In Japan, playing video games isn’t really considered to be a “geeky”, boys’ hobby as much as it can be in the west. The rise of smartphone games in particular have made playing video games in public totally normal, and you’re just as likely to see a young, besuited salarywoman (virtual) button-mashing away on the train as you are a teenage boy.
This commercial for smartphone MMORPG Avabel Online shows what we mean! In it, a group of female friends (who are actually budding actresses who won a competition to be the promotional “faces” of the game), are shown playing together in various locations – a cafe, someone’s bedroom, and more. It doesn’t hurt that it’s also a pretty cool ad to watch.
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
All-you-can-drink Starbucks and amazing views part of Tokyo’s new 170 meter-high sky lounge
More foreign tourists than ever before in history visited Japan last month
Starbucks reopens at Shibuya Scramble Crossing with new look and design concept
Beautiful Sailor Moon manhole cover coasters being given out for free by Tokyo tourist center
The oldest tunnel in Japan is believed to be haunted, and strange things happen when we go there
Arrest proves a common Japanese saying about apologies and police
Mister Donut ready to make hojicha dreams come true in latest collab with Kyoto tea merchant
Our reporter takes her 71-year-old mother to a visual kei concert for the first time
Studio Ghibli glasses cases let anime characters keep an eye on your spectacles
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
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】
Is the new Shinkansen Train Desk ticket worth it?
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
The oldest tunnel in Japan is believed to be haunted, and strange things happen when we go there
Arrest proves a common Japanese saying about apologies and police
Mister Donut ready to make hojicha dreams come true in latest collab with Kyoto tea merchant
Our reporter takes her 71-year-old mother to a visual kei concert for the first time
Studio Ghibli glasses cases let anime characters keep an eye on your spectacles
Tokyo’s most famous arcade announces price increase, fans don’t seem to mind at all
“Half-naked men only in loincloths” drum battle returns to Hida festival for first time in five years
Ghibli Park opens final area to first visitors, with stunning new attractions and shops 【Videos】
New Pokémon cakes let you eat your way through Pikachu and all the Eevee evolutions
Randomly running into a great sushi lunch like this is one of the best things about eating in Tokyo
Nose songs, bug teeth and dirt sticks: 10 Japanese words translated way too literally
Chinatown in Yokohama has a feng shui pay toilet so we dashed over to use it right away