pop culture
Two powerhouses of Japanese pop culture team up to fill Koda Kumi’s latest video with intergalactic 80s romance vibes!
In late November a four-day festival of music, food, fashion, and culture will be held, and anyone with a foreign passport will get some VIP treatment.
Move over water bottle panties, it’s time to dress up your drinks with a fashionable over-the-shoulder sweater that takes its styling cues from Beat Takeshi.
Comic Con, a festival of pop culture and entertainment, will be coming to Tokyo next year, and they’ve already put on a huge announcement bash!
Long before Gwen Stefani was inspired by the Tokyo neighborhood, Harajuku’s status as the center of Japanese fashion and pop culture had been well solidified. From strange footwear to unbearably cute cuisine, a visit to Harajuku is never dull and is a must-see for any tourist coming to Tokyo.
But the crowded streets, small shops and the language barrier might be a bit daunting for a first-time visitor. So to make that trip more worthwhile, a tourist organization is opening up a bilingual information booth in the heart of Harajuku to make sure visitors get the most out of their time in the exciting neighborhood.
Tony Stark is a character whose power comes from his ingenuity in designing and building his Iron Man suits and weapons. And of course having millions of dollars at his disposal helped.
Meet Kai-xiang Xhong, the Tony Stark (sans riches) of cardboard art. Some people might laugh at the phrase “cardboard art,” but this man’s sculptures are so stunning that it’s hard to believe they are made of the same stuff your Amazon purchases arrive in. Take, for instance, the life-size Iron Man suit shown above. (Did we mention it’s wearable? There is a person in that suit, walking around and bending parts without it falling to pieces!)
On 9 April the Cool Japan Promotion Conference and Pop Culture Subcommittee was assembled to discuss and strategize ways to encourage growth in Japan’s popular culture sector. The session dealt with all of Japan’s notable influences around the world from Gundams to soccer.









Chinese government’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning has heartwarming non-effect on Yokohama Chinatown
Japan’s EF English Proficiency Index rank drops for 11th straight year, hits lowest ever
Popular Japanese ramen restaurant Ichiran’s lucky bags are great value for money
KFC Japan opens a Christmas restaurant in Tokyo…but why???
What’s in a Lawson fukubukuro lucky bag?
Starbucks Japan now offers close-to-closing discounted items through its mobile order app
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Open wide! It’s time for a showdown between McDonald’s Japan’s and Komeda gratin croquette burgers
Weird Japanese vending machine find of the day: Cream in cans?
Universal Studios Beijing opens for business, but can we call it “USB?”
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Yoshinoya adds first-ever chain-wide ramen with new beef and pork-broth noodle hot pot meals
KFC Japan introduces a new burger 8 years in the making
New fish discovered and named “Vanderhorstia supersaiyan” for obvious reasons
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 Totoro
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Shibuya’s Don Quijote?
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods and a rhinestone tumbler that costs 19,500 yen
Is Kyoto less crowded with tourists after China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning?【Photos】
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】
Unique inclined elevator in Japan leads to a town that inspired Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away
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
Tokyo hotel lets you make your stay a Sanrio one with special My Melody and Kuromi rooms【Pics】
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
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
J-pop mega star Ado reveals she’s been living in the U.S., may not understand language acquisition
Starbucks Japan now offers close-to-closing discounted items through its mobile order app
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Open wide! It’s time for a showdown between McDonald’s Japan’s and Komeda gratin croquette burgers
Weird Japanese vending machine find of the day: Cream in cans?
Universal Studios Beijing opens for business, but can we call it “USB?”
Japan considering raising international traveler departure tax even more than previously reported
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
From protozoa to tapeworms: Visiting the Meguro Parasitological Museum
Starbucks adds a matcha and pistachio milk tea latte to the menu in Japan for a limited time
Japanese police attempting to clamp down on “zombie cigarettes”
Tokyo Disneyland’s Space Mountain is now closed
Giant new nine-floor arcade opens in Tokyo, wants to welcome new and old games fans alike
Reports that using -chan in Japan constitutes sexual harassment are at least a little exaggerated