innovation
Can’t choose just one picture for your cosplayer card? Now you can have as many as you want with a new app aimed at reinventing the business card!
Aisa Mijeno, a young Filipino engineer and environmental advocate, has conceptualized a product that is not only environmentally friendly, but will provide basic lighting to the less-privileged: a lamp that runs on salt water!
Over a year and a half after Hurricane Sandy ravaged New England, some people are still without permanent housing. The poorest populations in New York have been impacted the most, dependent on aid long after the rest of the city moved on. Several major companies got together to assist in the effort for aid, but Toyota had a novel contribution: efficiency.
Toyota sent experts to New York for eight weeks to help Food Bank of New York’s partner organization, Metro World Child, improve their methods, thereby helping to get food donations to as many people as possible using as few labor hours as possible. The improvements meant that the same resources were used to provide food to more families faster.





Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Tokyo government organizes food truck event to clear out delinquent/homeless teen gathering area
This Japanese vending machine doesn’t sell drinks, but you can buy drinks through it
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
Super Mario teams up with JR Kyushu for the perfect power-up steamed bun snack
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
Umamusume food and drinks dash into real world at Family Mart convenience stores[Taste test]
We try the Jack & Coke canned cocktail to see if it’s any better than mixing one yourself
Saitama is home to the best strawberries in Japan that you’ve probably never even heard of
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Komachi Shokudo: Japanese mum’s-style cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Tokyo
The top 10 graduation songs in Japan as chosen by current Japanese high school students
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
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
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
Super Mario teams up with JR Kyushu for the perfect power-up steamed bun snack
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
Umamusume food and drinks dash into real world at Family Mart convenience stores[Taste test]
We try the Jack & Coke canned cocktail to see if it’s any better than mixing one yourself
Saitama is home to the best strawberries in Japan that you’ve probably never even heard of
Back to the Future gets anime/manga artist makeover with chibi Marty and handsome Biff【Pics】
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
We visit the full-scale Evangelion statue in Kyoto and particularly delight in the food tie-ins
Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki releases new artworks, still wants to make movies
The etiquette rules for visiting Shinto shrines in Japan