Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
roadworks
The fact that the word kawaii has now been accepted into the Oxford English Dictionary says a lot about Japan’s obsession with all things cute. If there’s a manhole cover or a health and safety pamphlet that needs brightening up somehow, you can pretty much guarantee that someone will design a cutesy character or scene to adorn it. That’s just how Japan rolls.
Never, though, have we come across barricades made to look like kneeling kimono-clad princesses before.
When people visit Japan, they often marvel at how great the service everywhere is. Trains run on time; a guy pops out of a little hatch like a station ninja when you’re struggling with a ticket vending machine; packages come precisely when they’re supposed to, and even if you miss them you can just call the driver on their mobile phone to arrange a new delivery time.
Day in, day out, stuff just works. And yet, unlike the many foreigners who live here, native Japanese take this all completely in their stride. Take this video, for example, which was taken by a foreigner living and uploaded to YouTube a couple of weeks ago…
Japan’s Kanto region just can’t catch a break recently – first heavy snow brings the capital city to its knees (and this writer given the X of denial as he was told “Sorry, sir, the flight has already departed” after it took five hours to reach the airport in it), and now giant columns of water are spurting up out of the ground.
Dorayaki from 89-year-old Japanese confectionery shop is one of the best sweets hidden in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli releases new anime keychains that are like miniature figurines
Sanrio amusement park in Tokyo to host Psycho Game horror event this summer[Video]
What are the worst things about living in the Japanese countryside?[Survey]
Second-generation sumo burger coming to Burger King Japan with return of Baby Body Burger
Japanese sweets souvenirs don’t get more beautiful than this
Tokyo store makes you to pass a quiz in order to buy Pokémon cards as part of anti-scalper policy
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Hello Kitty is now a transforming truck robot[Photos]
War in Iran threatening Japan’s pudding production
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Studio Ghibli launches huge new anime movie T-shirt collection with special design details
Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo
Brand-new Square Enix Cafe to open in Tokyo…and in Los Angeles too!
Japanese convenience store gives away free ice cream with creative ad at Shinjuku Station
Japan is so hungry for workers it used up its five-year visa quota in record time
Tsujihan sushi bowl restaurant goes viral with foreign tourists, but is it worth the hype?Hello Kitty is now a transforming truck robot[Photos]
7-Eleven Japan’s cooked-in-store takoyaki is here! How does it fare against the street food king?
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visaJapan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of JapanNew Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
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
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
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 saysJapan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japanese sweets souvenirs don’t get more beautiful than this
Tokyo store makes you to pass a quiz in order to buy Pokémon cards as part of anti-scalper policy
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Hello Kitty is now a transforming truck robot[Photos]
War in Iran threatening Japan’s pudding production
What’s up with the “mosquito buzz” noise at Shibuya Station?
Make-them-yourself Pokémon frappes arrive at Japanese convenience stores, can be mixed at home too
Burger King Japan launches King Fusion, and the possibilities are endless (and delicious)
Nagasaki high school students collab with sweets veteran to release carrot nama dorayaki
Finnish design brand Iittala partners with Pokémon for a golden first collaborative tableware set
Gacha machine backpack is Japan’s hottest new fashion statement
Mr Sato goes head-to-head with a giant cream soda parfait in a Tokyo cafe
Final Fantasy VII’s Sephiroth finds happiness in a canned cocktail[Video]