Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
lighters
If you’ve been hanging around the Internet as long as we have, there’s a good chance you’ve seen it all–or almost all. From sleepy cats to pandagators, it sometimes seems that there’s not much left to surprise us, and then a Japanese commercial comes along and proves us wrong!
Jii Lighters aren’t particularly revolutionary in design–they’re just electric lighters that can be charged via USB–but when it comes to marketing, we think they may be light years ahead of the competition.
One of Japan’s most beautiful hot spring towns announces new limits on number of day trippers
Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke teams up with Foxfire for outdoor apparel collaboration【Photos】
Mario Kart Happy Meal toys arrive at McDonald’s Japan, and SoraNews24 has the whole set!【Photos】
American jackass tourist arrested after carving name into gate at Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine【Video】
Flying dango: Unique tourist site where Japanese sweets are flown to you over a gorge
Made In Japan Fender Limited Edition Hello Kitty Stratocaster now on sale in Japan
Samurai ritual suicide contest cancelled by organizer in west Japan
Tokyo park’s sea of clouds, nighttime illumination, and cosplay days make now perfect time to visit
Domino’s Japan has all-you-can-eat pizza isn’t an Internet rumor, but it is hard to find
Sanrio and magical girl anime PreCure join forces for new merch line【Photos】Sanrio and magical girl anime PreCure join forces for new merch line【Photos】One of Japan’s most beautiful hot spring towns announces new limits on number of day trippersGhibli’s Princess Mononoke teams up with Foxfire for outdoor apparel collaboration【Photos】
After cancelling Halloween, Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood cancels New Year’s Eve too
Japanese job-quitting service contacted by other job-quitting service because employee wants to quit
New Ghibli papercraft kit gives you a little Princess Mononoke forest on your desk【Photos】
Tokyo restaurant isn’t kidding about the name of its overflowing rare wagyu-ju【Photos】
Beautiful Japanese garden green tea crepes waiting in Tokyo’s historical Asakusa neighborhood
Ghibli Park debuts first winter illumination display with Howl’s Moving Castle themeTokyo park’s sea of clouds, nighttime illumination, and cosplay days make now perfect time to visit
Nintendo’s controller capsule toys are so cool, even the machine you buy them from is awesome【Pics】
Tokyo Disneyland loses top-attendance crown for Japanese theme parks for second year in a rowGhibli Park debuts first winter illumination display with Howl’s Moving Castle theme
Pringles releases a limited-edition sweet flavour in Japan
What’s the deal with akebi, the perfectly purple, alien-like fruit that’s in season now in Japan?Sanrio and magical girl anime PreCure join forces for new merch line【Photos】One of Japan’s most beautiful hot spring towns announces new limits on number of day trippersGhibli’s Princess Mononoke teams up with Foxfire for outdoor apparel collaboration【Photos】After cancelling Halloween, Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood cancels New Year’s Eve tooJapanese job-quitting service contacted by other job-quitting service because employee wants to quit
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengers
[Deleted] Article written for April Fool’s Day 2018
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Studio Ghibli releases free-download board game — Here’s how to play it without reading Japanese
Made In Japan Fender Limited Edition Hello Kitty Stratocaster now on sale in Japan
Samurai ritual suicide contest cancelled by organizer in west Japan
Tokyo park’s sea of clouds, nighttime illumination, and cosplay days make now perfect time to visit
Domino’s Japan has all-you-can-eat pizza isn’t an Internet rumor, but it is hard to find
Sanrio and magical girl anime PreCure join forces for new merch line【Photos】
This Nara workshop has been making deer crackers for more than 100 years and offers tours【Photos】
Tokyo Space-out tournament draws nearly 100 competitors, finds who’s the best at doing nothing【Video】
Japan’s favorite popsicle is changing the way it tastes and feels for first time in over 20 years
Beautiful Japanese garden green tea crepes waiting in Tokyo’s historical Asakusa neighborhood
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
After 10 years of secrecy, anime song duo ClariS finally remove their masks and show their faces
Cheeseburger rice bowls arrive at Japanese beef bowl chain Matsuya, and in our stomach【Taste test】
How to properly eat a traditional Japanese tonkatsu meal