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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 95)
Mr. Sato gets blown away by Wasabeef wasabi gyoza in Shibuya
- Master Blaster
Mar 4, 2019 - Tweet
Wasabeef chips and gyoza are two great tastes, but do they go great together?
- Japan
- (food • gyoza • Mr. Sato • potato chips • restaurants • Shibuya • Shibuya Gyoza • SNJO • Tokyo • Wasabeef • wasabi • Yamayoshi)
Do you see the anime hero everyone else is seeing in this can of paprika?
- Master Blaster
Mar 2, 2019
It’s totally him, right?
Eating a bag of Rhino Beetles from Kumamoto’s bug-food vending machine【Taste test】
- Master Blaster
Mar 1, 2019
Our intrepid reporter completely loses his cool biting into the sizable bugs.
- Japan
- (beetles • bugs • COK • crazy • edible insects • food • funny • gross • Kumamoto • SNOJ • vending machines • weird)
Women’s high school soccer team wins Mie Prefecture championship with only 70 percent of a team
- Master Blaster
Feb 28, 2019
You’d probably have expected their 8-on-11 matches to be bloodbaths, and they were…
- Japan
- (awesome • championship • cool • high school • high schools • Kagoshima • Kamimura Gakuen • Mie • moving • soccer • sports)
Free Calpis fresh out of the tap available across Japan in celebration of 100th anniversary
- Master Blaster
Feb 26, 2019
For maximum enjoyment we recommend reading the following article out loud.
- Japan
- (Aichi • anniversary • Calpico • Calpis • event • faucets • free • Fukuoka • Hiroshima • Hokkaido • Kagawa • Miyagi • Osaka • Tochigi • Tokyo)
Ehime man arrested for hitting cop who interfered with his Pokémon GO game
- Master Blaster
Feb 25, 2019
When it comes to belligerent Pokémon players, Ehime Police gotta catch’em all.
- Japan
- (assault • assaulting an officer • crime • Ehime • Pokémon GO • Pokemon Special Weekend • smartphone games)
Japanese man collects every single Sega Saturn game
- Master Blaster
Feb 25, 2019
It’s important to have goals.
- Japan
- (collection • hobbies • otaku • Sega • Sega Saturn)
Microwavable potato chips recalled after three days due to fire hazards
- Master Blaster
Feb 22, 2019
One potato chip dared to fly too close to the electromagnetic radiation and got burnt.
- Japan
- (Calbee • fire safety • food • microwave • potato chips • recall • Renji de Poterich • snacks)
Hyogo Police on the lookout for man complimenting babies
- Master Blaster
Feb 22, 2019
A seemingly benign incident highlights a dilemma many parents face.
- Japan
- (babies • compliments • Hyogo • Parenting • police report • safety • society)
Let’s make some stylish shoes out of McDonald’s French fry boxes!
- Master Blaster
Feb 21, 2019
Ahiru Neko crafts footwear that is both a bold statement and eco-friendly.
- Japan
- (Ahiru Neko • DIY • fashion • fast food • french fries • fry boxes • McDonald's • shoes)
You can go surprisingly far on a single train leaving from Tokyo Station
- Master Blaster
Feb 20, 2019
If you don’t like changing trains, Tokyo Station is probably your best bet for a starting point.
- Japan
- (direct trip • Nagoya • Osaka • prefectures • shinjuku • shinkansen • Takasaki • Tokyo Station • trains • transfer • travel)
Osaka man arrested for stealing antique jeans worth over 150,000 yen
- Master Blaster
Feb 18, 2019
Suspect was caught red-tab-handed with one-of-a-kind vintage jeans.
- Japan
- (crime • jeans • Osaka • rare clothes • secondhand clothing stores • Toyonaka)
Is it cold enough in Hokkaido for banana hammers?
- Master Blaster
Feb 18, 2019
Our northern reporter dares to dream of a banana that can drive a nail through wood.
- Japan
- (banana hammer • bananas • DIY • freezing temperature • Hokkaido • K. Nagahashi • milkshake • SNJO • weather • winter)
Japan’s public broadcaster leaving threatening notes on people’s doorsteps
- Master Blaster
Feb 17, 2019
NHK is a great source of shogi, kabuki, and intimidation.
- Japan
- (crazy • fee collection • NHK • Protect the Nation from NHK Party • public broadcasting • scary • television • threats)
Osaka’s Okonomiyaki Burrito is both classic Taco Bell and completely different【Taste test】
- Master Blaster
Feb 15, 2019
A prodigal Taco Bell customer returns to the franchise and is surprised with what he finds.
- Japan
- (burritos • COK • cool • crazy • fast food • Namba • okonomiyaki • Okonomiyaki Burrito • Osaka • SNO • Taco Bell • taste test • weird)
Everyone in the office wears a bra in search of the true meaning of Brassiere Day
- Master Blaster
Feb 14, 2019
Many complain that Brassiere Day has become too commercial, so our team straps in to find the true spirit of the season.
- Japan
- (bras • Brassiere Day • COK • experiments • fashion • Go Hatori • men's bra • underwear)
Kura Sushi garbage-picker said to have cost company 2.7 billion yen in market value
- Master Blaster
Feb 13, 2019
Stupid videos continue to flood the Internet in Japan, while one company is looking to send a message.
- Japan
- (7-Eleven • baito terrorism • bakatter • Big Echo • crime • gross • Kura Sushi • Kurazushi • lawsuit • social media • stock price • stupid)
Chiitan’s management speaks out about copyright issues and future with Susaki City
- Master Blaster
Feb 11, 2019
Chiitan’s management claim a city rep in charge of happiness told them “permission wasn’t needed.”
Poop Campus now accepting students to learn Japanese kanji through steaming piles of fun
- Master Blaster
Feb 9, 2019
The Internet just got a whole lot crappier.
- Japan
- (books • education • Japanese language • kanji • Poop Campus • Unko Gakuen • Unko Kanj Drill • websites)
Got Talent tourist Mr. Uekusa heads to Spain, narrowly avoids first-round disaster
- Master Blaster
Feb 8, 2019
The Japanese comedian shows Spain what he’s got and narrowly avoids showing them what he’s got down there.
- Europe, Japan
- (America's Got Talent • Britain's Got Talent • comedy • Got Talent Espana • Kazuhisa Uekusa • Mr. Uekusa • Spain • Wes-P)
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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
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
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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
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
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