There is an annual student event at the prestigious private college Ritsumeikan University. It’s called the Igakukan Dash, after the hall where it takes place.
Every year, just before the final deadline for turning in theses, a few desperate latecomers will come dashing through the hallway to get their papers in on time. Naturally, a large crowd of spectators always gathers to cheer and heckle these deadline daredevils. Read Post
Since 1999 in America and 2005 in Japan, McDonald’s has employed a production process known as “Made For You” where employees at different stations begin preparing your burger the moment the order goes through the machine.
As opposed to the previous method of pre-cooking hamburgers and then selling them as needed, “Made For You” ensures each order arrives in customers’ hands fresher and hotter.
The method also gives employees more flexibility in responding to special orders, like extra sauce, no pickles or, as we recently tried ourselves, no buns.
Near Musashi-Kosugi Station in Kanagawa Prefecture, there is a restaurant called Italian Izakaya: Natura that constantly has line-ups outside. Regardless of the day, it seems the place is always wall-to-wall with customers.
While Natura is said to have good food in general, the real buzz is spreading about their specialty: Whitebait Piled on Peperoncino Pasta – 880yen (US$11). Whitebait refers to immature fish that are collected, cooked and eaten whole in large numbers, and are popular in Italian cuisine.
We decided to go to Italian Izakaya: Natura and investigate what all the fuss is about.
Many Americans who visit Japan return home excited to tell their friends and family about all the peculiar customs and cultural differences they experienced during their travels.
But have you ever wondered what Japanese who visited America tell their family and friends when they get back?
Your reporter (Japanese) has traveled to Honolulu, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and a number of other cities in America over the past few years and today I’d like to share 11 things about America that surprised me.
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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Food, Japan, Uncategorized, Weird （ramen）
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.
Tokyo’s electronics and pop culture mecca Akihabara is a land of strange fantasies. And nothing spells business opportunity like strange fantasies.
For example, take Noodle Café, a recently-opened restaurant where real Japanese female idols poor hot water into a cup of instant ramen for you. For 800 yen (US $10.30).
A few weeks ago, the iPhone4S was released in China amid much fanfare mixed with a healthy dose of pandemonium as we covered in the story Thousands Flock to Buy China’s Release of the iPhone4S, Very Few Actually Use Them. One thing China shares with every other country is our very short-lived satisfaction with Apple’s half-step improvement as we all eagerly await the iPhone5. Chinese citzens closely watch microblogging sites like weibo.com for any hints about when and what the iPhone5 will be.
On 19 January, potato chip maker, Koikeya, announced they will sell a new flavor in their Premium Series line of chips, this time using the flavor of one of the most expensive delicacies in the world, truffles.
Sold at convenience stores across Japan from January 30 to February 6, you too can get a taste of the good life for only around 150 yen (US$2) a bag.
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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It has been long thought that the design concept for the Pokémon species Pikachu was derived from the mouse. However, recent Japanese research suggests that Pikachu may have actually been modeled off thecacera pacifica, a species of sea slug found in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.
Fans of Tokusatsu (giant-rubber-suit-fighting-monster) shows are certainly familiar with Ultraman, and even non-fans have probably seen his image in passing somewhere in their daily lives. Originally created and developed by some crew members of the original Godzilla movie, Ultraman is now nearing his 50th anniversary of fame in Japan.
As with any major anniversary of a pop-culture icon, we can expect a flood of merchandise to help us reconnect with our inner-child. And of course there is no better way to honor a household name than with a household product, like say, a kitchen timer.
A research team at University of Tokyo Earthquake Research Institute announced today that they have estimated a 70% chance of a magnitude 7 earthquake occurring directly beneath Japan’s capital city of Tokyo with the next 4 years.
The number one gyūdon (beef and rice in a bowl) restaurant, Yoshinoya, has been working its way into Thai markets. Already having infiltrated America and China amongst other countries, it appears there is no stopping Japan’s favorite beef and rice restaurant from world domination.
However, the further a restaurant strays from its homeland, the harder it is to keep the original atmosphere of that restaurant, as a team of reporters from our editorial department learned during a recent trip to Thailand. At first they were simply curious whether the taste was the same as Japan or not, but what they discovered was far more troubling. One member of the party, who was new to Thailand, exclaimed upon seeing the menu: “Huh? A cup of tea costs 30 baht (US$1)? What’s this about?! It’s free in Japan!”
With the successful release of a feature length film in December 2011, Japanese anime K-On! is enjoying broader popularity than ever before.
The release of the film was accompanied by waves of new merchandise and even a tie-up with convenience store Lawson.
Yet there is one product series in particular that has been gaining attention for seeming to challenge fans to prove their devotion and enthusiasm for K-On!: full color T-shirts designed with one of the main character’s face occupying the entire front side.
Although a popular drink around Asia, it can be difficult to turn the younger generation on to the simple pleasures of tea. In order to compete with the likes of colas and energy drinks, Bangkok tea makers have come up with Chakuza.
Chakuza combines the nutrition and refreshment of tea (“cha” in Japanese) with the rugged attitude and danger of organized crime (“yakuza” in Japanese). And according to a clerk at a Bangkok 7-11, it’s selling really well.
Anyone who has lived in a college town in America has probably experienced walking into a fast food restaurant or coffee shop during exam week to find every table occupied by students with their noses pressed into their textbooks.
While residents may grumble about it from time to time, hoarding a table for long study sessions is more or less a socially accepted practice in America and other Western countries.
However, this is not the case in Japan, where the prevailing view is that customers should leave soon after they finish eating to make room for other people who may want to sit down. Of course, given that Japan has nowhere near the amount of developable land as America, that way of thinking is only natural.
Yet times change and recently more and more Japanese students are choosing eateries as their cramming location of choice.
Students at Kansai Gakuin Univeristy in Hyogo Prefecture are no exception, with the McDonald’s in front of Kōtōen Station being a popular location in particular.
However, controversy erupted earlier this week when the manager of the McDonald’s, with the endorsement of the university, banned students from entering the store during finals week.
The App Store, which is famous for prohibiting applications of a sexual nature, doesn’t have any porn, but now they’ve at least got an app that will be amusing for you dirty-minded guys. With Putti!, you can practice unhooking a brassiere on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch and if you succeed, you’ll be rewarded with a “marvel of unsurpassed glory”! But first you’ve got to beat that little hook.
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Anime & Manga, Apple, Entertainment, Otaku （bras • Japanese apps • Putti!）
First of all, you might be wondering, “What’s kendama?” Well, it’s a popular children’s toy that is kind of like a cup-and-ball game on steroids. However, rather than a single cup, this game has three of varying sizes, and they aren’t so much “cups” as they are shallow saucers that are meant to hold the ball. And if that’s not enough, there’s an extra spike that you’re expected to skewer the ball on exactly through a pre-made hole. The purpose of this game being not only to get the ball into a cup but to also juggle it between cups or spike without dropping it.
More and more victims of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake are reporting that they are suffering from visions of ghosts and other supernatural sensations.
The disaster brought many people face-to-face with death and many believe the apparitions may be a manifestation of their emotional wounds.
As Japan has no governmental office that deals with this kind of issue and many people feel uncomfortable consulting family members, leaders from several different religious organizations in Japan have come together to provide emotional and mental support for the victims.
Japanese Artist Paints Breathtakingly Lifelike 3D Goldfish Using Layers Upon Layers Of Resin
Japanese artist Riusuke Fukahori has captivated the world with a series of stunningly realistic three dimensional paintings featuring goldfish. Fukahori paints the goldfish by using acrylic paint on layers of clear resin, meticulously adding layer upon l
Best Japanese Customer Service
I am crazy about Calbee Lightly Salted Potato Chips. I find its balance of saltiness and crispy texture to be really addictive. Some of my friends are fans of other chip brands, but I have stuck to Calbee’s for quite a long time.
We Ride Hello Kitty Jet From Tokyo To Taipei, Melts Our Hearts Even Before Takeoff
On December 31, 2001, your correspondent (female) and her 2 girlfriends set out from Narita Airport in Tokyo to travel across the sea and spend the New Year holiday abroad.
China Develops Automated Semen Collector…For Science!
A video showing a Chinese-developed ‘automated semen collector’ has surfaced on YouTube. This machine was actually on display at a recent medical supply expo in China, and was developed for use in hospitals as an efficient way to collect sperm samples.
Fukushima: Cattle on Abandoned Ranch Starve to Death, No Sign of Owner’s Return
Earlier this April we made our way to Fukushima to do some investigative reporting of the current conditions in the five- to ten-kilometer area around the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant. 
Chinese Girl Tries Too Hard to Look Like Anime Character, Terrifying Results
A Chinese girl with a face like that of a shoujo manga character has been attracting attention on the Internet. The girl, going by the name KOKO, has uploaded numerous pictures and videos of herself showing off her wire-thin body and disproportionally lar
15 Year Old Boy in Tsunami-Struck Town Rescues Elderly, “If I don’t do it myself, they’re going to die”
With a death toll exceeding 2000, the coastal town of Ishinomaki, Miyagi was one of the hardest hit during the Tohoku Earthquake and resulting tsunami. Here, in the aftermath of the disaster, 15-year-old Shuuya Kikuchi spent hours wading through ice-cold 
Collection of Earthquake-Themed Illustrations to be Auctioned and Compiled in Book For Charity
On March 16 several members of the French artist community café salé launched Project Tsunami, a website showcasing a collection of earthquake- and tsunami-themed illustrations.
Step Aside, Baristas! Vending Machine Grinds Beans And Makes Drink For You
During a recent stop at the Fujigawa Service Area in Shizuoka I came across a peculiar vending machine. Written conspicuously on the sign above it were the words: “World first! Coffee grinding viewing! Grinds beans for each cup!”
Free Admission – Twelve of Tokyo’s Best Kept Secrets
Expensive Tokyo living got you down? Are you staring another three-day weekend in the face and wondering what havoc it will wreak on your wallet? There are places to enjoy yourself for free all over Tokyo, if you know where to look. RocketNews24 has sift
Japan Develops Invisible Glass, Watch Where You’re Going
Nippon Electric Glass Co LTD has developed a glass substrate with luminous reflectance of lower than .1%. If that means nothing to you, allow us to make it clearer for you: invisible glass.
iShampo Goes On Sale In China, Claims Apple Endorsement
Sure China gets a bad rep for blatantly ripping off well-known brands – but, hey, at least they’re innovative about not innovating! Take iShampo, which, if the bottle label claiming official an Apple license is to be believed, may be the world’s first co
International Hotties: Supermodel Ai Shangzen Is Flawlessly Beautiful, Proven By Mathematics
They say that God creates no one perfect, but after laying eyes on 23 year old Chinese supermodel Ai Shangzen, we’re beginning to think that claim is debatable. 
New AKB48 Cafe & Shop Fun Experience For Fans and Non-Fans Alike
It seems like there is no stopping the phenomenon that is Japanese female idol group AKB48. The group’s popularity continues to snowball in both Japan and overseas, they recently launched their own sketch comedy program, 
Chinese Girl Too ‘Lolita’ to be Homeless
For many of us the word ‘homeless’ brings to mind a very particular stereotype. Perhaps an old man with dirty skin and disheveled hair, wearing several layers of grungy clothing, standing on the street corner, begging for change.
Siri Does Not Recognize English, Leads To Loss Of Self-Confidence
The iPhone4S finally arrived in Japan today, and thousands of people lined up outside their local Softbank or AU store, eager to get their hands on the phone when it hit the shelves at 8 am.
“I love you & I need you Fukushima”: Famous Japanese Musicians and Actors Create Music Video, Beautiful Tribute To Japan’s Solidarity
The band Inawashirokos, formed after last month’s earthquake by a group of four Fukushima-born musicians from well-known bands, have released their first single, I love you & I need you Fukushima.
Dinner with a Movie: DVD Offers Pleasant Mealtime Conversation With Young Japanese Females
It’s a well-known fact that romantic relationships with real women are incredibly inconvenient: you take them out on dates, pay for their meals, and do everything you can to keep them pleased—only to be kicked to the curb at the end of the day.
Insulting Ulleungdo Island Banner Hangs Japanese
An acquaintance of mine visited Ulleungdo Island, a volcanic island in the Sea of Japan over which Japan and Korea are locked in a territorial dispute. Three Japanese politicians aiming to visit Ulleungdo last month were denied entry into Korea, but
Man Smuggles Live Hummingbirds In Pants
A Dutch man was caught attempting to smuggle live hummingbirds from French Guiana into Brazil by taping them to the inside of his pants. The man was detained at Rochambeau airport in Guiana’s capital of Cayenne
Modern Toilet Restaurant: From Bowel To Your Bowl
Taipei, Taiwan—a city known for cuisine that overturns common sense and challenges convention. There is no better representation of this than the popular chain restaurant Modern Toilet. A novel concept that couldn’t be described any better than its namex Will It Vend? Step Aside, Baristas! Vending Machine Grinds Beans And Makes Drink For You
During a recent stop at the Fujigawa Service Area in Shizuoka I came across a peculiar vending machine. Written conspicuously on the sign above it were the words: “World first! Coffee grinding viewing! Grinds beans for each cup!”
All-Black StarFlyer Aircraft Now Flying Tokyo-Fukuoka
Everyone knows JAL and ANA, but have you heard the name “StarFlyer” while strolling through Haneda Airport? StarFlyer boasts a fleet of fashionable aircraft featuring all-black exteriors and cabin interiors.
Hokkaido’s Oyunuma Natural Footbath a Must for the Onsen Buff
Noboribetsu Onsen is a veritable department store for hot springs lovers, with many different kinds of springs bubbling forth from one of the best onsen regions in Hokkaido. Located in Noboribetsu City, Hokkaido, it is overflowing with sights to see, 
Sanriku Railway Memorial Goes On Sale, Buy A Piece Of Japan Disaster History And Help Fund Recovery
On October 28, Sanriku Railway Company began accepting orders for its second round of railway memorials dedicated to the recovery of the areas devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.Copyright© RocketNews24
