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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 40)
Kicking off the new year with a gathering of the most famous dekotora in Japan
- Master Blaster
Jan 9, 2023 - Tweet
Who needs fireworks when you got this?
- Japan
- (art • culture • Dekotora • Ichibanboshi • movies • New Year 2023 • Truck Yaro • trucks)
Japanese food court cream puff chain has 1-hour lineups for lucky bags
- Master Blaster
Jan 5, 2023
Everyone wants a piece of Beard Papa this New Year’s.
- Japan
- (Beard Papa • cream puffs • food • Fukubukuro 2023 • Fukubukuro Roundup 2023 • lucky bag 2023 • Lucky Bag Roundup 2023 • shopping)
Mr. Sato goes back to the junk shops of Akihabara, where the real lucky bag action is
- Master Blaster
Jan 3, 2023
It just wouldn’t be New Year’s without a bag of junk.
- Japan
- (Akihabara • Fukubukuro 2023 • Fukubukuro Roundup 2023 • junk shop • lucky bag 2023 • Lucky Bag Roundup 2023 • Mr. Sato • portable DVD player)
Air from 2022 for sale on Japanese flea market app Mercari
- Master Blaster
Jan 3, 2023
Start the new year off with some great deals on vintage air!
- Internet, Japan
- (air • Air of 2020 • Air of 2022 • Air of Heisei • mercari • New Year's • shopping)
First episode trailer for Trigun reboot released, series starts January 17
- Master Blaster
Dec 29, 2022
Thankfully, they didn’t try to make it live-action. Read More
- Japan
- (anime • orange • television • Tomokazu Sugita • Trigun • Trigun Stampede)
Thanko’s lucky bag for 2023 brings the heat in more ways than one
- Master Blaster
Dec 28, 2022
It even brings the cold at times.
- Japan
- (deep fryer • eye masks • Fukubukuro Roundup 2023 • Lucky Bag Roundup 2023 • mess tins • New Year 2023 • shopping • Thanko)
Putting on a magic show with Amazon Japan’s lowest rated magic props
- Master Blaster
Dec 27, 2022
At least they’ll make your money disappear.
- Japan
- (Amazon Japan • Amazon lowest-rated • COK • funny • magic • magic props • Masanuki Sunakoma • shopping • SNJO • weird)
New unlimited cat subscription service in Japan blasted online
- Master Blaster
Dec 27, 2022
380 yen per month gets your choice of cat, but what is the real cost?
- Japan
- (animal abuse • animal adoption • animal welfare • animals • cats • COK • Neko Hodai • Nora Neko Bank • pet ownership • pets • subscription service)
Macho Chess pieces sold in capsule machines across Japan
- Master Blaster
Dec 24, 2022
Queen, pawn, rook… They’re all here and totally yoked. Read More
- Japan
- (bodybuilding • capsule toys • Chess • IP4 • Macho Chess • Muscle Plus • muscles • stock photos)
Can our writers pick out the pricier strawberry shortcake against one over four times cheaper?
- Master Blaster
Dec 23, 2022
It’s the reason for the season.
- Japan
- (cake • Chateraise • Christmas • Christmas cakes • COK • food • Gourmet Writers' Rating Check • Hotel New Otani • shortcake • SNJO • strawberry shortcake • sweets • taste test)
5 million yen in cash found in Otsu City dump
- Master Blaster
Dec 22, 2022
One person’s trash is another’s five million yen.
- Japan
- (crazy • garbage • garbage dumps • lost money • money • trash • weird)
Lawson selling a pastry based on a pastry based on a uniquely Osakan pastry
- Master Blaster
Dec 22, 2022
Good bakers copy, great bakers steal.
- Japan
- (baked goods • convenience stores • food • junk food • Kansai • Kobeya • Lawson • melonpan • Osaka • regional tastes • Sanmi • Yonmi)
Japan’s Pigeon Calculator now available in English!
- Master Blaster
Dec 20, 2022
As much English as you need for a calculator at least.
- Japan
- (apps • birds • calculators • crazy • funny • Hato Dentaku • Hatoverse • Pigeon Calculator • pigeons • technology • weird)
Japan’s snack of almonds and whole fish might not be for everyone【Taste test】
- Master Blaster
Dec 19, 2022
The snack of champions.
- Japan
- (7-Eleven • Almond Fish • almonds • convenience stores • fish • Japanese anchovies • snacks • taste test)
Japan’s Lawson convenience store to add flavorless candy to permanent lineup
- Master Blaster
Dec 17, 2022
A tastelessness of things to come…
- Japan
- (Ajinonai? Ame • candy • convenience stores • food • Kanro • Lawson • No Taste? Candy • snacks • special flavors • sweets • weird)
Tokyo couple caught making stickers with police mascot flipping bird
- Master Blaster
Dec 16, 2022
That salute is not in the police manual.
- Japan
- (crime • mascot characters • Mascots • Peopo-kun • police • Tokyo Metropolitan Police • trademark • weird)
Jump Festa 2023 to be livestreamed around the world for first time ever
- Master Blaster
Dec 13, 2022
Live English subtitles and interpretations will be part of this year’s major manga celebration.
- Japan
- (anime • Chainsaw Man • COK • Jujutsu Kaisen • Jump Festa • Jump Festa 2023 • livestream • manga • One Piece • Shueisha • Spy x Family • Weekly Shonen Jump)
Yakuza may be blocked from using all expressways in Japan within the decade
- Master Blaster
Dec 9, 2022
One of many modern conveniences evaporating on organized crime.
- Japan
- (Driving in Japan • ETC • expressways • law • Organized crime • Organized Crime Exclusion Ordinances • toll roads • yakuza)
Aichi man arrested for pouring coffee milk into station ticket gate
- Master Blaster
Dec 8, 2022
Silly, automatic ticket gates don’t need coffee breaks.
- Japan
- (Aichi • coffee milk • crime • Seto • ticket gates • train stations • vandalism)
Our reporter’s in relationship trouble after fake girlfriend loses $10,000 on a World Cup bet
- Master Blaster
Dec 8, 2022
Can this romance fraud survive the stress of a lost bet?
- Japan
- (fraud • Go Hatori • international romance scam • line • love • relationships • romance fraud • Singapore • soccer)
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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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