Oh, Japan, we love you so much.
Morning stretches, or asa taisou, may look faintly ridiculous to many westerners, but it’s not uncommon for companies both large and small to have their entire staff standing up and performing a daily warmup routine each morning, often to music. Stroll past a construction site at around 8:30 a.m. and you’ll likely see a team of burly men wearing hard hats doing shoulder shrugs in unison or doing hip gyrations chanting one, two, three, four!
Just this morning, however, we at RocketNews24 witnessed perhaps the greatest example of morning stretch routines ever; a spectacle that had us chuckling, scratching out heads and finally nodding in agreement.
Prepare yourselves, ladies and gentlemen, for the Michinoku Librarian Union’s daily exercise routine!
Japanese job-quitting service contacted by other job-quitting service because employee wants to quit
After cancelling Halloween, Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood cancels New Year’s Eve too
American jackass tourist arrested after carving name into gate at Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine【Video】
Beautiful Japanese garden green tea crepes waiting in Tokyo’s historical Asakusa neighborhood
Hardcore Pokémon fans in Japan are spending a TON of money on Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket
Toy or extreme sport? Shop in Hokkaido changes our image of kendama
Pringles teams up with Hello Kitty for new Sanrio collection in Japan
Sanrio and magical girl anime PreCure join forces for new merch line【Photos】
American teenage tourist arrested on suspicion of arson in Tokyo during family trip
Grill your own treats at Miyagi’s Japanese tea and dessert store
Ghibli Park debuts first winter illumination display with Howl’s Moving Castle theme
Pringles releases a limited-edition sweet flavour in Japan
Tokyo restaurant isn’t kidding about the name of its overflowing rare wagyu-ju【Photos】
New Ghibli papercraft kit gives you a little Princess Mononoke forest on your desk【Photos】
Starbucks releases new Wicked tumblers in Japan
Off-the-beaten-tourist-track observatory tower in Tokyo has great views of the city…for free!
Japanese mountain community’s first baby in 52 years celebrates first birthday
Japan’s Pokémon donuts are evolving as Diglett grows into Dugtrio churro!
Starbucks Japan releases a new chilled cup exclusively at Family Mart convenience stores
Nintendo’s controller capsule toys are so cool, even the machine you buy them from is awesome【Pics】
Tokyo Disneyland loses top-attendance crown for Japanese theme parks for second year in a row
Adult Jam Bread causes a stir at store in Tokyo
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Totoro sequel anime Mei and the Baby Catbus will screen at Ghibli Park this winter
Kyoto becomes City of Yokai, with Night Parade of One Hundred Demons festival this autumn
Totoro, Calcifer, other Ghibli stars returning as humidifiers ahead of Japan’s dry winter days【Pics】
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengers
[Deleted] Article written for April Fool’s Day 2018
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Toy or extreme sport? Shop in Hokkaido changes our image of kendama
Pringles teams up with Hello Kitty for new Sanrio collection in Japan
Sanrio and magical girl anime PreCure join forces for new merch line【Photos】
American teenage tourist arrested on suspicion of arson in Tokyo during family trip
Grill your own treats at Miyagi’s Japanese tea and dessert store
Kyoto becomes City of Yokai, with Night Parade of One Hundred Demons festival this autumn
New Japanese banknotes selling online for up to 40 times original value
How to have a great meal at conveyer belt sushi chain Kura Sushi even if you hate raw fish
Fast food sukiyaki: One of the greatest things about autumn/winter in Japan!
Tokyo Space-out tournament draws nearly 100 competitors, finds who’s the best at doing nothing【Video】
Big win for tattoo artists: Japan’s Supreme Court rules medical licenses aren’t necessary
“Hey, Japanese taxi driver, take us to the best takoyaki in Osaka!”
New Ghibli papercraft kit gives you a little Princess Mononoke forest on your desk【Photos】