Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
Sprint
Sprint’s new commercial featuring a “framily” that includes a father who is a talking hamster and daughter who only speaks French is definitely weird. If you live in the US, you may have caught the 30 second clip during prime time Monday evening and were left with an upturned eyebrow and slight frown. But this strange commercial isn’t quite an original creation. The Sprint framily was actually inspired by a long-running marketing campaign over in, you guessed it, Japan.
Kyoto Whopper divides customers at Burger King Japan
Taking the Kyoto overnight bus for the first time
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】
Starbucks Japan unveils second Holiday Frappuccino for 2024
Looking for cinnamon rolls on “Japan’s closest street to America”【Taste test】
Hello Kitty isn’t a cat!? We called Sanrio to find out!
Japanese burger chain no longer serves onion rings, but offers intriguing replacement【Taste test】
Berserk T-shirts coming to Uniqlo for launch of new Manga Curation line【Photos】
New card game makes Japan’s saunas even steamier
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
Looking for cinnamon rolls on “Japan’s closest street to America”【Taste test】
Hello Kitty isn’t a cat!? We called Sanrio to find out!
Japanese burger chain no longer serves onion rings, but offers intriguing replacement【Taste test】
Berserk T-shirts coming to Uniqlo for launch of new Manga Curation line【Photos】
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
What’s for breakfast at Burger King Japan? Spamburgers!
Domino’s erupts with a 1kg Cheese Volcano in Japan
Japan’s new frozen sushi DIY kit – Great foodie fun, or cold-hearted abomination?【Taste test】
Bat soup in Palau is pretty intense
Japanese department store rooftop is a secret oasis where you can escape the crowds in Tokyo
Do you enjoy pirated anime and manga? If so, this “thank you” is not for you
Kyoto’s “ikezu” culture of backhanded compliments explained in hilarious souvenir sticker series
Coca-Cola’s new Coke ON subscription service makes Japanese vending machines more fun to use