tribute
A showering of gifts might be the norm for the Olympic gold medalist, but this one could mean the most to him.
Two years after his passing, Satoru Iwata remains an important part of Nintendo’s video game vision.
In just over one minute, video takes us on an emotional journey through 20 years of Pokémon passion.
With the unfortunate passing of Nintendo president and CEO Satoru Iwata this past week, thousands of kind words and tributes have been posted online to thank a wonderful man for all his hard work. An outpouring of beautifully drawn pictures from gamers around the world honored his memory. The tributes were not limited to words and art though, as a video game musician who worked with Iwata on a number of projects released a remix of the Balloon Fight theme song for his close and dearly missed friend.
This year’s 50th issue of Shueisha‘s Shonen Jump magazine is a legendary one with the final twochapters of its mega-hit series Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto. In this issue, the 766th chapter (“Smile”) of Eiichiro Oda‘s One Piece manga seems rather normal. However, fans have found a secret message embedded into the One Piece chapter’s title page.
While Fox’s Animation Domination High-Def has a long history of skewering anime properties and tropes, like this battle between Naruto and Sasuke, the ultimate anime hero, and super-powered schoolgirls, it’s all out of love. And now, in response to Studio Ghibli‘s announcement that it may dismantle its production department, ADHD has posted a tribute video called “Goodbye, Ghibli.”
I’m sure many readers of our site are aware of Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki’s recent announcement that he is retiring from filmmaking. Some of you may have even seen the press conference he held in Tokyo on September 6. While some people were skeptical upon hearing the announcement, since Miyazaki had mentioned retirement several times in the past, the legendary animator started off the press conference by saying that he knows he’s cried wolf multiple times concerning retirement, but that he was serious this time.
And so it was that Ghibli fans around the world had to accept that the creator of numerous acclaimed anime films such as Spirited Away and Princess Monoke was finally putting down his animator’s pen. Naturally, the news caused a huge response across the Internet, but one video in particular posted after the conference by an obviously musically talented fan has been receiving considerable attention on the Japanese Internet. We admit it is a slightly long video at 31 minutes, but if you’ve seen any of the Ghibli films and enjoyed the experience, we think it will be well worth your time to view the musical tribute.












We followed Tokyo’s mystery walking map and ended up creating our own bar-hopping adventure
Pokémon Lego kits are finally on their way!【Photos】
Japanese women showing rebounding interest in giving Valentine’s Day chocolate【Survey】
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Yoshinoya adds first-ever chain-wide ramen with new beef and pork-broth noodle hot pot meals
Japanese avoiding domestic travel as foreign tourists increase, possibly creating vicious cycle
Japanese mom’s sketchbook of amazing anime character designs from 50 years ago amazes daughter
Kagoshima conveyor belt sushi chain Mekkemon rises above the rest with its special secret weapon
Beyond sakura: How to tell a cherry blossom from a plum or peach flower
Nearly one in ten young adults living in Japan isn’t ethnically Japanese, statistics show
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
Umamusume anime girl plushie recalled for having parts she absolutely should not have【Pics】
Princess Mononoke magnets return just in time to treat yourself to awesome anime decorations
Top Japanese cosplayer Enako returns to Comiket after 6 years, creates mayhem with admirers
Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.
We ate sushi made from Japan’s most expensive tuna ever【Taste test】
Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Human washing machine pods coming to Japanese hotels【Photos】
Japanese avoiding domestic travel as foreign tourists increase, possibly creating vicious cycle
Japanese mom’s sketchbook of amazing anime character designs from 50 years ago amazes daughter
Kagoshima conveyor belt sushi chain Mekkemon rises above the rest with its special secret weapon
Beyond sakura: How to tell a cherry blossom from a plum or peach flower
Nearly one in ten young adults living in Japan isn’t ethnically Japanese, statistics show
Daiso’s 100-yen ramen egg makers even better in smaller sizes
Cute Anime Girls Driving Sales of Windows 8 in Japan
Two crows decided to wreck a Pokémon GO player in Japan during Pokémon GO Fest
Rakuten randomly offers 58 New Year’s osechi feasts in Japan, but did we get a star or a dud?
Hobbyist turns Volks Super Dollfie girls into amazing Dancing Dolls
Huge tuna fish sells for a whopping 190 million yen at the first wholesale auction of the year
These Japanese cat masks both enchant and terrify
Village Vanguard tries to tickle us pink with a Pink Lucky Bag