mountain
On the afternoon of 25 April, the Lower House of Parliament passed an amendment to the nation’s Holiday Act which includes a new public holiday Mountain Day (Yama no Hi). The next step involves the amendment to go into deliberation in the Upper House where it is expected to be approved again.
Although this comes as welcome news to the nation’s tired workers, Japanese holidays tend to be arbitrary affairs named after random things like the ocean. This time, though, Japan’s newest holiday is name after something truly special. Still, I can’t help but be surprised how many fans of Mountain there are in Parliament…
Osaka has many sights and attractions to boast about. To name a few, there’s the robot drummer clown, the big robot crabs here and there and of course Tenpozan, Japan’s shortest mountain. Standing at 4.53 meters above sea level, it was a tourist draw leading to the creation of an aquarium shopping complex and giant ferris wheel.
However, now it appears Tenpozan has been relegated to second place following a recent survey by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI). Hiyoriyama in Sendai is now the nation’s lowest summit at a reevaluated height of three meters. Normally, the Osaka resident in me would demand a recount and ask for a discount on it, but considering how Hiyoriyama came to be this way, I’ll humbly congratulate the new record holder and wish them all the best.
MOST POPULAR
Now
Kyoto Whopper divides customers at Burger King Japan
Taking the Kyoto overnight bus for the first time
Yakuza vending machines coming to real-world Tokyo neighborhood that inspired Like a Dragon games
Starbucks Japan unveils second Holiday Frappuccino for 2024
Forbidden area at Japanese mountaintop shrine opens to the public for first time in 400 years
Japan’s caramel gacha machines offer sweet thrills, but do they deliver?
Children’s slippers stolen in night at Japanese preschool, police identify weasel who did it【Vid】
Japanese burger chain no longer serves onion rings, but offers intriguing replacement【Taste test】
History’s highest sumo wrestling and geisha dance to take place at Tokyo Skytree observation deck
Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke teams up with Foxfire for outdoor apparel collaboration【Photos】
Weekly
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】
Berserk T-shirts coming to Uniqlo for launch of new Manga Curation line【Photos】
Mario Kart Happy Meal toys arrive at McDonald’s Japan, and SoraNews24 has the whole set!【Photos】
After cancelling Halloween, Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood cancels New Year’s Eve too
Tokyo park’s sea of clouds, nighttime illumination, and cosplay days make now perfect time to visit
Samurai ritual suicide contest cancelled by organizer in west Japan
Japanese job-quitting service contacted by other job-quitting service because employee wants to quit
Flying dango: Unique tourist site where Japanese sweets are flown to you over a gorge
American jackass tourist arrested after carving name into gate at Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine【Video】
Monthly
Nintendo’s controller capsule toys are so cool, even the machine you buy them from is awesome【Pics】- One of Japan’s most beautiful hot spring towns announces new limits on number of day trippers
Tokyo Disneyland loses top-attendance crown for Japanese theme parks for second year in a row- Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke teams up with Foxfire for outdoor apparel collaboration【Photos】
Ghibli Park debuts first winter illumination display with Howl’s Moving Castle theme
Pringles releases a limited-edition sweet flavour in Japan
Sanrio and magical girl anime PreCure join forces for new merch line【Photos】- Japanese job-quitting service contacted by other job-quitting service because employee wants to quit
- After cancelling Halloween, Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood cancels New Year’s Eve too
What’s the deal with akebi, the perfectly purple, alien-like fruit that’s in season now in Japan?
Yearly
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
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Japan’s caramel gacha machines offer sweet thrills, but do they deliver?
Children’s slippers stolen in night at Japanese preschool, police identify weasel who did it【Vid】
Japanese burger chain no longer serves onion rings, but offers intriguing replacement【Taste test】
History’s highest sumo wrestling and geisha dance to take place at Tokyo Skytree observation deck
Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke teams up with Foxfire for outdoor apparel collaboration【Photos】
Snuggle up to a Japanese Shiba Inu that looks real but is actually a cute hot water bottle cover
Krispy Kreme releases new zodiac doughnuts for the Year of the Snake in Japan
Domino’s erupts with a 1kg Cheese Volcano in Japan
Japan’s ultra-classy overnight bus gives you your own sleeping pod【Photos】
Smell-o-Vision for the Digital Age: Japan Develops USB “Micro Aroma Shooter”
Flying dango: Unique tourist site where Japanese sweets are flown to you over a gorge
Adorable cat-shaped cakes come out to play/get eaten in Tokyo
Japan’s new difficult-to-drink-from beer glass protects your liver, but it’s a brutal experience
-
