We’ve been bringing you news of the BL craze in Japan, with cafés, books and even university courses featuring homoromantic male relationships, commonly referred to as Boys Love. With more and more people becoming exposed to the trend, what began as an underground sub-culture is becoming more well-known and popular, with men and women alike.
Now it seems the boys have gone mainstream, as stars of a major campaign for supermarket chain Ito Yokado. Only they’re not advertising beauty products or clothing lines. They’re advertising meat.
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Viral 3D ice creams land in Japan… but are they worth the hype?
Toyota City civil servant arrested for using government access to run a detective agency
Beautiful 3-D puzzle kit lets you build Ghibli’s Spirited Away bathhouse with no tools, glue【Pics】
Real-world Nausicaa Ghibli anime glider completes its final flight in Japan【Video】
What’s inside the McDonald’s Japan fukubukuro lucky bag for 2026?
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take “radio calisthenics” to an interesting new level
Totoro, Calcifer, other Ghibli stars returning as humidifiers ahead of Japan’s dry winter days【Pics】
Uniqlo Ukiyo-e Blue T-shirts: A cool-hued reinterpretation of some of Japan’s greatest paintings
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Japan considering raising international traveler departure tax even more than previously reported
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Shibuya’s Don Quijote?
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowd sizes in Nara?
China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning seems to be affecting Osaka’s Namba and Dotonbori neighborhoods
Japanese town suing resident for being a jerk
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
You can now buy a Japanese train station clock in Japan
Japanese police attempting to clamp down on “zombie cigarettes”
Tokyo’s Ueno Station has an unmanned noodle restaurant on its platform, and its no-joke good
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods and a rhinestone tumbler that costs 19,500 yen
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
Naturally brown-haired Osaka student sues government for forcing her to dye her hair black
Japanese government considering tripling departure taxes to combat overtourism
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
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
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】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
What’s inside the McDonald’s Japan fukubukuro lucky bag for 2026?
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take “radio calisthenics” to an interesting new level
Totoro, Calcifer, other Ghibli stars returning as humidifiers ahead of Japan’s dry winter days【Pics】
Uniqlo Ukiyo-e Blue T-shirts: A cool-hued reinterpretation of some of Japan’s greatest paintings
Japan considering raising international traveler departure tax even more than previously reported
Forget dog-earing and bookmarks that fall, make your own easy origami bookmark instead!
Duolingo to open first pop-up store Duomart in Japan for a very limited time next month
Japanese island with a population less than 10 is a hidden gem you won’t find in travel guides
Sanrio says, “Hello Kitty is not a cat.” Whaaa?
How good is this popular wooden onigiri mould, made by a Japanese rice specialist?
Sushi passed up by ramen in survey of foreign tourists’ favorite thing to eat in Japan, but why?
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan