Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
swan
Everyone should indulge in a bit of cross-cultural exchange every now and then to expand their worldly horizons–and as the following smartphone video illustrates, cross-species exchange can be just as, if not more, rewarding. Just take it from this black swan who’s made it his personal mission to feed some floundering fish friends!
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Starbucks reopens at Shibuya Scramble Crossing with new look and design concept
More foreign tourists than ever before in history visited Japan last month
The oldest tunnel in Japan is believed to be haunted, and strange things happen when we go there
Is the new Shinkansen Train Desk ticket worth it?
Arrest proves a common Japanese saying about apologies and police
Our reporter takes her 71-year-old mother to a visual kei concert for the first time
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to your favorite restaurant in Tsuruga City!
Japanese police kendo: Not for the faint of heart
Dogs now allowed on Catbus! Ghibli Park vehicles revise service animal policy
Disney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in Tokyo
We try out “Chan Ramen”, an underground type of ramen popular in the ramen community
Foreign English teachers in Japan pick their favorite Japanese-language phrases【Survey】
Beautiful new Final Fantasy T-shirt collection on the way from Uniqlo【Photos】
There’s a park inside Japan where you can also see Japan inside the park
New Studio Ghibli bedding sets are cool in all senses of the word
Japanese convenience store packs a whole bento into an onigiri rice ball
Hanton rice — a delicious regional food even most Japanese people don’t know about, but more should
New Pokémon cakes let you eat your way through Pikachu and all the Eevee evolutions
Hamburg and Hamburg Shibuya: A Japanese restaurant you need to put on your Tokyo itinerary
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
Foreign passenger shoves conductor on one of the last full runs for Japan’s Thunderbird train
Our Japanese reporter visits Costco in the U.S., finds super American and very Japanese things
Kyoto bans tourists from geisha alleys in Gion, with fines for those who don’t follow rules
Studio Ghibli unveils Mother’s Day gift set that captures the love in My Neighbour Totoro
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
Studio Ghibli’s new desktop Howl’s Moving Castle will take your stationery on an adventure
Arrest proves a common Japanese saying about apologies and police
Our reporter takes her 71-year-old mother to a visual kei concert for the first time
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to your favorite restaurant in Tsuruga City!
Japanese police kendo: Not for the faint of heart
Dogs now allowed on Catbus! Ghibli Park vehicles revise service animal policy
Taking a trip using Japan’s random gacha capsule airplane ticket discount【Photos】
Why is Japan such an unpopular tourist destination?
Osaka’s creepy cute mascot speaks for first time, adds more fuel the creepy OR cute debate【Video】
Are 100-yen shop Daiso’s gel nail polish strips a good dupe for salon quality nails? Let’s find out
Haku is…Chihiro’s dead brother? Studio Ghibli fans blown away by Spirited Away theory
We talk about everything except music with visual kei rock legends Fantastic Circus【Interview】
We visit Tomonoura, the scenic harbor town that inspired Studio Ghibli’s “Ponyo”【Photos】
Massive-variation new Pikachu plushie line lets you find the perfect Pikachu just for you
Man orders nothing but a free smile from McDonald’s Japan using Uber Eats