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Master Blaster
Writer / Translator
Master Blaster is the two-man translating team of Canada’s Steven Le Blanc and Japan’s Masami M, a pair who in addition to writing work are in English education and created the StudyNow app for Japanese students of English.
Together they have written somewhere around 1,500 articles for RocketNews24 covering such diverse topics as Chinese men selling sanitary napkins to each other and a Japanese guy dragging an ear of corn around the Tokyo train system. A few of these were actually good, but don’t take our word for it! Here’s what our beloved readers had to say:
“One isn't always in the mood for bold tastes. But when I'm in the mood for bold flavor I turn to you.”
“Stupid article. Who cares what the Japanese think it's cool. You don't call a monkey, "gorilla".”
“You know, this is about the most cogent explanation of how a turbocharger works that I have ever seen in the non-motorsports world.”
“Thanks for the article peter!”
“It's people like you who make exploitation possible.”
“It looks yummy and the story was great. Thank you for the smile.”
Posted by Master Blaster (Page 26)
A wild trader appears in Sendai for Pokémon GO Fest 2024
- Master Blaster
Jun 3, 2024 - Tweet
Don’t be alarmed, he poses no threat outside of Pokémon stadiums.
- Japan
- (P.K. Sanjun • Pokemon • Pokémon GO • Pokemon GO Fest • Sendai • smartphone games • trading)
Japanese telecom giant to make AI filter to soften angry customers voices at call centers【Video】
- Master Blaster
May 30, 2024
New system lets AI take a piece of someone’s mind and passes on the rest to a human.
- Japan
- (AI • artificial intelligence • call centers • customer harassment • customer service • employment • rude customers • Softbank • technology • University of Tokyo • working)
Mitsubishi develops robot that solves Rubik’s Cube-style puzzle in 0.305 seconds【Video】
- Master Blaster
May 28, 2024
It’s literally faster than a speeding bullet.
- Japan
- (cool • crazy • Guinness world records • Mitsubishi Electric • puzzles • robots • rubik's cube • technology • TOKUFASTbot • video)
Himakajima: The Japanese island with one traffic light that only turns green once a year
- Master Blaster
May 25, 2024
In this town, green means its time to renew your Netflix subscription.
- Japan
- (Aichi • culture • cute • Hakajima • Ise Bay • Mikawa Bay • traffic lights • travel)
Family Mart holds its first-ever Mint Chocolate Fair with 9 intriguing types of snacks
- Master Blaster
May 25, 2024
Great balls of chocolate-covered mint gummy!
- Japan
- (baked goods • choco mint • Choco Mint Fair • Family mart • food • Garigari-kun • ice cream • mint chocolate • snacks)
Kanagawa woman arrested for calling police 1,200 times in 8 days, saying “Merry Christmas, Die!”
- Master Blaster
May 22, 2024
I think she’s confusing Christmas with Easter.
- Japan
- (Christmas • crime • Kanagawa • law • obstruction of business • phone calls • police)
Czech Republic makes multi-eyed mascot friend for Osaka’s multi-eyed Myaku-Myaku mascot
- Master Blaster
May 17, 2024
So happy together…
- Europe, Japan
- (2025 Osaka World Expo • art • crazy • creepy • Czech Republic • Mascots • Myaku-Myaku • Rene Roubicek • weird)
2nd line of Casio watch rings hits Japanese capsule machines and we got the secret one!
- Master Blaster
May 14, 2024
Spoiler alert for those who like capsule surprises.
- Japan
- (accessories • capsule machines • capsule toys • Casio • COK • cool • fashion • G-Shock • rings • SNJO • watches • weird)
Does adding matcha to mayonnaise change the taste as much as the look?
- Master Blaster
May 12, 2024
Matchonnaise!
- Japan
- (easy recipes • food • green tea • Marukyu Koyama • matcha • mayonnaise • recipes • sauces)
Rage against the smoothie machine with this 7-Eleven drink hack【Taste test】
- Master Blaster
May 12, 2024
Not so smooth now…
- Japan
- (7-Eleven • convenience store • drinks • Mitsuya Cider • smoothies • taste test)
Kumamoto Governor embroiled in flower scandal
- Master Blaster
May 7, 2024
Governor Kimura was accused of dealing pot…s of flowers.
- Japan
- (flowers • governor • Kumamoto • orchids • politcis • Public Offices Election Act • Takashi Kimura)
We save money on crotchless jeans from Japanese brand Beams by making our own
- Master Blaster
May 4, 2024
Addition by subtraction.
- Japan
- (BEAMS • chaps • COK • crazy • DIY • fashion • funny • jeans • pants • shopping • SNJO • weird • Yoshio)
Icon’s Mac & Cheese Burger contender for best burger in Tokyo【Taste test】
- Master Blaster
May 2, 2024
They’re overflowing with pasta and quality.
- Japan
- (awesome • burgers • COK • crazy • food • hamburgers • mac & cheese • mac & cheese burgers • mac and cheese • macaroni and cheese • restaurants • SNJO • weird)
Osaka governor suggests lowering voting age to 0 to curb population decline
- Master Blaster
Apr 27, 2024
Desperate times…
- Japan
- (declining birthrate • declining population • elections • Hirofumi Yoshimura • Osaka • Parenting • politics • voting • voting age)
Celebrate another year of life by putting it in jeopardy with this birthday candle flower
- Master Blaster
Apr 25, 2024
We try to set the night on FI-RE-AH! Read More
- Japan
- (Birthday • candles • cheap products • Masanuki Sunakoma • online shopping • Temu)
Sandwiches fit for a sumo served up in Osaka【Taste Test】
- Master Blaster
Apr 25, 2024
A sandwich is a sandwich but Osaka Tonkatsu is a meal.
- Japan
- (big eats • chicken • Chiyomatsu • food • food trucks • Osaka • Osaka Tonkatsu • sandwiches)
Japanese ramen restaurants under pressure from new yen banknotes
- Master Blaster
Apr 23, 2024
Times are tougher than undercooked noodles.
- Japan
- (banknotes • bills • business • currency • food • ramen • restaurants • vending machines)
Kyushu-exclusive Black Mont Blanc goes nationwide in a “Special” way
- Master Blaster
Apr 16, 2024
Yes, Mariko, there is a Special Black Mont Blanc.
- Japan
- (Black Mont Blanc • ice candy • ice cream • Kyushu • Lawson • regional foods • snacks • Special Black Mont Blanc)
Masahiko Ozumi Paris in Osaka makes the comfiest desserts around
- Master Blaster
Apr 10, 2024
Pull up a creamy cushion and take a load off.
- Japan
- (desserts • food • Masahiko Ozumi • Masahiko Ozumi Paris • Mont Blanc • mousse • Osaka • sakura • zabuton)
Imitation crab meat shrine built in Kobe
- Master Blaster
Apr 9, 2024
Here to remind us that “almost” can be a wonderful thing.
- Japan
- (crab • food • Hobo Kani • Hobo Kani Day • Hobo Kani Shrine • imitation crab • Kentetsu Delica • Omamori • religion • shrines)
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Recent Posts
- Ichiran Japan is giving away free 2027 desk calendars, and here’s how to get them
- Yesterday’s cooking oil powers 410,000 pink winter sakura lights along Tokyo’s Meguro River
- Life-size Gundam head going on display in Osaka, hopefully will find permanent home
- Tokyo police arrest the Ame-zing Spider-Man
- Ichiran releases an at-home counter kit that turns your desk into a ramen restaurant
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MOST POPULAR
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Today
Ichiran releases an at-home counter kit that turns your desk into a ramen restaurant
Yesterday’s cooking oil powers 410,000 pink winter sakura lights along Tokyo’s Meguro River
Starbucks Japan releases new Bearista glass tumbler that changes character with every drink
Tokyo police arrest the Ame-zing Spider-Man
Ichiran Japan is giving away free 2027 desk calendars, and here’s how to get them
Life-size Gundam head going on display in Osaka, hopefully will find permanent home
Move aside, Asahi Super Dry – Asahi Spice Beer is in town, and it’s hotter than you think
KFC now sells takikomi gohan rice boxes in Japan, if you know where to look for them [Taste test]
Starbucks Japan reveals new Joyful Capsule gacha toy release date
Japan’s upcoming Romancecar train seeks to end intimacy with its super-wide seats
Weekly
Tokyo cracks down on Airbnb-style rentals with new laws limiting operator days and more
Ichiran releases an at-home counter kit that turns your desk into a ramen restaurant
America’s first-ever permanent One Piece store is now open [Photos]
Tokyo neighborhood adds new “smart trash cans” to deal with increasing amounts of tourist litter
Two Tokyo neighborhoods to gather on bridge and shift their recognized border through tug-of-war
Starbucks Japan unveils new winter drinkware collection with limited-edition Stanley cups
New Era celebrates three decades of Pokémon with new 30th anniversary cap line [Photos]
Pokémon card game’s expansion features art from Fist of the North Star creator
Starbucks Japan reveals new Joyful Capsule gacha toy release date
Japanese hoodie for cat-loving gamers will keep you and your feline friend warm and fuzzy [Pics]
Monthly
Pokémon Company announces first-ever permanent Pokémon store to open outside Asia
Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Chainsaw robots helping keep trains running safely in east Japan [Video]
New Studio Ghibli anime gets extended run at the only cinema in Japan where it’s being shown
Osaka’s famous Glico Running Man will be removed and replaced with a new-look sign
Tokyo cracks down on Airbnb-style rentals with new laws limiting operator days and more
Studio Ghibli creates illustrated Kyoto sightseeing map, available at any 7-Eleven Japan store
Yearly
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
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RECOMMENDED STORIES
Life-size Gundam head going on display in Osaka, hopefully will find permanent home
Move aside, Asahi Super Dry – Asahi Spice Beer is in town, and it’s hotter than you think
KFC now sells takikomi gohan rice boxes in Japan, if you know where to look for them [Taste test]
Starbucks Japan reveals new Joyful Capsule gacha toy release date
Japan’s upcoming Romancecar train seeks to end intimacy with its super-wide seats
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Yakuza boss sues expressway owners for discrimination against criminals
“Sweet sake” with yuzu is coming to Japan’s wonderful world of hot canned drinks this winter
Why people in Japan hardly ever say “sayonara,” and what they say instead
Historical-themed illumination display returns to Osaka Castle this winter
KFC Japan starts selling soft-serve ice cream at select locations, and they’ve even put it in a biscuit
Is hamburger patty ramen a case of too many good things in one bowl? Let’s find out! [Taste test]
Tokyo cracks down on Airbnb-style rentals with new laws limiting operator days and more
Amazing Japanese yogurt spoon scoops up every last drop of dairy effortlessly
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