Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
One Direction
With their global popularity showing no sign of waning, One Direction have had a busy year, and are set for more of the same in 2015 after already announcing their On The Road Again Tour 2015. The band first visited Japan in January 2013, and since then floppy-haired tween sex symbol Harry Styles seems to have become quite taken with the country. Now it looks like he has made it his mission to spread a little bit of Japanese culture to his millions of adoring fans.
Japanese company selling bear-proof automatic doors
Viral 3D ice creams land in Japan… but are they worth the hype?
Major Japanese noodle chain is closing on Christmas Eve so workers can spend time with families
Fender Flagship Tokyo releases Hokusai art-inspired guitar series for first anniversary
Studio Ghibli’s new desktop Howl’s Moving Castle will take your stationery on an adventure
Japanese town suing resident for being a jerk
We deeply regret spending five hours on this artistic Japanese island (we should have spent more)
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Starbucks Japan now offers close-to-closing discounted items through its mobile order app
Stay safe on the cheap with a disaster preparedness kit put together at the 100-yen shop
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in TokyoNintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Japan considering raising international traveler departure tax even more than previously reported
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Shibuya’s Don Quijote?
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowd sizes in Nara?
Studio Ghibli stamps lift your spirits with motivational phrases from TotoroJapanese town suing resident for being a jerk
Is Kyoto less crowded with tourists after China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning?【Photos】
You can now buy a Japanese train station clock in Japan
Japanese police attempting to clamp down on “zombie cigarettes”Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods and a rhinestone tumbler that costs 19,500 yen
Real-world Nausicaa Ghibli anime glider completes its final flight in Japan【Video】
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
Naturally brown-haired Osaka student sues government for forcing her to dye her hair black
Japanese government considering tripling departure taxes to combat overtourism
Unique inclined elevator in Japan leads to a town that inspired Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answerJapan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
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】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Japanese town suing resident for being a jerk
We deeply regret spending five hours on this artistic Japanese island (we should have spent more)
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Starbucks Japan now offers close-to-closing discounted items through its mobile order app
Stay safe on the cheap with a disaster preparedness kit put together at the 100-yen shop
Foreign driver’s license conversion test passes plummet from over 90% to 33% in Japan
This one delicious Japanese dessert has at least six different names
Meet the eerie police statues of Miyakojima in Okinawa Prefecture
Beautiful cans of cake become a viral hit in Japan
7-Eleven Japan offering sakura extract lipstick blessed by 300-year-old Kyoto temple
China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning seems to be affecting Osaka’s Namba and Dotonbori neighborhoods
Tokyo police department’s disaster safety tip: How to make a lantern using a bottle of water