Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
Udar
The world is full of musical instruments with varying degrees of notoriety. Many instruments, like the guitar and piano, have legions of followers, while others like the sheng only get picked up by a select few. The Udar falls into that latter category with Mr. Sato having just become one of the very few people who have ever picked one up.
Join us as we listen to the musical stylings of the Udar as played by its inventor Michinobu Uda and learn a little about how it works.
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Japanese city loses residents’ personal data, which was on paper being transported on a windy day
Historical figures get manga makeovers from artists of Spy x Family, My Hero Academia and more
Akihabara pop-up shop sells goods made by Japanese prison inmates
Harajuku Station’s beautiful old wooden building is set to return, with a new complex around it
Japanese ramen restaurants under pressure from new yen banknotes
Ghibli Park now selling “Grilled Frogs” from food cart in Valley of Witches
Sandwiches fit for a sumo served up in Osaka【Taste Test】
New private rooms on Tokaido Shinkansen change the way we travel from Tokyo to Kyoto
Japan’s massive matcha parfait weighs 6 kilos, contains hidden surprises for anyone who eats it
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goodsForeigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of societyJapanese ramen restaurants under pressure from new yen banknotes
French Fries Bread in Tokyo’s Shibuya becomes a hit on social media
Studio Ghibli releases new action figures featuring Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind charactersNew private rooms on Tokaido Shinkansen change the way we travel from Tokyo to Kyoto
Red light district sushi restaurant in Tokyo shows us just how wrong we were about it
Tokyo Tsukiji fish market site to be redeveloped with 50,000-seat stadium, hotel, shopping center
All-you-can-drink Starbucks and amazing views part of Tokyo’s new 170 meter-high sky lounge
Beautiful Ghibli sealing wax kits let you create accessories and elegant letter decorations【Pics】McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goodsForeigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Studio Ghibli releases Kiki’s Delivery Service chocolate cake pouches in Japan
New definition of “Japanese whiskey” goes into effect to prevent fakes from fooling overseas buyers
Our Japanese reporter visits Costco in the U.S., finds super American and very Japanese things
Studio Ghibli unveils Mother’s Day gift set that captures the love in My Neighbour TotoroJapanese ramen restaurants under pressure from new yen banknotesAll-you-can-drink Starbucks and amazing views part of Tokyo’s new 170 meter-high sky lounge
More foreign tourists than ever before in history visited Japan last month
New Pokémon cakes let you eat your way through Pikachu and all the Eevee evolutionsMcDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
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
Japanese ramen restaurants under pressure from new yen banknotes
Ghibli Park now selling “Grilled Frogs” from food cart in Valley of Witches
Sandwiches fit for a sumo served up in Osaka【Taste Test】
New private rooms on Tokaido Shinkansen change the way we travel from Tokyo to Kyoto
Japan’s massive matcha parfait weighs 6 kilos, contains hidden surprises for anyone who eats it
Anime girl English teacher Ellen-sensei becomes VTuber/VVTUber and NFT
French Fries Bread in Tokyo’s Shibuya becomes a hit on social media
Pokémon Sleep camping suite and guestrooms coming to Tokyo Hyatt along with giant Snorlax burgers
Limited-edition Carbonara Udon will anger noodle purists and pasta lovers 【Taste test】
Fried sandwiches arrive in Tokyo, become hot topic on social media
Osaka’s creepy cute mascot speaks for first time, adds more fuel the creepy OR cute debate【Video】
“Hey, Japanese taxi driver, take us to the best seafood joint in Otaru!”
The real story of Nintendo’s Mario
Singapore Airlines adds country’s attractions to safety video so passengers actually watch【Video】