insect
Local entomophiles are sure to be enchanted by this beetle which is equally split male-female down its body the long way.
Recent studies have been suggesting that the human race would be far better off adopting an insect diet in order to preserve the environment. However, anytime we see a culture who partakes in edible insects they always look incredibly unappetizing.
Why is insect the one food that people refuse to cut up when eating? When I order a salad the restaurant doesn’t toss a head of lettuce on my table, and yet order a plate of crickets and it’d be a miracle if they even pull the antennae off before serving.
Still, if mass insect consumption is on the horizon and chefs refuse to make them not look like insects while eating, we’re going to have to get used to it. That’s exactly why a couple of our writers, Felix Sayaka and Ikuko Kawamura went down to Nong Inlay in Shinjuku to try out some caterpillars along with some other dishes out of the Shan State of Myanmar.
It’s summer again in Japan which means it’s time for nature’s little nightmares to come pay us a visit. I’m talking of course about the Japanese giant hornet (ōsuzumebachi) a four-by-six-centimeter (1.5 x 2.4 inch) poisonous flying insect which kills a handful of people every year and has a generally bad demeanor.
This is great news for those who enjoy making alcohol out of them, and bad news for those who have encountered them before and probably still require counseling. However, this year, one Twitter using bug enthusiast is showing us to stop worrying and love the deadly bugs by making one their own pet on a string.
Stag beetles have a special place in Japan. Looking like little monsters, children love to collect, raise, and maybe even battle them with other bugs. An entire industry is built around these little critters in the country.
An incredibly rare stag beetle will be put on display in Chiba starting 6 October. This beetle has the head of a male and the body of a female and may be the first ever of its kind discovered.
According to teacher Toshio Shimizu who works on the exhibit, stag beetles that are sexually divided from left to right are common, but a cleanly separated head and body hermaphrodite is a once in a lifetime find.
It appears that the fastest growing field of robotics is cockroaches. Once thought to be the domain of Roachbot and Roachbot 2.0, researchers from the university of North Carolina have raised the bar further with what has got to be the first functioning cyborg cockroach.
MOST POPULAR
Now
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Japanese restaurant chain serves Dragon Ball donuts and Senzu Beans this spring
7 hilarious/inexplicable Japan moments in South Park
Tokyo street sweets: The must-snack treats of Nakano’s Refutei
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
16 Things I Learned From Dressing in Drag: Confessions of a One-night Crossdresser
Interactive bikini-clad Japanese idol video: Perfect for those who like to watch, those who don’t
How to make curry in a rice cooker with zero prep work and no water[Recipe]
New upcycle project from Kyoto turns kimonos from the 1950s and ’60s into high-fashion dresses
11 different ways to say “father” in Japanese
Weekly
- Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Highest Starbucks in Japan set to open this spring in the Tokyo sky
Tokyo Skytree turns pink for the cherry blossom season- Japanese restaurant chain serves Dragon Ball donuts and Senzu Beans this spring
Yakuzen ramen restaurant in Tokyo is very different to a yakuza ramen restaurant
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 1]
Japan has only one airport named after a samurai, so let’s check out Kochi Ryoma【Photos】
Japanese drugstore sells onigiri at pre-stupid era prices, but how do they compare to 7-Eleven?
Burning through cash just to throw things away tops list of headaches when moving house in Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Monthly
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]- Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals- Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
Yearly
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]
- Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
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
RECOMMENDED STORIES
16 Things I Learned From Dressing in Drag: Confessions of a One-night Crossdresser
Interactive bikini-clad Japanese idol video: Perfect for those who like to watch, those who don’t
How to make curry in a rice cooker with zero prep work and no water[Recipe]
New upcycle project from Kyoto turns kimonos from the 1950s and ’60s into high-fashion dresses
11 different ways to say “father” in Japanese
The fish in rural Fukui that rivals Japan’s most auspicious sea bream
A heavenly trip to Japan’s Demon Island in the Seto Inland Sea【Photos】
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Lobster ramen in Tokyo is amazingly good and amazingly cheap【Photos】
“H” means a few things in Japan, which is why we mistook this vending machine for something else
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 1]
Tokyo sakura report: Why Shinjuku Gyoen beats Ueno Park for hanami cherry blossom viewing
Japan’s craziest burger chain takes menchi katsu to new extreme levels
-
