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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 44)
Pokémon Centers across Japan giving special in-game Clefairy to customers who say “Pi pi pi…”
- Master Blaster
Sep 7, 2022 - Tweet
You also must wave your fingers to be eligible.
- Japan
- (Clefairy • cool • funny • Pippi • Pokemon • Pokemon Center • video • video games • weird)
Unlicensed drunk driver involved in hit-and-run, makes pathetic attempt to avoid police
- Master Blaster
Sep 2, 2022
I blame Grand Theft Auto for making it look too easy.
- Japan
- (crime • driver's license • drunk driving • hit-and-run • light truck • paint • spray paint • strange • stupid • Tokyo)
New trailer for Fist of the North Star musical released ahead of Tokyo and Fukuoka performances
- Master Blaster
Sep 2, 2022
You’re already fabulous.
- Japan
- (Ako Takahashi • anime • Fist of North Star • Fist of the North Star • Kanata Irei • manga • musicals • Sachiko Ishimaru • theater • Tokuya Uehara • Yusuke Onuki)
Zoo director begs people to stop screwing with air conditioner, setting it to lowest temperature
- Master Blaster
Sep 1, 2022
The reptile house is no place for monkey business.
- Japan
- (Air conditioning • business • etiquette • iZoo • reptiles • rude customers • summer • Tsuyoshi Shirawa)
Video game to detect early stages of glaucoma developed by Tohoku University
- Master Blaster
Aug 31, 2022
Vaporize meteoroids with a giant laser…for your health!
- Japan
- (glaucoma • health • Meteor Blaster • science • Sendai Television • Tohoku University • video games)
Sushi chef drops knives on the train, causes panic and delays
- Master Blaster
Aug 30, 2022
You should never take your work home with you.
Getting a driver’s license in Japan the hard way: The End
- Master Blaster
Aug 29, 2022
All bad things must come to an end.
- Japan
- (COK • driver's license • driving • driving license • foreigners in Japan • Getting a driver’s license in Japan the hard way • Osaka • police • SNO • society)
Saitama lieutenant calls subordinate’s lunch “garbage”, then loses job for eating garbage lunches
- Master Blaster
Aug 29, 2022
Glass houses…
- Japan
- (bento • employment • food • lunch • police • power harassment • rude behavior • Saitama • theft)
Adult version of popular Japanese candy Nerunerunerune coming in September
- Master Blaster
Aug 28, 2022
Nary a Nerunerunerune like it.
- Japan
- (Adult Nerunerunerune • food • Kracie • Nerunerunerune • Numero Tokyo • sweets • weird • wine)
Calendar of photos from often maligned train otaku community to be sold by JR East
- Master Blaster
Aug 26, 2022
Finally, some train photography without any head trauma or swearing.
- Japan
- (calendars • JR East • photography • tetsuota • toritetsu • Toritetsu Community • train photography • trains)
Train driver’s locked tablet with forgotten password leads to big delay on Fukushima line
- Master Blaster
Aug 25, 2022
Growing pains of digitizing trains in Japan.
- Japan
- (COK • Japan Railways • JR East • passwords • schedules • tablets • technology • timetables • train delay • trains)
Yahoo! Japan finds most alphabetic and katakana words Japanese people want to find out about
- Master Blaster
Aug 24, 2022
GJ on YJ for TCOB.
- Japan
- (COK • Japanese language • Katakana • language • linguistics • romaji • society • Yahoo Data Solution • Yahoo! Japan)
Japan’s newly identified species of flatworm is reminding people of octopus wieners
- Master Blaster
Aug 24, 2022
Wiener resemblance was not included in the peer-reviewed report.
- Japan
- (animals • cool • cute • flatworms • hotdogs • new species • octopus wiener • science • video • yamataro crab • yamataro yadoritsunomushi)
Mackerel chips coming to Japan…for gamers!
- Master Blaster
Aug 23, 2022
Not fish and chips, now the fish is the chips!
- Japan
- (chips • COK • cool • fish • food • GameWith • gaming • Gaming SABACHi • mackerel • saba • snacks • video games • weird)
Our writer falls victim to Katsuya’s new Full Power Egg
- Master Blaster
Aug 21, 2022
This egg is not for the faint of heart.
- Japan
- (Ahiruneko • eggs • fast food • Full Power Egg • Katsuya • restaurants • shrimp cutlet • spicy food)
Life-size giant freshwater stingray blankets to go on sale in Japan if enough people want them
- Master Blaster
Aug 20, 2022
You always said you wanted a giant stingray blanket, but now it’s time to put your money where your mouth is.
- Japan
- (blankets • CHAO • Felissimo • fish • giant freshwater stingray • Itabashi Botanical Garden • rays • World's Largest Freshwater Stingray Himantura Chaophraya Plush Blanket • YOU+MORE!)
Mr. Sato stops by 7-Eleven’s often overlooked fast food chain Poppo
- Master Blaster
Aug 20, 2022
From fries in bowls to ice cream dipped in shaved ice, they do things differently here.
- Japan
- (7-Eleven • fast food • french fries • kakigori • kakigori-don • Mr. Sato • Poppo • Seven & i)
Real-time shade information added to walking app from Navitime Japan
- Master Blaster
Aug 18, 2022
Let Navitime throw you some shade.
- Japan
- (Alkoo • apps • heat • Navitime Japan • shade • shadows • summer • technology • walking apps)
Japanese government worried young adults aren’t drinking enough alcohol
- Master Blaster
Aug 17, 2022
This calls for a contest!
- Japan
- (alcohol • contests • culture • drinking • marketing • National Tax Agency • NTA • Sake Viva • taxes • young adults)
Robot security guards patrol Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
- Master Blaster
Aug 16, 2022
They look kind of like robot squid too.
- Japan
- (AI • robots • Security • security guard • Seqsense • SQ-2 • technology • Tokyo • Tokyo Metropolitan Government • Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building)
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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
Starbucks Japan reveals new Joyful Capsule gacha toy release date
KFC now sells takikomi gohan rice boxes in Japan, if you know where to look for them [Taste test]
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
Starbucks Japan reveals new Joyful Capsule gacha toy release date
KFC now sells takikomi gohan rice boxes in Japan, if you know where to look for them [Taste test]
Japan’s upcoming Romancecar train seeks to end intimacy with its super-wide seats
Yakuza boss sues expressway owners for discrimination against criminals
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Why people in Japan hardly ever say “sayonara,” and what they say instead
“Sweet sake” with yuzu is coming to Japan’s wonderful world of hot canned drinks this winter
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]
Tokyo cracks down on Airbnb-style rentals with new laws limiting operator days and more
KFC Japan starts selling soft-serve ice cream at select locations, and they’ve even put it in a biscuit
Japan’s free stock image site of muscular men doing whimsical and mundane things reveals rankings
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