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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 39)
Fun with Kaki No Tane rice cracker ice cream sandwiches【Taste test】
- Master Blaster
Jan 31, 2023 - Tweet
Just when you thought ice cream couldn’t get any better.
- Internet, Japan
- (COK • food • ice cream • kaki no tane • monaka • snacks • SNO • sweets • taste test • wasabi • weird)
Black Thunder chocolate brings us the future of Valentine’s Day: Crabs!
- Master Blaster
Jan 30, 2023
And Crab Thunder is coming up with new and inventive ways to give us crabs.
- Japan
- (B-Class Valentine Future Expo 2023 • Black Thunder. Valentine's Day • chocolate • crab • Crab & Peace • culture • events • Kanisbee • relationships • technology)
Nitori furniture store guard arrested for shoplifting from Nitori furniture store
- Master Blaster
Jan 27, 2023
Hard to find good help these days.
Anti-insect laser gun turrets designed by Osaka University, expected to work on roaches too
- Master Blaster
Jan 27, 2023
You’ve never seen a bug zapper quite like this.
- Japan
- (agriculture • Institute of Laser Engineering • lasers • Osaka University • pest control • science • technology • tobacco cutworm)
Sickle-wielding attacker safely fended off by victim’s umbrella in Aomori
- Master Blaster
Jan 27, 2023
The umbrella is mightier than the sickle.
Mr. Sato angers the potato gods of Kogane No Potatorado restaurant
- Master Blaster
Jan 26, 2023
Finally, a restaurant that uses the aesthetic of a used video game store.
- Japan
- (food stands • Kogane No Potatorado • mashed potatoes • Mr. Sato • potatoes • restaurants • Shibuya • Tokyo)
Check out this atago pear from Shimane Prefecture, weighing in at 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds)
- Master Blaster
Jan 26, 2023
This pear’s shape has gone pear-shaped.
- Japan
- (Asahicho • atago pear • food • fruit • Hamada City • pears • Senjoen • Shimane Prefecture • travel)
Okayama ninja video credited with drastically improving traffic manners
- Master Blaster
Jan 24, 2023
Is there anything ninja can’t do?
- Japan
- (JAF • Japan Automobile Federation • Ninja • Okayama • pedestrian crossing • Toyopet • traffic accidents • traffic safety • videos)
Why do people spend so long in jail without going to trial in Japan?
- Master Blaster
Jan 24, 2023
It’s the land of serial arresting.
Exeggutor airplanes taking off from Solaseed Air in Miyazaki Prefecture, other Pokémon tag along
- Master Blaster
Jan 23, 2023
I only fly Exeggutor class.
- Japan
- (airlines • airplanes • anime • Exeggutor • Miyazaki • Nasshi Jet • Pokemon • Solaseed • travel • video games)
Octopus tentacle ear plugs coming to Japanese capsule toy machines
- Master Blaster
Jan 23, 2023
I’m a sucker for stylish ear protection.
- Japan
- (animals • capsule toys • crazy • fashion • gacha • gachapon • Ikimon • octopus • Octopus Earplugs • squid • Tako no Mimisen • tentacles • weird)
43-year-old bosozoku biker arrested for never growing out of his teenage riding style
- Master Blaster
Jan 22, 2023
No country for old bikers.
- Japan
- (bikers • bosozoku • crime • Kanagawa • kyushakai • meandering • old-car club • reckless driving)
Japanese makers of Tropicana fined 19 million yen for “100% Melon” juice with only 2% melon juice
- Master Blaster
Jan 20, 2023
Accountability never tasted so sweet.
- Japan
- (COK • crime • drinks • fruit • Kirin Beverage • melon juice • melons • scams • Tropicana • weird)
McDonald’s remixes Ado and Asmi hits along with the sound of their deep-fryer
- Master Blaster
Jan 20, 2023
A mouthwatering mix.
- Japan
- (Ado • asmi • cool • deep fryer • fast food • food • french fries • funny • McDonald's • music • TikTok • weird)
Black Thunder to raise prices up to 35 yen (US$0.27) this March
- Master Blaster
Jan 19, 2023
Yes, that’s “to 35 yen” not “by 35 yen.”
- Japan
- (Black Thunder • chocolate • COK • food • inflation • price increase • sweets)
Curses for sale on Japan’s leading flea market site Mercari
- Master Blaster
Jan 17, 2023
Damnation delivered right to your door.
- Internet, Japan
- (black magic • COK • crazy • curse • curse return • mercari • shopping • wara ningyo • weird)
Johnnys’ Jr. group leader makes breakthrough discovery in marine biology in downtown Osaka
- Master Blaster
Jan 14, 2023
You don’t get much more Japanese than an idol fishing for eel on the Dotonbori.
- Japan
- (Ae! Group • Dotonbori • endangered species • environment • Japanese eel • Johnny & Associates • Johnnys’ Jr. • Ken Kojima • Osaka)
Can our writers’ taste buds pick out the luxury kamaboko fish cake from these two?
- Master Blaster
Jan 14, 2023
Everyone’s loco for kamaboko!
- Japan
- (COK • fish cake • food • Gourmet Writers' Rating Check • kamaboko • Kinsen Yuzuki • Masanuki Sunakoma • Mr. Sato • New Year's food • SNJO • Suzuhiro)
Lucky Chinese dumpling sushi rolls coming in February
- Master Blaster
Jan 13, 2023
Confused? You should be.
Robotic pillow “Fufuly” by Tokyo-based company shown at CES 2023
- Master Blaster
Jan 9, 2023
Rise of the machine…pillows.
- Japan
- (breathing techniques • CES 2023 • cushions • Fufuly • pillows • relaxation • respiratory entrainment • technology • Yukai Engineering)
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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
Starbucks Japan reveals new Joyful Capsule gacha toy release date
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]
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
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
Starbucks Japan reveals new Joyful Capsule gacha toy release date
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]
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Japan’s upcoming Romancecar train seeks to end intimacy with its super-wide seats
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
Is hamburger patty ramen a case of too many good things in one bowl? Let’s find out! [Taste test]
KFC Japan starts selling soft-serve ice cream at select locations, and they’ve even put it in a biscuit
Tokyo cracks down on Airbnb-style rentals with new laws limiting operator days and more
Tokyo neighborhood adds new “smart trash cans” to deal with increasing amounts of tourist litter
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