Japanese idol units and songs about not giving up strike big in this year’s list of the most influential TikTok tracks in Japan.
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This ramen shop is so popular it’s impossible to get into. Don’t worry though–there are other ways to try its delicious ramen!
Beloved manga series that revolutionized a traditional Japanese card game will officially end on August 1 with some special commemorative features.
Company also shares which departure dates are the most popular throughout the months of July and August so you can plan accordingly.
You might guess the most popular Pokémon type in the country, but each prefecture might surprise you!
A “really ordinary person from Australia” attempts to become famous in Japan and is making a film about it.
Let this perky pup with the perfectly groomed spherical head in South Korea lift your spirits mid-week.
Choosing a name for your newborn son or daughter can be tough. Not only are you responsible for bestowing a name upon another human being—a collection of vowels and consonants that that will stick with them for life and likely have a profound effect on how people initially perceive their owner—but if you live in a country like Japan, then you not only have to choose the baby’s name, but how it will be written in kanji characters as well. Talk about pressure.
But that’s the reason we have baby name lists! For the past two years we’ve been keeping track of the most popular names for baby boys and girls in Japan, and this year we’re keeping up the tradition. Take a peek at what trends are spreading through Japan by seeing which names are in this year and which are out.
You may be surprised to hear this, but Japanese manga is thriving in Spain. Look no further than massive conventions such as Madrid’s Expomanga and Barcelona’s Salón del Manga, where fans can celebrate their favorite series and characters with other like-minded people. So what are some of the factors that contribute to manga’s success in España?
The folks at Japanese website Niconico News recently caught up with David Hernando, the Editorial Editor of Planeta DeAgostini Comics, which is a Spanish-Italian publisher that distributes many beloved Japanese manga series throughout the Spanish-speaking world. Mr. Hernando graciously shed some light on the current market for manga in Spain in an exclusive interview with them, and the following piece will attempt to summarize some of his key points, along with some other related topics we have taken notice of.
We would love to hear the thoughts of our readers residing in Spain as well, so please leave your comments at the end of the post!
The name you give to your child will stay with them for the rest of their life, so parents are always careful to choose one that will stand the test of time and carry them through to adulthood. In the United States, Sophia and Jacob took the top spots for baby names in 2013, while Ava and Noah took first place in the UK (depending on which site you consult). Let’s take a look at this year’s top 10 baby names in Japan as reported by Japanese pregnancy and parenting site, Tamahiyo.
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Today
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Anime fan in Japan arrested for ordering and cancelling over 4.3 billion yen in anime merch
End of a manga era as Weekly Shonen Jump’s circulation drops under one million
Starbucks Japan teams up with Traveler’s Company for new stationery and goods collection
Beautiful Totoro bonsai figure needs no watering, makes soothing rain showers whenever you want
Studio Ghibli unveils new finger puppets featuring anime characters from My Neighbour Totoro
7-Eleven Japan rethinks convenience store drinks with new Grilled Corn Chilled Soup Smoothie
Kochia calling: Right now is a great off-season season to visit this beautiful Japanese park
Japanese convenience store Lawson now has stir-fried noodle-cooking robot chefs
Weekly
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Japanese vending machine sells freshly squeezed lemon juice with a futuristic light show
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]- Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
7-Eleven Japan adds new chocolate fruit gummies to its sweets range, but are they worth the hype?- Starbucks Japan teams up with Traveler’s Company for new stationery and goods collection
Studio Ghibli’s No Face twirls to sound of Spirited Away’s theme song in beautiful accessory box- Anime fan in Japan arrested for ordering and cancelling over 4.3 billion yen in anime merch
Pokémon comes to McDonald’s Japan for new Happy Meals toys, brings every generation’s starters
Monthly
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction- Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Uniqlo looks back to the very start of Pokémon with new black-and-white pixel art T-shirts[Pics]
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Yearly
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo- Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]- Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
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Beautiful Totoro bonsai figure needs no watering, makes soothing rain showers whenever you want
Studio Ghibli unveils new finger puppets featuring anime characters from My Neighbour Totoro
7-Eleven Japan rethinks convenience store drinks with new Grilled Corn Chilled Soup Smoothie
Kochia calling: Right now is a great off-season season to visit this beautiful Japanese park
Japanese convenience store Lawson now has stir-fried noodle-cooking robot chefs
Over 400 titles of free translated manga from publisher Shueisha available for a limited time
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Pokémon comes to McDonald’s Japan for new Happy Meals toys, brings every generation’s starters
Resident Evil’s terrifying Licker becomes a bag in Japan that wants to feed you
Bandai looking to introduce Japanese government ID checks for admission to card game events
Japan’s largest online flea market reminds users that selling used school swimsuits is prohibited
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Weekly Shonen Jump cancels manga after creator admits to schoolgirl groping
Nendroid Face Maker lets you custom design faces for Japan’s most popular anime figure line
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