Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
Pico Cassette
Not too long ago, we reported on Pico Cassette, a new device which will allow you to play retro video games on your smartphone via a cartridge which you plug into the headphone jack.
Since we absolutely love all kinds of gadgetry here at RocketNews24, and since we’re also big retro gaming nerds, we made a point to visit Pico Cassette’s booth at this year’s Tokyo Game Show in order to try it out for ourselves!
Music has all but gone entirely digital. Video rental stores are a critically endangered species. Even video games are steadily moving towards more online distribution. At this rate we’ll soon be welcoming the first generation to think sticking a piece of plastic into a machine for entertainment is as attractive an idea as rubbing two sticks together for fire.
Then again, isn’t there something intrinsic in humans to want to put a cartridge or disc into something for entertainment?
That’s not a rhetorical question. I really have no idea, but the makers of Pico Cassette are hoping so. This device will load video games both new and old into your smartphone by plugging into its headphone jack.
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Japanese city loses residents’ personal data, which was on paper being transported on a windy day
Historical figures get manga makeovers from artists of Spy x Family, My Hero Academia and more
Red light district sushi restaurant in Tokyo shows us just how wrong we were about it
Harajuku Station’s beautiful old wooden building is set to return, with a new complex around it
Suntory x Super Mario collaboration creates a clever way to transform into Mario【Videos】
Ghibli Park now selling “Grilled Frogs” from food cart in Valley of Witches
Studio Ghibli releases new action figures featuring Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind characters
Japan’s cooling body wipe sheets want to help you beat the heat, but which work and which don’t?
Toyota built a life-sized Miraidon Pokémon and are letting people test drive it this weekend
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goodsForeigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Japanese ramen restaurants under pressure from new yen banknotes
French Fries Bread in Tokyo’s Shibuya becomes a hit on social mediaStudio Ghibli releases new action figures featuring Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind characters
New private rooms on Tokaido Shinkansen change the way we travel from Tokyo to KyotoRed light district sushi restaurant in Tokyo shows us just how wrong we were about it
Tokyo Tsukiji fish market site to be redeveloped with 50,000-seat stadium, hotel, shopping center
All-you-can-drink Starbucks and amazing views part of Tokyo’s new 170 meter-high sky lounge
Beautiful Ghibli sealing wax kits let you create accessories and elegant letter decorations【Pics】McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goodsForeigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Studio Ghibli releases Kiki’s Delivery Service chocolate cake pouches in Japan
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 TotoroJapanese ramen restaurants under pressure from new yen banknotesAll-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
New Pokémon cakes let you eat your way through Pikachu and all the Eevee evolutionsMcDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
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
Suntory x Super Mario collaboration creates a clever way to transform into Mario【Videos】
Ghibli Park now selling “Grilled Frogs” from food cart in Valley of Witches
Studio Ghibli releases new action figures featuring Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind characters
Japan’s cooling body wipe sheets want to help you beat the heat, but which work and which don’t?
Toyota built a life-sized Miraidon Pokémon and are letting people test drive it this weekend
Tokyo designer’s DIY Space Invaders kimono is retro fashion in more ways than one
One of Tokyo’s most famous meeting-spot landmarks is closing for good
Akihabara pop-up shop sells goods made by Japanese prison inmates
What if One Piece was a girls’ comic? Shojo manga artist produces character redesign【Pics】
Beyond sakura: How to tell a cherry blossom from a plum or peach flower
New Studio Ghibli collection includes a US$2,450 wooden Totoro 【Video】
What it’s like to attend an idol concert where they’re singing lyrics that you wrote【Pt. II】
Studio Ghibli and Uniqlo team up for line of beautiful T-shirts and bags, but not in Japan【Pics】
French Fries Bread in Tokyo’s Shibuya becomes a hit on social media