SoraNews24 —Japan News—
Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
Featured
- Weird
- Studio Ghibli
- Jobs
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 59)
Post-election goat scandal rocks Japanese lawmaker
- Master Blaster
Nov 8, 2021 - Tweet
Don’t mess with goats online and expect to get away with it.
- Japan
- (2021 election • animal welfare • goats • Miyagi • politics • Sayuri Kamata • Sendai Merry)
Japanese government to give all 18-and-under residents 100,000 yen… here’s why that’s bad news
- Master Blaster
Nov 8, 2021
Big bucks for The Children of Men.
- Japan
- (age gap • aging population • declining birth rate • politics • shrinking population • Stimulus payment)
Japanese bus company converts retired vehicles into mobile saunas
- Master Blaster
Nov 7, 2021
Save us, Sabus!
- Japan
- (buses • cool • crazy • Himeji • Sabus • sauna • Shinki Bus • transportation • weird)
Heading to Nagasaki with Peach’s random gacha capsule plane ticket discount
- Master Blaster
Nov 5, 2021
Home is where the discount is.
- Japan
- (airlines • capsule machine • Clover Garden • COK • koi • Mariko Ohanabatake • Nagasaki • Peach • SNJO • Tabi Kuji • travel)
Convenience store Family Mart employs its first robot stocker
- Master Blaster
Nov 4, 2021
This is not the cat-monster robot future I was promised.
- Japan
- (convenience stores • cool • Family mart • Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry • robots • technology • Telexistence • video)
It’s a boozy bare-bones senbero from OK discount store!【Japan’s Best Home Senbero】
- Master Blaster
Nov 3, 2021
And this time it’s personal.
- Japan
- (alcohol • COK • crazy • food • funny • Japan’s Best Home Senbero • Masanuki Sunakoma • Mr. Sato • oden • OK • senbero • shochu • SNJO • weird • wine • Zima)
What’s so funny about “Sweet Fries of Clowns” from Burger King Japan?
- Master Blaster
Nov 1, 2021
Everybody loves a clown French fry, so why can’t we?
- Japan
- (Burger King • clowns • fast food • french fries • Seiji Nakazawa • SNJO • Sweet Fries of Clowns)
Costumes from everyday life on parade once more in “Jimi Halloween 2021”
- Master Blaster
Oct 31, 2021
Come take walk on the plain side.
- Internet, Japan
- (cosplay • costumes • halloween • holidays • Jimi Halloween • ordinary life • social media • twitter)
Mr. Sato seeks meaty, booze-soaked redemption at Lopia【Japan’s Best Home Senbero】
- Master Blaster
Oct 30, 2021
Armed with new knowledge from Oita, Mr. Sato attempts the all-meat senbero one more time.
- Japan
- (alcohol • food • Japan’s Best Home Senbero • Lopia • Masanuki Sunakoma • meat • Mr. Sato • Seiji Nakazawa • senbero • supermarkets)
9 middle-aged Japanese men come to work in the clothes they’d like their partners to wear
- Master Blaster
Oct 29, 2021
What do you mean “Why?”
- Japan
- (clothing • dating • fashion • psychology • relationships • social experiments • Uniqlo • Zara)
2022 is the Year of the Raikou, so let’s ring it in with this traditionally crafted doll
- Master Blaster
Oct 29, 2021
Next year is gong to be electric!
- Japan
- (2022 • Chinese zodiac • dolls • Edo Kimekomi • Eevee • kimekomi dolls • kimekomi ningyo • Kirby • Miltank • Pikachu • Pokemon • Raikou • year of the tiger)
Survey finds top 10 instant noodle brands and flavors, and Cup Noodle isn’t number one?!
- Master Blaster
Oct 28, 2021
The best noodles ready in about three minutes.
- Japan
- (Cup Noodle • food • instant noodles • Ippei-chan • Maru-chan • Peyoung • ramen • ranking • survey • udon • UFO • yakisoba)
Manhole Holy War breaks out in Tokyo, winners get money and help repair city infrastructure
- Master Blaster
Oct 27, 2021
All’s fair in love and Manhole Holy War.
- Japan
- (contests • games • gamification • Guardians of Iron and Concrete • infrastructure • Manhole Holy War • manholes • safety • Tokyo • Whole Earth Foundation)
We buy the lowest-rated alarm clock on Amazon Japan
- Master Blaster
Oct 26, 2021
How bad can it really be?
- Japan
- (alarm clocks • Amazon • Amazon Japan • cover • customer reviews • ratings • shopping • technology)
Enjoy “Jinja Ehru” ginger ale from a historic shrine in Tokyo
- Master Blaster
Oct 26, 2021
Drink up the shrine’s blessings in a most sacred pun.
- Japan
- (drinks • Jinja Ehru • Kaminari-okashi • Kanda Myojin • religion • shinto • shrines • SNJO)
Super Sound Yobikumi-kun Mini poised to be the hottest Japanese Christmas gift of the year
- Master Blaster
Oct 25, 2021
Feel like you’re in the supermarket at home or on the go.
- Japan
- (Gunma Denki • jingle • melody • music • No. 4 • Popoh-Popopopo • Super Sound Yobikumi-kun Mini • supermarkets • toys • Yobikumi-kun)
Kyoto police using targeted YouTube ads to warn would-be voyeurs
- Master Blaster
Oct 25, 2021
Fighting one type of peeping with another kind of peeping.
- Japan
- (crime • hidden camera • Kyoto • police • social media • targeted ads • voyeurism)
The pros and cons of using Fluffy Foam Soy Sauce【Taste test】
- Master Blaster
Oct 25, 2021
Actually, there aren’t many cons.
- Japan
- (clever • COK • cool • Fluffy Foam Soy Sauce • food • SNJO • soy sauce • tamago kake gohan • tamagoya • tamari soy sauce • Tamariya • taste test • weird)
Was there no “Song of 2021” in Japan?
- Master Blaster
Oct 22, 2021
The country’s legendary year-end music program is struggling to find its hit.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe becomes YouTuber
- Master Blaster
Oct 22, 2021
Hopefully he’ll do some game streams too.
- Internet, Japan
- (election • Japanese Prime Minister • politics • Shinzo Abe • YouTube • YouTubers)
-
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
-
MOST POPULAR
- Today
- Weekly
- Monthly
- Yearly
Today
Ichiran releases an at-home counter kit that turns your desk into a ramen restaurant
Starbucks Japan releases new Bearista glass tumbler that changes character with every drink
Yesterday’s cooking oil powers 410,000 pink winter sakura lights along Tokyo’s Meguro River
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]
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
-
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]
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
Why people in Japan hardly ever say “sayonara,” and what they say instead
Yakuza boss sues expressway owners for discrimination against criminals
Historical-themed illumination display returns to Osaka Castle this winter
“Sweet sake” with yuzu is coming to Japan’s wonderful world of hot canned drinks 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
Japan’s free stock image site of muscular men doing whimsical and mundane things reveals rankings
-
-
Categories
Categories Select Category Africa (33) Anime & Manga (193) Art (64) Australia (42) C America (9) C Asia (17) Canada (59) Cats (72) China (847) Culture (180) Cute (187) Entertainment (248) Europe (345) FN24 (1) Food & Drink (314) Games & Tech (167) Global (1,073) India (11) Internet (2,198) Italy (13) Japan (34,595) Korea (375) Lifestyle (76) Mexico (6) Music (12) N Asia (4) New Zealand (11) News (61) North Korea (72) Oceania (10) Russia (56) S America (33) S Asia (66) SE Asia (378) Space (2) Taiwan (203) UK (18) Uncategorized (19) USA (979) W Asia (25)
-
Archives
Archives Select Month November 2026 (64) October 2026 (144) September 2026 (156) August 2026 (174) July 2026 (197) June 2026 (174) May 2026 (138) April 2026 (142) March 2026 (150) February 2026 (124) January 2026 (138) December 2025 (136) November 2025 (136) October 2025 (151) September 2025 (154) August 2025 (143) July 2025 (158) June 2025 (165) May 2025 (162) April 2025 (181) March 2025 (157) February 2025 (127) January 2025 (139) December 2024 (148) November 2024 (149) October 2024 (153) September 2024 (154) August 2024 (158) July 2024 (156) June 2024 (150) May 2024 (166) April 2024 (150) March 2024 (157) February 2024 (169) January 2024 (159) December 2023 (165) November 2023 (166) October 2023 (166) September 2023 (173) August 2023 (183) July 2023 (171) June 2023 (180) May 2023 (158) April 2023 (152) March 2023 (167) February 2023 (160) January 2023 (171) December 2022 (175) November 2022 (176) October 2022 (179) September 2022 (191) August 2022 (202) July 2022 (193) June 2022 (178) May 2022 (178) April 2022 (181) March 2022 (212) February 2022 (199) January 2022 (224) December 2021 (230) November 2021 (214) October 2021 (215) September 2021 (238) August 2021 (225) July 2021 (207) June 2021 (218) May 2021 (209) April 2021 (206) March 2021 (225) February 2021 (209) January 2021 (224) December 2020 (225) November 2020 (224) October 2020 (231) September 2020 (238) August 2020 (227) July 2020 (220) June 2020 (209) May 2020 (215) April 2020 (238) March 2020 (235) February 2020 (222) January 2020 (233) December 2019 (187) November 2019 (214) October 2019 (237) September 2019 (195) August 2019 (205) July 2019 (183) June 2019 (201) May 2019 (231) April 2019 (192) March 2019 (242) February 2019 (211) January 2019 (238) December 2018 (212) November 2018 (217) October 2018 (214) September 2018 (203) August 2018 (217) July 2018 (218) June 2018 (208) May 2018 (204) April 2018 (193) March 2018 (216) February 2018 (192) January 2018 (223) December 2017 (204) November 2017 (209) October 2017 (218) September 2017 (209) August 2017 (228) July 2017 (222) June 2017 (245) May 2017 (229) April 2017 (197) March 2017 (165) February 2017 (151) January 2017 (180) December 2016 (260) November 2016 (267) October 2016 (302) September 2016 (387) August 2016 (351) July 2016 (379) June 2016 (379) May 2016 (312) April 2016 (347) March 2016 (414) February 2016 (379) January 2016 (359) December 2015 (359) November 2015 (378) October 2015 (435) September 2015 (419) August 2015 (152) July 2015 (218) June 2015 (179) May 2015 (237) April 2015 (223) March 2015 (119) February 2015 (121) January 2015 (394) December 2014 (376) November 2014 (376) October 2014 (414) September 2014 (349) August 2014 (379) July 2014 (316) June 2014 (375) May 2014 (384) April 2014 (354) March 2014 (318) February 2014 (284) January 2014 (270) December 2013 (224) November 2013 (242) October 2013 (244) September 2013 (226) August 2013 (241) July 2013 (214) June 2013 (222) May 2013 (191) April 2013 (173) March 2013 (149) February 2013 (85) January 2013 (106) December 2012 (111) November 2012 (149) October 2012 (151) September 2012 (118) August 2012 (99) July 2012 (56) June 2012 (57) May 2012 (54) April 2012 (62) March 2012 (40) February 2012 (27) January 2012 (24) December 2011 (18) November 2011 (12) October 2011 (1) September 2011 (9) August 2011 (11) March 2011 (1)
-
- About Us | Jobs | Contact | Contribution | Partner with Us
© SoraNews24 —Japan News— / SOCIO CORPORATION
- Advertise |
- About Us |
- Work with us |
- Contact |
- Contribution |
