life
You, too, can have an all-you-can-eat experience with a timer and the determination to enjoy yourself.
These short, sweet videos have Japan’s recently retired baseball star play the (board) game of life while musing on his real lived experiences.
Japanese people dish on things foreigners told them that they’d never realized before about their home country.
Episode 1 of our brand new series, Ask Mr. Sato, is here! Join us at the link below to listen to the great man’s sagely advice!
Takahashi Toshiyuki, better known as Takahashi Meijin, is a renowned gaming personality in Japan. One of his famous quotes, however, says, “Don’t play more than an hour of games each day.” This sounds like a mother nagging her game-addicted child and perhaps not too convincing coming from someone who plays games for a living. You might wonder, “Why is this guy telling me that I should only play for an hour each day when he probably plays all day long? How am I going to be a world Pokémon champion if I don’t play enough?” However, it appears that there is more to Takahashi’s quote.
Electronics giant LG has announced that its line of “HomeChat”-enabled appliances — a refrigerator, washing machine, and Lightwave oven that can be communicated with and operated via messaging service Line — is now available to buy in its native South Korea.
By using the popular smartphone app, users can chat with their various gizmos as if they were ordinary human contacts, asking them questions as well as providing additional information to alter their functions. Thanks to the technology built into the appliances with which the app communicates, it’s possible not just to remotely check the temperature inside the fridge or put on a load of laundry, but to find out how many beers you have or delay your usual wash cycle by 30 minutes simply by telling the machine you’ll be home late.
As we’ve talked about before, overtime is pretty common in Japan. At a startling number of companies, it is not considered in the least bit unusual to find staff, who are contracted and only being paid to be there between 8:30 am and 6 pm, still at their desks until 9, 10, or 11 at night. Others may leave the office a little earlier, but are often wrangled into drinking with the boss or entertaining clients until all hours. Others still even work on weekends and, returning home late at night, only see their family while they’re sleeping.
Dutiful partners may grin and bear it when their husband or wife is absent from home for such enormous stretches of time, but kids only speak the truth. Like this little one who, on her father returning home seemingly for the first time in a long time, greeted him like you might a guest or customer to a restaurant…
MOST POPULAR
Now
Stunning central Japan wisteria festival is like a purple fantasy straight out of a Ghibli movie
10 awesome Tokyo cherry blossom festivals and experiences for this year’s sakura season
Nine amazing off-the-beaten-path cherry blossom spots in Japan for yaezakura and shidarezakura
Godiva now makes tofu in Japan, and sakura chocolate tofu too![Taste test]
Umamusume food and drinks dash into real world at Family Mart convenience stores[Taste test]
Universal Studios’ Sailor Moon theme park attraction is finally coming to America
Sega’s Like a Dragon yakuza teaches “useless” English, let’s use it to learn some useful Japanese
The Place Where Totoro Was Born: New Studio Ghibli book includes art by Hayao Miyazaki’s wife
Studio Ghibli unveils new Rollbahn notebook in honour of Howl’s Moving Castle
“Denki Anma”: The Japanese traditional torment that you’ll be glad stays in Japan
Weekly
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Tokyo government organizes food truck event to clear out delinquent/homeless teen gathering area
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan- Nine amazing off-the-beaten-path cherry blossom spots in Japan for yaezakura and shidarezakura
When will the cherry blossoms reach full bloom in Japan this year?[Forecast]
7-Eleven Japan’s giant fried chicken skewer would be too big to eat, so it’s really for cuddling
Monthly
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026- 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- Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
- Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino- Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
- Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
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
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
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
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Universal Studios’ Sailor Moon theme park attraction is finally coming to America
Sega’s Like a Dragon yakuza teaches “useless” English, let’s use it to learn some useful Japanese
The Place Where Totoro Was Born: New Studio Ghibli book includes art by Hayao Miyazaki’s wife
Studio Ghibli unveils new Rollbahn notebook in honour of Howl’s Moving Castle
“Denki Anma”: The Japanese traditional torment that you’ll be glad stays in Japan
Everyday Japanese names that make English speakers chuckle
Japan’s Mos Burger creates tempura rice bowl bento boxed lunch burger, but not for its menu
Studio Ghibli releases new batch of Line app anime stamps, this time for Kiki’s Delivery Service!
Netflix announces new My Melody/Kuromi Sanrio stop-motion series【Video】
Mos Burger opens new online store dedicated just to frozen rice burger bulk buys
This Japanese vending machine doesn’t sell drinks, but you can buy drinks through it
How much is Amazon Japan’s lowest-rated currency calculator worth in yen?
Why you should be adding Calpis to your beer in Japan
Is the new Shinkansen Train Desk ticket worth it?
-
