Ikebukuro’s new furusato nozei returns are aimed right at otaku’s hearts, include custom costume and professional makeup and photography.
tax
First-of-its-kind tax would bring in nearly one billion yen, but government says it’s not about the money.
They say a picture’s worth a thousand words, but in Japan every year people try to distill an entire year’s worth of words into a single picture…or logograph if you want to get technical about it.
Last year, after tens of thousands of votes were counted, 輪 pronounced rin or wa and meaning “ring” was selected to represent the nations various achievements of 2013 such as winning the bid for the Olympic games and having Mt. Fuji designated as a World Heritage Site.
And today, after the Buddhist monk approached the canvas of Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto, this kanji above is what he painted under a fittingly gloomy and cloud-filled sky.
It’s often said that nothing in life is certain except for death and taxes, but for one Osaka resident, that maxim was little more than an old wives’ tale.
One day, the taxman came calling to the tune of 816 million yen (US$7.7M) over years of unreported winning horse race bets. However, in a game where the house always wins, this guy managed to flip the script and knock down the money owed to a relatively modest 67 million yen ($635,000).
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Weekly
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The Pokémon anime studio’s next project is a Scooby-Doo anime, Yokoso Scooby-Doo
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Mister Donut’s beyond super soft and chewy beyond mochi mochi donuts have returned
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The Mandalorian and Grogu film inspires a new set of Ginza Cozy Corner mini cakes and more
Self-proclaimed Americans arrested for breaking into Punch the monkey’s Japanese zoo habitat
Starbucks Japan releases two new “chunky” drinks… and matching gel designs for our nails
The top 12 incomprehensible school rules, as chosen by high school students
Starbucks Japan adds a new Frappuccino and Milk to the menu, but are they worth the calories?
Hundreds of rose bushes in bloom at Tokyo’s off-the-beaten-path, next-to-the-tracks flower street
Six towering historical warrior floats will grace Fukui’s Mikuni Festival for three days
161-year-old Kyoto confectionary maker releases new edible Pokémon lineup
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