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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 72)
Boxer Kazuto Ioka in trouble for showing tattoos during match, flips off association in response
- Master Blaster
Jan 22, 2021 - Tweet
Ioka and friends declare: “Tattoo culture is best.”
- Japan
- (boxing • Japan Boxing Commission • Kazuto Ioka • Kosei Tanaka • middle finger • MMA • Ren Hiramoto • tattoos)
Does changing your smartphone lock to 8376 bring good luck, as one Japanese book title suggests?
- Master Blaster
Jan 21, 2021
We try to harness the magical power of a new passcode.
- Japan
- (8376 • books • luck • numerology • PIN • Shiuma • Smartphones • superstition)
Let’s learn Japanese with Steven Seagal’s entire filmography!
- Master Blaster
Jan 20, 2021
Anything can be educational material if you want it to be.
- Japan
- (chinmoku • Chinmoku no Kantai • Japanese • language • movies • silence • Silent Service • Steven Seagal • Under Siege)
Trio of thieves break into Japanese glasses store, foiled by old-timey cash register
- Master Blaster
Jan 18, 2021
They don’t make them like they used to… back in 1908.
- Japan
- (burglary • cash register • crime • glasses • Kamakura • Kanagawa • National Cash Register • optician • theft)
AKB48’s Indonesian spin-off group JKT48 forced to downsize due to pandemic
- Master Blaster
Jan 16, 2021
JKT48 + COVID-19 = -26
- SE Asia
- (AKB48 • coronavirus • COVID-19 • graduation • idol singers • Idols • Jakarta • JKT48 • music)
Japanese boy whom Ronaldo stood up for in 2014 becomes national soccer champion
- Master Blaster
Jan 15, 2021
Seven years later and still pursuing his dream.
- Japan
- (awesome • Cristiano Ronaldo • high school sports • moving • Ryota Iwaoka • soccer • sports • touching • Yamanashi Gakuin • youth)
Fukuoka town erects 7-meter gorilla scarecrow as symbol of strength against COVID-19
- Master Blaster
Jan 15, 2021
You had your chance, Amabie. It’s the gorilla’s turn now.
- Japan
- (art • Chikuzen • coronavirus • COVID-19 • Fukuoka • gorillas • scarecrows)
Japanese media finds out if it’s cold enough to “fry” an egg on the street in Hokkaido
- Master Blaster
Jan 13, 2021
You never know unless you fry.
- Japan
- (cold • cold weather • crazy • eggs • freezing • fried egg • Hokkaido • video • weird • winter)
Super-flashy kimono shop Miyabi tells us about the Coming of Age Day situation this year
- Master Blaster
Jan 11, 2021
Will COVID-19 dampen Japan’s most flamboyant celebration?
- Japan
- (Coming of Age Ceremony • Coming of Age Day • coronavirus • COVID-19 • kimono • Kitakyushu • Masanuki Sunakoma • Miyabi)
Sumo wrestler quits over COVID-19 fears, breaks no-social-media rule doing so
- Master Blaster
Jan 9, 2021
They can’t fire him. He quit.
- Japan
- (coronavirus • COVID-19 • Daisuke Yanagihara • Japan Sumo Association • Kotokantetsu Hiromasa • Sumo)
Asahi Super Dry to sell draft beer in a can
- Master Blaster
Jan 8, 2021
Can they really pack a full draft beer experience in a can?
- Japan
- (Asahi Breweries • Asahi Super Dry • Asahi Super Dry Nama Jockey Can • beer • canned beer • draft beer)
One Piece sets out to find its most popular character in the world in massive survey
- Master Blaster
Jan 6, 2021
Everyone from Luffy to Camel the super penguin is in the running.
- Global, Japan
- (anime • characters • Eiichiro Oda • manga • One Piece • survey • vote • Weekly Shonen Jump)
Tokyo Olympic Committee trains 220 “hackers” to protect games
- Master Blaster
Jan 6, 2021
The real global competition might be going on behind the scenes.
Mr. Sato remembers the hit song of 2020, it’s because of that $100 Dolce & Gabbana mask of his
- Master Blaster
Jan 4, 2021
Can you put a price on true comfort? Dolce & Gabbana can.
- Japan
- (COK • Dolce & Gabbana • Eito • face masks • fashion • funny • Kosui • masks • Mr. Sato • music • SNJO)
Top 100 manga of all time chosen by survey of 150,000 Japanese people
- Master Blaster
Jan 4, 2021
Which of the thousands of titles came out on top?
- Japan
- (Demon Slayer • Detective Conan • Dragon Ball • election • manga • Manga General Election • One Piece • ranking • Slam Dunk • TV Asahi)
Let’s try making our own Chinese McDonald’s Oreo-Spam burgers!【SoraKitchen】
- Master Blaster
Dec 31, 2020
Well, maybe see how it went for us before trying it yourself at least.
- China
- (cookies • crazy • hamburger • McDonald's • Oreo • recipe • SoraKitchen • spam • Spam Oreo burger • strange • sweets • taste test • weird)
Peer into Beard Papa’s lucky bag of cream
- Master Blaster
Dec 30, 2020
The Beard Papa tote bag is just the tip of this creamberg.
- Japan
- (Beard Papa • COK • coupons • cream puffs • food • fukubukuro • Fukubukuro Roundup 2021 • Lucky Bag Roundup 2021 • Lucky Bags • SNJO)
Shibushi-shi Shibushi-cho Shibushi no Shibushi Shiyakusho Shibushi Shisho to change name
- Master Blaster
Dec 30, 2020
And I JUST learned how to say it!
- Japan
- (city office • crazy • funny • government • Japanese language • Kagoshima • llngusitics • name change • Shibushi • tongue twister • weird)
Date of Japanese holiday Setsubun changes to 2 February for first time in 124 years
- Master Blaster
Dec 29, 2020
Don’t shove sushi in your friends’ mouths on the wrong day. That would be awkward.
Line of figures depicting animals using toilets begins pre-orders three months in advance
- Master Blaster
Dec 28, 2020
Get a set before your fellow art enthusiasts scoop them all up!
- Japan
- (animals • art • capsule toys • cute • figures • Kunio Sato • toilet • toys)
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Recent Posts
- Cup Noodles go isekai in crossovers with three of Japan’s other favorite foods [Taste test]
- 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
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MOST POPULAR
- Today
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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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