New movie from Shin Godzilla director stars former boy band star on bullet train that can’t slow down.
SMAP
Lost Judgement could be the last Judgement if Sega can’t work out a compromise with with Takuya Kimura’s agency.
Japanese movie depicts the blossoming mother-daughter friendship between a transgender woman, played by SMAP‘s Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and a neglected teenage girl.
The desire to achieve cultural icon status drove our team to undergo hair and clothing makeovers for hefty transformations. How were the end results?
The popular idol group SMAP broke up on December 31 after performing music together for more than a quarter century.
SMAP, one of Japan’s most famous pop boy band groups, have announced they will disband at the end of this year.
The five members of the popular group appeared sombre during their special television appearance last night.
Reports indicate that the five-man vocal group’s 25-year stint in the Japanese spotlight is about to come to a close.
When you get to be really famous, sometimes people will ask you some strange questions. If you’ve got even a passing interest in the Japanese entertainment or music industries, you’ve probably heard of evergreen male idol group SMAP and Takuya Kimura, its most popular member. Kimura hosts a weekly radio program, and in the most recent broadcast, he was asked by a listener for his thoughts on women’s panties that tie up on the sides with strings.
Rather than comment on their fashionableness, the star responded with his idea for the best way to remove said underwear, which got his many fans all in a flutter. Here at RocketNews24, though, we don’t have time for abstract panty theory. We’re all about practical life hacks, so today we’re testing Japan’s most-talked about way to remove lingerie.
When you get to be as big a company as Toyota, you can afford to go out and get A-list talent for your commercials. Over the last few years, the automaker’s created a series of ads starring boy band SMAP’s Takuya Kimura and film icon Beat Takeshi.
In the commercials, collectively known as ReBORN, Kimura and Takeshi play historical figures Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, reincarnated in modern Japan. The latest installment even has a special guest star as Hugh Jackman, Wolverine himself, shows up to help spread the word about Toyota’s newest eco-friendly cars.
Sometimes it’s better not to know where nice things come from. That’s the lesson Japanese netizens learned last week when a TV show revealed a very unpleasant fact about why jasmine has its unique and fragrant scent.
In a segment of the variety show aptly called “it’s better that you don’t know,” the president of an “aroma school” in Tokyo revealed that the compound that gives jasmine its pleasant fragrance is also responsible for a very unwelcome smell familiar to us all.






![The One and Only Nose in the World – talented girl plays recorders using her nose [video] The One and Only Nose in the World – talented girl plays recorders using her nose [video]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/recorders.png?w=640)







Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We followed Tokyo’s mystery walking map and ended up creating our own bar-hopping adventure
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
New adults go wild at Seijinshiki Coming-of-Age ceremony in Kitakyushu, Japan 【Photos】
Japanese women showing rebounding interest in giving Valentine’s Day chocolate【Survey】
Japan’s permanent Pokémon theme park zone announces grand opening date, ticket sale start
Village Vanguard tries to tickle us pink with a Pink Lucky Bag
Harvester Yakumo: A restaurant inspired by the Colonel from KFC
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
That time Seiji called JASRAC to ask why he didn’t get paid royalties for his song being on TV
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
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
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 permanent Pokémon theme park zone announces grand opening date, ticket sale start
Village Vanguard tries to tickle us pink with a Pink Lucky Bag
Harvester Yakumo: A restaurant inspired by the Colonel from KFC
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
That time Seiji called JASRAC to ask why he didn’t get paid royalties for his song being on TV
Starbucks releases a Kyoto Matcha Latte in Japan for a limited time
U.S.A. now the fastest-growing market for Japan’s high-tech toilets, now selling quicker than ever
Hokkaido has an Ice Festival that’s less famous than the Snow one, but beautiful in its own way
Japanese government wants to remove tax-exemption limit for foreign tourists on consumables
Pokémon theme park area announced for Kanto region, opens in less than a year【Video】
What’s inside Starbucks Japan’s fukubukuro lucky bag for 2026?
Mysterious salt cauldrons predict disasters at one of the “Three Great Miracles of Japan”