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Takara Tomy Beyblade Bar opens in Ikebukuro celebrating spinning top toy series
A new venue opens in January dedicated to the toy series Beyblade. Called the Beyblade Bar, the name alone makes it obvious that this pop-up is aimed not at the current generation of Beyblade fans but...
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American ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, scores viral hit with...
As we know, Christmas in Japan is different breed: it involves strawberry shortcake, KFC, and romance. Now United States ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, has got into the festive spirit by making...
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Takeshi Kitano (Beat Takeshi) meets Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike dressed as...
The actor, film director, TV host and comedian Takeshi Kitano (aka Beat Takeshi) has met with Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike. There would be nothing news-worthy about that in itself, except for the fact...
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Your Name (Kimi no Na wa) pop-up themed cafes in Tokyo, Nagoya in January 2017
Makoto Shinkai’s anime Your Name (Kimi no Na wa) has been the biggest film of the year in Japan, so it was surely only a matter of time before we had some spin-off cafes. These tie-in spaces have...
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Asics Japan to open new sport and healthy food venue in east Tokyo in spring...
Asics Japan will open a new sports facility in spring 2017 in Sumida, east Tokyo. Suggestions for the future facility’s name are currently being accepted by the general public until mid-January. It is...
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The Top Trends in Japan in 2016
What were the biggest trends and news events of 2016 in Japan? Here is our round-up. Political and Celebrity Scandals Every year there are plenty of political and celebrity scandals, though 2016 was a...
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Masashi Sada creates traditional Japanese music version of Piko Taro’s Pen...
If you thought Piko Taro’s “Pen Pineapple Apple Pen” (PPAP) couldn’t get any more “Japanese”, think again. Adding to the countless numbers of adaptations and parodies already out there clogging up...
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Japan’s coin laundries clean up their act with better designs, cafe, new...
Coin laundries are hoping to spruce up their image in Japan by transforming into cafes. The trend is being set by such venues as Eco Wash Cafe, a large and stylish laundromat in Fuchu City on the...
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Piko Taro returns with new song, I Like Orange Juice!
Piko Taro, the alter ego of comedian Daimao Kosaka, rocked Japan and the world with his indelibly catchy “Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen (PPAP)” video in 2016. Having inspired so many imitators and boosted...
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Toyota announces new “friendly future” concept car, Concept-i
Toyota has announced a new concept car, Concept-i. The name combines the Japanese character for “love” (ai) with the letter “i”. As this choice indicates, the car is inspired by the idea that future...
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Panasonic announces new desktop companion robot
Panasonic has announced a new desktop companion robot that has human-like movements and communication skills. The unnamed concept robot was recently presented at CES2017 in Las Vegas between January...
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Wearable One OK Rock jacket allows wearer to “listen” to music
When the top 20 releases of the year are dominated by AKB48 or male idol bands from Johnny & Associates, what can a rock band do to stand out? Harness wearable technology. The band One OK Rock is...
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Hello Kitty cafe open in Osaka from January to March
We’ve seen our fair share of character- and franchise-themed cafes over recent years, especially in Tokyo but also in other cities around Japan. Past examples include cafes for Miffy, Sailor Moon, Kimi...
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Masamichi Katayama (Wonderwall) designer vegetable store opens in Nezu, east...
Want your vegetables from somewhere with more personality than the usual supermarket or convenience store? Tokyo has a new designer greengrocer’s where you can pick up some greens in a particularly...
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PNSP: National Theatre of Japan creates unique traditional performing arts...
From traditional instruments to the National Theatre mascot, you’ve never seen Piko Taro done quite like this. The curiously attired Piko Taro recently returned with a follow-up to his global viral hit...
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Tokyo Midtown to create mini Mt Fuji with projection mapping
Tokyo Midtown will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a special installation, Fuji-san: Japan, the Beautiful Garden. Themed around Mt Fuji (Fuji-san in Japanese), it will feature a replica of Japan’s...
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ANA C-3PO airplane starts domestic flights in Japan in March
In 2015, ANA generated interest worldwide and a collective jaw-drop when it announced three Star Wars airplanes for its fleet. Evidently the planes in Star Wars-themed exteriors are popular and proving...
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Cute girls in costumes train men at Akihabara’s Maid Gym
By now you’ve probably heard of maid cafes, where patrons are served by young girls in maid costumes (who also sometimes iron customers’ shirts). But what about a maid gym? One exists and is located...
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Kisenosato becomes first Japan-born yokozuna-ranked sumo wrestler in 19 years
Sumo has come home as the first Japan-born wrestler for 19 years has been promoted to the rank of yokozuna, the highest in the sport. Following a meeting by the Japan Sumo Association on January 23rd,...
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Panasonic tests autonomous delivery robot HOSPI(R) at Narita Airport, hotel
Panasonic has been testing a new autonomous delivery robot called HOSPI(R) at a hotel in Narita Airport. From January 14th to January 18th, Panasonic ran trials with HOSPI(R) at the ANA Crowne Plaza...
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