Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
pyrography
Do you remember when you were a little kid and you used a magnifying glass to look at bugs and leaves? Do you remember when you realized that if you caught the sunlight in the magnifying glass in just the right way you could set the bugs and leaves on fire?
Austronesian artist Jordan Mang-osan (not to be confused with Mango-san) is also using the sun to burn things at this home in the Philippines, but instead of frying bugs, he’s creating massive works of art.
Beautiful new Final Fantasy T-shirt collection on the way from Uniqlo【Photos】
Disney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in Tokyo
Randomly running into a great sushi lunch like this is one of the best things about eating in Tokyo
Our reporter takes her 71-year-old mother to a visual kei concert for the first time
Foreign English teachers in Japan pick their favorite Japanese-language phrases【Survey】
We try out “Chan Ramen”, an underground type of ramen popular in the ramen community
We tried Japan’s Strawberry Daifuku? liqueur, one of three dessert-themed liqueurs
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to your favorite restaurant in Tsuruga City!
Cappuccino Ramen becomes super popular in Japan, but is it worth the hype?
Starbucks releases a special sparkly tumbler in Japan to support diversityDisney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in TokyoWe try out “Chan Ramen”, an underground type of ramen popular in the ramen community
New Studio Ghibli bedding sets are cool in all senses of the word
Our Japanese reporter visits Costco in the U.S., finds super American and very Japanese thingsForeign English teachers in Japan pick their favorite Japanese-language phrases【Survey】
New Pokémon cakes let you eat your way through Pikachu and all the Eevee evolutions
There’s a park inside Japan where you can also see Japan inside the park
Japanese convenience store packs a whole bento into an onigiri rice ball
Hanton rice — a delicious regional food even most Japanese people don’t know about, but more should
Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, and Dragon Quest pet product line announced by Square Enix
Studio Ghibli releases Kiki’s Delivery Service chocolate cake pouches in Japan
Japan’s bone-breaking and record-breaking roller coaster is permanently shutting down
New definition of “Japanese whiskey” goes into effect to prevent fakes from fooling overseas buyers
Foreign passenger shoves conductor on one of the last full runs for Japan’s Thunderbird trainOur Japanese reporter visits Costco in the U.S., finds super American and very Japanese things
Kyoto bans tourists from geisha alleys in Gion, with fines for those who don’t follow rules
Studio Ghibli unveils Mother’s Day gift set that captures the love in My Neighbour Totoro
Domino’s Japan now sells…pizza ears?
Toyota built a life-sized Miraidon Pokémon and are letting people test drive it this weekend
New Japanese KitKat flavour stars Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty
Sales of Japan’s most convenient train ticket/shopping payment cards suspended indefinitely
Sold-out Studio Ghibli desktop humidifiers are back so Totoro can help you through the dry season
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Tokyo’s most famous Starbucks is closed
One Piece characters’ nationalities revealed, but fans have mixed opinions
We asked a Uniqlo employee what four things we should buy and their suggestions didn’t disappoint
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Studio Ghibli’s new desktop Howl’s Moving Castle will take your stationery on an adventure
We try out “Chan Ramen”, an underground type of ramen popular in the ramen community
We tried Japan’s Strawberry Daifuku? liqueur, one of three dessert-themed liqueurs
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to your favorite restaurant in Tsuruga City!
Cappuccino Ramen becomes super popular in Japan, but is it worth the hype?
Starbucks releases a special sparkly tumbler in Japan to support diversity
Come buy the SoraNews24 lucky bag and help support a good cause at Subculture Festival
The top five best multiple-hot-spring hotels in all of Japan
Legends of Japanese visual rock to come together to perform at Visual Japan Summit 2016
This Thai ad is making the internet cry with its “Hachiko-like” story【Video】
Tokyo restaurant’s all-you-can-eat gyoza and all-you-can-drink beer starts at just 20 bucks
Japan’s first-ever wanko soba conveyor belt restaurant opens in Tokyo
Is Japan’s massive Shizuoka steak sandwich really as delicious as it looks in promo photos?
Japanese chain Bikkuri Donkey’s enormous salad almost beats Mr. Sato, but not because of its size