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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 77)
Nara police on the lookout for man who peed his pants
- Master Blaster
Sep 11, 2020 - Tweet
Authorities fear he may do it again.
- Japan
- (Nara • omorashi • pants wetting • police • public urination • suspicious person)
Kyoto Animation arsonist’s treatments yield major advancement in skin transplantation
- Master Blaster
Sep 9, 2020
At least he hasn’t been a complete waste of oxygen this whole time.
- Japan
- (arson • burn treatment • crime • Kyoto Animation • Kyoto Animation arson attack • medicine • science • Shinji Aoba • skin transplant)
New self-driving buses testing across Japan let you pay with your face
- Master Blaster
Sep 7, 2020
No more worrying about having exact change, but more worrying about having plastic surgery.
- Japan
- (autonomous cars • buses • Gunma • Kobe • Maebashi • Mita • self-driving vehicle • technology)
Can’t go to conveyor belt sushi? Major Japanese chain will bring the conveyor belt to you!
- Master Blaster
Sep 7, 2020
Two chefs will also come to your place of choosing, as long as it’s big enough.
- Japan
- (catering • Conveyor belt sushi • food • kaiten sushi • Kaitenzushi • Kappa Sushi • Restaurant • sushi • Tokyo)
Nearly half of survey respondents in Japan feel healthier since before COVID-19
- Master Blaster
Sep 5, 2020
A widespread health crisis served as a wake-up call to many people’s own personal health crises.
- Japan
- (coronavirus • COVID-19 • health • lifestyle • Meiji Yasuda Life • society • survey)
SoraNews24 founder develops effective yet inexpensive COVID-19 guards for restaurants
- Master Blaster
Sep 3, 2020
It’s the greatest thing I’ve ever seen, and I’m not just saying that because he signs my cheques.
- Japan
- (100 yen shop • AS Field • coronavirus • COVID-19 • inventions • public health • restaurants • safety • umbrella • Yoshio)
Sugar-free beer coming from Kirin this October
- Master Blaster
Sep 2, 2020
Now we just need some sugar-free skittles and we’re set.
- Japan
- (alcohol • beer • drinking • food • health • Ichiban Shibori • Kirin • sugar-free • sugarless • tax)
Uber Eats delivers movie theater popcorn at certain Tokyo and Chiba locations
- Master Blaster
Aug 31, 2020
Real movie popcorn taste at real movie popcorn prices, right to your door!
- Japan
- (Chiba • delivery • movie theaters • movies • popcorn • SNJO • Tokyo • truffle salt • Uber Eats • United Cinemas)
Back to the Future II-style weather forecasts developed by Japanese universities
- Master Blaster
Aug 30, 2020
New system can provide highly accurate 30-minute rain forecasts that update in real-time.
- Japan
- (apps • back to the future • cool • Guerrilla rain • RIKEN • science • technology • weather)
Osaka’s giant pufferfish may be saved by neighboring business
- Master Blaster
Aug 29, 2020
A new hope for the threatened fugu.
- Japan
- (bowfish • business • COK • cool • fugu • landmark • Osaka • pufferfish • Shinsekai • Spa World • travel • Zuboraya)
Japanese convenience store chain begins testing remote controlled robot staff in Tokyo
- Master Blaster
Aug 29, 2020
Don’t be alarmed if you see a pair of optic sensors peeking from behind the beverage rack.
- Japan
- (business • convenience stores • Family mart • Model-T • robots • technology • Telexistence • video • VR)
Japan government to fine up to one million yen for anyone harboring illegal alien crayfish
- Master Blaster
Aug 27, 2020
Officials have had enough of these foreign crustaceans abusing our weak border security.
- Japan
- (animals • crawdad • crawfish • crayfish • crime • environment • invasive species • law • Ministry of Environment • mudbug • pets)
Completely unmanned 24-hours clothing store found in Tokyo
- Master Blaster
Aug 25, 2020
Behold the future of retail!
- Japan
- (business • clever • clothing stores • COK • cool • fashion • Mr. Sato • SNJO • Tokyo • unmanned store • vending machines)
Theft victim uses social media to catch suspects, suspects use social media to convict selves
- Master Blaster
Aug 24, 2020
Instacrime and Punishment.
- Japan
- (15 No Yoru • crime • Fukuoka • hakata • motorbikes • social media • theft • Yutaka Ozaki)
Mystery stink haunts Kanagawa Prefecture, worries seismologist
- Master Blaster
Aug 23, 2020
The cause of the foul odor is unknown, but when does anything good cause a foul odor?
Shizuoka City orders mysterious torii of unknown origin torn down, sparks concern that a horror movie is beginning
- Master Blaster
Aug 22, 2020
Local government finds new way to invite misery to 2020.
- Japan
- (government • Kusanagi Shrine • safety • Shimizu Ward • Shizuoka • superstition • torii • urban planning)
Japanese Yu-Gi-Oh fan makes authentic, functional Millennium Puzzle and it’s a thing of beauty
- Master Blaster
Aug 20, 2020
This 3D-printed puzzle looks and acts so much like the real thing, you may get possessed by an ancient game master.
- Japan
- (3D printing • anime • DIY • manga • Millennium Puzzle • puzzles • toys • video • Yu-Gi-Oh!)
Osaka burglar arrested because he couldn’t find a mask during shortage
- Master Blaster
Aug 18, 2020
Even thieves are feeling the pinch of COVID-19.
- Japan
- (burglary • coronavirus • COVID-19 • crime • economy • face masks • Osaka)
Event held to watch noodles go down a long water slide, but no noodle eating allowed
- Master Blaster
Aug 17, 2020
Ain’t no noodle party like a Shimane noodle party.
- Japan
- (coronavirus • COVID-19 • culture • nagashi somen • Shimane • shrine • Taikodani Inari)
Want to look good while staying safe? Put CUM on your face!
- Master Blaster
Aug 17, 2020
Preorders for all five types of CUM have already begun!
- Japan
- (CCP • CCP Ultra Mask • cool • coronavirus • COVID-19 • face masks • funny • masks • tokusatsu • Ultraman)
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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
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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
Cup Noodles go isekai in crossovers with three of Japan’s other favorite foods [Taste test]
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
Cup Noodles go isekai in crossovers with three of Japan’s other favorite foods [Taste test]
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
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
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