The release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain has been met with as much excitement and frenzy as you might expect from the latest instalment of a legendary video game franchise. But while most players are preoccupied with riding D. Horse around, frolicking in cardboard boxes and puzzling over the intricate story, it’s a certain voiceover that’s had us scratching our heads. Where on earth have we heard iDroid‘s soothing tones before? Oh, that’s right – on the Shinkansen!
Voice actor and vocalist Donna Burke is a veteran of the video game industry, lending her vocal cords to multiple games including MGSV and Silent Hill, and she ALSO provided the English-language spoken announcement that’s broadcast on the bullet train to help foreign visitors navigate their way around Japan!
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
Studio Ghibli glasses cases let anime characters keep an eye on your spectacles
Beautiful Sailor Moon manhole cover coasters being given out for free by Tokyo tourist center
Starbucks reopens at Shibuya Scramble Crossing with new look and design concept
Kyoto’s 100 Demons yokai monster parade returns!
Mister Donut ready to make hojicha dreams come true in latest collab with Kyoto tea merchant
The oldest tunnel in Japan is believed to be haunted, and strange things happen when we go there
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to your favorite restaurant in Tsuruga City!
Rice bran, the skincare product used by Japanese women for centuries and now Chloë Grace Moretz
Disney princesses get official manga makeovers for Manga Princess Cafe opening in Tokyo
More foreign tourists than ever before in history visited Japan last month
Beautiful new Final Fantasy T-shirt collection on the way from Uniqlo【Photos】
Is the new Shinkansen Train Desk ticket worth it?
Foreign English teachers in Japan pick their favorite Japanese-language phrases【Survey】
Japanese convenience store packs a whole bento into an onigiri rice ball
We try out “Chan Ramen”, an underground type of ramen popular in the ramen community
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
Our Japanese reporter visits Costco in the U.S., finds super American and very Japanese things
Studio Ghibli unveils Mother’s Day gift set that captures the love in My Neighbour Totoro
Foreign passenger shoves conductor on one of the last full runs for Japan’s Thunderbird train
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
Kyoto’s 100 Demons yokai monster parade returns!
Mister Donut ready to make hojicha dreams come true in latest collab with Kyoto tea merchant
The oldest tunnel in Japan is believed to be haunted, and strange things happen when we go there
Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Take us to your favorite restaurant in Tsuruga City!
Rice bran, the skincare product used by Japanese women for centuries and now Chloë Grace Moretz
Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood bans public Halloween drinking following mayhem
Beautiful, intricate drawings of snowflakes from Edo-era Japan
Starbucks releases a special sparkly tumbler in Japan to support diversity
Namba Parks Gets Rave Reviews from Overseas
Ghibli Museum Attracts 10 Million Visitors
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Kyoto’s “ikezu” culture of backhanded compliments explained in hilarious souvenir sticker series
Our reporter takes her 71-year-old mother to a visual kei concert for the first time