Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
Year of the Horse
2014 is the year of the horse, according to the Chinese zodiac. The Chinese zodiac animals play an important role in Japanese new year traditions, even though they no longer follow the Chinese lunar calendar. Themed goods featuring the zodiac animal of the year can be seen almost everywhere you go when the new year comes around. Yokohama originated bakery Pompadour created this adorable horse character bun for the occasion!
Wait, what? There’s real horse meat in it?!
In Japan, 2014 will be another “Horse Year” on the Japanese zodiac calendar. Last year, Japan celebrated the snake, which is said to bring wisdom and good monetary fortune to businesses. The horse, however, brings leadership, good business partnerships, and instant failure to all weight loss resolutions in the form of this adorable customized roll cake from Tokyo’s renowned Rihga Royal Hotel.
As 2013 comes to a close, all of us at RocketNews24 have been taking time to reflect on the past 12 months. We’ve gone through a lot of changes as a site and staff and we’re all so grateful for our steadily growing readership. Most of all, we’re proud to have brought you an entire year’s worth of funny, interesting, and at times downright crazy news from Japan and Asia. Looking back, 2013 was our biggest year yet and we hope for your continued support of our small site of translator/writers who just can’t get enough of Japan.
Wishing you all a wonderful 2014 and thanks for being the best bunch of readers our humble site could ever hope for! Here’s to a wonderful new year filled with even more dancing Tokyo grannies, otter handshakes, and Mr. Sato adventures…and of course a bit of Japanese language and culture sprinkled in for good measure!
Love always and forever,
The RocketNews24 Team
Image: 58 Pic
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
All-you-can-drink Starbucks and amazing views part of Tokyo’s new 170 meter-high sky lounge
Studio Ghibli glasses cases let anime characters keep an eye on your spectacles
McDonald’s Japan releases a pancake pie for new retro kissaten coffeeshop series
Super Nintendo World expansion gets delayed for several months at Universal Studios Japan
Haku is…Chihiro’s dead brother? Studio Ghibli fans blown away by Spirited Away theory
Is Japan’s massive Shizuoka steak sandwich really as delicious as it looks in promo photos?
We try out “Chan Ramen”, an underground type of ramen popular in the ramen community
Kyoto’s 100 Demons yokai monster parade returns!
Video proves 19th century samurai and Japanese ladies have elegance all wrapped upMcDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Disney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in Tokyo
More foreign tourists than ever before in history visited Japan last month
Starbucks reopens at Shibuya Scramble Crossing with new look and design concept
Beautiful new Final Fantasy T-shirt collection on the way from Uniqlo【Photos】
Is the new Shinkansen Train Desk ticket worth it?
Foreign English teachers in Japan pick their favorite Japanese-language phrases【Survey】All-you-can-drink Starbucks and amazing views part of Tokyo’s new 170 meter-high sky lounge
Japanese convenience store packs a whole bento into an onigiri rice ballWe try out “Chan Ramen”, an underground type of ramen popular in the ramen communityMcDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Studio Ghibli releases Kiki’s Delivery Service chocolate cake pouches in Japan
Japan’s bone-breaking and record-breaking roller coaster is permanently shutting down
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 Totoro
Foreign passenger shoves conductor on one of the last full runs for Japan’s Thunderbird train
Domino’s Japan now sells…pizza ears?
New Japanese KitKat flavour stars Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty
Kyoto creates new for-tourist buses to address overtourism with higher prices, faster rides
Sales of Japan’s most convenient train ticket/shopping payment cards suspended indefinitelyMcDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
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
Haku is…Chihiro’s dead brother? Studio Ghibli fans blown away by Spirited Away theory
Is Japan’s massive Shizuoka steak sandwich really as delicious as it looks in promo photos?
We try out “Chan Ramen”, an underground type of ramen popular in the ramen community
Kyoto’s 100 Demons yokai monster parade returns!
Video proves 19th century samurai and Japanese ladies have elegance all wrapped up
Customer gets more than expected after ordering the large size at a Japanese restaurant
Twitter manga shows why “Quit your job” isn’t such an easy solution for suicidal workers in Japan
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Mario can’t beat state of emergency, Super Nintendo World theme park opening delayed again
Japan’s legendary Brother Katana might not be brothers after all? Investigating the mystery【Pics】
Japan super budget dining – What’s the best way to spend 1,000 yen at Hama Sushi?
7 things that surprise a visitor to Laos 【Photos】
Is “The Most Annoying but Most Delicious” ramen from 7-Eleven truly the most delicious?
This delicious naan-focaccia combination is the one thing we want for dessert right now【SoraKitchen】