John Stuart Translations – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today. Sun, 12 May 2024 04:22:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.4 https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/en_rocket_1024.png?w=32 John Stuart Translations – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com 32 32 176746664 Got a spare $286,000 lying around? Get your 24k gold Mt. Fuji replica while supplies last! https://soranews24.com/2013/08/15/got-a-spare-286000-lying-around-get-your-24k-gold-mt-fuji-replica-while-supplies-last/ https://soranews24.com/2013/08/15/got-a-spare-286000-lying-around-get-your-24k-gold-mt-fuji-replica-while-supplies-last/#comments Wed, 14 Aug 2013 21:30:29 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=78442

With Mt. Fuji having recently been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site on June 22, souvenir makers have rushed to cash in on the mountain’s new found fame offering everything from rice bowls to beer glasses crafted in the shape of the iconic volcano.

Not to be outdone, jeweler Ginza Tanaka recently began offering Mt. Fuji replicas containing 3,776g of pure 24k gold for 28.6 million yen; that’s a little over a quarter of a million US dollars! The odd weight pays homage to the official height of Mt. Fuji (3,776m). If the unbelievable price is somewhat out your range, a pure silver version is also available for a more reasonable two million yen ($20,000).

With Tanaka buying gold at about $43.41 a gram and selling the Fuji piece at $65 a gram, you’re paying a hefty premium to have the metal shaped into a mountain. For those worried about Abe’s plan to destroy the yen, Tanaka also offers Vienna Philharmonic and Canadian Maple Leaf gold coins in weights from 0.1oz to 1oz. These might be a better bet if you want to retain some purchasing power in the years ahead.

Source: mynavi
Images: Ginza Tanaka

]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/08/15/got-a-spare-286000-lying-around-get-your-24k-gold-mt-fuji-replica-while-supplies-last/feed/ 0 78442 fuji top Gold Mt Fuji maple leafs Love Nissin’s Chicken Ramen? The Yokohama Grand Intercontinental Hotel has a room just for you! https://soranews24.com/2013/07/18/love-nissins-chicken-ramen-the-yokohama-grand-intercontinental-hotel-has-a-room-just-for-you/ https://soranews24.com/2013/07/18/love-nissins-chicken-ramen-the-yokohama-grand-intercontinental-hotel-has-a-room-just-for-you/#comments Wed, 17 Jul 2013 18:00:48 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=70667

Teaming up in a collaborative effort for the first time, the Yokohama Grand Intercontinental Hotel and the nearby Nissin Cup Noodles Museum have created two Chicken Ramen-themed rooms for connoisseurs who just can’t get enough of those tantalizingly delicious instant noodles and their irritating lovable chicken mascot Hiyoko.

Slippers, pajamas, pillows, bed covers and countless other room items are adorned with images of Hiyoko and noodle packages, ensuring guests will be able to slumber the night away in comfort with visions of plucked and roasted chicken scrumptious noodles dancing in their heads.

Reservations for the two distinctly decorated rooms will be accepted from July 17 for stays between August 2 and 31. In addition to receiving various swag and invitations to visit the neighboring Cup Noodles Museum’s Chicken Ramen Factory, guests will also be able to order from a special room service menu featuring items made from mouth-watering Chicken Ramen itself.

The rooms, created to celebrate the hotel’s 22nd anniversary occurring August 20 and Chicken Ramen’s 55th anniversary on August 25, are available for 20,000 yen (about US$200) a night. Which, while not exactly bank-breaking, certainly isn’t cheep. Sorry…

Book early as demand is expected to be high!

▼Enjoy this cute Chicken Ramen commercial. Be warned, however, the melody will NEVER leave your head.

Source: Entabe
Images: Intercontinental (Room), Amazon (Ramen)

]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/07/18/love-nissins-chicken-ramen-the-yokohama-grand-intercontinental-hotel-has-a-room-just-for-you/feed/ 0 70667 chicken ramen room chicken ramen Major eruption could cause Mt. Fuji’s new life as Cultural Heritage Site to be short lived https://soranews24.com/2013/07/17/major-eruption-could-cause-mt-fujis-new-life-as-cultural-heritage-site-to-be-short-lived/ https://soranews24.com/2013/07/17/major-eruption-could-cause-mt-fujis-new-life-as-cultural-heritage-site-to-be-short-lived/#comments Wed, 17 Jul 2013 10:30:00 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=70638

Results of an analysis by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and others released on the July 16, suggests that force generated by a large-scale earthquake could cause internal cracks within Mt. Fuji, leading to a major eruption of the recently listed UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.

Fuji, Japan’s most prominent peak, last blew its top in 1707. The AIST research team believes the current state of the still active volcano is very similar to the condition it was in just prior to this last eruption. With more than 300 hundred years’ worth of magma continuing to accumulate, the team is calling for vigilance. Perhaps this is what psychic Ron Bard was hinting at in between asking people to follow him on Twitter?

Citing the existence of numerous subterranean channels where magna has flowed beneath Mt. Fuji, researchers say a violent eruption could occur if an earthquake allowed magma and gases trapped under the volcano to escape.

So, it you have plans to visit Mt. Fuji to see why it was recently listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site, going sooner would probably be better than later.

Source: 47 News
Image: Fujiyoshida City

]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/07/17/major-eruption-could-cause-mt-fujis-new-life-as-cultural-heritage-site-to-be-short-lived/feed/ 0 70638 mt fuji top Sony coughs up US$375,000 to British authorities for security breach https://soranews24.com/2013/07/16/sony-coughs-up-us375000-to-british-authorities-for-security-breach/ https://soranews24.com/2013/07/16/sony-coughs-up-us375000-to-british-authorities-for-security-breach/#comments Tue, 16 Jul 2013 03:00:11 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=70359 Withdrawing its previous objection, Sony Corporation has agreed to pay a civil fine of 37.5 million yen (about US$375,000) to British authorities after the 2011 security breach of its online gaming network resulted in the leakage of millions of users’ personal information.

Sony’s PlayStation Network, which services its popular PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable and Vita gaming devices, was hacked in April of 2011, and remained down for maintenance and security testing for almost a month when it became clear than users’ information had been accessed. As a result, this January, the British Information Commissioner’s Office, which has jurisdiction over that country’s Data Protection Act, fined Sony’s European Subsidiary the equivalent of 37.5 million yen claiming the company was negligent in keeping its security protocols up to date.

Although it initially contested the claim, during the investigative process Sony came to understand that it would have to disclose specific, potentially sensitive, information regarding the measures it had in place to protect information and prevent unwarranted intrusions. Fearing it would not be able to guarantee the network’s future safety if such information were disclosed, the company withdrew its objection and agreed to the pay the fine.

A representative from the Sony Computer Entertainment’s European subsidiary said, “This decision was made in order to protect the network and does not represent an agreement with the claim made by British Authorities.”

We know Sony is likely still riding high after its E3 presentation received a standing ovation, but $375,000 still has to hurt…

Source: NHK News Web

]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/07/16/sony-coughs-up-us375000-to-british-authorities-for-security-breach/feed/ 0 70359 Transit authorities offer commuters in Singapore free off-peak fares in effort to alleviate morning rush https://soranews24.com/2013/07/03/transit-authorities-offer-commuters-in-singapore-free-off-peak-fares-in-effort-to-alleviate-morning-rush/ https://soranews24.com/2013/07/03/transit-authorities-offer-commuters-in-singapore-free-off-peak-fares-in-effort-to-alleviate-morning-rush/#comments Wed, 03 Jul 2013 12:30:00 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=67794 Japan is of course not the only country that experiences crowded trains and subways during rush hour. Over the last 10 years Singapore’s population has increased by 30 percent, putting pressure on its public transportation system, especially during the morning rush. Though Japan is trying to alleviate overcrowding with wider trains, Singapore is taking a different approach to the problem; free fares until 7:45 a.m. for anyone getting off at one of 16 stations in the downtown core.

Started in the last week of June, the Land Transport Authority (LTA), the government-related operator of Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit, began an experiment in which it offered free fares on weekdays between first departure and 7:45 a.m. to commuters who alighted at one of 16 city-center train stations. According to the authorities, they are looking for ways to alleviate overcrowding during the morning rush which peaks during the 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. time slot, and offered the free fares in an attempt to get some people to board the trains earlier.

Results announced on July 1 showed promise, with congestion decreasing by 7 percent compared to the weekday period prior to the start of the experiment. As a result, the LAT plans to continue the trial for one full year in order to gather more comprehensive data for analysis, and hopes to achieve a decrease in overcrowding between 10 and 20 percent during the morning rush.

Commuter reactions to the trial were mostly positive, with such comments as, “It’s great. I’ll be able to save money due to the free fares,” and “It wasn’t crowded so I could get a seat and read.” However, not all thought the idea of catching and earlier train was a good one, “The time when free fares are offered is too early. I prioritize my sleep over money.”

Lost fares due to the trial are expected to amount to a little more than 700 million yen (about US$6.9 million) and will be borne by the Singapore government (read taxpayer). After thoroughly analyzing the data at the end of the one-year trial period, the LTA plans to adjust fares to make up for the income shortfall should the early morning free-ride policy be implemented.

Hmmm, wider trains or free fares… I think I’d get up a bit earlier to avoid the rush and save some cash at the same time. How about you?

Source: NHK Newsweb

]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/07/03/transit-authorities-offer-commuters-in-singapore-free-off-peak-fares-in-effort-to-alleviate-morning-rush/feed/ 0 67794 New train carriages on Tokyo’s Saikyo Line allow more sardines to be squeezed into the can https://soranews24.com/2013/07/03/new-train-carriages-on-tokyos-saikyo-line-allow-more-sardines-to-be-squeezed-into-the-can/ https://soranews24.com/2013/07/03/new-train-carriages-on-tokyos-saikyo-line-allow-more-sardines-to-be-squeezed-into-the-can/#comments Wed, 03 Jul 2013 04:00:55 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=67770 Bringing commuters to Tokyo from neighboring Saitama Prefecture, the Saikyo Line, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East), is one of the busiest in the metropolitan area. During morning rush hour its trains are packed to 200 percent capacity. On June 30, however, E233 Series trains were introduced to the line, and officials are hoping the new carriages, which are a whole 15cm wider, will reduce crowding by ten percent.

That’s right. Now instead of having to endure bone-crushing, suffocating, sucking-the-will-to-live commutes in trains packed to 200 percent capacity, riders will be able to breathe, and perhaps move just a little, while enjoying the relative luxury of a train crammed to just 190 percent capacity!

Praising the introduction of the E233 Series, Nobuo Tsukuba, the station master at Omiya Station, said, “Finally we are able to bring in these wonderful trains which should help alleviate congestion with their added width.”

Said a fourth-grader who had ridden on the new train from Kasukabe City, “The train looks very cool. I am happy the E233 has been introduced to the Saikyo Line.”

One another positive development is the fact that the new trains use LEDs for lighting, meaning they can operate using about 30 percent less electricity than previous models, and are thus kinder to the environment.

JR officials said they hope to replace all trains on the line with the new series by the end of the year.

Has congested been alleviated with these new trains, or has JR just figured out how to cram more sardines into the can? What do you think?

Source: NHK Newsweb

]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/07/03/new-train-carriages-on-tokyos-saikyo-line-allow-more-sardines-to-be-squeezed-into-the-can/feed/ 0 67770 Man sues Japan’s public broadcasting corporation for excessive use of foreign loan words https://soranews24.com/2013/06/27/man-sues-nhk-for-excessive-use-of-foreign-loan-words/ https://soranews24.com/2013/06/27/man-sues-nhk-for-excessive-use-of-foreign-loan-words/#comments Thu, 27 Jun 2013 06:30:10 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=66326 “Risuku (risk), kea (care), toraburu (trouble), asuri-to (athlete); I can’t understand what the hell they’re talking about!” vented 71-year-old Gifu Prefecture resident Hoji Takahashi.

Takahashi, a former public servant and sponsor of the “Cherish the Japanese Language Group,” filed suit against Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) in Nagoya district court on June 25 for emotional distress. Claiming he is unable to comprehend programming content due to the broadcaster’s excessive use of foreign load words, or gairaigo, Takahashi is seeking 1.41 million yen (US$14,000) for the pain and suffering he has had to endure.

“By causing mental anguish to people who feel uncomfortable with the excessive use of foreign languages,” Takahashi believes NHK is guilty of acting illegally under Article 709 of the civil code. Emphasizing that he had signed a contract enabling him to receive and watch NHK broadcasts (technically, something everybody in Japan with a working television must do), Takahashi felt the broadcaster was unnecessarily subjecting him to foreign language loan words such as konshieruju (concierge) and konpuriansu (compliance) when there were perfectly acceptable Japanese words available to convey the same meaning.

“Young people can probably understand a lot of this stuff, but for older people like myself, when I hear asuri-to and konpriansu, I don’t know what it means. I wrote and asked NHK about this issue, but they failed to respond so I am suing them.”

A spokesperson for the NHK broadcasting office in Nagoya declined comment, stating, “I don’t fully know the details of the complaint.”

What do you think, are Takahashi’s gripes legit?

Source: alfalfalfa

]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/06/27/man-sues-nhk-for-excessive-use-of-foreign-loan-words/feed/ 0 66326 Anti-stalking laws in Japan get tougher, excessive emailing now considered harassment https://soranews24.com/2013/06/27/anti-stalking-laws-in-japan-get-tougher-excessive-emailing-now-considered-harassment/ https://soranews24.com/2013/06/27/anti-stalking-laws-in-japan-get-tougher-excessive-emailing-now-considered-harassment/#comments Wed, 26 Jun 2013 20:30:49 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=66098 Having already been deliberated by the upper house, an amendment to Japan’s anti-stalking law was passed by the lower house during the current Diet session on the afternoon of the 26th. The revised law adds repeated emails to the list of behaviors deemed harassing that was originally laid out in 2000, and also includes repeated calling, faxing and lying in wait. Lawmakers submitted the bill in response to an actual stalking incident that resulted in the victim’s death.

In 2012, a women living in Zushi, Kanagawa complained to police that a man she had formerly been involved with was harassing her by sending repeated emails. Police took no action because repeated emails were not listed in the anti-stalking law as a precondition for prosecution. The women was subsequently murdered by the man. Police believe similar incidents can now be prevented with the passing of the amendment.

Additionally, when an incident of stalking was previoulsy reported, warnings and injunctions could only be issued from the police station or public safety commission with jurisdiction over the area in which the victim lived. However, the revised law stipulates that police stations and public safety commissions with jurisdiction over the aggressor’s domicile as well as those responsible for the area where an incident took place can now also issue warnings and orders of cease and desist.

Japan just got that little bit safer.

Source: jijicom

]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/06/27/anti-stalking-laws-in-japan-get-tougher-excessive-emailing-now-considered-harassment/feed/ 0 66098 Going to Seoul this summer? You might want to bring a flashlight… https://soranews24.com/2013/06/26/going-to-seoul-this-summer-you-might-want-to-bring-a-flashlight/ https://soranews24.com/2013/06/26/going-to-seoul-this-summer-you-might-want-to-bring-a-flashlight/#comments Wed, 26 Jun 2013 01:45:21 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=66020  

South Korea’s nuclear power industry, ranking fifth in the world in terms of generating capacity at 20,739 megawatts, continues to be rocked by scandal and misconduct. Currently nine of the country’s 23 plants are offline, meaning the supply capacity situation is the worst the country has ever experienced. Though Japan’s power supply is also in a precarious state with only 2 of its 50 nuclear plants operating, the situation in South Korea is said to be much more severe, and many fear power outages such as those experienced in September 2011 will recur.

Most of South Korea, including Seoul, experienced unplanned power outages on September 15, 2011 when a sudden shortage of electricity, caused by increased demand resulting from unseasonably high temperatures and reduced generating capacity due to maintenance, resulted in rolling blackouts being implemented across the country. Lasting for about five hours, power was cut off to various regions for 30-minute intervals, trapping people in elevators and hampering activities at banks and hospitals nationwide.

Koreans refer to the blackouts as the 9/15 incident, and concerns are spreading that this summer will bring a reoccurrence. Like Japan prior to the Fukushima accident of March 2011, South Korea derives well over 20 percent of its total electricity production from nuclear power plants. With 14 of its 23 plants running, the country would appear to be in much better shape than Japan, where only two are online. However, according to an official from the Federation of Electric Power Companies in Japan, “The reasons the plants are shut down are totally different; the situation in South Korea is much more serious.”

“It wouldn’t be at all strange if blackouts occurred again. The situation is worse than it was two years ago,” warned a different official related to Japan’s power industry. Additionally, at a press conference at the end of May, an official from South Korea’s Industry, Trade and Resources Department said, “We cannot say with 100 percent certainty that blackouts will not occur.”

According to the Japan Electric Power Information Center, in November 2011 it was discovered that counterfeit parts were used in the No. 5 and No. 6 reactors at the Yeonggwang Nuclear Power Plant in South Jeolla Province. Subsequently, the country’s Nuclear Safety Commission instructed they be shut down indefinitely. Additionally, during regular inspections, cracks were found in the control rod tunnels and other parts of the No. 3 reactor, leading to its shut down as well.

The Japanese language version of China’s Xinhua Economic News reported that among parts procured by South Korea for nuclear plant construction over the past ten years, more than 10,900 of them are suspected to have come with forged quality assurance certificates.

On June 20, prosecutors raided the headquarters and offices of Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Company (KHNP), which operates all South Korea’s nuclear sites, on suspicion the company used substandard parts that came with forged performance certification. Additionally, on the 18th, South Korean media also reported that two KHNP employees, including a director, were detained on suspicion they colluded to falsify test certificates.

Using falsely labelled substandard parts brings into question the safety of all of South Korea’s reactors. It is said that one reactor contains more than three million parts; “As inferior parts are being used, it will be difficult to improve the situation in a short period of time. I believe it will be a long time before the shut down reactors are brought on line again,” said a person knowledgeable about the situation.

The current situation could easily lead to a power crunch. Along with its remarkable economic growth, South Korea is also experiencing ever-increasing power consumption. From 2001 to 2011 consumption increased 1.7 times from 43.13 million kilowatts to 73.14 million. At the same time, the country’s power supply reserve dropped below 10 percent in 2007, falling to 6.2 percent in 2010 and 5.5 percent in 2011. Last year is was said to have fallen into the three percent range. Caught between idled plants and economic growth, the power supply situation in South Korea is much more precarious than that of Japan.

With new nuclear power regulations taking effect from July, Japan has taken the first step toward restarting reactors that have been shut down since the earthquake of March 2011. In contrast, it will take a lot of time for South Korea, where over 10,000 substandard parts are in use, to carry out thorough inspections to ensure its reactors are 100 percent safe. Restarting by summer, when power consumption peaks due to air-conditioning and other demands, is impossible.

According to the Japan Tourism Marketing Company, approximately 202,500 Japanese tourists visited South Korea in April, a year-on-year decrease of 32 percent. One major travel agency offered this explanation for the drop: “A large part of the decline is due to the fact that last year was a very favorable year; however, with North Korea threatening to fire missiles, people are also starting to perceive South Korea as being a dangerous place.”

Additionally, with the threat of summer blackouts, the agency representative added, “The tourism situation won’t improve until after summer; nobody wants to go if there is the possibility of unannounced blackouts like two years ago.”

Source: MSN News

]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/06/26/going-to-seoul-this-summer-you-might-want-to-bring-a-flashlight/feed/ 0 66020 30 Chinese factories closed on suspicion of using toxic substance to hasten production of delicacy https://soranews24.com/2013/06/18/30-chinese-factories-closed-on-suspicion-of-using-toxic-substance-to-hasten-production-of-delicacy/ https://soranews24.com/2013/06/18/30-chinese-factories-closed-on-suspicion-of-using-toxic-substance-to-hasten-production-of-delicacy/#comments Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:30:57 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=64226

Thousand-year-old-eggs (pidan), also known as century eggs and millennium eggs, are a popular Chinese delicacy. The dish is made by using a mixture of clay, ash, salt, rice hulls and quicklime to preserve duck eggs, and usually takes a few months to complete.

Chinese media recently reported that 30 companies involved in the production of pindan in Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi Province, have been closed by authorities on strong suspicion of using industrial copper sulfate to hasten the ripening of the eggs.

In order to prevent “toxic pindan” from reaching market, Chinese State Food and Drug Authorities are investigating the suspect companies and their products to determine if copper sulfate, which can dramatically shorten the time needed for preserving the eggs, was used in the production process.

I think I’ll just keep eating my eggs over-easy for a while.

Source: Esuteru
Images: Wiki commons

]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/06/18/30-chinese-factories-closed-on-suspicion-of-using-toxic-substance-to-hasten-production-of-delicacy/feed/ 0 64226 century eggs century eggs Just in time to beat the summer heat, UNIQLO to release 31 shorts themed on Baskin-Robbins flavors! https://soranews24.com/2013/06/18/just-in-time-to-beat-the-summer-heat-uniqlo-to-release-31-shorts-themed-on-baskin-robbins-flavors/ https://soranews24.com/2013/06/18/just-in-time-to-beat-the-summer-heat-uniqlo-to-release-31-shorts-themed-on-baskin-robbins-flavors/#comments Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:00:42 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=64199

Causal clothing retail giant UNIQLO announced last week it would introduce a line of women’s and kids’ shorts themed on Baskin-Robbins ice-cream flavors from June 24.

UNIQLO said the shorts would be available in 31 different flavor-based prints, including old favorites such as vanilla and chocolate chip, as well as limited-time treats like 31 Love and cotton candy.

The shorts will come in two types, half length and short, and retail for 990 yen each (US$10.40). Kids’ shorts in seven patterns will also go on sale for 590 yen.

Source: ITmedia
Images: UNIQLO, Fried Junk

]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/06/18/just-in-time-to-beat-the-summer-heat-uniqlo-to-release-31-shorts-themed-on-baskin-robbins-flavors/feed/ 0 64199 shortstop ice cream shorts Red Bull 330ml PET bottles being pulled from store shelves due to sell-by date snafu https://soranews24.com/2013/06/16/red-bull-330ml-pet-bottles-being-pulled-from-store-shelves-due-to-sell-by-date-snafu/ https://soranews24.com/2013/06/16/red-bull-330ml-pet-bottles-being-pulled-from-store-shelves-due-to-sell-by-date-snafu/#comments Sun, 16 Jun 2013 11:00:56 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=64023 Launched just ten days ago at convenience stores nationwide, 330ml PET bottles of Red Bull are being pulled from store shelves. The reason, apparently, is the western style month-day-year sell-by date labeling used on the popular energy drink’s packaging.

The 330ml PET bottle went on sale June 4 to commemorate Red Bull Live on the Road, a music contest running June 1 to July 20 that will allow the top five bands with the most votes to appear on stage at the Summer Sonic 2013 rock festival.

According to the Twitosphere in Japan, the product is being pulled from convenience store shelves due to its sell-by date which appears as month-day-year, instead of year-month-day, the style used in Japan.

@daily_yamazaki said, “Because of the western style sell-by date the product cannot be sold in Japan and is being pulled from store shelves. As it was only going to be on sale for a limited period, we won’t see it again.

@suga__genmai confirms, “The PET bottle version is really gone! I went and asked at a convenience store and was told they had stopped selling it. Even if they have stock, the store’s head office has told them they are no longer allowed to sell it.”

You be the judge, is it really a problem?

▼　The offending label.

I can’t help but feel sorry for whoever was in charge of packaging. I wonder if some folks over at Starbucks complained, seeing how they are releasing their own energy drink on the 25th.

Source: esuteru
Images: Red Bull Japan, esuteru

]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/06/16/red-bull-330ml-pet-bottles-being-pulled-from-store-shelves-due-to-sell-by-date-snafu/feed/ 0 64023 red bull 3 red bull 3 reb bull summer sonic Red b sell by Starbucks Refreshers to hit store shelves June 25 https://soranews24.com/2013/06/16/starbucks-refreshers-to-hit-store-shelves-june-25/ https://soranews24.com/2013/06/16/starbucks-refreshers-to-hit-store-shelves-june-25/#comments Sun, 16 Jun 2013 07:00:22 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=64038 Starbucks Refreshers, fruit juice-based beverages lightly caffeinated with green coffee extract, went on sale last year in the United States and have finally made their way over to Japan. Packaged in 200ml cans, the drink will go on sale at Seven Eleven’s nationwide for 191 yen excluding tax (about US$2) from June 25.

Though five flavors are available in the U.S., Japan will initially see two: Very Berry Hibiscus and Cool Lime.

Containing real fruit juice, vitamins B and C, ginseng, and of course the most important component in making it a refreshing pick-me-up, caffeine, Refreshers promise to deliver tasty, thirst-quenching invigoration when consumed.

Not sure if it’ll replace the BOSS Black coffee pitched by Tommy Lee Jones (now available in carbonated “Black Sparkling”), which I’ve traditionally used to make it through the afternoon, but come the 25th I guess I’ll find out.

Source: Excite News
Images: Starbucks, Dark roasted blend

]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/06/16/starbucks-refreshers-to-hit-store-shelves-june-25/feed/ 0 64038 refreshers refreshers boss black Calbee partners with Baki the Grappler creator, Unleashes tyrannosaurus steak-flavored potato chips https://soranews24.com/2013/06/15/calbee-partners-with-baki-the-grappler-creator-unleashes-tyrannosaurus-steak-flavored-potato-chips/ https://soranews24.com/2013/06/15/calbee-partners-with-baki-the-grappler-creator-unleashes-tyrannosaurus-steak-flavored-potato-chips/#comments Sat, 15 Jun 2013 11:00:47 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=63920 Keisuke Itagaki, creator of the Baki the Grappler manga series, has teamed up with Calbee to produce Grappler Baki potato chips.

For those of you unfamiliar with the series, Baki is a young wrestler who travels and fights around the world, honing his skills in the hopes of following in the footsteps of his father, Yujiro, to become the strongest fighter on the planet. In staying with the theme of strongest, Itagaki decided the Baki-themed chips should be flavored after one of the most powerful creatures to walk the planet, Tyrannosaurus rex. According to Itagaki, the packaging of the chips is also designed to reflect “forcefulness” and “intensity,” traits associated with the popular manga character.

In conjunction with the release of the chips, Calbee will be running a promotional campaign in which participants can win either an original sports towel or a hand-painted figurine of Yujiro Hanma, Baki’s father, both signed by the artist.

The chips will only be on sale at convenience stores for a limited period starting July 20 until mid-August. Fans of the series who can’t wait until then to see this collaborative effort can head over to Baki Fair 2013, being held at the Kotobukiya Base in Akihabara June 22-23, where the chips will be on display.

If “truffle” or “luxury vanilla” flavored potato chips didn’t do it for you, we’re sure this “strongest meat on the planet” creation will hit the spot.

▼ Check out Baki’s brother, Jack, taking on their father, Yujiro.

Source: Goo News via esuteru
Images: Calbee, Baki

]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/06/15/calbee-partners-with-baki-the-grappler-creator-unleashes-tyrannosaurus-steak-flavored-potato-chips/feed/ 0 63920 chips chips baki fair ALIENWARE and JINS PC collaborate on must-have eyewear for the serious gamer https://soranews24.com/2013/06/14/alienware-and-jins-pc-collaborate-on-must-have-eyewear-for-the-serious-gamer/ https://soranews24.com/2013/06/14/alienware-and-jins-pc-collaborate-on-must-have-eyewear-for-the-serious-gamer/#comments Thu, 13 Jun 2013 20:00:31 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=63372

Cutting 50 percent of blue light while allowing 85 percent of visible light through, these new glasses are a must-have for any hardcore gamer or corporate desk slave.

Blue light, also called high-energy visible light (HEV light), is the cause of blue-light hazard, described by Wikipedia as the potential for photochemical induced retinal injury resulting from electromagnetic radiation exposure at wavelengths primary between 400-500nm (the blue band of the visible spectrum). In simpler terms, wear these if you don’t want eye problems later!

The new glasses, to be released this August in Japan, come in two basic LED colors, red and blue. The temple tips which rest on the ears are made of a soft rubber composite allowing them to be comfortably worn with headphones.

Perfect eye protection for those long hours spent in front of the computer blowing up opponents in your quest for world domination. With Battlefield 4 scheduled for release this October, do yourself a favor and pre-order a pair now while your eyes can still see make out the onscreen order form.

▼Blue light penetrates deeper into the retina.

Source: Weekly Ascii
Images: Dell, Jins

]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/06/14/alienware-and-jins-pc-collaborate-on-must-have-eyewear-for-the-serious-gamer/feed/ 0 63372 glasses glasses temple tips blue light From cabbages to katanas – five awesome umbrellas from Japan! https://soranews24.com/2013/06/14/from-cabbages-to-katanas-five-awesome-umbrellas-from-japan/ https://soranews24.com/2013/06/14/from-cabbages-to-katanas-five-awesome-umbrellas-from-japan/#comments Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:00:02 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=63468 Most people prefer to open their curtains in the morning to find bright, clear skies waiting for them, but with the arrival of the rainy season (known as 梅雨 tsuyu, and written with the characters for “plum” and “rain”) here in Japan we‘ve got a long stretch of wet weather ahead. If that has you down, perhaps channeling your inner superhero when you wake up in the morning and stepping out with this ninja sword umbrella will brighten your day. And if fantasizing about slashing enemy combatants isn’t your thing, maybe the romaine lettuce-inspired Vegetabrella from Tokyo Noble is what you need to put a smile on your face.

Take a look at these five rainy day inspirations helping ensure Japan stays dry during drizzling days of June.

Feeling feisty? Then the Umbrella Samura from Kikkerland Japan is just your ticket. Keep ‘em guessing on your morning walk to the station with this ninja-inspired creation.

Anyone who has travelled to Japan is familiar with the ever-so-real-yet-fake plastic food samples displayed in front of restaurants. Well, that fake food now comes in umbrella form as well. Complete with a “lettuce leaf carry bag,” the Vegetabrella from Tokyo Noble is a must-have for any serious lettuce lover or green aficionado.

Umbrella in a bottle: twist, pull, extend, open, happy! Enough said. This little number manufactured by NOL Corporation is available in eight different colors and is yours for a mere 1,380 yen (about US$14.5).



For you multitaskers who can’t afford to spare a hand for something as trivial as an umbrella, don’t fret. Motto-Zutto offers a shoulder-hugging, hands-free parasol so you’ll never have to worry about being encumbered by such insignificance again. Just pray a strong wind doesn’t carry you off!

Finally, when you get home out of the rain and need a place to dump that soggy umbrella, K-Star’s classic rain boot stand has you covered.

There, now all that pum rain doesn’t seem so bad, does it!?

Source: Trend News
Images: Kikkerland Japan, Tokyo Noble, NOL, Motto-Zutto, K-Star

]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/06/14/from-cabbages-to-katanas-five-awesome-umbrellas-from-japan/feed/ 0 63468 ninja umbrella ninja umbrella blade grip ninja umbrella open vegtabrella 1 veggie brella 2 umbrella in bottle twist and pull 8 colors flexi handle 1 flexi handle 2 umbreall stand Want that new Mac Pro now? Amazon Japan currently offering the next best thing! https://soranews24.com/2013/06/13/want-that-new-mac-pro-now-amazon-japan-currently-offering-the-next-best-thing/ https://soranews24.com/2013/06/13/want-that-new-mac-pro-now-amazon-japan-currently-offering-the-next-best-thing/#comments Thu, 13 Jun 2013 03:00:35 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=63361

Calling all MacHeads! Can’t wait to get your hands on that ever-so-sexy Mac Pro introduced at the WWDC a few days ago? Not to worry, Amazon Japan has you covered, almost. Check out the New TUBELOR (black) from ideaco which can be yours for a mere 3,465 yen (about US$36). Though it doesn’t come with dual GPUs, PCI Express-based flash storage or high-performance Thunderbolt 2, with a little work on your part, this piece of just-as-sexy office hardware could have your co-workers drooling with envy, and, bump you to the top of your office’s cool colleague rankings.

With its simple yet elegant looks, the New TUBELOR wastebasket is a great fit for any home or office environment. As the winner of an iF product design award back in 2008, one has to wonder if the good folks over at Apple were not perhaps inspired by the TUBELOR’s modern, forward-looking design when they set out to engineer their new Mac Pro. In fact, one could go as far as saying that perhaps Apple should fork over a little cash to ideaco for the design “idea.”

Anyway, in order to fool your Mac-loving friends and have them salivating at the bit, order the TUBELOR from Amazon Japan. Once your new computer wastebasket arrives, cut a black extension cord about one meter up from the plug and glue it on anywhere near the bottom of the TUBLOR. Place it on your desk at work and drop the cord through the cable hole and voila, instant Mac Pro. Oh, you might want to lay a blank piece of A-4 paper across the top to prevent people from seeing that your new Mac is, in fact, just a wastebasket. Tell the nonbelievers, there are always a few, that the piece of paper is a temporary dust cover for protecting your machine’s internal and ever-so-powerful computing hardware. Of course you will replace the cover once Apple has the official one ready, but for now paper will have to do, that’s how far ahead of the curve you are!

Order quickly before high demand depletes stock, and enjoy your new status as King Mac!

Source: ITmedia
Images: Apple, Amazon

]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/06/13/want-that-new-mac-pro-now-amazon-japan-currently-offering-the-next-best-thing/feed/ 0 63361 ideaco 2 mac pro Forget hiking the Appalachian Trail, the path up Mount Hua should get your heart rate up and provide all the exercise you’ll ever need https://soranews24.com/2013/06/10/forget-hiking-the-appalachian-trail-the-path-up-mount-hua-should-get-your-heart-rate-up-and-provide-all-the-exercise-youll-ever-need/ https://soranews24.com/2013/06/10/forget-hiking-the-appalachian-trail-the-path-up-mount-hua-should-get-your-heart-rate-up-and-provide-all-the-exercise-youll-ever-need/#comments Mon, 10 Jun 2013 10:00:02 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=62377 Located about 120 kilometers outside of the city of Huayin, Shaanxi province, Mount Hua is one of China’s Five Great Mountains. Certainly beautiful, the mountain has historically been a religious retreat for “strong-willed” monks able to find “the way” to the top on narrow pathways alongside gut-churning drops.

With tourism now booming in a more affluent China, the government has worked to improve access to the top of the mountain by widening the trail, adding railings and safety chains, and in general working to prevent hikers from experiencing a quick, unplanned descent to the bottom. Let’s find out what the dizzying location has to offer!

Safety improvements aside, with China experiencing collapsing bridges and streets oozing unknown substances due to faulty workmanship, one might be forgiven for questioning their reliability. The climb is definitely not for the faint of heart.

Source: Kotaro269
Images: (Top) Wiki Commons, Kotaro269

]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/06/10/forget-hiking-the-appalachian-trail-the-path-up-mount-hua-should-get-your-heart-rate-up-and-provide-all-the-exercise-youll-ever-need/feed/ 0 62377 Still have any mix tapes lying about? Go digital with this cheap converter from Sanwa Direct https://soranews24.com/2013/06/09/still-have-any-those-cassette-mix-tapes-lying-about-go-digital-with-this-cheap-converter-from-sanwa-direct/ https://soranews24.com/2013/06/09/still-have-any-those-cassette-mix-tapes-lying-about-go-digital-with-this-cheap-converter-from-sanwa-direct/#comments Sun, 09 Jun 2013 10:30:26 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=62245

Remember making all those mixed-tapes after the Walkman burst onto the scene at the beginning of the 80s (for those of you who grew up with all things digital, ask your dad)? Do you have any of them left? Perhaps there are a few stuffed away at the bottom of the sock drawer? If you still have all or part of that collection, Sanwa Direct can help. Their new 400-MEDI002 cassette to MP3 converter makes changing those old analog compilations to digital format cheap and easy.

Pop in the tape, connect the device to your PC’s USB port, hit play, and you’re done. The 400-MED allows you to convert your old analog cassettes to MP3, WMA and WAV digital formats at bit rates from 32 to 320kbps. Going for a mere 3,480 yen (about US$35), tax included, the 400-Med is defiantly worth considering with father’s day just around the corner (hint).

The converter also comes with an audio out jack. Just plug in some headphones and you can retro, using the device as a Walkman. Try it on your commute to work, it’s sure to get a few looks and snickers from your fellow passengers.

Once you’ve converted all that “old” stuff to digital be careful, listening to the stuff of your youth can be dangerous. You might once again find “stars in your eyes;” believing that with just a little more practice you really can become a juke box hero and leave the cubicle for the stadium stage. Word of warning: don’t embarrass the family; really, it’s never going to happen.

Now, if we could only find a similar converter for eight-tracks.

Source: CNET Japan
Images: Sanwa Direct

]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/06/09/still-have-any-those-cassette-mix-tapes-lying-about-go-digital-with-this-cheap-converter-from-sanwa-direct/feed/ 0 62245 MED 400 MED 400 bit rate walkman No typo here – Amazon Japan offers vicuña wool quilt for just US$674,000! https://soranews24.com/2013/06/05/no-typo-here-amazon-japan-offers-vicuna-wool-futon-for-just-us674000/ https://soranews24.com/2013/06/05/no-typo-here-amazon-japan-offers-vicuna-wool-futon-for-just-us674000/#comments Tue, 04 Jun 2013 19:30:42 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=61020

The vicuña, for those of you had never heard of it before (guilty!), is, according to humanity’s savior Wikipedia, one of two wild South American camelids (you know, llama-like animals) living in the high alpine areas of the Andes. Its coat is said to produce the finest wool in the world. It also happens to be the most expensive for a variety of reasons, including that the animals will starve themselves to death if held in captivity, meaning they cannot be farmed, and shearing wild ones can only be done once every three years, and even then only about three pounds of the animal’s hair can be harvested.

So, I guess that explains why a seller on Amazon Japan was trying to offload what I am sure is a very nice futon quilt for 67,200,000 yen (about US$674K).

But is it worth the price? Well, there’s only one way to find out: time to call accounting for some cash and place an order.

Me: Hey, you guys are always forking over cash so we can check out things firsthand like prison food and poisonous fish. I need a few yen so I can review an item for sale on Amazon.
RN24 Accounting: Oh, yeah? What is it?
Me: A futon.
RN24 Accounting: What’s so special about it?
Me: It’s supposed to be really soft and all–the softest in the world, in fact. I want to make sure that’s true, in the interest of our readers.
RN24 Accounting: Hmmm, just a second, let me check with the boss. It could be tough; it appears Mr. Sato is drinking and eating up the budget checking out frozen beer and fried chicken curry.
Me: Ah, come on! Why should he have all the fun? It’s only a futon!
RN24 Accounting: OK, how much do you need?
Me: Aboutsixtysevenmillion.
RN24 Accounting: What?
Me: Sixty-seven million, two-hundred-thousand yen. <silence> Hello?

So, here are some customer reviews from Amazon JP!

Five stars: “All I can say is it’s so cheap! I’m going to buy one right away!”

Five stars: “I can’t afford to purchase one; I wish someone would give it to me as a present.”

Three stars: “I thought the price was reasonable, however, after trying it out I can’t tell the difference between this futon and one I bought for 10,000 yen (about $100) at discount retailer Nitori.”

Five stars: “It’s great, and so warm! The price is also reasonable. I bought it at the old price so am a bit disappointed to see it marked down 90 percent. Still, a great product.”

Breaking news update
The item’s price seems to have dropped substantially! The futon is now on sale for a mere 6,720,000 yen (about US$67,500), a 90 percent discount from four days ago when this story originally broke on our Japanese site! I think it’s time to call accounting again.

Check back soon for further updates!

]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/06/05/no-typo-here-amazon-japan-offers-vicuna-wool-futon-for-just-us674000/feed/ 0 61020 futon 67 million futon 6.7 million