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Yoshito Ueda

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Chinese Air Pollution Expected to Cross Over to Western Japan

Chinese Air Pollution Expected to Cross Over to Western Japan

For days now Beijing has been suffering from a prolonged spell of the worst air pollution in the city’s history, a crisis so bad that it has been dubbed the “airpocalypse”.

The air has been classified as hazardous to human health and has already sent countless people to the hospital for respiratory ailments. The city is blanketed in a thick grey fog that is said to smell of coal and sting the eyes, leading officials to close highways, force the cancellation of flights and outdoor activities, and warn people in affected areas to remain indoors.

According to a researcher at Kyushu University, China’s giant toxic cloud of pollution is now expected to cross over to western Japan sometime later today.

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Japan Celebrates Premiere of Game of Thrones with Ice Castle Theater — in the Worst Location Possible

Japan Celebrates Premiere of Game of Thrones with Ice Castle Theater — in the Worst Location Possible

Some of you in the English-speaking world have probably heard of a little fantasy TV series called Game of Thrones. It’s won a few awards here and there, has a fairly enthusiastic fan base, and — let’s face it — is all around a huge freakin’ deal.

While America and the rest of the world fill their goblets with mead in anticipation of the March 31 premiere of season 3, Japan is finally getting their first taste of the series when season 1 airs on January 27 — and they’re promoting it by holding free screenings of the first episode in a castle built from actual blocks of ice.

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Fitness Meets Cute Anime Girls in Exercise App, “Burn your fat with me!!”

Fitness Meets Cute Anime Girls in Exercise App, “Burn your fat with me!!”

The holidays are over, you’ve gained a few extra pounds, but you’re finding it difficult to start a workout routine after so many peaceful days spent lounging around. What you need is a workout buddy to help you stay motivated. Preferably a cute girl.

For those of you who don’t know any cute girls willing to get sweaty with you, Japanese indie developer Creative Freaks has you covered with Burn your fat with me!!, a fitness app/dating simulation game where players must workout in real life to impress a 2D anime love interest. 

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Look Out Ladies! Survey Shows Chinese Men Make Good Sons and Husbands

Look Out Ladies! Survey Shows Chinese Men Make Good Sons and Husbands

Japanese and Korean men seem to be getting all the attention whenever Asian men are mentioned. Indeed, Chinese men have been neglected by both local and foreign women for the longest time.

But this summer, Chinese men were brought into the limelight once again with “All About Chinese Men 2012,” a survey conducted by the lady’s column of Chinese website 163.com. Over 25 million men and women gave their opinions on a wide range of issues –ranging from fashion, money, work and personal lives- concerning today’s Chinese men.

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China Invents “Mood Detector” to Help Stop Fighting Couples

China Invents “Mood Detector” to Help Stop Fighting Couples

A couple in China has invented a “mood detector” that helps to stop couples from fighting.

Couple fights are part and parcel of everyday life. While it is said that small quarrels help to keep the marriage alive, unresolved arguments can escalate into serious conflicts. At times like this, it is always good to have a third-party act as a mediator, but even so, the family counselor cannot be there 24/7. This is when the “mood detector” comes in handy.

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Chinese People Drink Raw Deer Blood in Pursuit of Longevity

Chinese People Drink Raw Deer Blood in Pursuit of Longevity

We’ve all heard about the dogs and monkey brains served on the Chinese dining table. But believe it or not, the latest trend now is raw deer blood.

According to Mr. Yang, the owner of a deer farm located in Nanjing, deer farming is much more lucrative than cattle or sheep farming. Every single part of the deer can be sold, including the meat, the antlers, and of course the blood.

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Hamburger Review: We Sample Wendy’s New (¥1280!) Lobster-Based Burgers

Hamburger Review: We Sample Wendy’s New (¥1280!) Lobster-Based Burgers

Despite having once pulled out of the country, sorely missed hamburger chain Wendy’s returned Japan in 2011 with just a single location. In response to calls for additional restaurants, Wendy’s cut the tape on its new Roppongi store in August this year, bringing with it the special ‘Ocean Premium’ range, which includes two new ‘Japan Premium’ hamburgers. Read More

Cigarette Carton Airplanes Now Trending on Japanese Nets

Cigarette Carton Airplanes Now Trending on Japanese Nets

Most people have made paper airplanes before but how about cigarette box airplanes?

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Figurine of Naked Anime Girl on a Pile of Hamburgers Anyone?

Figurine of Naked Anime Girl on a Pile of Hamburgers Anyone?

Wonder Festival is a bi-annual event in Tokyo to showcase amateur figures, toys and garage kits.

It is also, not surprisingly, full of wonderful things. At the most recent Wonder Festival, held on July 28 at Makuhari Messe convention center, there was one particular item that caught our eye even among all of the figures of Rei Ayanami bending over suggestively: McDonald’s nyotaimori figures.

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Kit Kat Ice Cream Cone is Seriously Just a Kit Kat in an Ice Cream Cone

Kit Kat Ice Cream Cone is Seriously Just a Kit Kat in an Ice Cream Cone

You’d think that when someone at Nestle proposed making a Kit Kat ice cream cone, they would have taken the conventional route and used ice cream with crushed up bits of Kit Kat in it.

But that was not the case with the frozen treat we came across at a supermarket during a recent trip to Sakhalin. Instead, this “Kit Kat Cone” was nothing more than a regular store-bought ice cream cone with a single Kit Kat wedged in the top.

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