Nogizaka 46 romance simulator is an odd mix of daydream fantasy and unintentional cynicism.
J-Pop (Page 7)
Amid tension between countries in East Asia, techno dance group World Order travels to China to promote their message of peace in their latest music video.
You can probably tell which stations they’ll be played at, but can you guess which songs have been chosen?
Suit tossed out of Tokyo district court in rare win for idols’ romantic freedom.
The five members of the popular group appeared sombre during their special television appearance last night.
Reports indicate that the five-man vocal group’s 25-year stint in the Japanese spotlight is about to come to a close.
Are you a fan of Kyary Pamyu Pamyu? Then perhaps you’ll like her new “little sister” Hamada Bamyu Bamyu, Japan’s latest quirky pop sensation.
With gigantic casts of characters who are groomed to become fan favorites, what’s not to love? Did your favorite idol anime make the list?
J-pop vocalists dress up as Miss Claus.
The famed Hollywood director was ready to set his phaser to “idol.”
Because why stop at 40 pieces when you could order 48, or just keep going into quadruple digits to really support your favorite Japanese idol singer?
Java sparrows are pretty popular pets in Japan, where they’re called buncho. But even though buncho literally means “literature bird,” some of the cute little creatures apparently have more of a gift for music, like in this video of one Java sparrow dancing adorably to the sounds of one of Japan’s most popular rock bands and singing along like he’s at karaoke.
The world’s biggest virtual idol is returning to the U.S. on a new concert tour, and also making her Canadian performance debut.
In Japan, there truly is an all-singing, all-dancing “idol” group for everything. From plus-sized beauties to macho men and octogenarians, if you’ve got a unique message and a catchy tune, there’ll be a niche audience out there waiting to share your next video and dance along with glow sticks at your next performance.
Just when we thought the happy-go-lucky, free-for-all nature of the amateur idol world had no boundaries, it seems there is one line that can’t be crossed: schoolgirls and religion. Meet the “Num-Num Girls”, a Buddhism-based schoolgirl pop group that has been shut down for becoming too popular.
It’s widely known in Japan that idol singers are often contractually prohibited from engaging in romantic relationships. The reasoning goes that if word gets out that an idol singer has a boyfriend, her fans will feel betrayed that she isn’t solely devoted to her role as a musician and entertainer, and thus stop buying her CDs (there’s also the unspoken implication that openly dating someone will destroy the fantasies of individual fans that would like to date the singer themselves).
A signed contract isn’t always enough to keep young love and hormones in check, though. And when you consider that idols are almost always attractive, outgoing young women, it seems like it should be only a matter of time until they find a guy they fancy out of their swarms of would-be suitors. That’s why in addition to legal pledges not to date, the Japanese entertainment industry has a number of sneaky tactics up its sleeve to prevent its idols from falling in love or going on a single date.
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Silicone testicle covers banned from Japanese sauna following cups being left behind and on shelves
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Mister Donut unveils new sakura doughnuts for cherry blossom season 2026
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Chance to play Tetris on a massive staircase in Kyoto Station coming in March
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Visiting Japan’s one-and-only, and only-for-a-limited-time, Dragon Ball noodle restaurant[Photos]
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Weekly
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Sakura Festival in Chiyoda mixes illuminations, boats, music, and Rilakkuma in the heart of Tokyo
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Viral Japanese cheesecake from Osaka has a lesser known rival called Aunt Wanda
Monthly
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026- Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami 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]
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
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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]
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Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
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No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
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Japanese government planning higher ticket prices for foreign tourists at Tokyo National Museum
Visiting Japan’s one-and-only, and only-for-a-limited-time, Dragon Ball noodle restaurant[Photos]
Daiso unveils new official mascot, Daizo the elephant
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
The results are in! One Piece World Top 100 characters chosen in global poll
One Piece creator has hidden secret of anime treasure’s identity in chest at bottom of real-world ocean
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 2]
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
How to do Japanese karaoke the right way: Six tips for newbies, mic hogs and nervous singers
A nearly 400-year-old Kyoto temple ordinarily closed to public is accepting visitors this summer
Starbucks Japan has a limited-edition candle…that hasn’t sold out yet
Studio Ghibli theme park announces VERY low daily attendance caps, start date for ticket sales
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