In Japan, Hokto is to mushrooms what Chiquita is to bananas: a household name that people know but aren’t overly excited by – until now!
The mushroom growers have been releasing an increasingly sexy line of commercials that seem to get pulled from the airwaves soon after debuting. The latest one, titled “Splendid Mushroom Kinkatsu,” depicts a love affair between actors Jun Kaname in the role of the spirit of mushrooms and Sawa Suzuki as the middle-aged woman he continuously haunts and seductively whispers about mushrooms to. As far as mushrooms go, this is pretty hot.
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?
Arrest proves a common Japanese saying about apologies and police
Dogs now allowed on Catbus! Ghibli Park vehicles revise service animal policy
Disney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in Tokyo
What it’s like to get a haircut at Japan’s oldest barber shop
Does Shinjuku’s unusual golden lion statue really roar when you ‘feed’ it money? We find out
Hey, Thai tuk-tuk driver! Take us to the best Thai restaurant in this part of Bangkok!
We try out “Chan Ramen”, an underground type of ramen popular in the ramen community
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】
There’s a park inside Japan where you can also see Japan inside the park
Japanese convenience store packs a whole bento into an onigiri rice ball
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
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
Dogs now allowed on Catbus! Ghibli Park vehicles revise service animal policy
Disney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in Tokyo
What it’s like to get a haircut at Japan’s oldest barber shop
Does Shinjuku’s unusual golden lion statue really roar when you ‘feed’ it money? We find out
Hey, Thai tuk-tuk driver! Take us to the best Thai restaurant in this part of Bangkok!
The oldest tunnel in Japan is believed to be haunted, and strange things happen when we go there
How can you maximize the calories you burn singing karaoke?【Experiment】
Our reporter orders food from Uber Eats, falls in love, learns that fate works in mysterious ways
Osaka’s creepy cute mascot speaks for first time, adds more fuel the creepy OR cute debate【Video】
Our reporter takes her 71-year-old mother to a visual kei concert for the first time
Demon Slayer anime restaurant coming to Universal Studios with Hashira meals, life-size figures
Japan’s biggest dating app says young people not interested in romance, creates AI girlfriend app
Sengoku samurai warlords transform into easy-to-brew, fruity flavored tea tablets
Who does a yakiniku beef bowl better: a Japanese vending machine or Yoshinoya?【Taste Test】