lucky bag 2023
As usual, we cannot resist the lure of a tremendous bargain–even if all we get is useless junk.
Only available to lottery winners, we take a look at the special goods inside this “phantom” box.
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Beautiful new Final Fantasy T-shirt collection on the way from Uniqlo【Photos】
Disney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in Tokyo
Is the new Shinkansen Train Desk ticket worth it?
Foreign English teachers in Japan pick their favorite Japanese-language phrases【Survey】
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to your favorite restaurant in Tsuruga City!
Osaka’s creepy cute mascot speaks for first time, adds more fuel the creepy OR cute debate【Video】
Kyushu-exclusive Black Mont Blanc goes nationwide in a “Special” way
We go looking for the free kaoyu hot spring facebath of onsen town Kusatsu【Photos】
We try out “Chan Ramen”, an underground type of ramen popular in the ramen community
A new meaty dawn for Akihabara as neighborhood’s best steak/hamburger steak restaurant reopens
Weekly
Our Japanese reporter visits Costco in the U.S., finds super American and very Japanese things
New Studio Ghibli bedding sets are cool in all senses of the word- We try out “Chan Ramen”, an underground type of ramen popular in the ramen community
New Pokémon cakes let you eat your way through Pikachu and all the Eevee evolutions
There’s a park inside Japan where you can also see Japan inside the park
Japanese black curry “experiment” takes place at an unlikely restaurant branch in Tokyo
Japanese convenience store packs a whole bento into an onigiri rice ball
New definition of “Japanese whiskey” goes into effect to prevent fakes from fooling overseas buyers- Foreign English teachers in Japan pick their favorite Japanese-language phrases【Survey】
Uniqlo opens its first Furugi Project secondhand clothing pop-up shop in Tokyo
Monthly
Studio Ghibli releases Kiki’s Delivery Service chocolate cake pouches in Japan
Japan’s bone-breaking and record-breaking roller coaster is permanently shutting down
Toyota built a life-sized Miraidon Pokémon and are letting people test drive it this weekend- New definition of “Japanese whiskey” goes into effect to prevent fakes from fooling overseas buyers
Foreign passenger shoves conductor on one of the last full runs for Japan’s Thunderbird train- Our Japanese reporter visits Costco in the U.S., finds super American and very Japanese things
Kyoto bans tourists from geisha alleys in Gion, with fines for those who don’t follow rules
Studio Ghibli unveils Mother’s Day gift set that captures the love in My Neighbour Totoro
Domino’s Japan now sells…pizza ears?
New Japanese KitKat flavour stars Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty
Yearly
Sales of Japan’s most convenient train ticket/shopping payment cards suspended indefinitely
Sold-out Studio Ghibli desktop humidifiers are back so Totoro can help you through the dry season
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Tokyo’s most famous Starbucks is closed
One Piece characters’ nationalities revealed, but fans have mixed opinions
We asked a Uniqlo employee what four things we should buy and their suggestions didn’t disappoint
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Studio Ghibli’s new desktop Howl’s Moving Castle will take your stationery on an adventure
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Osaka’s creepy cute mascot speaks for first time, adds more fuel the creepy OR cute debate【Video】
Kyushu-exclusive Black Mont Blanc goes nationwide in a “Special” way
We go looking for the free kaoyu hot spring facebath of onsen town Kusatsu【Photos】
We try out “Chan Ramen”, an underground type of ramen popular in the ramen community
A new meaty dawn for Akihabara as neighborhood’s best steak/hamburger steak restaurant reopens
There’s a park inside Japan where you can also see Japan inside the park
Starbucks releases a special sparkly tumbler in Japan to support diversity
How to make an epic pizza at a Japanese family restaurant
Hanton rice — a delicious regional food even most Japanese people don’t know about, but more should
Hamburg and Hamburg Shibuya: A Japanese restaurant you need to put on your Tokyo itinerary
Daiso opens massive new 25,392-square foot Tokyo flagship store with its two sub-brands included
Japanese convenience store packs a whole bento into an onigiri rice ball
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