Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
jrock
As western stars who’ve been in the entertainment industry since we were nippers could tell you, reinvention is the cornerstone of a long and successful career. Just like Madonna and David Bowie, Japan’s mega-popular musical powerhouse Gackt loves a good makeover, and his newest incarnation has gotten Japanese netizens all riled up and excited. Why? Because he looks like a total badass!
For hardcore fans of a certain band or TV show, part of the fun is amassing a collection of tie-in products designed to meet your exact needs and interests. Nowhere does this ring true more than in Japan, where geeking out over a variety of goods relating to your most beloved anime or music group is basically all part and parcel of fandom.
But sometimes the companies who produce these products tends to go a little too far, attempting to dupe devoted fans out of their hard-earned cash in exchange for, well, a heap of junk. Read on to view seven of the worst offenders!
Singer, musician and occasional actor/author/jack of all trades Gackt has had a long and successful career on the Japanese music scene, and also enjoys considerable popularity abroad. During an overseas trip recently, he encountered an unsettling example of what he claims to be blatant racial discrimination in a Parisian hotel. But just what happened?
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Pikachu to cuddle with kimono-clad beauty on Tokyo street as part of flower art event
Kinotake Mother AI developed to study Japan’s divide between chocolate cookie snacks
7-Eleven Japan now sells… hot takoyaki!
McDonald’s Japan now has Hello Kitty and Pompompurin drinks on the menu
We eat at three Japanese family restaurants to find the one with the best-value breakfast
Sega’s Like a Dragon yakuza teaches “useless” English, let’s use it to learn some useful Japanese
New Pokémon Center to open in Kyoto with exclusive goods featuring adorable Maiko Pikachu
Kyoto samurai house wants to share its history of seppuku, torture and gold coins with visitorsWisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Lawson convenience store at popular tourist site is one of the most unusual in Japan
Japanese trains in Sapporo might be better than those in Tokyo, thanks to one special featureInjuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Japanese government wants overseas anime market to roughly triple in 10 years, but are they crazy?
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
Japanese bento shop sells croquettes for 13 cents, but are they any good?
Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration eventsWisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
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
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
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
McDonald’s Japan now has Hello Kitty and Pompompurin drinks on the menu
We eat at three Japanese family restaurants to find the one with the best-value breakfast
Sega’s Like a Dragon yakuza teaches “useless” English, let’s use it to learn some useful Japanese
New Pokémon Center to open in Kyoto with exclusive goods featuring adorable Maiko Pikachu
Kyoto samurai house wants to share its history of seppuku, torture and gold coins with visitors
Real dry bonsai trees coming to Japanese capsule toy vending machines【Photos】
Yoshinoya invites you to give the gift of beef bowls this Mother’s Day
Japan’s most popular maid cafe, Akiba Zettai Ryoiki, opens new “Maid Cafe Winery” in Akihabara
Japan’s lowest underpass, where you have to duck under the train tracks【Video】
Slayers cafe opening in Tokyo and Osaka brings food of the fantasy anime to real life【Photos】
We visit the full-scale Evangelion statue in Kyoto and particularly delight in the food tie-ins
A Kyoto factory vending machine sells gourmet mystery meals at bargain prices
Our Japanese reporter’s encounter with American school lunch