Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
Shimotsuki
Shimotsuki Festival is held every December in the remote mountains of Nagano Prefecture, Japan. But as well as locals, the festival also attracts visitors from farther afield, all ooking for the magic and fantasy of the world of Studio Ghibli.
That’s because this ancient festival, featuring boiling cauldrons and dancing monsters, has an unlikely and little-known claim to fame: it inspired Hayao Miyazaki to make Spirited Away.
Kyoto Whopper divides customers at Burger King Japan
Japanese burger chain no longer serves onion rings, but offers intriguing replacement【Taste test】
Taking the Kyoto overnight bus for the first time
Children’s slippers stolen in night at Japanese preschool, police identify weasel who did it【Vid】
Domino’s erupts with a 1kg Cheese Volcano in Japan
Hello Kitty isn’t a cat!? We called Sanrio to find out!
Yakuza vending machines coming to real-world Tokyo neighborhood that inspired Like a Dragon games
Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke teams up with Foxfire for outdoor apparel collaboration【Photos】
Krispy Kreme releases new zodiac doughnuts for the Year of the Snake in Japan
Starbucks Japan reveals new holiday goods for the 2024 festive season
One of Japan’s most beautiful hot spring towns announces new limits on number of day trippersGhibli’s Princess Mononoke teams up with Foxfire for outdoor apparel collaboration【Photos】
Berserk T-shirts coming to Uniqlo for launch of new Manga Curation line【Photos】
Mario Kart Happy Meal toys arrive at McDonald’s Japan, and SoraNews24 has the whole set!【Photos】
After cancelling Halloween, Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood cancels New Year’s Eve too
Tokyo park’s sea of clouds, nighttime illumination, and cosplay days make now perfect time to visit
Samurai ritual suicide contest cancelled by organizer in west Japan
Japanese job-quitting service contacted by other job-quitting service because employee wants to quit
Flying dango: Unique tourist site where Japanese sweets are flown to you over a gorge
American jackass tourist arrested after carving name into gate at Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine【Video】
Nintendo’s controller capsule toys are so cool, even the machine you buy them from is awesome【Pics】One of Japan’s most beautiful hot spring towns announces new limits on number of day trippers
Tokyo Disneyland loses top-attendance crown for Japanese theme parks for second year in a rowGhibli’s Princess Mononoke teams up with Foxfire for outdoor apparel collaboration【Photos】
Ghibli Park debuts first winter illumination display with Howl’s Moving Castle theme
Pringles releases a limited-edition sweet flavour in Japan
Sanrio and magical girl anime PreCure join forces for new merch line【Photos】Japanese job-quitting service contacted by other job-quitting service because employee wants to quitAfter cancelling Halloween, Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood cancels New Year’s Eve too
What’s the deal with akebi, the perfectly purple, alien-like fruit that’s in season now in Japan?
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
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Studio Ghibli releases free-download board game — Here’s how to play it without reading Japanese
Hello Kitty isn’t a cat!? We called Sanrio to find out!
Yakuza vending machines coming to real-world Tokyo neighborhood that inspired Like a Dragon games
Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke teams up with Foxfire for outdoor apparel collaboration【Photos】
Krispy Kreme releases new zodiac doughnuts for the Year of the Snake in Japan
Starbucks Japan reveals new holiday goods for the 2024 festive season
Japan reaches its lowest-ever ranking on Education First’s 2024 English Proficiency Index
Is the Grimace shake worth the hype?
New card game makes Japan’s saunas even steamier
Forbidden area at Japanese mountaintop shrine opens to the public for first time in 400 years
Get these hot Young Black Jack sheets and pillow cases for your sexy sleepy times
Japan’s biggest manga magazine is raising its minimum payment rate for creators
Haku is…Chihiro’s dead brother? Studio Ghibli fans blown away by Spirited Away theory
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】