You probably remember last year when the Internet collectively lost control of its bowels over the announcement that the US military was working on TALOS, a powered suit that wasn’t actually anything like what Tony Stark wears but was close enough to get our hearts racing. News outlets were flooded with reports of Iron Man suits and few could ignore the excitement, though it turns out that making a real powered suit is hard–recent reports suggest TALOS won’t be ready until 2018.
While three or four years isn’t exactly soon, it is pretty quick–though if the US military doesn’t get their hustle on, they may end up being second to the powered suit finish line! It looks like the Japanese government is preparing to throw hundreds of millions of yen at a project to develop a powered-assist suit for soldiers in three years–if it is accepted by the Diet for the 2015 budget.

Japanese temple burns to the ground, fire burning inside for 1,200 years unharmed
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Man in Japan calls in bomb threat because he doesn’t want to go to his own work farewell party
Japanese vending machine find introduces us to a new drink you can’t get anywhere else
Starbucks Japan hoping fans will go bananas for its new mottainai banana affogato Frappuccino
Memorial bell inside Hiroshima’s Peace Park has been silenced, but for a sweet reason
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
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Pokémon Company to require Japanese government ID cards for some online Pokémon card purchases
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We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
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Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
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No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Memorial bell inside Hiroshima’s Peace Park has been silenced, but for a sweet reason
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Japan has a new cute and clever sunblock for cat lovers
Japan’s izakaya pubs closing at record pace, failing to attract foreign tourists
Pokémon Company to require Japanese government ID cards for some online Pokémon card purchases
7-Eleven Japan releases their second lineup of upsized foods from a muffin to bukkake soba
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
The story of our reporter P.K. Sanjun’s heart attack
Suspected yakuza member arrested for having frequent flyer mile account
Super! Eel Bread takes Japanese sushi into uncharted territory
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Studio Ghibli adds mini pillows and massive mats to its anime merchandise store in Japan
McDonald’s Japan adds curry French fry flavor, regional-taste burgers to its menu with Gotochi Mac
This Tokyo Station sweets sensation sells out daily, but we finally got our hands on it