“I don’t love my crush anymore, but I want someone else to give them their love,” says message on Kyoto container.
recycling (Page 2)
New project makes the popular chain the first of its kind to utilize 100 percent of the fish they acquire.
Bathe in the warm glow of owning something recycled, and a light bulb, with these magic cardboard lamps.
Manga author relates the depressing tale of seeing the ignoble fate of his leftover comics.
How would you like a lovely one-of-a-kind parasol made with material from an authentic kimono?
Sure, the toys are cool, but it turns out their cases can be pretty useful too.
Short on cookware or want to minimize clean-up time after dinner? Skip the recycling center and use your old bottles to whip up something good!
The Japanese are rather enthusiastic when it comes to recycling. In most Japanese cities, domestic waste has to be separated into a minimum of three categories: combustable “raw” garbage, recyclable plastic and recyclable paper. Some areas have their residents splitting their trash into as many as 10 categories.
Even with that said, there’s probably no place in Japan more outreach than Kyoto when it comes to recycling plastic, as they’ve had a little magical help from a handsome new mascot: Gomi no Yousei (Fairy of the Garbage). Check out the bizarre recycling enthusiast after the break!
Is Japan’s recycling system the most complicated in the world? It sure feels like it sometimes. Household waste must of course be separated into burnable and non-burnable, but after that there’s a dizzying array of recycling categories to break your non-burnables into. Since Japan is a relatively small country without masses of land to use for burying waste, the vast majority of waste used to be incinerated. However, with increasing ecological awareness in the 1990s came new legislation to minimise the amount of waste being burnt, and promote recycling.
Public awareness of the need to recycle is high, but the system can be baffling for new foreign residents. The problem lies not only in the array of recycling categories, but also in the apparent overlap between them: the grey areas. Is an empty pizza box considered recycled paper? Or is it burnable? Paper packages? “Other”? And if a bottle is made of a different type of plastic to the standard PET, is still a “pet bottle”, or is it just “plastic”?
Today we bring you six reasons to learn what goes in what box, and a few hints for getting it right along the way.
Remember all of those umbrellas that were abandoned in train stations in October and November this year during the typhoon season? Well at least one station in Tokyo definitely does, but thankfully they’re putting a few of them to good use: by turning them into surprisingly pretty Christmas trees!
During these sweltering summer days it’s not unusual to down more than a few plastic bottles of water, pop, or juice. And surely with all that drinking you’re bound to accumulate a pile of empty plastic bottles.
Burden by all of these bottles, collapsing them to a convenient size for recycling can be an energy and time draining chore. That’s why the folks at Yahoo! R25 wanted to share an effortless way to break your plastic bottles down to size.
Okay, we have good news for wine lovers who feel guilty about creating lots of trash by opening all of those wine bottles. See the picture above? Yes, you guessed it – used wine bottles are now being made into beautiful glassware! Isn’t this a great, eco-friendly way to recycle wine bottles? I, for one, definitely wouldn’t mind having such nice looking plates at home. Read More















Japan’s kid-friendly ski program is now selling Pikachu snowboards for a limited time only
Japan’s foreign tourist numbers projected to fall for first time in years in 2026
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
McDonald’s Japan releases a Mushroom Mountain and Bamboo Shoot Village McFlurry
Golden Japanese toilet appears at “multi-millionaire” izakaya in Tokyo
Dove ad slams Japanese beauty ideals, backfires with complaints from public instead
Mister Donut and Godiva continue their sweet sweets relationship with new treats on sale now in Japan
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
We try an unusual buffet of dishes made from wild game at a roadside stop in Chiba
5 things about Japanese customer service that surprise foreign visitors
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
Princess Mononoke magnets return just in time to treat yourself to awesome anime decorations
Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.
Japanese women showing rebounding interest in giving Valentine’s Day chocolate【Survey】
Umamusume anime girl plushie recalled for having parts she absolutely should not have【Pics】
What’s inside Starbucks Japan’s fukubukuro lucky bag for 2026?
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
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
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】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Dove ad slams Japanese beauty ideals, backfires with complaints from public instead
Mister Donut and Godiva continue their sweet sweets relationship with new treats on sale now in Japan
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
We try an unusual buffet of dishes made from wild game at a roadside stop in Chiba
5 things about Japanese customer service that surprise foreign visitors
See how the game of Othello has evolved at Tokyo Toy Show 2022
Kawaii concrete? Japanese retailer selling cuddly tetrapods for a limited time only
The Sailor Scouts and their Sanrio sidekicks are finally here with adorable new collectable goods
New KitKat pizzas are coming to Pizza Hut Japan
Immersive ukiyoe exhibition in Osaka adds some scented flair
New interior necessity: Japanese dining table with a hole for your cat right in the middle【Pics】
Best practices for celebrating Coming of Age Day for those turning 18, 20, or both in Japan
Can a dirty butthole make you filthy rich in Japan? We’re starting a New Year’s lottery experiment