2014 marks 25 years as a band for the pillows. They are celebrating with a song entitled “Happy Birthday,” and also by announcing a cover and dance contest. For those with the misfortune of not knowing who the pillows are, they are a Japanese rock band whose style has changed over the last 25 years from pop to jazz experimentation to alternative rock.
Many of the band’s fans outside of Japan became acquainted with them through the six-episode animated series, FLCL, for which the pillows provided the music. The caffeinated, crunchy soundtrack is the perfect complement to the nonsensical but purely fun plot that includes a robot that emerges from a boy’s head wound, the spirit of a powerful pirate king and the sexy maniac who hunts him down riding a Vespa with an electric bass as a weapon.
This downtown Tokyo cafe is like a time machine that takes you back 50 years into the past
Japanese government will check and judge new baby name pronunciations, presents guidelines
Totoro towels gently glow in the dark to set the Ghibli nighttime mood in your home【Photos】
Evangelion and McDonald’s Japan launch first-ever collaboration with transforming figures【Video】
The best Christmas Market in Japan? Yokohama event is top choice for travellers
Starbucks Japan unveils New Year’s collection for 2024, with daruma, dragons and Mt Fuji for luck
Man revives woman with AED, branded a “pervert” for removing her clothes to apply electrode pads
Is Burger King’s Big Mouth Burger really as overwhelmingly meaty as promised? 【Taste test】
World’s first real ramen in a can now available at Japanese vending machines
How to get all-you-can eat doughnuts at Mister Donut for just 12 bucks!
Japanese company develops classy heavy metal band frames for glasses
One of Japan’s rarest sweets is a sell-out hit that looks and tastes like frost
Studio Ghibli showcases traditional craftsmanship with new wallet range
Mysterious light-up rainy night-sound Totoro figure doesn’t actually show a scene from the anime
Major Japanese city is abolishing extracurricular activities at all of its middle schools
Over 800 Studio Ghibli anime world paintings compiled in beautiful new hardcover art book【Pics】
Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke plushies show a softer side of formidable Ghibli characters
Shakey’s is back! All-you-can-eat pizza chain returns to downtown Tokyo’s Shinjuku
Studio Ghibli tea blends contain ingredients inspired by My Neighbour Totoro
Possessing Harry Potter’s Sword of Godric Gryffindor is now illegal in Japan
Uniqlo announces first-ever collaboration with horror manga master Junji Ito【Photos】
J-pop mega star Ado reveals she’s been living in the U.S., may not understand language acquisition
Starbucks Japan is calling it quits with paper straws
Studio Ghibli releases new range of cardigans for anime fans
Japan’s most popular castle raising ticket prices by up to 200 percent for non-local tourists
Furikake rice seasoning sales are soaring, which is bad news for Japan as a whole
Studio Ghibli heroine cardigans give you warmth and strength to face everyday challenges
Eight unforgettable hot springs, as recommended by Japan’s “Professor Bath”
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
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Studio Ghibli releases free-download board game — Here’s how to play it without reading Japanese
Starbucks Japan unveils New Year’s collection for 2024, with daruma, dragons and Mt Fuji for luck
Man revives woman with AED, branded a “pervert” for removing her clothes to apply electrode pads
Is Burger King’s Big Mouth Burger really as overwhelmingly meaty as promised? 【Taste test】
World’s first real ramen in a can now available at Japanese vending machines
How to get all-you-can eat doughnuts at Mister Donut for just 12 bucks!
“We wasted so much time in English class” — Japanese Twitter user points out major teaching flaw
Yakuza vending machines coming to real-world Tokyo neighborhood that inspired Like a Dragon games
A Must-See Visual of Japan’s 2011 Earthquakes
Japanese government wants to acquire original anime and manga art for creation of national archive
Clever design trick means beautiful Ghibli Artboard Jigsaw Puzzles won’t have bittersweet ending
Forget dog-earing and bookmarks that fall, make your own easy origami bookmark instead!
Big dam Godzilla appears in Japan as power-washer art on side of 195-foot dam【Video】
Eight-year-old boy gets stopped at the airport for a suspicious bulge in his pants