Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
Gingham Check
AKB48, the darlings of the Japanese pop scene, may have danced one step over the line sweet Jesus with their newest commercial for Puccho candy. The commercial first aired on 25 August and seems to have drawn a collective “yuggghhh” from the nation.
In it the girls dance away brandishing the product as only they can do. Except this time, all but one of their bodies have been digitally replaced by 5 and 6 year olds.
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
More foreign tourists than ever before in history visited Japan last month
Starbucks reopens at Shibuya Scramble Crossing with new look and design concept
Is the new Shinkansen Train Desk ticket worth it?
Our reporter takes her 71-year-old mother to a visual kei concert for the first time
Tokyo’s most famous arcade announces price increase, fans don’t seem to mind at all
Beautiful new Final Fantasy T-shirt collection on the way from Uniqlo【Photos】
Hamburg and Hamburg Shibuya: A Japanese restaurant you need to put on your Tokyo itinerary
Ghibli Park opens final area to first visitors, with stunning new attractions and shops 【Videos】
Hayao Miyazaki reveals the kind of otaku he hates the most
Disney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in Tokyo
We try out “Chan Ramen”, an underground type of ramen popular in the ramen community
Foreign English teachers in Japan pick their favorite Japanese-language phrases【Survey】Beautiful new Final Fantasy T-shirt collection on the way from Uniqlo【Photos】
There’s a park inside Japan where you can also see Japan inside the park
New Studio Ghibli bedding sets are cool in all senses of the word
Japanese convenience store packs a whole bento into an onigiri rice ball
Hanton rice — a delicious regional food even most Japanese people don’t know about, but more should
New Pokémon cakes let you eat your way through Pikachu and all the Eevee evolutionsHamburg and Hamburg Shibuya: A Japanese restaurant you need to put on your Tokyo itinerary
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
New 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 train
Our 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
Kyoto creates new for-tourist buses to address overtourism with higher prices, faster rides
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
Tokyo’s most famous arcade announces price increase, fans don’t seem to mind at all
Beautiful new Final Fantasy T-shirt collection on the way from Uniqlo【Photos】
Hamburg and Hamburg Shibuya: A Japanese restaurant you need to put on your Tokyo itinerary
Ghibli Park opens final area to first visitors, with stunning new attractions and shops 【Videos】
Hayao Miyazaki reveals the kind of otaku he hates the most
Gacha capsule toy paradise for adults appears at Akihabara Station
Mr Sato goes head-to-head with a giant cream soda parfait in a Tokyo cafe
This stylish turd from two Japanese companies will really tie your room together
An overnight trip on the Sunrise Izumo, Japan’s awesome Tokyo-Shimane sleeper train【Photos】
Drink a beer at Tokyo Station for 12 cents a day
Kyoto’s Nishiki Market has great bento boxed lunches, and here are our top 3 picks
Giant Clodsire Pokémon plushie comes with up to 32 Woopers in super size, super cute set【Pics】
Japan apartment hunting – Can you find cheaper rent by avoiding the peak spring moving season?