadcasters typically take to the air, relaying footage from helicopters. In the city of Joso, Ibaraki, news helicopters captured dramatic footage of rescue teams winching people to safety from rooftops on Thursday after the Kinugawa River burst its banks.
But helicopters can only get so close, and so authorities in Japan are now using drones to capture footage in disaster areas. The drones can fly closer to disaster-hit areas than a manned helicopter, offering a different and dramatic perspective.
And drones are not only being used to survey these areas hit by flooding and landslides; they are also starting to be used in rescue missions.
The flooding in Japan has been absolutely awful, without a doubt, and the news has rightly been focused on the resulting devastation. But there is one aspect of the flooding that’s become a bit of a hot topic online, aside from all the rescues and damage. The overflowing river has an…unusual name: Kinu River or the Angry Demon River.
Obviously, the name has proven to be quite apt this year, but it sparked a lot of discussion online as people have wondered: Where the heck did this name come from?!
Coverage of the heavy rains and typhoon that have swept through Japan this week have dominated much of the news in the country. Today, TV screens were filled with reports on the devastating flooding in Ibaraki Prefecture, where waters burst through the banks and flooded the city of Joso. Images and videos of rescue operations have been widely broadcast on TV, and the news is nothing less than shocking for many.
But one Twitter user saved from the waters by Japan’s Self-Defense Forces wasn’t too scared to tweet photos of his rescue while still inside the helicopter!
Yuru-kyara, or regional promotional mascots, are so ubiquitous in Japan it can sometimes be hard to recall which one’s which, where they’re from, or even what type of brand or product they’re promoting.
Over 1,000 mascots represent different regions in Japan, which means the need to leave a lasting impression is a constant driving force in the creation of cute products like the sweet puppy above. Can you guess which region he represents and the even more unusual place where he can be found?
We don’t think we have to tell you that when some lunatic wearing a sandwich board starts telling you that the earth will open up and swallow humanity whole if you don’t do seven Hail Marys, constantly chant “Yahweh,” and transfer a small donation exceeding 10 dollars to his PayPal account right now, you can probably take that prediction with a grain of salt.
But, when it comes to earthquakes, there are actually some pretty solid, observable predictors that one may be coming soon. And, holy crap you guys, there are a bunch of those happening right now in Japan and I for one am starting to get worried.
MOST POPULAR
Now
Japan’s best train pass, the Japan Rail Pass, finally being made available for purchase online
Our male otaku tries Japan’s anime heroine mascara, learns what it’s like to be shojo manga star
Monster girl brothel anime gets kicked off of yet another Japanese TV station
Foreign workers respond to survey about changes they’d like to see in the Japanese workplace
Did the Akira manga predict the coronavirus epidemic?
These apartments are crazy-small even by Tokyo standards, and super-popular with young people
Kyoto starts new “Empty” tourism campaign to attract tourists during coronavirus outbreak
New Japanese smartphone prohibits users from taking naked selfies
Free “Language Learning with Netflix” extension makes studying Japanese almost too easy
What happens when you accidentally put a gyudon beef bowl meal through the washing machine
Weekly
Can you solve this crazy difficult, super satisfying math puzzle from a Japanese middle schooler?
Japan’s one-person bento box-sized rice cooker can give you freshly cooked rice at the office
A warning to think twice before taking photos of a crab dinner lying in a Japanese subway station
Japanese man berates American woman for “crime” against taiyaki, ends up converted to her ways- These apartments are crazy-small even by Tokyo standards, and super-popular with young people
Japanese fans ecstatic to see Takakao Matsu perform at Oscars with Idina Menzel and 9 other Elsas
Can a curry shop legally ban you if you don’t finish your rice? A Japanese lawyer chimes in
We test the new two-in-one curry rice cooker from Japan that’s got everyone talking【Video】
Controversial My Hero Academia character gets new name, comes with risk of yet another controversy- Japan’s best train pass, the Japan Rail Pass, finally being made available for purchase online
Monthly
Japan goes beyond rice cookers with new curry rice cooker, the kitchen gadget we need right now- Japan’s one-person bento box-sized rice cooker can give you freshly cooked rice at the office
My Hero Academia creator, publisher make official apologies for controversial character name- Can you solve this crazy difficult, super satisfying math puzzle from a Japanese middle schooler?
Out-of-business Tokyo McDonald’s gets brutal but kind sendoff from rival Burger King branch- A warning to think twice before taking photos of a crab dinner lying in a Japanese subway station
Demon-slaying Dojigiri, one of Japan’s Five Swords Under Heaven, now on display at Kasuga Shrine- Japanese man berates American woman for “crime” against taiyaki, ends up converted to her ways
- Controversial My Hero Academia character gets new name, comes with risk of yet another controversy
Here’s what happened when our biggest male otaku tried out Japan’s new Manga Genic eyeliner【Pics】
Yearly
Adult Cream Pie coming to McDonald’s Japan- Japan goes beyond rice cookers with new curry rice cooker, the kitchen gadget we need right now
Japanese cosplay model shows off thighs, but fans’ eyes are on her Nintendo 64 controller grip
Pokémon fan learns the startling truth about the Wooloo plushie- Free “Language Learning with Netflix” extension makes studying Japanese almost too easy
- Japan’s one-person bento box-sized rice cooker can give you freshly cooked rice at the office
- My Hero Academia creator, publisher make official apologies for controversial character name
- Can you solve this crazy difficult, super satisfying math puzzle from a Japanese middle schooler?
We taste the Adult Cream Pie from McDonald’s Japan- Out-of-business Tokyo McDonald’s gets brutal but kind sendoff from rival Burger King branch
RECOMMENDED STORIES
These apartments are crazy-small even by Tokyo standards, and super-popular with young people
Kyoto starts new “Empty” tourism campaign to attract tourists during coronavirus outbreak
New Japanese smartphone prohibits users from taking naked selfies
Free “Language Learning with Netflix” extension makes studying Japanese almost too easy
What happens when you accidentally put a gyudon beef bowl meal through the washing machine
Beyond rice balls: How to make an edible onigiri rice cat【Video】
Wage hell — Japanese office worker reveals soul-crushing past paycheck for 171 hours of overtime
Mount Fuji plans to start charging compulsory fee to climbers
Man sees figure clinging to bus on highway in Japan, immediately calls police 【Video】
Starbucks Sakura Frappuccino blooms in Japan 【Taste Test】
Cherry blossoms blooming in Tokyo right now! The super-early Mr. Sato sakura party【Photos】
The three ways to say “love” in Japanese, and when to use them
-
