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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 93)
Drunk Kanagawa senior arrested for biting fingers off friend’s hand
- Master Blaster
May 13, 2019 - Tweet
What are friends for?
Japan reacts to Hollywood movie about Hiroshima bombing staring Evan Rachel Wood
- Master Blaster
May 9, 2019
Perspectives are a tricky thing leading up to the production of One Thousand Paper Cranes.
- Japan
- (Evan Rachel Wood • Hiroshima • Johnny Depp • Minamata • movies • One Thousand Paper Cranes • paper cranes • Richard Raymond • Sadako Sasaki • whitewashing)
Train station in Osaka plays “most disturbing sound in human history” to announce arrivals
- Master Blaster
May 8, 2019
JR Tennoji Station musically invites you to board one of their trains bound for the…ChAOs ReAlM‽
Japanese PM Abe installing Canadian door knocker mesmerizes the globe【Video】
- Master Blaster
May 7, 2019
There’s something extremely relaxing about a world leader doing simple DIY.
- Japan
- (Akie Abe • beaver • canada • DIY • door knocker • Instagram • politicians • politics • prime minister • Shinzo Abe • twitter • video)
Osaka teens tie rope across road for fun, get charged with attempted murder
- Master Blaster
May 6, 2019
Come to think of it, maybe kids actually should stay indoors and online all day.
Does Reiwa Beer capture all the fun and excitement of entering a new era?
- Master Blaster
May 6, 2019
Mr. Sato finds that it indeed does, under the right circumstances.
- Japan
- (Akita Prefecture • beer • craft beer • drinking • Isetan • Kohan No Mori • Mr. Sato • Reiwa)
Gamer bandits steal Taiko No Tatsujin drum from Aichi arcade
- Master Blaster
May 2, 2019
Far from Tatsujin, these were a pair of straight-up Taiko No Twits.
- Japan
- (Aichi • crime • game centers • Kitanagoya • Taiko no Tatsujin • theft • video games)
Man arrested for attempting to rob Tokyo police with fruit knife
- Master Blaster
May 1, 2019
The “arrested” part probably goes without saying though.
Japanese convenience store’s Above and Beyond Series puts our sense of adventure to the test
- Master Blaster
Apr 27, 2019
Combos including sweet beans & chili powder, chocolate and potato make Mr. Sato wonder if he’s just getting too old for this.
- Japan
- (anko • chili powder • COK • convenience stores • croquettes • food • Lawson 100 • Mr. Sato • SNOJ • sweet beans • sweets • taste test • weird)
Japan shocked as American musician finds that bubble tea tapioca balls can be used to play music
- Master Blaster
Apr 26, 2019
Don’t play with your food. Play your food.
- Japan
- (bubble tea • drinks • music • Shawn Wasabi • tapioca)
Remote airport in Shimane serves up the best honey in all Japan: Airport Honey!
- Master Blaster
Apr 22, 2019
A hidden gem in Japan’s countryside offers a taste you’ll never forget.
- Japan
- (Airport Honey • bees • food • Hagi Iwami Airport • honey • pizza • Shimane • SNJO • travel)
One graffiti artist to be honored by Tokyo while another graffiti artist sits in jail
- Master Blaster
Apr 20, 2019
Tokyo governor sends clear message never to vandalize…unless you’re the toast of the art world.
Five members of the Bad Lobster biker group arrested by Ebina police
- Master Blaster
Apr 19, 2019
Residents live in mild fear of the gang and hope their daughters never bring a Bad Lobster home for dinner.
Lawson 100 to sell three disgusting-looking baked goods that they’re sure we’ll love
- Master Blaster
Apr 17, 2019
Chili peppers, pickled ginger, and potato do battle with anko, mayo and chocolate inside these seemingly hard-to-stomach combos.
- Japan
- (anko • baked goods • beni shoga • bread • convenience stores • croquettes • food • Lawson • Lawson Store 100 • pickled ginger)
Fukuoka man arrested for stealing used tennis rackets because he liked their smell
- Master Blaster
Apr 15, 2019
Theft of sporting goods may have been a crime of passion.
- Japan
- (crime • Fukuoka • high school • sports • tennis • tennis racket • theft)
Shizuoka Police on the lookout for man who threw adult DVDs at teenage boy
- Master Blaster
Apr 13, 2019
Kids these days… They don’t know the value of an adult DVD.
Japanese Twitter users surprised that the Foreign Minister did something cool
- Master Blaster
Apr 12, 2019
It took about a decade, but the Abe administration is finally figuring out how to use Twitter.
- Japan
- (Iran • Minister of Foreign Affairs • politicians • politics • Taro Kono • twitter)
Intoxicated Saitama man hides mysterious paper in a tree, Mr. Sato investigates
- Master Blaster
Apr 10, 2019
Our fearless reporter risks getting accosted up by a drunkard to uncover the truth.
- Japan
- (COK • crazy • drunks • funny • lottery tickets • Mr. Sato • mystery • Nishi-Kawaguchi • One Piece • Saitama • SNOJ • weird)
Gold-dust topped instant noodles on sale in Japan for the end of Heisei Era
- Master Blaster
Apr 10, 2019
Oh, you eat your noodles without any precious metals on top? How…quaint.
- Japan
- (COK • cool • crazy • food • gold • instant noodles • Peyoung • Reiwa • SNOJ • weird • yakisoba)
Limited run of commemorative Ed Sheeran sake on sale from 8 April
- Master Blaster
Apr 8, 2019
Hey, you got your Ed Sheeran in my sake! No, you got your sake in my Ed Sheeran! Wait a minute….
- Global, Japan
- (COK • Divide Tour 2019 • Ed Sheeran • Konshi Brewing • music • nihonshu • sake)
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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
Cup Noodles go isekai in crossovers with three of Japan’s other favorite foods [Taste test]
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
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
Cup Noodles go isekai in crossovers with three of Japan’s other favorite foods [Taste test]
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
Japan’s upcoming Romancecar train seeks to end intimacy with its super-wide seats
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
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