Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
eight-track
Remember making all those mixed-tapes after the Walkman burst onto the scene at the beginning of the 80s (for those of you who grew up with all things digital, ask your dad)? Do you have any of them left? Perhaps there are a few stuffed away at the bottom of the sock drawer? If you still have all or part of that collection, Sanwa Direct can help. Their new 400-MEDI002 cassette to MP3 converter makes changing those old analog compilations to digital format cheap and easy.
Disney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in Tokyo
Beautiful new Final Fantasy T-shirt collection on the way from Uniqlo【Photos】
Foreign English teachers in Japan pick their favorite Japanese-language phrases【Survey】
Randomly running into a great sushi lunch like this is one of the best things about eating in Tokyo
Is the new Shinkansen Train Desk ticket worth it?
Kyushu-exclusive Black Mont Blanc goes nationwide in a “Special” way
Osaka’s creepy cute mascot speaks for first time, adds more fuel the creepy OR cute debate【Video】
New Studio Ghibli bedding sets are cool in all senses of the word
We get our paws on all 50 Hello Kitty Happy Meal toys at McDonald’s Japan!
Is the Shinkansen bullet train Green Car upgrade worth it when traveling in Japan?【Photos】
Our Japanese reporter visits Costco in the U.S., finds super American and very Japanese thingsNew Studio Ghibli bedding sets are cool in all senses of the word
We try out “Chan Ramen”, an underground type of ramen popular in the ramen community
New Pokémon cakes let you eat your way through Pikachu and all the Eevee evolutions
There’s a park inside Japan where you can also see Japan inside the park
Japanese black curry “experiment” takes place at an unlikely restaurant branch in Tokyo
Japanese convenience store packs a whole bento into an onigiri rice ball
New definition of “Japanese whiskey” goes into effect to prevent fakes from fooling overseas buyersForeign English teachers in Japan pick their favorite Japanese-language phrases【Survey】
Uniqlo opens its first Furugi Project secondhand clothing pop-up shop in Tokyo
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
Toyota built a life-sized Miraidon Pokémon and are letting people test drive it this weekendNew definition of “Japanese whiskey” goes into effect to prevent fakes from fooling overseas buyers
Foreign passenger shoves conductor on one of the last full runs for Japan’s Thunderbird trainOur Japanese reporter visits Costco in the U.S., finds super American and very Japanese things
Kyoto bans tourists from geisha alleys in Gion, with fines for those who don’t follow rules
Studio Ghibli unveils Mother’s Day gift set that captures the love in My Neighbour Totoro
Domino’s Japan now sells…pizza ears?
New Japanese KitKat flavour stars Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty
Sales of Japan’s most convenient train ticket/shopping payment cards suspended indefinitely
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
Studio Ghibli’s new desktop Howl’s Moving Castle will take your stationery on an adventure
Kyushu-exclusive Black Mont Blanc goes nationwide in a “Special” way
Osaka’s creepy cute mascot speaks for first time, adds more fuel the creepy OR cute debate【Video】
New Studio Ghibli bedding sets are cool in all senses of the word
We get our paws on all 50 Hello Kitty Happy Meal toys at McDonald’s Japan!
Is the Shinkansen bullet train Green Car upgrade worth it when traveling in Japan?【Photos】
Shohei Ohtani’s personal interpreter fired, accused of “massive theft” to pay off gambling debts
New book teaches Japanese people English to help out foreign travelers
A visit to the best UFO catcher arcade in the universe!
You’re not seeing things, that’s a cat selling roasted sweet potatoes
Japan’s most mysterious vending machine sells fukubako, boxes filled with…something【Photos】
Starbucks releases a special sparkly tumbler in Japan to support diversity
Manga artist raises question online about false perspective in Ghibli film My Neighbor Totoro
