Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
smart rubber
At this year’s CEATEC Japan, Tokai Rubber Industries Ltd. unveiled the first ever speaker made entirely of rubber – or should I say “smart rubber.” With this technology what appears to be an ordinary strip of latex can be wired into a speaker.
There already is a range of modern products such smartphones using miniature speakers to produce decent quality sound. However, smart rubber speakers stand above with one thing they don’t have – good bass.
Japanese-style afternoon tea in this Japanese manor house outside downtown Tokyo is something special
New Totoro carabiner pouches are ready to clip/tag along with you on all your adventures[Photos]
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Move aside, convenience store egg sando – there’s a better version of the iconic sandwich in Japan
Puppet Sunsun taking over Lawson convenience stores all over Japan
Oh shiitake! How to grow your own with Japan’s super-easy mushroom cultivation kit【Photos】
Kagoshima conveyor belt sushi chain Mekkemon rises above the rest with its special secret weapon
New bento bread makes us rethink sandwiches…and Japanese bentos
Kinotake Mother AI developed to study Japan’s divide between chocolate cookie snacks
We try Tokyo restaurant’s crab ice cream that tastes more like crab than cream【Taste test】
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flawJapan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Japanese trains in Sapporo might be better than those in Tokyo, thanks to one special featureMove aside, convenience store egg sando – there’s a better version of the iconic sandwich in Japan
Japanese government wants overseas anime market to roughly triple in 10 years, but are they crazy?
Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes
Japanese bento shop sells croquettes for 13 cents, but are they any good?
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration eventsWisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthdayBrand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited timeInjuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
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
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
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
Oh shiitake! How to grow your own with Japan’s super-easy mushroom cultivation kit【Photos】
Kagoshima conveyor belt sushi chain Mekkemon rises above the rest with its special secret weapon
New bento bread makes us rethink sandwiches…and Japanese bentos
Kinotake Mother AI developed to study Japan’s divide between chocolate cookie snacks
We try Tokyo restaurant’s crab ice cream that tastes more like crab than cream【Taste test】
Japan’s original oyakodon restaurant reopens after three years in a newly renovated building
Blue Bottle Coffee opening [Round 2]: We wait an hour and a half, but this time we get in!!
Japan’s popular bead bonsai kit is as beautiful as it is gruelling to make
Osaka’s powerful Crab Ice Crab doesn’t pull any punches【Taste test】
Japan’s full-facemask Ninja Parka still lets you eat ice cream[Photos]
Japan has new rules for bicycle riders, and these 14 things could get you a fine or a court date