Oh boy! A shop and cafe based on the works of Osamu Tezuka, he of Astro Boy/Tetsuwan Atom, Phoenix and Black Jack, just opened up in Asakusa, Tokyo. We’re not sure we quite believe this, but apparently it’s one of only two shops in the world (the other is …Read more »
If you’ve been following the news out of Japan, you know the Heisei era, which began in 1989 with the ascension of Emperor (now Emperor Emeritus) Akihito, ended May 1, 2019, as his son Naruhito took over. Many reports, TV shows, articles and lists were …Read more »
There are some folks out there you don’t want to mess with, and one of those is unofficial otter mascot and all around amazing creature Chiitan. John Oliver, host of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, learned this the hard way when he aired a segment in which …Read more »
A former video game world champion from Japan has turned to burglary. Tomoyuki Inui, 33, better known to the gaming world as Katsuninken, has been arrested for breaking into the residence of a 84-year-old woman and stealing 2.6 million yen, says Tokyo Reporter. Upon questioning, …Read more »
As you may well know, being a fan of Japanese stuff and all, Japan marks the ages with era names which change every time a new Emperor takes the throne. Crown Prince Naruhito is set to do just that on May 1, 2019, as his …Read more »
In 2017, we reported that Park Jung-hyun, the former editor of Attack on Titan, had been arrested in connection with the death of his wife. At the opening day of his trial this week, the former editor pleaded innocent, stating “I did not kill my …Read more »
Two hundred thousand. That’s roughly how many people crowded into the Tokyo Big Sight each day for three days late last year for the largest fan convention in the world, Comic Market, a.k.a. Comiket. It’s a number that’s hard to really visualize. By comparison, the …Read more »
Japan may be known for cracking down on certain crimes, but according to the results of a recent survey, being a sex offender isn’t one of them. Japanese survey site Shirabee polled 1,344 Japanese men and women aged between 20 and 69 about whether they …Read more »
Here in Japan, the era of buying adult magazines in convenience stores seems to be coming to an end. 7-Eleven, one of the largest convenience stores chains in the country, began pulling adult-oriented magazines from its racks January 21. By August, the new policy is …Read more »
There’s a new Made in Abyss film on the way, and one Tokyo bakery is celebrating by giving itself a makeover. The bakery, Usagiza Lepus, will go Abyss-y from January 18 to March 17, when it will offer up treats based on the manga-turned-anime series. …Read more »
Anyone a fan of Pocky? Back when I was a youngster, the thin chocolate-covered Japanese treats were all the rage at anime conventions, just about the only place you could get them aside from Asian supermarkets. Today, they’re a bit more ubiquitous—but Japan is still …Read more »
An attraction that combines mega-franchises Godzilla and Evangelion is set to open at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka next year. The attraction, which will run from May 31 to August 25, is part of Universal Studios’ “Cool Japan” project, which centers around rides and other …Read more »
This weekend in Numazu, Japan, a female pedestrian was hit and knocked over by a car, which then sped off. The driver didn’t get far, though, because his car was, shall we say, distinct: it was painted with a character from Love Live Sunshine. The …Read more »
Have Japanese passport, will travel. According to yearly ratings by law firm Henley & Partners, the Japanese passport is officially the “strongest in the world” as of 2018. That means holders of Japanese passports can travel to 190 countries without applying for a visa in advance. …Read more »
Big news for Prince of Tennis fans: the franchise is getting its first-ever official store. The store, which will open in Shinjuku, Tokyo October 26, is called “Tenipurisuto,” an abbreviation of “Tennis Prince Store.” A new visual, featuring iconic characters from the franchise, was unveiled …Read more »
Matt Schley
Joseph Luster
Evan Minto
