Get over here, friends! Japan will finally be lifting its restrictions on tourist travel starting October 11, said Prime Minister Fumio Kishida while visiting the UN in New York this week. Visitors from countries that were previously exempted from visas for travel, such as the …Read more »
Anyone who’s tried to travel to Japan since the COVID-19 pandemic hit knows it hasn’t been easy. Until very recently, tourism was a no-go, and even now, you have to buy into tour packages to get in. There’s also an entry cap of 50,000 people …Read more »
Every now and again, someone in Japan decides it’s a good idea to fetishize Nazi uniforms and make a fool of themselves. That’s the case with a new host club that recently opened in Osaka, which has hosts dressed up in Nazi-style uniforms emblazoned with …Read more »
It’s not that exciting, but it pays the bills. A recent survey of young Japanese people asked “what do you want to be when you grow up?” and the number one answer for most was “kaishain,” meaning “company employee” or “office worker.” Y’know, a good …Read more »
You may recall a story from last year about Kagawa prefecture—located in the south of Japan—implementing an ordinance that limits video game playtime for young folks to just 60 minutes a day during the week and 90 minutes a day on weekends and holidays. A …Read more »
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba continues to be a smash hit in Japan, where the theatrical film made huge amounts of money this past weekend. All well and good, but a certain sector of the population is suffering at the hands of Demon Slayer’s popularity. …Read more »
With the new Inuyasha spinoff on the way this October, fans are feeling nostalgic for the Rumiko Takahashi classic. Now a pop-up cafe celebrating the series is set for the major Japanese cities of Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. Like most of these anime-themed pop-up cafes, …Read more »
Theme parks are awesome, and they just keep getting awesomer. Besides the thrill rides, you can also take part in immersive experiences based on your favorite shows and movies — especially if you’re into Disney properties. But if you’re an anime fan, you’ll have to …Read more »
After the way 2020’s gone, we’re about ready for our convenience store robot overlords. Japanese store chains Lawson and FamilyMart have announced that they will be introducing simple robots to some locations. At present, the robots will simply be available for demonstration, but there are …Read more »
Japan’s State of Emergency was previously extended to May 31, but those restrictions have officially been lifted earlier than planned. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a press conference on May 25 to announce that the declaration of State of Emergency has now been lifted …Read more »
Now that’s dedication. A YouTuber in Japan with the username Tarue Totsugeki is praying for the return of Yoshihiro Togashi’s manga Hunter x Hunter in his own special way: by throwing 1,000 karate punches every day. On his channel, the user promises “one thousand thankful …Read more »
We’ve entered an age in which parties, meetups, meetings and dates have moved online to Zoom or other platforms. It’s great we have the technology to connect, but there are times when Zoom meetings can go on and on. But how to make a graceful …Read more »
Desperate times call for cute creative measures. Take this example from Japan, courtesy designer Eisuke Tachikawa. In the face of COVID-19, which can be passed from person to person via saliva droplets, Tachikawa has created a template for a face shield that can be cut …Read more »
Y’all know Doraemon, right? The blue robot cat from the future beloved by generations of Japanese kids? Softbank, one of Japan’s leading cell phone carriers, has recruited Doraemon as part of its 5G rollout—and they’ve thought pretty far outside the box in terms of casting. …Read more »
Hey, kids: game over. No, seriously. By law! Well, sort of. Kagawa Prefecture, Japan just passed an ordinance restricting video game play time for children. The ordinance, the first of its kind in Japan, was created to combat video game addiction. The ordinance sets playtime …Read more »
Matt Schley
Joseph Luster
Kara Dennison
