Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
Pacific
Depending on what part of the world you live in, one of these maps will look right at home while the other might seem kind of off. However, given the overall dominance of the Euro-centric map, the other one is more likely to give an uncomfortable feeling to a greater number of people.
While both are currently in use in different countries, is it possible that one map is more valid than another?
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Lawson convenience store at popular tourist site is one of the most unusual in Japan
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
Howl’s Moving Castle’s scene-stealing dog is here to clean your home as a plushie mop
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
Does a long line mean a sweeter deal? We compare two sweets from a Hokkaido food fair【Taste test】
Studio Ghibli celebrates the magic of movie theaters with short video, Hayao Miyazaki illustration
Sailor Moon’s Artemis is part of the Artemis II NASA mission control team[Video]
We get lucky with a Wagyu beef gacha vending machine at 3,000 yen a pop
Tokyo Station’s perfect breakfast spot might just be this izakaya Japanese-style pub
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration eventsMt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovationsYou can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
Two food hacks take Japan’s convenience store fried chicken to amazing new sandwich heights30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
7-Eleven Japan’s new baked-in-store sweet treat is only available in three parts of the country
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
Peanuts and Coke becomes a viral hit in Japan, but is it a trend worth joining?Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visaPokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
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
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
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
Does a long line mean a sweeter deal? We compare two sweets from a Hokkaido food fair【Taste test】
Studio Ghibli celebrates the magic of movie theaters with short video, Hayao Miyazaki illustration
Sailor Moon’s Artemis is part of the Artemis II NASA mission control team[Video]
We get lucky with a Wagyu beef gacha vending machine at 3,000 yen a pop
Tokyo Station’s perfect breakfast spot might just be this izakaya Japanese-style pub
Mr. Sato presents the salad rice cracker showdown (no salads involved)【Taste test】
Burger King Japan’s Great King Yeti is the latest evolution of One Pounders
New Travelling Bento pouches turn your luggage into a Japanese lunch box
Permanent Sailor Moon stage show theater announced for Tokyo
Drink vending machines disappearing in Japan as number drops to lowest in 30 years
Japanese politician arrested on charges of accepting bribes to reduce number of monkeys in park
We visit the full-scale Evangelion statue in Kyoto and particularly delight in the food tie-ins