Summer has always been my favorite season, and I’m positive the original reason was the generous, three-month summer vacation of the American school system. Yet even as a legal adult, with work responsibilities that continue nonstop for all 12 months, this is still my favorite time of year.
Every now and then, I’ll catch a perfect moment of soothing, oven-warm calm, and in that instant, I don’t have a care in the world. There’s a certain contentedness that can only come from a quiet summer afternoon, and it looks like it affects cats as well as humans, as this adorable kitty in Kagoshima Prefecture shows.
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
All-you-can-drink Starbucks and amazing views part of Tokyo’s new 170 meter-high sky lounge
Super Nintendo World expansion gets delayed for several months at Universal Studios Japan
More foreign tourists than ever before in history visited Japan last month
Beautiful Sailor Moon manhole cover coasters being given out for free by Tokyo tourist center
Hamster abandoned at Tokyo ramen restaurant gets new home
Studio Ghibli glasses cases let anime characters keep an eye on your spectacles
Arrest proves a common Japanese saying about apologies and police
McDonald’s Japan releases a pancake pie for new retro kissaten coffeeshop series
Starbucks reopens at Shibuya Scramble Crossing with new look and design concept
Disney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in Tokyo
Beautiful new Final Fantasy T-shirt collection on the way from Uniqlo【Photos】
Is the new Shinkansen Train Desk ticket worth it?
Foreign English teachers in Japan pick their favorite Japanese-language phrases【Survey】
Japanese convenience store packs a whole bento into an onigiri rice ball
We try out “Chan Ramen”, an underground type of ramen popular in the ramen community
Studio Ghibli releases Kiki’s Delivery Service chocolate cake pouches in Japan
Japan’s bone-breaking and record-breaking roller coaster is permanently shutting down
New definition of “Japanese whiskey” goes into effect to prevent fakes from fooling overseas buyers
Our Japanese reporter visits Costco in the U.S., finds super American and very Japanese things
Studio Ghibli unveils Mother’s Day gift set that captures the love in My Neighbour Totoro
Foreign passenger shoves conductor on one of the last full runs for Japan’s Thunderbird train
Domino’s Japan now sells…pizza ears?
New Japanese KitKat flavour stars Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty
Kyoto creates new for-tourist buses to address overtourism with higher prices, faster rides
Sales of Japan’s most convenient train ticket/shopping payment cards suspended indefinitely
Sold-out Studio Ghibli desktop humidifiers are back so Totoro can help you through the dry season
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Tokyo’s most famous Starbucks is closed
One Piece characters’ nationalities revealed, but fans have mixed opinions
We asked a Uniqlo employee what four things we should buy and their suggestions didn’t disappoint
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Hamster abandoned at Tokyo ramen restaurant gets new home
Studio Ghibli glasses cases let anime characters keep an eye on your spectacles
Arrest proves a common Japanese saying about apologies and police
McDonald’s Japan releases a pancake pie for new retro kissaten coffeeshop series
Starbucks reopens at Shibuya Scramble Crossing with new look and design concept
Fan art of new Digimon cast in old style sparks debate on what qualifies as “f***ing disgusting”
The secret of Starbucks Japan’s Chocolate Chunk Cookie: It’s not made by Starbucks!
Customer gets more than expected after ordering the large size at a Japanese restaurant
Toy or cake? These mochi-like seal and bird figures are so soft and cute, you’ll want to eat them
Giant Clodsire Pokémon plushie comes with up to 32 Woopers in super size, super cute set【Pics】
AKB48 fan shows his love the only way he knows how: By buying $300,000 worth of CDs
New Japanese bowl-shaped donburi rice cooker cooks rice and toppings at the same time
Japan’s lowest underpass, where you have to duck under the train tracks【Video】
Is Japan’s massive Shizuoka steak sandwich really as delicious as it looks in promo photos?