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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 66)
Three people become first arrested in Japan for posting 10-minute movie recap on YouTube
- Master Blaster
Jun 25, 2021 - Tweet
Movie makers say 10-minute summaries hurt their bottom line.
- Japan
- (CODA • Content Overseas Distribution Association • copyright infringement • crime • fair use • fast movie • law • movies • recap video • YouTube)
Search is on for COVID-19 patient who escaped out a sixth-floor window of Osaka hotel
- Master Blaster
Jun 24, 2021
Patient possibly infected with the “Spidey” variant of COVID-19.
- Japan
- (APA Hotel • coronavirus • COVID-19 • disease • escape • health • hotels • Osaka • quarantine)
The Paralympics’ first official video game becomes an entirely new breed of sports game
- Master Blaster
Jun 24, 2021
Pegasus Dream Tour is a sports game people who don’t even like sports can enjoy.
- Global, Japan
- (Android • iOS • JP Games • paralympics • Pegasus Dream Tour • RPG • sports • video games)
FFXV director Hajime Tabata talks leaving Square Enix to make the first Paralympic game【Interview】
- Master Blaster
Jun 24, 2021
Tabata and JP Games hope to make the world a brighter place, one game at a time.
- Global, Japan
- (business • Final Fantasy XV • Hajime Tabata • interviews • JP Games • Pegasus Dream Tour • sports • video games)
Yamagata kids on way to school accidentally say “good morning” to wild bear
- Master Blaster
Jun 22, 2021
Bear was reportedly very rude.
“Conbini warp” an increasing traffic problem for businesses and authorities across Japan
- Master Blaster
Jun 21, 2021
Warping is best left to the Mario Bros.
- Japan
- (cars • COK • conbini warp • driving • law • parking lots • Road Traffic Act • society)
Wakayama man stealing uniform from school caught by mysterious man in restroom in middle of night
- Master Blaster
Jun 21, 2021
There’s a very thin line between lurking and guarding.
- Japan
- (crime • high school • mystery • restroom • School Uniforms • theft • Wakayama)
Cans of 7-Up discontinued in Japan, production quietly stopped last January
- Master Blaster
Jun 21, 2021
7-Up, Japan hardly knew ye.
- Japan
- (7-Up • business • discontinued • pop • soda • soft drinks • Suntory • vending machines)
Superman to star in upcoming gourmet manga series
- Master Blaster
Jun 18, 2021
It’s Superman like you’ve never seen him before…eating Japanese food.
- Japan
- (American comics • anime • DC • Evening • food • Japanese food • manga • super heroes • Superman • Superman No Hitori Meshi • Superman vs Meshi • weird)
Restaurant worker putting pubes on curry heralds return of baito-terror
- Master Blaster
Jun 18, 2021
More than likely, they’re just getting warmed up too.
- Japan
- (baito-terror • bakastagram • bakatok • bakatter • coco ichibanya • COVID-19 • Domino's • employment • part time work • social media)
Rolled up balls of paper win 1st and 3rd place in Tokyo Tech paper airplane contest
- Master Blaster
Jun 17, 2021
Lazy like a fox.
- Japan
- (clever • contest • education • engineering • paper airplane • Tokyo Institute of Technology • Tokyo Tech • weird)
Kanna Hashimoto wins Guinness World Record for getting tissues really fast
- Master Blaster
Jun 16, 2021
Hashimoto becomes the undisputed, certified Queen of Tissues.
- Japan
- (crazy • funny • Guinness world records • Idols • Kanna Hashimoto • tissues • TV • weird • world record • world records)
Experience a job putting dandelions on sashimi for eternity in new VR game!
- Master Blaster
Jun 14, 2021
Easily the most sophisticated sashimi dandelion simulator to date.
- Internet, Japan
- (chrysanthemum • dandelion • food • Oculus Quest • sashimi • video games • VR • VR Sashimi Tanpopo • work)
Booze made from wood coming soon in Japan
- Master Blaster
Jun 13, 2021
I think that I shall never drink a double as lovely as a tree.
- Japan
- (alcohol • Bar Ben Fiddich • drinks • Ethical Spirits • Forest Research and Management Organization • trees • wood • wood liqueur • WoodSpirits)
Japanese researchers learn how to grow hair follicles, and probably new hair
- Master Blaster
Jun 12, 2021
If you want hair restoration, better go to the source.
- Japan
- (hair follicles • hair growth • hair loss • RIKEN • science • stem cells)
7 MEN Samurai leading charge of Johnny’s new wave, need your help translating
- Master Blaster
Jun 9, 2021
From playing their own instruments to scaring the crap out of each other, these six 7 MEN are changing the face of Japanese idols.
- Japan
- (7 MEN Samurai • boy bands • Idols • J-Pop • Johnny & Associates • Johnnys’ Jr. • Katsuki Motodaka • music • Rei Yabana • Reia Nakamura • Rinne Sugeta • Taiki Konno • Taiko Sasaki)
The case of Hyde’s stolen hydrangea in Wakayama City
- Master Blaster
Jun 8, 2021
On the bright side, he could probably write a song about this.
- Japan
- (crime • flower park • flowers • Hyde • hydrangeas • L'Arc-en-Ciel • music • theft • Wakayama)
“Beef Candy” blurs the line between sukiyaki and candy
- Master Blaster
Jun 7, 2021
The great taste of simmered meat with all the longevity of a Tic Tac.
- Japan
- (beef • Beef Candy • candy • crazy • food • Gyuniku Candy • Papabubble • sukuyaki • Wagyu • weird)
“Four-eyed” goat sighting spooks Miyagi senior
- Master Blaster
Jun 6, 2021
What started as supernatural encounter turned into a fun zoology lesson.
- Japan
- (animals • biology • four-eyed goat • goats • Ishinomaki • Japanese serow • Miyagi • science • serow)
Saitama Police chief arrested busted for stealing toilet paper
- Master Blaster
Jun 4, 2021
Pillar of the community caught with five lines of the white stuff.
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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
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
KFC now sells takikomi gohan rice boxes in Japan, if you know where to look for them [Taste test]
Move aside, Asahi Super Dry – Asahi Spice Beer is in town, and it’s hotter than you think
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
KFC now sells takikomi gohan rice boxes in Japan, if you know where to look for them [Taste test]
Move aside, Asahi Super Dry – Asahi Spice Beer is in town, and it’s hotter than you think
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
Japan’s upcoming Romancecar train seeks to end intimacy with its super-wide seats
“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
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods for 2026, with exclusive holiday surprises
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