selfies
Phone returned to owner with a surprise on the camera roll from a trio of good samaritans.
Saying cheese is fine, but flashing the peace sign could be inviting not just social media attention, but identity theft too.
With Japanese society’s overlapping loves of photography, smartphones, and social media, it was only a matter of time until selfie sticks took the country by storm. They’re an especially common site at tourist destinations in the country, since no proper Japanese journey is complete without commemorative photos taken of the group posing with the most famous local attraction, Shinkansen, and possibly whatever the local culinary delicacy is.
But as of this weekend, there are 1,195 places where you’ll see plenty of travelers but not a single selfie stick: the train stations of western Japan, which have prohibited their use.
Twitter photo comics were the platform for a six-panel post-breakup transformation meme earlier this year.
Using the tagline “you broke up with me ’cause that girl’s cuter?” (‘ano ko no hou ga kawaii kara’), the comics typically show a girl transforming herself from a bookish persona into a fully made-up “cute” version of herself.
Then, men started doing them too. And cats. And babies.














We followed Tokyo’s mystery walking map and ended up creating our own bar-hopping adventure
Japanese women showing rebounding interest in giving Valentine’s Day chocolate【Survey】
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
Hokkaido has an Ice Festival that’s less famous than the Snow one, but beautiful in its own way
How to have a great meal at conveyer belt sushi chain Kura Sushi even if you hate raw fish
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take “radio calisthenics” to an interesting new level
A taste of Japanese curry usually only sold overseas, at Tokyo’s Curry House CoCo Ichibanya World
Tokyo’s Shinjuku is looking very different with its giant westside skyscraper torn down【Photos】
Train continues to stop at rural station for lone schoolgirl until she graduates in March
16 Things I Learned From Dressing in Drag: Confessions of a One-night Crossdresser
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
Umamusume anime girl plushie recalled for having parts she absolutely should not have【Pics】
Princess Mononoke magnets return just in time to treat yourself to awesome anime decorations
Top Japanese cosplayer Enako returns to Comiket after 6 years, creates mayhem with admirers
Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.
We ate sushi made from Japan’s most expensive tuna ever【Taste test】
Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
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
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
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
Human washing machine pods coming to Japanese hotels【Photos】
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take “radio calisthenics” to an interesting new level
A taste of Japanese curry usually only sold overseas, at Tokyo’s Curry House CoCo Ichibanya World
Tokyo’s Shinjuku is looking very different with its giant westside skyscraper torn down【Photos】
Train continues to stop at rural station for lone schoolgirl until she graduates in March
16 Things I Learned From Dressing in Drag: Confessions of a One-night Crossdresser
Man arrested for violating Japan’s anti-dueling law in downtown Tokyo
Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.
You will never guess why this Tokyo candy store never fully opens its shutters
Eight Ways You Really, Really Shouldn’t Use a Japanese Toilet
Man arrested in Japan after walking around supermarket in a monkey mask
Tokyo fish market breaks New Year auction record as single fish sells for over 500 million yen【Vid】
Studio Ghibli’s kodama ready to leave the Princess Mononoke forest as a squeezable keychain【Pics】
Indian man in Japan arrested on charges of using curry spices as weapon in robbery attempt