Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
rationing
North Korean potato farmers breathed a sigh of relief this month when they found out their monthly ration of the crop would be restored and not canceled as earlier reported. The announcement was soon met with confusion however when the workers in the northern Ryanggang Province found out that each of them would receive 560 kg—eight monthly rations-worth—of potatoes at once. Even a notorious eater like North Korean leader Kim Jong Un might find it difficult to stomach that many carbs.
Our reporter takes her 71-year-old mother to a visual kei concert for the first time
Disney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in Tokyo
Is the new Shinkansen Train Desk ticket worth it?
We tried Japan’s Strawberry Daifuku? liqueur, one of three dessert-themed liqueurs
Randomly running into a great sushi lunch like this is one of the best things about eating in Tokyo
We go looking for the free kaoyu hot spring facebath of onsen town Kusatsu【Photos】
Osaka’s creepy cute mascot speaks for first time, adds more fuel the creepy OR cute debate【Video】
Samurai chick pudding cake is Japan’s newest hard-to-buy, delicious-to-eat treat【Taste test】
Japan’s new imitation Oreos are here, but how do they compare to the made-in-China real deal?
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to your favorite restaurant in Tsuruga City!Disney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in Tokyo
We 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 things
Foreign 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 go looking for the free kaoyu hot spring facebath of onsen town Kusatsu【Photos】
Osaka’s creepy cute mascot speaks for first time, adds more fuel the creepy OR cute debate【Video】
Samurai chick pudding cake is Japan’s newest hard-to-buy, delicious-to-eat treat【Taste test】
Japan’s new imitation Oreos are here, but how do they compare to the made-in-China real deal?
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to your favorite restaurant in Tsuruga City!
Traditional silverwork pairs with the power of the moon in this stunning Silver Crystal pendant
Cappuccino Ramen becomes super popular in Japan, but is it worth the hype?
Pizza Hut releases a turtle pizza that looks like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle
Travelling to Japan soon? New entry requirements you need to know about
Fried sandwiches arrive in Tokyo, become hot topic on social media
We order an amazing Vegeta battle armor suit and dash down the street to celebrate Saiyan Day
Everything you need to know about dining at a sushi restaurant—in handy infographics!【Pics】
What happens to Cup Noodle Mystery Meat when you cook it in a rice cooker?
Does Japan’s “body fat-burning” bottled tea really work? Our 30-day investigation 【RocketScience】