Despite the fact that we’re entering the Year of the Ox, might as well start off with some fish.
new year cards
Every year, dedicated post office workers hop on their scooters to deliver a nation’s New Year’s cards, and it’s so much fun to watch!
Nengajo, or New Year’s greeting cards, are a ubiquitous part of the end-of-year season in Japan. Much like Christmas cards in the west, nengajo are sent to family and friends to update them on what you’ve been up to that year. In fact, there are so many nengajo sent at the end of the year that post offices in Japan have to employ students as temporary staff to make sure they meet the delivery deadline of January 1. While there are plenty of preprinted cards available from stationery shops, many people opt to make their own, personalised cards. A nice touch, but results may vary depending on the artistic skills (and sense of humour) of the postcard sender! To show you what we mean, we’ve put together a little list of the best of this year’s nengajo. Some of them are genuinely impressive, while others would make us cringe if the neighbours saw ’em!
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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】
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
New Ghibli papercraft kit gives you a little Princess Mononoke forest on your desk【Photos】
Mario Kart Happy Meal toys arrive at McDonald’s Japan, and SoraNews24 has the whole set!【Photos】
Mickey Mouse in now a transforming robot created by the designer of Gundam【Photos】
American jackass tourist arrested after carving name into gate at Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine【Video】
Real-world Totoro Catbus now has official debut date at Ghibli theme park
Evangelion lingerie is sure to help your otaku partner get into Beast Mode
Weekly
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 trippers
- Ghibli’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 theme
Tokyo park’s sea of clouds, nighttime illumination, and cosplay days make now perfect time to visit
Monthly
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 row- Ghibli 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 trippers
- Ghibli’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
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
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Mario Kart Happy Meal toys arrive at McDonald’s Japan, and SoraNews24 has the whole set!【Photos】
Mickey Mouse in now a transforming robot created by the designer of Gundam【Photos】
American jackass tourist arrested after carving name into gate at Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine【Video】
Real-world Totoro Catbus now has official debut date at Ghibli theme park
Evangelion lingerie is sure to help your otaku partner get into Beast Mode
Burger King’s new all-cheese The Real Cheese Burger looks crazy, sort of makes linguistic sense
After cancelling Halloween, Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood cancels New Year’s Eve too
Superhuman forces collide when three of our writers take on a pro in an 11-pound curry eat-off!
Studio Ghibli debuts new loungewear collection inspired by its dynamic, beloved heroines
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Studio Ghibli anime artist to sell artwork to support Ukraine
What’s the most popular way to prepare Japan’s beloved breakfast dish, Tamago Kake Gohan?
Is Tokyo’s ultra-expensive Satsuki sweet bean bread worth it?【Taste test】
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