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Krista Rogers

Starting with a love of J-Pop and J-dramas when she was 13, Krista Rogers has left her quiet New England hometown in the States both to study abroad in Tokyo and to work on the JET Program in beautiful Yamagata prefecture. She misses chatting in the local dialect and staging Kamehameha battles in the hallway with her students. Although she's currently working on her master's degree in Boston, she will without a doubt be back in Japan before long and buying way too much at Book-Off and Tower Records again. When she needs a break from schoolwork, Krista enjoys eating yakiniku, figure skating, finding cute cafes, watching Big Bang MVs, and continuing on her quest to catch 'em all.

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Posted by Krista Rogers (Page 54)

Temples, views and whiskey — TripAdvisor releases its Top 20 “Free Attractions in Japan” in 2015

Krista Rogers
Nov 3, 2015
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Aren’t the words “free entry,” “costs nothing,” and “0 yen” exciting to hear? I think we can all agree that there’s nothing better than a good deal, especially when that deal happens to be completely, 100% free.

While attractions marked as free may set warning bells ringing for some people, Japan has plenty of high-quality, worthwhile places to visit that are such a blast, you actually wouldn’t mind paying money for admission—except that they really do cost absolutely nothing to enter!

Internet, Japan
(attractions • dolphins • free • ranking • top 20 • travel • TripAdvisor)

Star Tours: The Adventures Continue attraction is now open at Tokyo Disneyland!

Krista Rogers
Nov 2, 2015

It’s been a long time coming, but Star Wars fans will soon get to see the seventh installment in the long-running franchise when Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in theaters next month. While waiting for the theatrical release, fans living in Tokyo can experience the thrill of the series firsthand by venturing over to Tokyo Disneyland, where the Star Tours: The Adventures Continue attraction is now open to the public!

Japan
(rides • Star Tours • Star Wars • theme parks • Tokyo • Tokyo Disneyland)

Tokyo Halloween 2015: Our reporters’ collection of photos from their night in Shibuya【Photos】

Krista Rogers
Nov 2, 2015

On Friday night, illustrious RocketNews24 reporters Mr. Sato and P.K. Sanjun ventured out into the streets of Shibuya, Tokyo’s hub of youth culture. Both dressed as Marge Simpson, they were there to check out this year’s collection of crazy costumes. While Halloween as a holiday is still only catching on in Japan, they were thrilled by the number of like-minded, costumed revelers they found.

Join us for a photographic tour of some of the costumed people they ran into on the streets of Shibuya!

Japan
(cosplay • costumes • halloween • Mr. Sato • photos • Shibuya • The Simpsons • Tokyo)

Umbrella decides it’s had enough of the rain, flies off handle【Video】

Krista Rogers
Oct 28, 2015

We’ve all experienced this frustrating situation–it’s a rainy day, and as if to add insult to injury, your umbrella suddenly decides to break in what has to be an act of sheer defiance against you.

Net users sympathized with the following clip posted by one such unlucky soul. It certainly looks like the umbrella is doing nothing but mocking him, since it only decides to open after flying clean off the handle!

Japan
(frustrating • rain • twitter • umbrella • video)

“30 iconic dishes from around the world” infographic has us wanting to go on a gastronomic tour

Krista Rogers
Oct 26, 2015

Given a map, could you name an iconic dish from every country in the world? We’re guessing probably not.

Some foods are now so famous globally they practically stand as symbols for their country as a whole (think “sushi” and you think “Japan”), while others are instantly recognizable on smaller regional or local scales (unless you’re familiar with Icelandic culture or study Viking lore, you’ve probably never heard of “hákarl” before). If you’re fascinated by the intersection of food and culture, you’ll definitely want to check out this cool new infographic on the topic!

Europe, Internet
(design • food dishes • infographic • Perfect Stays • U.K.)

【Monday Kickstart】Guinea pigs heading home for the night are delightfully darling

Krista Rogers
Oct 26, 2015

The children’s petting zoo section of Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo is home to a variety of fluffy, domesticated critters that visitors can get up close and personal with. Among the perennial favorites is a group of guinea pigs which have an impressive routine for when it comes time to (literally) hit the hay.

We bet you never thought that a group of rodents could be as well-behaved as these furry little guys!

Japan
(animals • cute • guinea pigs • twitter • ueno zoo • video)

Kyoto’s Rurikoin Temple to offer stunning views of autumn leaves for a limited time next month

Krista Rogers
Oct 25, 2015

Tourists flock to Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto during the cherry blossom-viewing days of spring, but equally stunning are the sights of brilliantly colored autumn leaves amidst ancient structures that have remained undisturbed for hundreds of years.

One particular temple, Rurikoin, stands on the edge of the city and is a paradise for photographers during the autumn months, as well as visitors who didn’t even know they had an artistic side yet spend hours playing with different lighting effects there. While Rurikoin is not always open for general admission from year to year, we’re in luck because this year the building will indeed open its doors for the span of one short month.

Japan
(autumn • beautiful • buddhist • Kyoto • leaves • maples • momiji • Rurikoin • temple)

The top 20 anime/manga series Japanese fans would like to show to their kids

Krista Rogers
Oct 22, 2015

It’s time for another fun survey from anime informational website Charapedia!

The site recently asked 10,000 of its users to share their top picks for the top 20 manga/anime series that they would like to show to their children. If you think that the results are full of fluff and potty humor, you may be surprised at some of the more thought-provoking choices on the list.

Japan
(anime • children • Clannad • manga • Naruto • One Piece • Parenting)

Banish your love rivals, fantasize over your crush’s recorder in weird new game app

Krista Rogers
Oct 22, 2015

More than once, I’ve been baffled by characters in Japanese dramas getting excited at the thought of having a kansetsu kisu, or “indirect kiss.” Apparently, the thought of drinking out of the same cup or using the same straw as the object of your affection is akin to kissing them indirectly.

With the release of a new romance simulation mobile game, you too can experience the thrill of a young Japanese schoolboy about to have a kansetsu kisu with the girl of your dreams–but only after you get your hands on the recorder she uses in music class!

Japan
(app • creepy • recorder • That Girl's Recorder • video games • weird)

Mr. Sato takes our newest reporter to a sushi restaurant, he mistakes it for a love hotel!

Krista Rogers
Oct 20, 2015

It’s been one month since Nakazawa, who’s also a guitarist for two bands, joined the Japanese RocketNews24 team. On a recent day, our veteran reporter Mr. Sato told Nakazawa to follow him as he ventured into the outside world. When Nakazawa asked where they were going, Mr. Sato coolly replied: “To a good place. I’m going to make you happy.”

Not one to argue with a perpetual fan-favorite reporter, especially as a new recruit, Nakazawa obediently agreed.

Two short train rides later, our two adventurers finally arrived at their destination: a collection of bars and other late-night eateries near Tokyo’s Kita-Senju Station. Nakazawa followed Mr. Sato silently until the expert reporter suddenly stopped in his tracks. “We’re here,” Mr. Sato announced. Nakazawa looked up and was shocked to discover that they were standing in front of what looked like a hotel—and not just any hotel, but a LOVE hotel!

Japan
(food • Kita-Senju • love hotel • Mr. Sato • Restaurant • sushi • Sushitani • Tokyo)

Toxic bubble froth in Bangalore catches fire, raises environmental flags for the second time

Krista Rogers
Oct 17, 2015

This is one bubble bath that you’ll never want to take a dip in.

Locals in Bangalore, India are calling for immediate action after foam which had accumulated on Bellandur Lake, the biggest lake in the city, was blown onto streets and even caught fire for the second time in only a few months. While experiencing a gigantic bubble bath outside of your bathtub may seem like a fun idea at first, the foam that is spewing out from Bellandur Lake is actually toxic in nature and supposedly has a terrible stench.

S Asia
(Bellandur Lake • Bengalore • environment • foam • Karnatake • toxic • video)

Charitable bird feeds hungry fish in Miyazaki Prefecture【Video】

Krista Rogers
Oct 13, 2015

Everyone should indulge in a bit of cross-cultural exchange every now and then to expand their worldly horizons–and as the following smartphone video illustrates, cross-species exchange can be just as, if not more, rewarding. Just take it from this black swan who’s made it his personal mission to feed some floundering fish friends!

Internet, Japan
(animal video • bird • duck • funny • Miyazaki Prefecture • swan • videos)

Weird new Japanese website lets you flick a cute girl’s forehead to your heart’s content

Krista Rogers
Oct 13, 2015

Well, this is probably the weirdest snippet of news from Japan that you’ll read about all week.

On Friday, a new Japanese website was unveiled which has the sole purpose of allowing net users to forcefully flick their fingers into the forehead of a cute girl (an admonishing action known as a dekopin in Japanese) and watch her exasperated reaction, all done virtually through the screen, of course. After all, hasn’t that always been on your bucket list?

Internet, Japan
(cute • dekopin • girls • poke • website • weird)

One Piece kabuki adaptation officially opens in Tokyo, cast photos begin to surface online

Krista Rogers
Oct 12, 2015

Even 18 years after its initial publication, One Piece continues to enjoy unprecedented popularity around the world, no doubt thanks to the grueling efforts of series’ creator Eiichiro Oda. Since July, fans have been waiting with bated breath after new details emerged regarding a kabuki stage version of the beloved franchise, but that wait is now over–October 7 marked the opening performance of the play, and we’ve finally been treated to some pictures of the cast!

Japan
(anime • kabuki • manga • One Piece • plays)

Smashing cakes and eating hair: City in Gifu Prefecture releases bizarre PR video【Video】

Krista Rogers
Oct 6, 2015

Following in the footsteps of Kobayashi City in Miyazaki Prefecture, Gifu Prefecture’s Seki City has recently released its own quirky PR video. This ad, however, focuses on the city’s contribution to daily life with an important product that the city is famous for rather than emphasizing any local accent. Judging by the bizarre scene in the photo above, can you guess what Seki City is famous for producing? Here’s a hint: This video is shear madness!

Japan
(blades • Gifu • PR • Seki • video • weird)

10 stories of Japanese high school girls and their puzzling, laughable behaviors

Krista Rogers
Oct 5, 2015

High school girls. In all seriousness, are they aliens??

Japanese Twitter users delight in sharing the perplexing, nonsensical, contradictory, or downright outrageous behaviors that they observe high school girls engaging in around the country. Below, we’ve gathered together a sampling of some such anecdotes for your reading pleasure. What strange escapades are the girls up to now?

Japan
(crazy • funny • high school girls • joshikosei • twitter)

Join the hordes of net users giggling at GIFs of sumo wrestlers performing comedic moves【Videos】

Krista Rogers
Oct 5, 2015

Unless you’re striving to become one of the big guys yourself, you may not have much connection to the world of professional sumo. As an ancient sport with plenty of ritual elements, the wrestlers, known as rikishi in Japanese, have a highly regimented training lifestyle. With all those rules, it’s certainly easy to overlook the comedic side of sumo.

Wait, there’s a comedic side to sumo?

Japan
(funny • GIFs • rikishi • shokkiri • Sumo • video)

Angry university student knocks classmates’ drone out of the sky, throws a hissy fit【Video】

Krista Rogers
Oct 4, 2015

We’ve already seen what happens when a pack of square-dancing ladies go after a drone carrying around coupons for cakes. But what happens when a similar scene occurs on a university basketball court with what appears to be a spoiled, entitled student having a tantrum thrown into the mix? The sight is not very pretty, to say the least.

China
(basketball • drone • Guangzhou • jocks vs nerds • rich • spoiled • video)

Check out the incredible futuristic gear at Japan’s 2015 Good Design Awards 【Videos】

Krista Rogers
Oct 3, 2015

Every year since 1957, Japan’s Good Design Awards have honored products which are designed in such a way to have a positive impact on people’s lives. The award system, which is now operated by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion, has recently released their list of 2015’s Good Design Best 100 award winners.

With such innovative ideas as LED jump ropes and basketball courts, these awards are truly the best place to catch a glimpse of athletics equipment of the future!

Global, Japan
(athletics • exercise • Good Design Awards • jump rope • LED • Smart Rope • technology • video)

Nailing it! Japanese internet shares three super easy ways to take care of your nails

Krista Rogers
Sep 30, 2015

Nails, nails, nails. Some people flip out when they chip a nail, while others could care less about the state of their fingertips. Whether you’re a salon regular or a chronic nail biter, the Japanese internet has a few tricks to share about how to achieve healthy and beautiful nails. The absolute best part is that you don’t need to go out and buy anything fancy–in fact, you can probably just waltz into your kitchen and find everything you need!