Philip Kendall – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today. Fri, 29 Jul 2022 14:34:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/en_rocket_1024.png?w=32 Philip Kendall – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com 32 32 176746664 McDonald’s Japan gives Aichi Prefecture residents an exclusive new menu item: Ogura Hotcakes https://soranews24.com/2016/05/25/mcdonalds-japan-gives-aichi-prefecture-residents-an-exclusive-new-menu-item-ogura-hotcakes/ https://soranews24.com/2016/05/25/mcdonalds-japan-gives-aichi-prefecture-residents-an-exclusive-new-menu-item-ogura-hotcakes/#comments Tue, 24 May 2016 17:30:32 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=322057 The area-specific sweet will be available for a limited time only.
One of the main reasons less adventurous travellers go to multi-national fast food joints when they’re abroad is because their menus and layouts are instantly familiar. If you see a typical McDonald’s, Pizza Hut or Subway, you can usually be pretty sure what you’re going to get, regardless of the country you’re in—indeed, these companies usually go out of their way to make restaurants look and feel similar for this very reason.
But McDonald’s in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, decided to mix things up recently when, apparently in response to local residents’ requests for dishes more becoming of the area, they unveiled these Ogura Soft Hotcakes (the ‘soft’ refers to the ice cream rather than the pancakes), which will be on the dessert menus of 174 McDonald’s outlets in the prefecture from June 6 until an unspecified date at the end of the same month.
▼ 小倉ソフトホットケーキ, or Ogura Soft Hotcakes
The sweet dish consists of three fluffy pancakes, a dollop of soft-serve ice cream and, most important of all, a generous serving of sweet adzuki paste, the like of which is commonly enjoyed in regional treat ogura toast (Japanese).
This isn’t the most inspired dessert creation ever, admittedly, but it’s actually kind of cool to see a big company like McDonald’s doing something a little more area-specific, and it’s definitely something we’d like to see a lot more of in the future.
▼ Ogura toast, which features butter or margarine and a layer of Ogura-an sweet red bean paste, is popular in Aichi Prefecture, especially Nagoya.
McDonald’s Ogura Soft Hotcakes will retail for 360 yen (US$3.30) per serving. We’ve yet to try them for ourselves for obvious reasons, but they look like they’d go down an absolute treat with a cup of strong coffee, so if you happen to be down in Aichi next month and have chance to try them, do let us know how they taste!
Source & photo: Narinari
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/05/25/mcdonalds-japan-gives-aichi-prefecture-residents-an-exclusive-new-menu-item-ogura-hotcakes/feed/ 0 322057 2016-05-24-132044 2016-05-24-132044 Screen Shot 2016-05-24 at 13.52.30 Square Enix displays 46-foot Dragon Quest blackboard mural in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station https://soranews24.com/2016/05/24/square-enix-displays-46-foot-long-dragon-quest-blackboard-mural-in-tokyos-shinjuku-station/ https://soranews24.com/2016/05/24/square-enix-displays-46-foot-long-dragon-quest-blackboard-mural-in-tokyos-shinjuku-station/#comments Mon, 23 May 2016 15:00:48 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=321872 Not all blackboard doodles are created equal.
Japan’s fondness for using the humble blackboard as a canvas has been well-documented in recent years, with countless shots of the artwork created by artists, students and prolific doodlers alike having graced our pages plenty of times before.
But as impressive as they were, few of said black-and-white drawings can compete with this truly mammoth mural, which was created on a special 14-metre-long (45.9-foot) blackboard and installed in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station this week ahead of the launch of Dragon Quest Heroes II for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita on May 27.
Behold!
新宿駅のプロムナードにドラクエの巨大黒板アートが！！！！
凄いよコレ！！
素晴らしい！！！！(>ω<)/ pic.twitter.com/WkWIVStlOy— チカ[小さいもの大好き] (@chika_chika_5) May 23, 2016
https://twitter.com/hirokiarahata/status/734552324639723521
新宿のドラクエの黒板アートすげぇぇ！ pic.twitter.com/pysKiQGaiE
—
くらげ
(@ao_krg) May 23, 2016
新宿駅地下通路、ドラクエのモンスターがチョークで描かれてる黒板アートがスゲー！(◎_◎;) #DQH2 pic.twitter.com/rlP7jdIQIm
— やま (@seibu_lina0505) May 23, 2016
新宿の地下鉄の通路にドラクエの黒板アートがΣ(゜Д゜) pic.twitter.com/Mx60iRt3Qv
— RICH＠ＰＳＯシップ４
(@nikonikorich) May 23, 2016
ドラクエの巨大な黒板アート！
凄く繊細でいて 迫力もあり、暫く観入ってしまいました！ #DQH2 pic.twitter.com/3trZZBGL2Q—
なりるむ
(@rimururu) May 23, 2016
The artwork, which apparently took an entire month for prolific artist RenaRena to create, is on display now at Shinjuku Station’s Metro Promenade—the same advertising place which played host to a display of every Yu-Gi-Oh card ever and Kuro Neko Yamato’s giant, gift-dispensing cat in the past. The mural will remain in place only until May 29, however, so if you’re in Tokyo and want to see it, you’d better be quick!
Featured image: Twitter/@hirokiarahata
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/05/24/square-enix-displays-46-foot-long-dragon-quest-blackboard-mural-in-tokyos-shinjuku-station/feed/ 0 321872 “Hello Tokyo” is one of the most stylish sightseeing videos we’ve ever seen【Video】 https://soranews24.com/2016/05/17/hello-tokyo-is-one-of-the-most-stylish-sightseeing-videos-weve-ever-seen%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2016/05/17/hello-tokyo-is-one-of-the-most-stylish-sightseeing-videos-weve-ever-seen%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/#comments Tue, 17 May 2016 03:00:59 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=320876 
“It was my first time visiting Japan, a place I had always wanted to see … I soon realised how lively and energetic this city really is.”
It could be argued that anyone with a half-decent camera and a modicum of editing skill could put together a stylish video shot in Tokyo. There’s just so much going on in Japan’s capital city, so many people moving about wearing everything from business suits to kimono and maid outfits, that with a few nifty filters and a solid soundtrack, pretty much anyone could create something worthy of a quick gander.
But not all Tokyo videos are created equal, and of the dozens of creations we’ve featured on these pages over the years, Christoph Gelep‘s “Hello Tokyo” is easily one of—if not the—most stylish we’ve come across.
Using a clever mix of time-lapse and slow-mo, Gelep takes us on a whirlwind tour of some of Tokyo best sightseeing spots as well as featuring the kind of everyday scenes that visitors to this gargantuan city find so enchanting.
Check it out:
If that doesn’t make you want to pack your bags and hop on a plane to Japan, I don’t know what will.
Be sure to follow Christoph on Vimeo for more. Here’s hoping he brings his camera back to Japan soon!
Source/featured image: Vimeo/Christoph Gelep
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/05/17/hello-tokyo-is-one-of-the-most-stylish-sightseeing-videos-weve-ever-seen%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 320876 CGTop Screen Shot 2016-05-16 at 15.45.29 18 Japanese kids who are completely done with today【Pics】 https://soranews24.com/2016/04/29/18-japanese-kids-who-are-completely-done-with-today%e3%80%90pics%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2016/04/29/18-japanese-kids-who-are-completely-done-with-today%e3%80%90pics%e3%80%91/#comments Thu, 28 Apr 2016 23:00:56 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=317886 The weekend cannot come fast enough for these hilariously tired tots.
You know that feeling: when you look at your calendar, phone, or car’s dashboard display and think: “How on earth is it not the weekend yet?”
With a whole day left to go before we can stare at our smartphones or Facebook news feeds without also having work to do, the weekend can feel like a long way off. But spare a thought for these kids in Japan, who couldn’t even make it to the end of the day, let alone the week.
Popular Twitter hashtag “#我が子の電池切れ画像” (roughly “pics of my kid with zero battery”) has been around for a while now, but continues to provide us with stacks of hilarious cute images of kids who just couldn’t keep their eyes open.
So, with just under a day left until the weekend, we present for your amusement and delectation: 18 Japanese kids who are in dire need of a recharge. Enjoy!
1. This kid is done.
https://twitter.com/93manya0122/status/724849390964367360
2. So is this guy.
https://twitter.com/meshimama/status/723367141408305157
3. The fun was too great.
https://twitter.com/slowlove_china/status/716589694662737920
4. “Mother, I am done with this beach. You may carry me home now.”
潮干狩り途中で寝ちゃった。#我が子の電池切れ画像 pic.twitter.com/jdkOiDPTxd
— 小柴信太郎 (@shintarokoshiba) April 27, 2016
5. Also done.
#我が子の電池切れ画像 pic.twitter.com/pav1EEtj71
— 伊野 亘輝 (@memocamera) April 28, 2016
6. This kid plays way harder than you do.
長男2歳の時だ。室内ではあまり電池切れを起こさない子なので、珍しくて撮った #我が子の電池切れ画像 pic.twitter.com/Vh1ypt25nK
— なめらか (@_nameraka_) February 8, 2016
7. “No battery. Much recharge via face.”
https://twitter.com/baer1110/status/717241567434698752
8. “Enough snow for today, little guy?”
寝たら死ぬぞ #我が子の電池切れ画像 pic.twitter.com/zrLUr3AzTO
— ソラ(そらちぃ) (@sola_neba) February 26, 2016
9. The dangers of rainbow milk.
息子くん初めてうつ伏せで寝た#我が子の電池切れ画像 pic.twitter.com/WuQuiDiPwR
— みこりん (@Yurimiaya) April 14, 2016
10. “Must…reach…trucks…”
https://twitter.com/yosoxtam/status/696875582924001280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
11. “Please connect a power source.”
https://twitter.com/natsutokotoko/status/696596705513336833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
12. Some children come equipped with solar panels, but recharging can take time.
https://twitter.com/hts_kn/status/710308585650069504
13. “Entering hibernation mode.”
https://twitter.com/ryuzakiakane/status/707392199403577344
14. Sleeping makes you 大 (big)
https://twitter.com/mashako123/status/703002010371526656
15. Forward planning.
#我が子の電池切れ画像 pic.twitter.com/XvbdZAbWMt
— ⓜ (@smileysabosan_) February 27, 2016
16. “Curse you, tequila…”
https://twitter.com/askytkn/status/705599862394343424
17 & 18. Backup power also depleted…
仲良し
#双子 #我が子の電池切れ画像 #2015jun_baby pic.twitter.com/jcPX3oGxuo
— あゆくら (@ayukura_desu_) March 7, 2016
Ganbare, kids. It’s almost the weekend!
Featured image: Twitter/1, 2, 3
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/04/29/18-japanese-kids-who-are-completely-done-with-today%e3%80%90pics%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 317886 The people of Japan, defined in one photograph https://soranews24.com/2016/04/27/the-people-of-japan-defined-in-one-photograph/ https://soranews24.com/2016/04/27/the-people-of-japan-defined-in-one-photograph/#comments Tue, 26 Apr 2016 20:30:11 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=317400 Keepin’ it neat and tidy…
There’s an old joke about a group of men from different nations deciding whether or not to abandon a sinking ship in the middle of arctic waters. The Englishman, upon being reminded that the women and children were now safe and that a proper gentlemen would obey the captain’s order, takes a deep breath and hops into the sea. Next, after being told that he would be a hero for doing so, the American follows suit. The German man is reminded that rules are rules, and so dutifully dives head-first into the icy water.
The Japanese man, however, needs no such promises of glory or the implied threat of what may befall him should he disobey—rather, he is simply informed by the captain that “everyone else is doing it” and so immediately jumps in.
We all like to laugh off these stereotypes, and some are definitely truer than others, but even so, the following photograph, which was shared by Twitter user @tontaroukuso earlier this week and appears to show a message board asking visitors to some international event or other to indicate where they come from by using red stickers, is wonderfully telling about the people of Japan.
▼ “The way we add our stickers says a lot about how our nationality influences our character…”
日本人が多いのはともかく
貼り方に国民性が色濃く反映されてますな… pic.twitter.com/gU8P76f928— とんたろう (@tontaroukuso) April 24, 2016
Cynics among us might like to suggest that this desire to stick to the pattern and place their stickers just like the person before them indicates a lack of individuality amongst Japanese people. I prefer to interpret these rows of neatly arranged red dots as a sign that Japan is, and probably always will be, one of the tidiest, most organised places in the world.
Source: Twitter/@tontaroukuso
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/04/27/the-people-of-japan-defined-in-one-photograph/feed/ 0 317400 Stunning time-lapse photography, “Sea of Clouds”, shows off Hong Kong’s natural beauty【Video】 https://soranews24.com/2016/04/23/stunning-time-lapse-photography-sea-of-clouds-shows-off-hong-kongs-natural-beauty%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2016/04/23/stunning-time-lapse-photography-sea-of-clouds-shows-off-hong-kongs-natural-beauty%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/#comments Fri, 22 Apr 2016 22:00:12 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=316860 
There’s so much more to China’s southern city than skyscrapers…
I have yet to meet a single person who came back from a trip to Hong Kong talking about its surrounding countryside. All I ever seem to hear from friends and coworkers who have visited the city is about its shopping, food, and nightlife—understandable, perhaps, given that all are, by all accounts, absolutely first-rate.
But just outside this densely populated harbour city is a landscape just begging to be enjoyed and explored. And now, thanks to a team of dedicated lensperts calling themselves Wandering Photography, we’re betting a lot more people will be doing just that.
By capturing this lesser-known side of Hong Kong, Global Voices reports, Wandering Photography hopes to inspire the city’s millions of residents to realise and come to appreciate what is on their doorstep. After seeing this footage of clouds rushing and swirling over a handful of already breathtaking locations, we can’t imagine any way they could not.
Source: YouTube/流浪攝, Global Voices
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/04/23/stunning-time-lapse-photography-sea-of-clouds-shows-off-hong-kongs-natural-beauty%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 316860 Wandering Photography Top Screen Shot 2016-04-22 at 14.34.55 The Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake we’re still waiting for【Video】 https://soranews24.com/2016/04/21/the-zelda-ocarina-of-time-remake-were-all-still-waiting-for%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2016/04/21/the-zelda-ocarina-of-time-remake-were-all-still-waiting-for%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/#comments Wed, 20 Apr 2016 17:30:06 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=316477 
The classic Nintendo 64 game has never looked so good, and probably never will.
It’s hard to believe that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is fast approaching 20 years old—it doesn’t seem so long ago that I was badgering my mother every day for the best part of a month to help me procure a copy due to stock shortages during its launch.
Even so, a true remake—one that uses every shred of a console’s power and boasts visuals worthy of 2016—would definitely not go amiss. Sure, Ocarina was remastered for the Nintendo 3DS handheld not five years ago and it looked very nice and all, but the fact remains that many of us are still wishing Nintendo would produce a true, in-house remake for home consoles that can be played on our giant TVs and really makes the game look as great in real life as it does in our collective memories.
These videos from perpetual Unreal Engine tinkerer CryZENx may be little more than a homemade tech demo, but right now they’re the closest thing I and my fellow gamer nerds are going to get to a fully fledged remake, and they’re so pretty that we just had to share.
Here Link explores the entrance to Ocarina of Time’s Gerudo Valley:
And here he is in an absolutely gorgeous Zora’s Domain:
We hope you’re paying attention out there, Nintendo. We know Zelda‘s your game and everything, and who are we to tell you what to do with it, but still, something like this would be just fine with us.
Oh, and a current-gen Majora’s Mask remake while you’re at it, please…
Source/images: YouTube/CryZENx 1, 2 h/t Kotaku Australia
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/04/21/the-zelda-ocarina-of-time-remake-were-all-still-waiting-for%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 316477 ZeldaUnreal Screen Shot 2016-04-20 at 15.21.48 Nintendo to stream special animated short ahead of Star Fox Zero’s release【Video】 https://soranews24.com/2016/04/19/nintendo-to-stream-special-animated-short-ahead-of-star-fox-zeros-release%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2016/04/19/nintendo-to-stream-special-animated-short-ahead-of-star-fox-zeros-release%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/#comments Mon, 18 Apr 2016 15:25:26 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=316017 
The animation is set to air later this week ahead of the new game’s release—and you can watch a preview of it right here!
If you’re a Nintendo fan, then April 22 will almost certainly be circled on your calendar as that’s when, after a long hiatus, popular 3D sci-fi shooter series Star Fox finally returns to Nintendo consoles.
Prior to the release of Star Fox Zero for Wii U, creators Nintendo will be hosting a special online event over on its live-streaming website beginning at 3pm Pacific (11pm GMT/1am CEST) on April 20.
The animation, dubbed Star Fox Zero: The Battle Begins, was produced in collaboration with none other than Super Mario Bros. (and of course Star Fox) creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, Production I.G and WIT STUDIO, and features all the familiar faces from the space-battle series.
Here’s a quick taster of what we can expect, courtesy of Nintendo’s PR people:
Once the animation has been shown, there will be a special broadcast from the Nintendo Treehouse team about the launch of the game as well as tower-defence title Star Fox Guard, which comes bundled with retail copies of Star Fox Zero, so be sure to stick around.
Source: Nintendo Press Release
Images: YouTube/Nintendo UK
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/04/19/nintendo-to-stream-special-animated-short-ahead-of-star-fox-zeros-release%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 316017 SFGIFre Screen Shot 2016-04-18 at 16.09.11 Photos of Ronald McDonald statue being “arrested” by Chinese police go viral【Video】 https://soranews24.com/2016/04/14/photos-of-ronald-mcdonald-statue-being-arrested-by-chinese-police-go-viral%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2016/04/14/photos-of-ronald-mcdonald-statue-being-arrested-by-chinese-police-go-viral%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/#comments Thu, 14 Apr 2016 04:00:46 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=314990 
What kind of grilling can Ronald expect to receive after being a-salted in broad daylight and taken into McCustody?
Police in Guangzhou, China, were seen “arresting” a life-size Ronald McDonald statue earlier this week after the fast food restaurant reportedly ignored instructions to remove it from in front of their store.
Despite being told that the clown was causing an obstruction, the restaurant left Ronald in place, resulting in three uniformed men coming to haul him away in scene that was so farcical, net users began sharing photos of the incident in their thousands.
The clown clearly did not want to leave, however, as although the boys in blue got the bulk of him, his comical red shoes remained firmly in place, perhaps as a warning to the people of Guangzhou that any one of them could be next and that something must be done to prevent further kidnappings.
▼ “Hey fellas, what’s up?”
▼ “Fellas? What are you–“
▼ “No! Why are you doing this!? I’ve done nothing wrong!”
▼ “You can’t do this; it’s not right! Why is no one helping me!?”
▼ “Avenge meeee!”
While we’re sure there are plenty of readers out there who will be relieved to hear that there’s now one fewer creepy clowns on the streets, a customer who witnessed the arrest told reporters that they thought there was something fishy about the while incident, saying: “If [Ronald] was causing an obstruction here, then why aren’t they taking away the Pleasant Goat statue from across the street?”
Could this be some kind of government-sponsored crackdown on fast food idols? Are doctored photos purporting to show Mayor McCheese doing lines of coke off an escort’s bottom about to be released? Perhaps we should form a protective ring around Colonel Sanders…
Source: Livedoor News, YouTube/NEXTTV 1000
Screenshots: YouTube/NEXTTV 1000
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/04/14/photos-of-ronald-mcdonald-statue-being-arrested-by-chinese-police-go-viral%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 314990 Screen Shot 2016-04-14 at 12.00.46 Screen Shot 2016-04-14 at 11.53.43 Screen Shot 2016-04-14 at 12.38.52 Screen Shot 2016-04-14 at 11.52.34 Screen Shot 2016-04-14 at 11.52.49 Screen Shot 2016-04-14 at 11.53.01 Screen Shot 2016-04-14 at 11.53.17 Screen Shot 2016-04-14 at 11.53.34 Nissan Japan’s special drive music takes kids from screams to snores in minutes【Video】 https://soranews24.com/2016/04/11/nissan-japans-special-drive-music-takes-kids-from-screams-to-snores-in-minutes%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2016/04/11/nissan-japans-special-drive-music-takes-kids-from-screams-to-snores-in-minutes%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/#comments Mon, 11 Apr 2016 06:00:17 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=314337 
Watch these wailing babies go from kill mode to chill mode in the blink of an eye.
Especially if it’s just you and your child, trying to console your little one while keeping your eyes on the road isn’t easy. No, we’re not there yet; no, I can’t pick you up right now; no my eardrums were not designed to take this amount of pounding without resulting in permanent damage.
Parents the world over have known the power of the sing-along, drive tape or iPod playlist for decades, but there are only so many times “The Wheels on the Bus” can catch a toddler’s attention, and there’s no guarantee that your little one will be calm enough by the time your specially selected playlist ends for you to be able to continue your drive without having to plug your lugholes with tissue to stop the bleeding.
But If the following promotional video is any indication, Nissan Japan may have struck upon something of a musical magic formula with its free drive music, which is designed to entertain, soothe, and ultimately send to sleep any tiny passengers who have decided mid-trip that they’re too young for this sh*t and want out.
Watch Nissan’s adorable experiment here:
Composed by the Nissan Social Media Project’s editor-in-chief, Osamu Suzuki, the songs, which are titled “Isshoni iru yo” (Here with you) and the baby babble-esque “Papipupepororin”, were recorded at a high audio frequency (around 5,000–6,000Hz) so as to catch the attention of crying babies. The idea is that, by playing the music the moment your baby starts to get fussy, the tracks’ upbeat tempo and numerous sudden animal sounds, booms and beeps will keep their attention long enough for them to forget all about their mini-banshee duties. Skip ahead a couple of minutes, however, and you’ll notice how the music changes, gradually becoming calmer so as to lull the little ones into a pleasant snooze.
And did it work? You betcha!
▼ “I didn’t think she’d stop crying so quickly.”
▼ “We were grinning all the way.”
▼ Happy baby, happy mama!
Perhaps you could try Nissan’s free tunes the next time your own little one throws a drive-time tantrum? That is, if they’ve finally given you permission to play anything other than the Frozen soundtrack…
Source/screenshots: YouTube/Nissan Newsroom, Response
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/04/11/nissan-japans-special-drive-music-takes-kids-from-screams-to-snores-in-minutes%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 314337 DriveTop Screen Shot 2016-04-11 at 12.24.48 Screen Shot 2016-04-11 at 12.21.13 Screen Shot 2016-04-11 at 12.21.30 Screen Shot 2016-04-11 at 12.20.44 “Don’t let pressure dictate your life”—China’s unmarried women speak out in heart-rending video https://soranews24.com/2016/04/08/dont-let-pressure-dictate-your-life-chinas-leftover-women-speak-out-in-heart-rending-video/ https://soranews24.com/2016/04/08/dont-let-pressure-dictate-your-life-chinas-leftover-women-speak-out-in-heart-rending-video/#comments Fri, 08 Apr 2016 11:30:44 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=313979 
This video documenting the pressure China’s “leftover” women are under to marry will kick you squarely in the feels.
“It’s probably the last thing you want to hear right now, but the best advice I can give you is to stop looking so hard and focus on making yourself happy.”
This was the advice I gave to a friend of mine who, a few months ago, took to her Facebook page to vent about how defeated she was feeling after trying for so long to find Mr Right. I could completely understand her desire to find someone who would love her for who she is—someone with whom she could share herself entirely—and knew that what I was telling her might sound completely counterintuitive, but I stood—nay, stand—by my belief that there are few things more attractive to a man than a woman who is going about her life happily and doesn’t give a crap what anyone else thinks. Besides, “watched pots” and all that…
In my friend’s case, the desire to find someone to settle down with came mainly from within, but what happens when the pressure to find a partner comes from one’s own parents? Most of the people reading this will be fortunate enough to have been raised by people who legitimately love and want the best for them. Our parents clothe us, feed us, send us to school and hope that we’ll get the best possible job and be happy and successful. And in their minds, especially in cultures like China’s, finding someone to settle down and start a family with is one of the pinnacles of success. To not marry, then, would feel like the ultimate betrayal.
The following video, which comes from Japanese beauty brand SK-II, explores the concept of China’s “Sheng Nu” or so-called “Leftover Women” and the tremendous pressure they come under from both their families and society in general to settle down and marry, regardless of whether they have found a person with whom they legitimately want to spend the rest of their days.
Taking over a section of one of China’s infamous “marriage markets“—wherein singletons’ parents will post information about their son or daughter in a public place in an attempt to find a “suitable” match for them—SK-II helps a group of women to send their parents a simple but incredibly powerful message: that they don’t want to marry just for the sake of it. And it’s profoundly moving.
It’s hard to be too critical of these women’s parents, especially when one considers that China is only just coming out of its one-child policy and that couples will, naturally, want their sole son or daughter to have what society defines as a mark of success, but hopefully videos like this will encourage a few more people to consider that maybe being happy in ourselves is more important than doing what society tells us we should.
Source/screenshots: YouTube/SK-II
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/04/08/dont-let-pressure-dictate-your-life-chinas-leftover-women-speak-out-in-heart-rending-video/feed/ 0 313979 Screen Shot 2016-04-08 at 15.28.00 Screen Shot 2016-04-08 at 15.28.27 Screen Shot 2016-04-08 at 16.18.17 Shinjuku’s giant Godzilla statue gets a new addition, reminds us that fresh breath matters https://soranews24.com/2016/04/05/shinjukus-godzilla-gets-a-new-addition-takes-a-moment-to-remind-us-that-fresh-breath-matters/ https://soranews24.com/2016/04/05/shinjukus-godzilla-gets-a-new-addition-takes-a-moment-to-remind-us-that-fresh-breath-matters/#comments Tue, 05 Apr 2016 05:00:21 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=313260 
Everyone’s favourite tokusatsu titan has a very important message for the people of Shinjuku this week.
Peering over the top of the TOHO Cinema just opposite a charming-looking peep show establishment, world-famous movie monster Godzilla looms large, surveying visitors to Shinjuku’s Kabukicho red-light district as they make their way up the street.
Godzilla has looked completely at home atop the building ever since his appearance early last year, but this week he looks a little different from usual. Since April 4, the movie monster can be seen clutching a cup of Isodine-brand mouthwash, a large banner reading “Yappari Isodine,” or “Isodine, naturally” hanging from his right hand.
The minty fresh addition to the enormous statue is due to remain on the cinema’s roof for just a week or so, so you’ll need to be quick if you want to see it in the fresh.
Why the sudden fondness for mouthwash, we’re not entirely sure, but perhaps Godzilla is not so subtly trying to remind the ladies and gentlemen who frequent the famous red-light district after dark that, if they must get up close and personal, they should at the very least practice good oral hygiene…
Photos © RocketNews24
Get a little closer:
A room with a (terrifying) view: Visiting the hotel that overlooks Godzilla’s giant head 【Photos】
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/04/05/shinjukus-godzilla-gets-a-new-addition-takes-a-moment-to-remind-us-that-fresh-breath-matters/feed/ 0 313260 IMAG0856 IMAG0858 IMAG0846 g10 A call to arms: 5 Japanese potato chip flavours the west badly needs https://soranews24.com/2016/04/04/five-japanese-potato-chip-flavours-the-west-badly-needs/ https://soranews24.com/2016/04/04/five-japanese-potato-chip-flavours-the-west-badly-needs/#comments Mon, 04 Apr 2016 07:15:06 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=313089 
This may upset you to learn, but if you’re a potato chip fan living outside of Japan then you’re seriously missing out…
Japan may have arrived a little late to the potato chip game, but you’d better believe it grabbed that spud-shaped ball with both hands and has been running with it like a kid towards an ice-cream truck ever since. It’s true that Japan lacks a few of the classic chip flavours we in the west enjoy (it saddens me that the Land of the Rising Sun has yet to fully embrace salt & vinegar, for example), but some of its homegrown flavours are simply to die for.
Today we’ll be discussing five such potato chip—or potechi—flavours, with a view to convincing the rest of the world that it urgently needs to drop some of its flourescent-orange cheese puffs and corn snacks in favour of some of these delectable bites and give them a permanent home on their grocery store shelves.
The five Japanese potato chip flavours the west badly needs, in no particular order, are:
1. Nori Shio (seaweed & salt)
RocketNews24
You’ll know nori (also known as Japanese seaweed) as the stuff that wraps onigiri rice-balls or floats in strips atop bowls of ramen. Water thin, green, and crisp until the moment a drop of moisture comes within three feet of it, nori is strangely moreish, even if it does have a habit of sticking to your lips and the roof of your mouth. It might not sound like the most obvious choice for a potato chip flavour, but nori combined with a little bit of salt is simply divine, and it gives your bog-standard potato chip that little bit of extra tang without ever being overbearing. It also provides the chips with a strangely alluring green hue, allowing you to convince yourself that you’re eating something slightly classy as you thrust them, a fistful at a time, into your insatiable shout-hole.
2. Shouyu Mayo (soy sauce & mayo)
I know, I know, this one actually sounds quite unpleasant on paper (especially for our North American readers, who seem to struggle the most with Japan’s fondness for mayonnaise), but when combined with the salty goodness of a thick-cute potato chip, soy sauce and mayo is a genuinely winning combination. Wonderfully salty yet pleasantly rich and creamy all at once, these things go down a treat with both beer and soft drinks, and you’ll be hooked from the first bite.
3. Jagariko
We’re going slightly off-piste for a moment here since we’re technically endorsing a whole brand rather than an individual flavour (and, yes, stick-shaped potato snacks like these can be found in other countries), but Calbee’s Jagariko really are in a league of their own. With their wonderfully texture, cut to the perfect thickness and with an assortment of strange-sounding (salad with carrot and parsley, anyone?) yet genuinely delicious flavours to try, Jagariko is both moreish and surprisingly filling, and you’d better believe that Calbee takes its recipe incredibly seriously. Jagariko come in little cups about a quarter of the length of a Pringles tube, each containing just enough sticks to share with a friend, but they’re best eaten as noisily as possible at home alone.
4. Mentaiko (spiced cod roe)
Fish-flavour potato chips?? Ewww! Right? Wrong. Whether you’re talking about chips, onigiri, or even spaghetti, mentaiko is one of Japan’s finest savoury creations (okay, technically it comes from Korea, but mentaiko tastes quite different in Japan). It doesn’t smell or taste fishy in the slightest, and the combination of natural salts and added spice work in perfect harmony to create rich, but not overbearing, flavour. Slap it on a quality potato chip like one from Calbee or fellow chip-giant Koikeya, and you’re in for a real treat. Trust us—if you’re a true potato chip fiend, then you need to put all thoughts of fish eggs out of your mind and get these in your mouth, pronto.
5. Wasabeef (wasabi & beef)
Last but not least, it’s the flavour that got us all talking in the office and prompted us to make this list: Wasabeef.
If you’ve been to a teppanyaki restaurant or had Japanese-style steak then you’ll know how well a good cut of beef goes with Japan’s horseradish-esque wasabi. So much more than just a slightly spicy meat-flavoured chip, Wasabeef is, in this writer’s opinion, one of the finest chip flavours in the whole wide world, and the fact that it can’t be found on every shop or store’s chip aisle is a crime against humanity. There, I said it. Deliciously savoury and with that unmistakable “hurts-so-good” wasabi burn, kids will hate these things, but grownups like us can’t get enough of them. Write to your MP. Start a petition. Do whatever it takes to get Wasabeef in your life and keep it there.
May the chips be with you, always.
Still hungry?
Green tea chocolate-covered potato chips arrive in Japan! 【Taste test】
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/04/04/five-japanese-potato-chip-flavours-the-west-badly-needs/feed/ 0 313089 CHIPTOP CHIPTOP IMAG0838 Screen Shot 2016-04-04 at 14.30.43 IMAG0840 Screen Shot 2016-04-04 at 14.43.57 Screen Shot 2016-04-04 at 13.40.31 mc-0 Sony teases us with “Ghostbusters Proton Pack” April Fool【Video】 https://soranews24.com/2016/04/01/sony-japan-teases-us-with-ghostbusters-proton-pack-april-fool%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2016/04/01/sony-japan-teases-us-with-ghostbusters-proton-pack-april-fool%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/#comments Fri, 01 Apr 2016 11:18:57 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=312760 
Oh, Sony, why are you doing this to me?
I had three proton packs as a kid. One consisted of a drawing of a proton pack on a sheet of A4 paper that I would tape to my back; another was basically a plank of wood with a couple of random bits of plastic and wiring nailed to it with some old rubber piping for straps; the third was the officially merchandised plastic toy that may parents eventually decided they should buy for me, probably in an attempt to make their son look marginally less ridiculous playing in the street.
As great as they all were (some more than others…), none of my proton packs ever came close to the ones my heroes, the Ghostbusters, wore on their backs in the films and spin-off cartoon series. So when the words “Sony” and “proton pack” caught my eye earlier this morning, I felt my heart skip a beat.
Or, in Japanese if you prefer:
Sadly, despite this video’s mentions of Dr Spengler and Dr Holtzmann (the latter from the upcoming movie), “liquid helium reservoirs” and “slime-resistent”, it’s pretty obvious that Sony isn’t actually on the cusp of releasing a lightweight proton pack for us all to keep ghosts at bay with and is just a bit of fun in the name of April Fools’ Day and PR.
Still, I can dream, right?
Source: YouTube/Sony h/t Jin
Screenshots: YouTube/Sony
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/04/01/sony-japan-teases-us-with-ghostbusters-proton-pack-april-fool%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 312760 protonpack Screen Shot 2016-04-01 at 13.39.14 New dietary supplement from Japan will make your farts smell “like a flower garden”【Video】 https://soranews24.com/2016/04/01/new-dietary-supplement-from-japan-claims-to-make-your-farts-smell-like-a-flower-garden%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2016/04/01/new-dietary-supplement-from-japan-claims-to-make-your-farts-smell-like-a-flower-garden%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/#comments Fri, 01 Apr 2016 02:00:12 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=311963 
Because when your ad contains the line “It’s like cherry blossom comes out of your ass hole!” you know it’s going to be a game-changer.
If you’ve ever wished you could replace your foul-smelling bottom-burps with something a little more palatable, your dreams may have finally come true. At least if the makers of a new “dietary supplement” from Japan are to be believed.
Nonara—a product whose name appears to be a portmanteau of the English word “no” and “onara”, the Japanese for fart—purports not just to reduce the potency of one’s trumps, but to actually transform and enhance them, turning your personal gusts into waves of powerful, flower-like aroma that can be enjoyed by everyone in the office. It’s like, to borrow the maker’s eye-popping slogan, “cherry blossom comes out of your ass hole!”
Behold: the company’s recently-uploaded commercial message (oh yes, there’s an commercial), which even comes complete with English subtitles (click the icon fifth from the right on the play-bar to turn them on):
Produced by a Shizuoka Prefecture-based company called Tsuitachi Pharmaceuticals, the floral flatulence capsules appear to be aimed primarily at working women. Shipping in pink-and-white packaging decorated with images of cherry blossom, Nonara comes in boxes of seven capsules—one to be taken each day to achieve maximum fragrance. 
Oh, and if flowers aren’t your thing, there’s apparently also a “vanilla taste” version available. We may never be able to eat ice cream again…
Those of you who are concerned about the smell of your own toots will be glad to know that Nonara is apparently on sale now all over Japan, costing just 401 yen (US$3.50), tax inclusive, for a week’s worth of capsules. No need to tell us if you do decide to buy some—if they work as well as the ad maintains, we’ll probably be able to smell you coming!
Source: Tsuitachi Pharmaceutical, YouTube/Tsuitachi Pharamaceutical
Featured image: YouTube/Tsuitachi Pharamaceutical
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/04/01/new-dietary-supplement-from-japan-claims-to-make-your-farts-smell-like-a-flower-garden%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 311963 Screen Shot 2016-04-01 at 09.59.11 Screen Shot 2016-04-01 at 09.58.10 Nonara Sakura copy Nonara Vanilla copy Chinese street vendor plants a kiss on police officer’s lips during arrest【Video】 https://soranews24.com/2016/03/23/chinese-street-vendor-plants-a-kiss-on-police-officers-lips-during-arrest%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2016/03/23/chinese-street-vendor-plants-a-kiss-on-police-officers-lips-during-arrest%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/#comments Wed, 23 Mar 2016 04:00:37 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=310219
“Make love, not war,” right?
A man in Liuzhou City in China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region was arrested on Thursday last week after local authorities learned that he had been illegally operating a restaurant on a city sidewalk.
The man, whom China’s CCTV News identifies only as a “Mr Huang”, allegedly became upset with the male officer when he refused to listen to Mr Huang’s excuses and permit him to continue operating.
Rather than throwing a punch, however, Huang took the unusual step of planting a kiss right on the officer’s lips…
Mr. Huang was taken into custody immediately after the scuffle that followed, and will reportedly be detained for eight days on charges of interfering with the duties of government officials. There’s still no official word on whether it was the kiss that sealed the deal, however…
Source/featured image: YouTube/CCTV News h/t Toychan.net
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/03/23/chinese-street-vendor-plants-a-kiss-on-police-officers-lips-during-arrest%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 310219 Heads up—Japan’s Ghibli Museum will be closed for two months as of this May https://soranews24.com/2016/03/23/heads-up-japans-ghibli-museum-will-be-closed-for-two-months-as-of-this-may/ https://soranews24.com/2016/03/23/heads-up-japans-ghibli-museum-will-be-closed-for-two-months-as-of-this-may/#comments Wed, 23 Mar 2016 02:30:10 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=310221 
If you’re planning to visit Tokyo’s world-famous Ghibli Museum later this year, you may want to reschedule.
Mitaka’s Ghibli Museum has announced via its official website that it will close its doors for a two-month period as of Monday, May 9.
The popular museum—which admits only a set number of ticket-holders each day—will reopen on Friday, July 15 following a period of “maintenance and upgrading”. Whether this means we’ll be getting some new attractions or simply that the Cat Bus’ fur needs a thorough cleaning after some kind of toddler/vomit-related mishap, we’re not entirely sure, but we figured you’d appreciate the info, lest any of you were planning to visit during the next few months.
Thanks to Justin for dropping us a line with the tip.
Featured image © RocketNews24
For your next visit…
Our pick of 10 souvenir items you should buy when you visit the Ghibli Museum
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/03/23/heads-up-japans-ghibli-museum-will-be-closed-for-two-months-as-of-this-may/feed/ 0 310221 ghibliclosed e382b9e383a9e382a4e383891 Watch the touching animated tribute to late Nintendo president Satoru Iwata【Video】 https://soranews24.com/2016/03/17/watch-the-touching-animated-tribute-to-late-nintendo-president-satoru-iwata%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2016/03/17/watch-the-touching-animated-tribute-to-late-nintendo-president-satoru-iwata%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/#comments Thu, 17 Mar 2016 11:00:34 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=309150 
The former Nintendo frontman is remembered in this short but incredibly moving animation.
Shown at the end of the Game Developers Choice Awards held on March 15, this touching video celebrates Satoru Iwata‘s many achievements as a creator, director and Nintendo president before he died suddenly in July last year.
Ending with a quote from his 2005 speech at the same conference, gaming site Eurogamer reports that the video was met with a standing ovation from the event’s many attendees, who were clearly very moved.
We’ll let you get right to the video, since words alone really won’t do it justice.
It’s clear that Mr Iwata will be fondly remembered for a long time to come.
Source/featured image: YouTube/GDC h/t/ Eurogamer
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/03/17/watch-the-touching-animated-tribute-to-late-nintendo-president-satoru-iwata%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 309150 Screen Shot 2016-03-17 at 18.05.58 Screen Shot 2016-03-17 at 18.05.29 Japanese watchmakers show off their skills with tiny/epic mechanical obstacle course【Video】 https://soranews24.com/2016/03/17/japanese-watchmakers-show-off-their-skills-with-tiny-epic-mechanical-obstacle-course%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2016/03/17/japanese-watchmakers-show-off-their-skills-with-tiny-epic-mechanical-obstacle-course%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/#comments Wed, 16 Mar 2016 20:30:56 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=308803 
Because what better way to showcase an eye for precision than to build a miniature obstacle course for marbles?
Everyone in Japan knows PitargoraSuicchi, or Pythagora Switch, the educational TV show from national broadcaster NHK which includes a number of segments devoted to clever “Pythagorus devices” (also known as Rube Goldberg machines or Heath Robinson contraptions, depending on where you’re from). There’s something so captivating about the sight of a marble traversing a miniature obstacle course of paper cups, wooden blocks and paperclips, and Pitagora‘s devices are always so creative that it’s little wonder the show has run for more than a decade now.
But when it comes to timing and precision, it’s arguably the watchmakers who are the absolute masters. And the folks at Seiko—the Japanese company that’s been making timepieces since all the way back in 1881—have put together a short video to prove just that.
Aside from lingering just a second longer on each of the mechanical processes involved, format-wise, Seiko’s video doesn’t deviate too far from PitagoraSuicchi‘s own. Even so, we think you’ll agree that this is an incredibly soothing, immensely satisfying watch, and serves as a powerful reminder of the skill that goes into building analogue devices in a world of instant digital gratification.
Enjoy!
Source/screenshots: YouTube/Seiko Website AD Gallery
Now watch:
Japanese kids’ show a hit overseas for strangely moving Rube Goldberg machine story【Video】
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/03/17/japanese-watchmakers-show-off-their-skills-with-tiny-epic-mechanical-obstacle-course%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 308803 Seikotop Screen Shot 2016-03-16 at 17.47.03 065 Masturbating man dressed as ninja has Seattle police stumped https://soranews24.com/2016/03/16/masturbating-man-dressed-as-a-ninja-has-seattle-police-stumped/ https://soranews24.com/2016/03/16/masturbating-man-dressed-as-a-ninja-has-seattle-police-stumped/#comments Wed, 16 Mar 2016 03:00:27 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=308630 
We’ve heard of “different strokes for different folks,” but this is ridiculous.
Police in the U.S. city of Seattle have reached out to the public in an effort to learn the identity of a man seen dressed in clothing akin to that of a ninja after he was spotted masturbating outside the home of a group of students who attend the University of Washington.
The masked male has meddled with his member multiple times since January 10, local news site Seattle PI reports, prompting the residents to install the night-vision camera which captured the—thankfully censored—images seen below.
In the footage, the individual appears dressed entirely in dark clothing (reports state that his garments appear white due only to the nature of the night-vision images) and wearing distinctive five-toed shoes while pleasuring himself.
The residents contacted the police several times after hearing “suspicious sounds” coming from outside their door, but little progress has been made and thus far the man’s identity remains a mystery.
Why he should gain such pleasure from polishing his katana outside someone’s home—not least while dressed as a Japanese assassin—is anyone’s guess, but here’s hoping that this individual is apprehended soon.
Source: Seattle PI h/t The Huffington Post
Images via: SPD Blotter
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