names
Many are assuming this is a backlash against trendy kirakira names, but is that really the case?
This Okinawan singer has a last name so rare, only 1 every 90,000 people in Japan have it!
For the third year in a row, this particular name takes the top spot for all felines, male or female.
If you’re looking for inspiration for your little bundle of joy, maybe this will give you some ideas.
The most popular cat breed in Japan has clinched the title for the twelfth consecutive year.
Meanings show hope for bold boys, beautiful girls in list of the most popular names of the Heisei era.
Baby name suggestion website compiles list of its users favorite names for they’re considering for their daughters.
Having trouble thinking of a name for your new kitty? Here are Japanese feline fans’ favorite choices.
Some ask what’s in a name, but women with these monikers proved to be more popular than any others on one well-known dating app.
If, like me, you grew up playing Super Mario Bros. on the NES, then you’re no doubt super excited for the launch of Super Mario Maker this coming September. Exclusive to Wii U, the game allows players to build their own worlds, using every block, enemy and power-up (plus a few new ones) from a whole host of Super Mario games, then share them with players all around the world.
For those of us who never quite gave up on our childhood dream of making games for Nintendo especially, Super Mario Maker is shaping up to be the ultimate celebration of 30 years of Mario, and the thought of throwing all your favourite bad guys into bizarre platforming situations has us positively giddy with excitement.
With that in mind, today we’ve decided to take a quick look at some of the characters we know and love from the Mario franchise. To spice things up, though, we’re going to be introducing you to their original Japanese names and explaining a little about the meanings behind them. Think you know Mario? Let’s find out!
Earlier this week, we looked at popular baby names making the rounds this year in Japan and now we’ve discovered some data on what Japanese named their pets in 2014. The little guy above may be right to look concerned because almost every name on the list is food-related…
You may think choosing a name for your kid is hard, but in the West, we have it easy. All we have to choose is the name. Here in Japan, parents-to-be also have to choose what characters they want to write it with, a decision that has to take into account the relative auspiciousness of the number of strokes it takes to write, how well-known a particular reading is, and even if the government will accept the name they finally settle on!
Like trends for particular names, there are trends in the use of particular kanji or Chinese characters, too. Insurer Meiji Yasuda has just published the most common names this year and the kanji used for them, so read on to see what the hippest babies are sporting.
Turning 100 years old is indeed a great achievement. Not only can we appreciate and look up to those who seem to follow the correct path to a ripe old age, but it’s always a shining example of how far we have come as a people to extend our lives so much over the years.
And so, it’s with great honor and reverence that we here at RocketNews24 would like to wish a happy belated birthday to Ms… erm… Mxy…zptlk Sugahara!
Apparently we weren’t alone in not being able to read this woman’s name. Netizens came out in droves shrugging their shoulders and figuring a cockroach got into the printing press. A chosen few however, scolded their peers for not being cultured enough to decipher it.
What’s in a name? In Japan, those with a strong understanding of kanji, those pesky Chinese characters that are always tripping up language learners, can immediately understand the significance of anyone’s appellation.
Although the most common surname in Japan is “Sato,” it turns out that there’s a far more popular name combination that doesn’t include our quirkiest reporter‘s last name. Let’s take a look at the most common given and family names in Japan and the meanings behind them.




















Japanese trains in Sapporo might be better than those in Tokyo, thanks to one special feature
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Lawson convenience store at popular tourist site is one of the most unusual in Japan
Mr. Sato discovers his inner beaver with a 16-inch chocolate “twig” at Tokyo Station
Downtown Tokyo’s meaty monster Kaibutsu ramen will challenge your stomach, thrill your taste buds
Howl’s Moving Castle’s scene-stealing dog is here to clean your home as a plushie mop
We predict 7-Eleven’s new Zero Cider Triple drink is gonna be the hit drink of 2022【Taste Test】
7-Eleven now has make-it-yourself smoothies in Japan, and they’re amazing
Giant Clodsire Pokémon plushie comes with up to 32 Woopers in super size, super cute set【Pics】
The little-known inspiration for Princess Mononoke: A manga about a tribe in Papua New Guinea
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
7-Eleven Japan’s new baked-in-store sweet treat is only available in three parts of the country
Peanuts and Coke becomes a viral hit in Japan, but is it a trend worth joining?
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
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
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
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
Howl’s Moving Castle’s scene-stealing dog is here to clean your home as a plushie mop
We predict 7-Eleven’s new Zero Cider Triple drink is gonna be the hit drink of 2022【Taste Test】
7-Eleven now has make-it-yourself smoothies in Japan, and they’re amazing
Giant Clodsire Pokémon plushie comes with up to 32 Woopers in super size, super cute set【Pics】
The little-known inspiration for Princess Mononoke: A manga about a tribe in Papua New Guinea
Should married couples in Japan be allowed to have different family names? Survey investigates
Drink vending machines disappearing in Japan as number drops to lowest in 30 years
We found possibly the quietest Japanese-style hotel in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku district
Japanese politician arrested on charges of accepting bribes to reduce number of monkeys in park
“Business Nail” – the latest trend among young Japanese businessmen looking to get ahead
“Bumping men” are a uniquely Japanese class of criminals that are hard to deal with
Famous koi ponds overwhelmed with tourists throwing thousands of coins in them