When we hear “sashimi”, usually what comes to mind is fish. But there are actually a wide variety of sashimi, such as horse sashimi and chicken sashimi. And, since ancient times in Japan, there is frog sashimi. (Here is where we try it out so you don’t have to.) We went to a Tokyo restaurant that we heard serves frog sashimi, “Asadachi” (which means morning wood, you know), about 3 minutes walk from Shinjuku station in ‘Piss Alley’.
weird (Page 177)
You know that warm feeling you get when you spot a cockroach in the corner of your kitchen. How about when you pick up the garbage only to find one of those magical little critters scurry away in that adorable way they do?
The problem is that these precious moments are rare and even more fleeting as roaches quickly run into some crack in the wall. Although you may feel comforted knowing that there are thousands more living inside that wall, it still doesn’t match the pure elation of meeting one of these black bundles of joy face to face.
Across all times and cultures, there have been a variety of hygienic practices, some of which we would regard with horror today. One of those, which has been much discussed recently, is the practice of drinking one’s own urine to promote good health. Yes, you read that correctly, drinking a steaming glass of your own pee as a health supplement. Read More
It’s widely known that Japanese people love to eat fish (although in recent years, hamburgers and pizza have become increasingly a part of our diet). But even in a country where fish is treasured – so much so that a single tuna can fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars at the fish market – you normally wouldn’t expect to see a product this “fishy” – fish flavored chewing gum! Read More
Remember the boyfriend arm pillow? And the lap pillow in the shape of a woman’s lower body? (Or perhaps you actually have them?) Read More
With a new movie coming out, it seems that Japanese horror character Sadako from the “Ring” series is keeping herself quite busy these days. We’ve already reported to you about how she has collaborated with Hello Kitty. This time, she made a surprise appearance at a baseball game at Tokyo Dome Stadium to throw the ceremonial first pitch. Read More
Rescue and firefighting robots that can operate in disaster areas too dangerous for humans can obviously be a great asset, and it is not surprising that research and development of such machines are conducted in many countries around the world.
One such firefighting robot developed by the U.S. Navy has been the subject of significant attention recently. It’s actually a humanoid robot, which is unusual for a rescue robot, but that isn’t the reason why it is gaining attention; the reason becomes quite obvious once you see a picture of the robot – the robot just simply looks incredibly freaky! Read More
Disclaimer: This article contains some graphic depictions of doo-doo and is not for the faint of stomach.
One of the great things about visiting Thailand is that everything is so cheap. Especially if you want to buy souvenirs for a lot of people, it’s a very shopping friendly country. However, even with these low prices, travelers are still faced with the dilemma of what to get loved ones.
You don’t want to spend your whole vacation picking out the perfect gifts but you also don’t want to be like your aunt Grace who gave you a lame souvenir spoon from her trip to the Grand Canyon last year.
Luckily we stumbled upon a toy store in Thailand that lets you confront your fear of buying a crappy present by selling literal pieces of crap. Small coilers will run you about 50 baht (US$1.60) but a larger log will cost 150 baht ($4.80).
Well, that’s what we’re here for.
So, Americans love bacon. Bacon with eggs. Bacon with burgers. Bacon with waffles, even. We’ve even seen bacon with chocolate and other sweets. Read More
Have you ever seen such a lustrous gold egg before? I’m willing to bet most people would answer “no” to that. And yet, this shiny egg is the real thing! Well, at least it’s a real egg, anyway.
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Who doesn’t love cherry blossoms (sakura) and cherry blossom season? That exquisite pink everywhere. Refreshing, energizing, even. It’s fun just to wander around checking out the different parks with cherry blossoms. Sadly, time flies and the petals blow away… Read More
Wherever you go in the suburbs of Japan, you can bet that there will be a ramen shop along the main road. They usually offer a large parking area and have the run down look of shops that have been in business for years and years. They’re the kind of places long-haul truckers like to stop for a meal and a nap.
One such ramen shop has made news recently when its rather unique billboard was blogged about. In bold, black letters, the sign reads, “There’s nothing good here!”
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A Yokohama Ward Office was shocked on 13 January, when they received a visit from the infamous immortal homicidal monster depicted in countless horror movies, Jason Voorhees. This time, however, rather than wielding a blood-stained machete, Jason hit the office with a donation of 10 Randoseru backpacks.
Sometimes we all need a little lovin’. Now you can get a kiss anywhere, at any time, with the saucy new iPhone app Choi Kiss, loosely translated as Kisses on the Go. This little piece of heaven won’t even cost you a penny.
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Recently, a lot of fuss was made over an advertisement spotted near the Amerikamura (American Village) area of Osaka. Although overlooked by most Japanese who walked by, the posters hit English speaking foreigners like a slap in the face. It read: “Fuckin’ Sale — All 20% Off”.
This poster and the ensuing controversy surrounding it raises more questions than it does answers for both Japanese and Western people.
On Yahoo Shopping, a site famous for its oodles of unique merchandise, an ornamental sword is attracting a lot of attention. It’s called the “Whale Sword” and it’s a model of a style of ornamental sword used in the pre-war days, with a blade close to a meter long. Who wouldn’t want that in their stocking?
As I was taking a walk through the city the other day, I encountered a cake shop with a fantastic exterior like something out of a fairy tale. It had a very cheerful ambiance, and on closer inspection, I noticed a remarkable figure. Could it be? Star of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Jack Sparrow, selling pastries? Captain Jack managing a cake shop?
Read More
Are you looking for something to give to that special someone in your life? Choosing the right gift is a huge burden for many of us this time of year, especially with so many options to choose from.
When Mr. Satoh needs to get his heart pumping, he walks. He runs. He jogs, and he does a wealth of other physical activities.
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One of the coolest restaurants in Tokyo isn’t actually always in Tokyo — Dining on the Tokyo Restaurant Bus
Monthly
- We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid- Sailor Moon Museum will finally make its outside-Japan debut
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JR’s new overnight sleeper train will connect Tokyo and northern Japan, is private cabin-only- Japanese airlines, including JAL and ANA, enacting new mobile battery carry-on rules this month
New unlimited-ride JR Japan rail pass is perfect for a laid-back trip in east and northeast Japan
There’s a new museum in Japan, but almost all of its location is a secret- Rental grandma service growing in Japan, can help cook or break up with boyfriends
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Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengers
Possessing Harry Potter’s Sword of Godric Gryffindor is now illegal in Japan
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces- 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
Studio Ghibli releases free-download board game — Here’s how to play it without reading Japanese- Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Nintendo history you can feel – Super NES, N64, and GameCube controllers become capsule toys
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We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Uniqlo is fed up with shoplifters, so it’s adding a new element to how it’ll deal with thieves
Japan Airlines is giving away free domestic flights to international tourists
Starbucks Japan adds a Shine Muscat Grape Frappuccino to the menu for a limited time
Famous Japanese painter’s centuries-old cat artwork proves Japan has always loved felines
Final Studio Ghibli Film Concert Tour performances to be held in Tokyo, tickets on sale now
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japanese-style strawberry sandwiches win mainstream fans in U.K., but aren’t quite like the originals
Chiikawa Bakery launches a limited-time menu of sunburned characters and refreshing drinks
Japanese airlines offer discounted fares to international tourists
Tokyo ramen restaurant apologizes for trying to set too-strict time limit for eating its noodles
Japan Travel: Explore a mysterious hidden octagonal tunnel in the mountains of Kyushu
We both do and do not recommend hiking to Tokyo’s beautiful mountain beer garden in midsummer
Hate airline food? ANA now lets you cancel in-flight meal prior to boarding, switch to a sandwich
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