Shannon McNaught – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today. Wed, 19 May 2021 11:52:48 +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 Shannon McNaught – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com 32 32 176746664 Survey ranks Japanese prefectures by how much people want to continue living there https://soranews24.com/2020/01/14/survey-ranks-japanese-prefectures-by-how-much-people-want-to-continue-living-there/ https://soranews24.com/2020/01/14/survey-ranks-japanese-prefectures-by-how-much-people-want-to-continue-living-there/#comments Mon, 13 Jan 2020 16:00:43 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=482816 
Spoiler: the most popular prefecture is also the largest.
Japan has 47 prefectures that boast individual characteristics and lifestyles. Though the default is usually Tokyo, you may or may not be surprised to find that not everyone wants to live there.
Yahoo! Japan recently wrote about the results of a survey conducted in 2019 that asked citizens which of Japan’s 47 prefectures they would like to continue living in the most. About 340 people living in each prefecture were surveyed for a total of close to 16,000 participants.
The nuance of the survey title itself may be what makes all the difference, as it’s not about which prefecture people would like to move to, but rather which prefecture they would like to continue living in. Here are the top 10 results that may or may not shock you.
10. Miyazaki
9. Tokyo (shocking? Maybe not so much for Tokyo-ites.)
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7DzBCVAkwO/
8. Aichi
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7Dw-pqFsh5/
7. Hyogo
6. Kyoto
Now let’s look at the top five in a little more detail…
5. Kanagawa
A post shared by Find Your Yokohama (@findyouryokohama_japan)
Kanagawa squeaked its way into the top 5 of the survey, and we’re not really surprised. Its bustling city of Yokohama has consistently ranked as the most desirable city for living in Japan’s Kanto region. The area boasts a bayside view, fashionable stores and eateries, and it’s within commuting distance to the heart of Tokyo with slightly lower living costs. And even though it has a bad rep in terms of crime sometimes, it’s also proving to be a great place for families to live and tourists to visit.
4. Okinawa
Why would you ever want to leave paradise? Many Japanese people (and Okinawans themselves) claim that Okinawa and Japan are almost entirely separate nations. At over 700 kilometers from the mainland of Japan, we can’t really blame them for thinking this way. Yet even Okinawans never get tired of the tropical weather, delicious food, and endless island-hopping opportunities. Maybe that’s why they live so long?
3. Osaka
Many Osakans have great pride in their region, so we’re not too surprised by this one. Osaka boasts a bustling culture and nightlife similar to Tokyo without the steep prices, and their public transportation is pretty extensive as well. Osaka is home to great food like takoyaki and okonomiyaki as well as one of the top 20 buildings in the world, Umeda Sky Building.
2. Fukuoka
Over 80% of respondents from Fukuoka said they’d like to continue living in the region. You may have heard of its up-and-coming downtown area of Fukuoka City, or you might know about how accessible it is to other regions of Asia (perfect for travel!). They have gorgeous nature spots and many delicacies, including some serious strawberries. The best part: it’s totally affordable for both singles and families to live in.
1. Hokkaido
Rounding off the top of the list is Hokkaido, also known as Japan’s largest and northernmost region. Though it can get pretty darn cold, they have affordable housing, a lot of beautiful nature, and it doesn’t hurt that they’re one of Japan’s main sources of agriculture and dairy (why wouldn’t you love a place that produces cheese?)
Though it’s separated from the main Honshu Island of Japan, there’s an underwater bullet train that can get you there in a jiffy. It seems like that’s not a concern for Hokkaido citizens, though, whose lifestyle is so different that they experience culture shock in their own capital.
And that’s the top 10, folks. Oh, and in case you’re wondering which prefecture was in last place, it was Japan’s northern region of Akita — only 60% of participants said they’d like to continue living there (we’d highly recommend at least a visit, though).
Top image: Flickr/Sendai Blog
Sources: Yahoo! Japan via Otaku.com
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2020/01/14/survey-ranks-japanese-prefectures-by-how-much-people-want-to-continue-living-there/feed/ 0 482816 3720701282_44d2305d20_c Mr. Sato meets a familiar friend in this electronics lucky bag from Akihabara 【Photos】 https://soranews24.com/2020/01/11/mr-sato-meets-a-familiar-friend-in-this-electronics-lucky-bag-from-akihabara-%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2020/01/11/mr-sato-meets-a-familiar-friend-in-this-electronics-lucky-bag-from-akihabara-%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/#comments Sat, 11 Jan 2020 07:00:29 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=482898 
It’s not déjà vu, Mr. Sato; it’s just luck.
Every year of New Year’s “lucky bags,” or fukubukuro, brings a rollercoaster of ups and downs to the SoraNews24 team. We try to test out new ones every year, but we also find ourselves repeat customers of some shops (even if it’s disappointing).
Mr. Sato got relatively fortunate last year with a household electronics lucky bag from a shop in Akihabara called Tokka Bazaar, which only cost him 5,000 yen (45.79). He got a smart music lamp, a foot warmer, a calculator, an electric razor, and more!
▼ That’s worth well over 5,000 yen, especially if you’ve been dying to have some of this stuff.
This year, Mr. Sato decided to up the ante and buy a lucky bag worth 10,000 yen. He was pretty pleased with last year’s results, so he thought it was worth it.
Mr. Sato said he even checked to see if there was one worth 50,000 yen, but he was out of luck in that department. That may or may not have saved his wallet.
Well, aren’t you dying to see what’s inside? Mr. Sato was. He wasted no time in opening it, and his eye was immediately captivated by the large box inside. “This has to be good,” he thought. It could even be a laptop!
But when he excitedly took it out of the bag..
…
…
(ellipses intensify)
…
…
It was another foot warmer!
“It’s you again!?” Mr. Sato thought. After trusting the shop enough to double his paying price from last year, he felt betrayed.
Luckily, one of our writers was there to find the silver lining.
▼ “Look, they’re different colors!”
Oh well, time to move on. The bag also contained some other items of value, including this hair straightener.
The rest of the items weren’t that appealing; there was an FM transmitter for your car, but everything else was kind of random.
You probably don’t need this egg tray…
“I really don’t need this Moomin cup…” Mr. Sato thought.
Mr. Sato was out of luck this year, but he’s also looking forward to next year’s bag. Positive thoughts! Besides, you can get plenty of other exciting goods for less money in other stores…
Photos ©SoraNews24
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2020/01/11/mr-sato-meets-a-familiar-friend-in-this-electronics-lucky-bag-from-akihabara-%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 482898 tokkamain We bought the Mister Donut Pokémon lucky bag, and here’s what we got! 【Photos】 https://soranews24.com/2020/01/03/we-bought-the-mister-donut-pokemon-lucky-bag-and-heres-what-we-got-%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2020/01/03/we-bought-the-mister-donut-pokemon-lucky-bag-and-heres-what-we-got-%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/#comments Fri, 03 Jan 2020 01:00:43 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=481618 
This was probably the best purchase we made at the end of 2019.
When the SoraNews24 team heard about this year’s Pokémon/Mister Donut collaboration fukubukuro (or “lucky bags”) being sold ahead of the New Year, we just had to get our hands on one. There were three options priced at 1,100 yen (US$10.11), 2,200 yen, and 3,300 yen; and since you know SoraNews24 likes to go big or go home, we went with the 3,300 yen option.
Maybe it’s due to the recent release of Pokémon Sword and Shield, but when writer Tasuku Egawa went to pick one up from his local Mister Donut branch, there was already a huge line out the door.
▼ Since there were only a limited number of each lucky bag being sold daily between December 26-31, you can probably understand why.
The 3,300 yen fukubukuro weren’t actually available in a bag; they were in a cardboard box. That’s how jam-packed they were! If you’re interested in what each bag contains, you can check out our previous article.
The first goodie is this 2020 Pokémon calendar, which features the three starter Pokémon in Sword and Shield (Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble).
Each page of the calendar features different Pokémon along with seasonal items such as January’s kagami-mochi, one of Japan’s traditional New Year’s dishes.
The next item is the clear file. Out of the two designs, we got this adorable one that shows first-gen starters and the latest starters happily dozing on donuts.
And here’s the masking tape we got, which blocks out each Pokémon with a different background color.
We also loved our tote bag that juxtaposes starter Pokémon with traditional Japanese New Year’s symbols on a neutral background.
Compared to the Eevee blanket we got in last year’s Pokémon/Mister Donut collaboration bag, we’d say this year’s is much more colorful. we got the blanket that has the same design as our clear file.
And for the grand finale, here’s the day planner that’s only included in the 3,300 yen fukubukuro.
We were surprised to find that it includes two full pages of coupons inside! We knew it would come with 20 coupons, but we didn’t know they would be inside the planner itself.
We got all this for the same price as about 30 donuts, so we’d definitely say it’s a steal in terms of price. If you missed the cut off this year, we’d say there’s a high possibility they’ll be offered again next year!
Photos ©SoraNews24
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2020/01/03/we-bought-the-mister-donut-pokemon-lucky-bag-and-heres-what-we-got-%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 481618 misdo1 Hello Kitty and Doraemon collaboration merch ends the year adorably!【Photos】 https://soranews24.com/2019/12/27/hello-kitty-and-doraemon-collaboration-merch-ends-the-year-adorably%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2019/12/27/hello-kitty-and-doraemon-collaboration-merch-ends-the-year-adorably%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/#comments Fri, 27 Dec 2019 03:00:15 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=480895 
It’s the best of both worlds – and it’s super cute!
You may have already been excited about the world’s first official Doraemon store opening earlier this year, but as of December 26th you can purchase brand-new collaboration goods featuring Doraemon and Hello Kitty, the two most popular cat characters in Japan.
Most of the merch features both characters sporting accessories of the other; Doraemon dons Hello Kitty’s bow as a bow tie, and Hello Kitty wears Doraemon’s bell collar around her neck.
This marks the fifth “DoraKitty” collaboration since 2015, and this round of goods includes everything from tote bags to mugs, pens, and stationery sets.
▼ How cute is that bell and bow charm hanging off the pen?
Other tie-ups between the two characters’ accessories and items include Doraemon with Hello Kitty’s favorite food, apples, and Doraemon’s beloved dorayaki snack topped with Hello Kitty’s hair bow.
▼ And how about that iconic Dokodemo Door with the bow?
This round of goods is especially cute and relaxing as it features a palette of mainly pastel colors. They make adorable gifts for kids, yet they’re low-key enough for adults to tote around without feeling like they’re being too showy.
▼ How many compliments do you think you’d get on that handheld mirror?
You can purchase the items through Sanrio’s online shop here, and if you’d rather pick them up in person, they’re also available at brick-and-mortar Sanrio shops and Sanrio corners of other stores.
Source, images: PR Times
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/12/27/hello-kitty-and-doraemon-collaboration-merch-ends-the-year-adorably%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 480895 sanrio_ktdora_main1 We cooked Japan’s 2,000-yen mail-order Ramen of the Year, but was it worth it?【Taste test】 https://soranews24.com/2019/12/24/we-cooked-japans-mail-order-ramen-of-the-year-but-was-it-worth-it%e3%80%90taste-test%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2019/12/24/we-cooked-japans-mail-order-ramen-of-the-year-but-was-it-worth-it%e3%80%90taste-test%e3%80%91/#comments Tue, 24 Dec 2019 05:00:01 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=480034 If you’re a die-hard ramen fan, you’ll understand our need to find the truth.
Our Japanese-language writer Shawn was craving some ramen (the default setting for all SoraNews24 staff), so he decided to check online ramen shopping site Takumen.com for its best mail-order Ramen of the Year. That award goes to the ramen from the restaurant Yume wo Katare Tokyo. If you’ve heard that name before, it’s probably because you either really like ramen or you’ve seen the restaurant’s Boston branch in America.
▼ The Ramen of the Year award is advertised on the site’s top page, so it’s not that hard to find.
At the beginning of December, Takumen.com named Yume wo Katare Tokyo’s “Yume no Ramen” as the best-selling mail-order ramen of 2019, and Shawn wasted no time in ordering some so he could eat it before the end of the year.
It only took two days to deliver, but the price may shock you. One pack of Yume no Ramen is 980 yen, but since shipping cost 1,020 yen, Shawn’s single serving came out to 2,000 yen (or US$18.25). However, Shawn wasn’t fazed (more on that later).
The frozen pack revealed three bags: one containing the seasoning (upper-left), one containing the ramen noodles (bottom-left), and last one containing the soup and the chashu pork fillet (right). He also found a list of suggested toppings on the instructions label, which called for minced garlic, bean sprouts, cabbage, and chili peppers, which he bought separately at his neighborhood grocery store (except for the chili peppers, since he wasn’t in the mood for anything spicy).
▼ You’ll need medium pots to prepare this baby.
The actual preparation is fairly simple: simmer the soup for 10 minutes, cook the noodles for 5-7 minutes, add in the seasoning and cook for another 3-5 minutes, and then pour it all into a sizable bowl!
Shawn made one slight miscalculation with his bowl choice, though – even though he prepared a one-liter (34-ounce) bowl, it still wasn’t enough to contain all of the ramen goodness and the toppings. So, he had no choice but to make a topping mountain and figure out how to eat it neatly later.
▼ It is complete! (fanfare)
He was only able to fit on a few toppings with the chashu pork fillet, but this is what the finished product looked like! Shawn didn’t drop anything on the floor, but there was a lot of spillage on the table, so if you’re going to give this a whirl, we recommend using a much larger bowl.
On the bright side, spilling the soup meant it was filled up the perfect amount, and it looked absolutely stunning even though all Shawn did was boil a bunch of pre-packaged ingredients. Time to eat!
The beautifully fatty and sweet soup is a soy sauce/tonkotsu (pork stock) base that wasn’t too strong and absolutely divine. By the way, the sweetness apparently comes from the veggies!
When Shawn tried it with the “flavoring fat” included, though, it was even better. If you want to make the flavor of this soup ten times richer, then definitely try this out. It has a wonderfully guilty pleasure taste, especially when paired with garlic.
As for the noodles? They are thick (or thicc, depending on your spelling preference) and they have an amazingly chewy texture the more you munch. Shawn boiled his noodles for 7 minutes since he likes his noodles a bit on the softer side, but you can make them more al dente by cooking them for less time.
And now for…the chashu pork fillet. You can tell just by looking at it that it’s also thick and thoroughly flavored. It was so soft that when Shawn tried to pick it up, it almost broke apart!
The soft, juicy meat had a deep flavor with the same touch of sweetness that the soup had. Shawn was thoroughly impressed and satisfied with the fact that you can get such high-quality ramen in the mail in today’s day and age.
And now it’s time to find out why Shawn thought 2,000 yen for one serving of this ramen is actually cheap.
Shawn thought this ramen priced at 2,000 yen (including shipping) was cheap because you don’t have to factor in the price of transportation and waiting time.
From where Shawn lives in Japan, it costs about 500 yen using public transportation (round-trip) to purchase one 800-yen bowl of ramen at the actual Yume wo Katare Tokyo restaurant. And even then, he’s sometimes stuck waiting in line for hours. Getting it delivered at home means you can save a tiny bit of money (for some people) and a lot of time.
So, in the end, Shawn’s was more than satisfied with the taste, cooking process, and price of Takumen.com’s Ramen of the Year. Now he just has to decide what to try next. Maybe something on the cuter side, like pink Hello Kitty ramen?
Photo ©SoraNews24
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/12/24/we-cooked-japans-mail-order-ramen-of-the-year-but-was-it-worth-it%e3%80%90taste-test%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 480034 ramen8 Japanese office snack service begins offering vegan and gluten-free options https://soranews24.com/2019/12/20/japanese-office-snack-service-begins-offering-vegan-and-gluten-free-options/ https://soranews24.com/2019/12/20/japanese-office-snack-service-begins-offering-vegan-and-gluten-free-options/#comments Fri, 20 Dec 2019 03:00:23 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=479987 
Snacking just became a little easier for some workers thanks to one company.
Some offices in Japan have a ton of cats or ask that Eevee drop by once in a while, but does that cater to your diet and lifestyle? Not always.
snaq.me, a Japanese company that creates and sends snacks to offices around Japan, has begun offering gluten-free and vegan options for some of their naturally delicious bites. They cite the growing vegan population and awareness of vegan and gluten-free options (which some attribute to the rise of foreign workers in Japan) as one of the main reasons for offering these alternatives.
Not only are snaq.me snacks healthy and delicious, they’re also often locally sourced and made with only the simplest ingredients.
▼ For instance, these golden sweet potatoes (or satsumaimo) are dried potatoes from Ibaraki prefecture.
While we’re absolutely not discounting the idea that there is a growing population of Japanese people that are vegan or cutting out gluten from their diet, we do think it’s a great service for companies that have a large number of foreign employees that may or may not have dietary restrictions.
▼ These fried brown rice puffs (brown rice arare) only contain three ingredients: brown rice, vegetable oil, and salt.
And hey, even if you’re not vegan or gluten-free, they’re still an excellent snack for anyone looking to be a little healthier with what they munch on in the office! Many Japanese offices will have snack services from convenience stores or other snack services that offer very few healthy options.
snaq.me offers several plans that offices can choose from, as well as a sample pack. So, if you’re interested in implementing this snack system at your Japanese workplace, try suggesting it! And if that doesn’t work, well, you could passive-aggressively bring in snacks from Japan’s first vegan convenience store everyday until someone notices.
Related: snaq.me official website
Sources and images: PR Times
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/12/20/japanese-office-snack-service-begins-offering-vegan-and-gluten-free-options/feed/ 0 479987 snaq Official website for Pokémon PON hanko stamps is now open! https://soranews24.com/2019/12/13/official-website-for-pokemon-pon-hanko-stamps-is-now-open/ https://soranews24.com/2019/12/13/official-website-for-pokemon-pon-hanko-stamps-is-now-open/#comments Thu, 12 Dec 2019 15:00:56 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=479044 
Creating your own Pokémon PON stamp is so much easier with this new website!
This probably isn’t the first time you’ve heard about Pokémon PON, the Japanese hanko stamps that combine your name with your favorite Pokémon characters. The collection includes an impressive 386 different Pokémon to choose from that you can pair with your name.
They were only available through certain websites before, but now the ordering process has been made easier with an original Pokémon PON website!
▼ Here’s just a sample of the Kanto region Pokémon available to choose from.
The collection includes 151 Pokémon from the Kanto region, 100 from the Johto region, and 135 from the Joenn region (which you probably already know if you’re a diehard fan of SoraNews24 and Pokémon).
▼ Want those adorable baby Pokémon? Check out the Johto region.
▼ Or maybe your favorites are in the Joenn region.
The Pokémon PON website makes it easier than ever to order your personalized stamp. You start with the name and character, and each hanko stamp can fit up to three Japanese kanji. “But I don’t have a Japanese kanji name!” you may be lamenting. Lucky for you, these can also be created with up to six Roman alphabet characters or up to five characters of either the Japanese hiragana or katakana alphabets.
You can then choose from either a self-ink type, a wood type, or a black type. We also like that they’re available in three different fonts, each of which give a slightly different impression.
▼ You can choose from standard, a thin font, or a bold font. So many ways to customize!
You can officially use these hanko stamps at many Japanese banks (but read the website carefully to see which ones are excluded), or you could just stamp it onto whatever you like.
As for price? A quick search of the site reveals they’ll cost you anywhere between 2,200 and 5,200 yen (between US$20.24 and $47.83). This would be a great way to treat yourself or give as a gift!
Source, images: PR Times
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/12/13/official-website-for-pokemon-pon-hanko-stamps-is-now-open/feed/ 0 479044 pokehan Japanese mother creates life-size cardboard cutout of herself to soothe her child 【Pics & Video】 https://soranews24.com/2019/12/12/japanese-mother-creates-life-size-cardboard-cutout-of-herself-to-soothe-her-child-%e3%80%90pics-video%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2019/12/12/japanese-mother-creates-life-size-cardboard-cutout-of-herself-to-soothe-her-child-%e3%80%90pics-video%e3%80%91/#comments Thu, 12 Dec 2019 01:00:46 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=478983 Parents can and will go to great lengths to get some shred of (quiet) privacy.
While the process of having a baby in Japan can be a luxurious experience compared to other nations, that can all go away once the tiny, needy human comes into this world. When Twitter user @sato_nezi‘s 1-year-old child loses sight of his mother, he starts crying uncontrollably. Realizing this was not a great situation for all parties (including the neighbors) involved, he and his wife decided to get creative.
Their solution: create a life-size cardboard cutout of Mom and try to trick their child into thinking Mom is there when she really isn’t.
▼ They created one of Mom standing up and one of her crouching, both with a charming and maternal smile.
うちの1歳児、お母さんが視界から消えるとすぐ泣いちゃうので、大変。
その対策として「等身大パネルの母」を設置するとどうなるか実験してみた。
（つづく） pic.twitter.com/VOgy1619G0
— 佐藤ねじ / ブルーパドル (@sato_nezi) December 8, 2019
Mom was able to disappear for a bit without her son losing his mind, especially considering the fact that they put her cardboard likeness in a place the baby couldn’t reach. They even took video proof of their son being totally fooled by the cutouts.
▼ “He didn’t notice for about 20 minutes. This could be a lifesaver…“
結果、20分くらい気づかれず。これはたまには役立つかも…
このパネルは、ビッグダミー（スーパーとかにある巨大なパネル）など、販促物をつくってるリンクスさんにお願いして、「ビッグマミー」をつくってもらいました
https://t.co/zLfGDZpiPa pic.twitter.com/zp5qiyqoRq
— 佐藤ねじ / ブルーパドル (@sato_nezi) December 8, 2019
The cutouts were made using a service called Links that creates displays for businesses and shops. They ordered a “Big Dummy” (which is normally used for cutouts in supermarkets and such) and have taken to calling it “Big Mommy.”
As you can see, the kid is happy as can be with his toys and show as long as he can glance behind him and see his beloved mother standing there (sort of). The Internet thought this family’s idea was as brilliant as we did:
“My nephew is 1-year-old and he flips out every time his parents disappear, too…”
“Someone make this available on the market!!”
“This! I would have loved this when I wanted to go to the toilet, or eat dinner, or wash my face! It looks funny, but I totally understand this reality!”
“This is genius! My 4-year-old still goes to the toilet with me.”
Being a parent isn’t easy, so any little bit of help counts, right? Take matters into your own hands and see if you can also steal a few precious moments of privacy with the help of cardboard.
If you’re not even at the “I have a kid” stage of life yet, there are other cardboard cutouts that could comfort you (in some ways) as well, like a cardboard waifu…
Sources: Twitter/@sato_nezi via My Game News Flash
Featured image: Twitter/@sato_nezi
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/12/12/japanese-mother-creates-life-size-cardboard-cutout-of-herself-to-soothe-her-child-%e3%80%90pics-video%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 478983 screenshot Japanese crane game serves up actual slices of cake – and we got some!【Photos】 https://soranews24.com/2019/12/06/japanese-crane-game-serves-up-actual-slices-of-cake-and-we-got-some%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2019/12/06/japanese-crane-game-serves-up-actual-slices-of-cake-and-we-got-some%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/#comments Fri, 06 Dec 2019 05:00:34 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=478237 
Forget about stuffed animals and candy bars – now it’s time for gourmet prizes!
Yeah, you can get some of your favorite toys, or even household supplies, in crane games, but what about getting something once in a while that’s fresh and sweet?
When we heard about the prizes being offered in a crane game center in Sweets Cranes Yokohama, we just had to check it out. If you’ve read the title of this article, then you’ve probably already figured out what it is: cake. For 100 yen (US$0.92) a pop, you can have a chance to grab and win a slice of cake made by a dedicated patisserie.
▼ If you’re in Yokohama’s Minato Mirai neighborhood, we highly recommend stopping by the World Porters shopping center, where Sweets Cranes Yokohama is located.
Once you enter the building and go to the fifth floor, you’ll find the Sweets Cranes center.
▼ It may not look like much, but it’s worth a closer look.
When we wandered in and asked the staff about the cakes inside the machines, they said that they’re supervised by certified patisseries that select gourmet cakes especially for these machines.
▼ Here’s what some of the machines look like inside.
Honestly, the cakes inside were of a quality that easily have been on display in a fancy independent bakery. Our field reporter Great Muromachi, who visited the crane game, found himself wanting to say, “One chocolate slice, please!” He quickly snapped back to reality, though, and faced the truth: if he wanted that chocolate cake, he needed to win it.
Most of the machines are 100 yen (some are 200 yen), and when you think about the fact that some of these sweets would go for at least 300 yen in a convenience store, it’s a potential bargain for skilled gamers.
▼ For 200 yen a play, you can win a whole assortment of cakes!
▼ Great Muromachi started off by trying to win some strawberry cream treats.
After testing the first machine to a couple of rounds of grabbing, Great Muromachi decided to move onto a less challenging machine.
▼ Ah, yes, the old S hook.
The hook is meant to swing a little bit and catch onto the handle of a metal basket in which the cake slice is placed.
▼ So he decided to give it a whirl, and…
Bam! Great Muromachi got it on the first try!
▼ Here is his well-earned prize, a piece of strawberry vanilla roll cake which must taste sweeter than just buying your dessert.
Sweets Cranes Yokohama even has some tables set up so you can enjoy your prize right there!
We can easily picture crane game and cake fans being trapped in an endless cycle of gaming and eating all day. We wouldn’t blame them either, honestly.
▼ At 100 yen per play (in most cases), how could you resist?
Great Muromachi spent a total of 1,000 yen with his companion here, but if you know what you want and you’re already an expert, it should only cost a few coins. And hey, what’s wrong with 1,000 yen spent as long as you had fun?
▼ Here are some of the cakes in other machines! Most are delicious classics like chocolate cake and strawberry shortcake.
Interested in going? You’d better be. Don’t forget our helpful tips on how to win crane games, and here’s some information on where it is and when it’s open.
Game Center Information
Sweets Cranes Yokohama / スイーツクレーンズ ヨコハマ
Address: Yokohama-shi, Naka-ku, Shinko 2-2-1 Yokohama World Porters 5th floor
横浜市中区新港2-2-1 横浜ワールドポーターズ5階
Open 10:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Website
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/12/06/japanese-crane-game-serves-up-actual-slices-of-cake-and-we-got-some%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 478237 cake7 12-year-old Japanese student makes amazing stop-motion animations【Videos】 https://soranews24.com/2019/12/04/12-year-old-japanese-student-makes-amazing-stop-motion-animations%e3%80%90videos%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2019/12/04/12-year-old-japanese-student-makes-amazing-stop-motion-animations%e3%80%90videos%e3%80%91/#comments Wed, 04 Dec 2019 13:00:52 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=478086 Most 12-year-olds are probably just starting to try drawing their own manga, but this girl is a full-on animator.
Japan has a thing for creating stop-motion animations using figurines, like Ryu from Street Fighter or Gundam. Most of the time, they’re made by teens or adults, but we don’t think we’ve ever seen something of this quality from someone so young.
When Twitter user @gusokudaiou0555 uploaded a video of her daughter’s stop-motion animation created with popular Sylvanian Families dolls, the Internet was floored. It started with just a clip of a Sylvanian Families cat cooking what looks to be some sort of soup or stew, but netizens demanded a full version until it was delivered.
▼ The preview that sparked people’s interest (top) and the full version (bottom)
皆さんいいねやリツイート有り難うございます
こちらフルバージョンです pic.twitter.com/fgQsdZsDZS— オフトンスキー0555 (@gusokudaiou0555) November 24, 2019
The amount of detail put into the video is amazing, from the ingredients used, to the way the cat puts the pot on the lid and how the ketchup gets stuck in the refrigerator door. It shows not only that this girl is a pretty skilled filmmaker, but also that she’s incredibly observant.
The best part about all this is that @gusokudaiou0555’s daughter is only 12 years old. Stop-motion animations can take an incredible amount of time and effort, sometimes taking several hours to achieve a minute’s worth of final footage.
▼ Even better: she’s made more than one of these films!
少し前に作った作品です
こちらももし良かったら観てやって下さい
バイキングレストランだそうです pic.twitter.com/LZsbj4NB3F— オフトンスキー0555 (@gusokudaiou0555) November 24, 2019
The above film features several Sylvanian Families characters instead of just the one, which leaves us in more awe.
Here’s what some netizens had to say about this girl’s dedication and creativity:
“I could watch these forever.”
“These are really well-made. They’re so detailed!”
“I love it when the cat puts the lid on the pot [in the first film]. It’s easy to say ‘Oh, she just made it on an app,’ but I wouldn’t be able to make this even if I had an app.”
“The bustling feeling of a kitchen comes through really well, especially the part about the ketchup being stuck in the refrigerator door. It’s so good! I could learn a lot from this.”
We hope that this girl continues to pursue her passion of stop animation and go on to become the next Kiyotaka Mizukoshi in high school!
Sources: Twitter/@gusokudaiou0555 via My Game News Flash
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/12/04/12-year-old-japanese-student-makes-amazing-stop-motion-animations%e3%80%90videos%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 478086 featured We visited Tokyo’s Frozen II collab cafe and may have enjoyed it more than the movie 【Photos】 https://soranews24.com/2019/11/29/we-visited-tokyos-frozen-ii-collab-cafe-and-may-have-enjoyed-it-more-than-the-movie-%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2019/11/29/we-visited-tokyos-frozen-ii-collab-cafe-and-may-have-enjoyed-it-more-than-the-movie-%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/#comments Fri, 29 Nov 2019 03:00:35 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=477368 
Get the inside scoop on Anna’s bittersweet dish!
If you’ve been following our latest Frozen II news, you’ll know that OH MY CAFE! is offering special Frozen II-inspired menu items until February at several locations throughout Japan. As diehard Frozen fans ourselves, we just had to get down to the Tokyo location and try it out.
Our Japanese-language reporter Momo Momomura made her way down to the Omotesando location. Right away, you can see that the cafe went all-out, decorating the entire outer wall in Frozen II style.
The first thing you see at the reception desk is a life-size statue of Anna (that you can take pictures of!). Momo is about 5 feet and 2 inches tall, but Anna was a bit taller than her – maybe around 5 feet and 4 inches? How would you measure up to her?
When you enter the actual cafe, you can probably guess who else is awaiting you in life-size statue form: Elsa.
But since Frozen II is mainly from Anna’s perspective, most of the decorations and themes are based around her, like the autumn leaves that symbolize her. A preview of the movie is also projected onto one of the walls.
Of course, we were most interested in the food they had to offer. Each dish was made to represent one of the main characters in the film, and it was clear they made an effort to represent everyone.
However, Anna’s painful memories of her ex-boyfriend are concealed in one of the plates. Maybe you’ve already guessed which one it is? If not, we’ll give you some more time to figure it out while we explain the other character plates.
Olaf’s dish is a meatball plate that comes with salad, potatoes, rice that’s shaped like Olaf, and Norwegian kjøttkaker-style meatballs that are covered in a cream sauce to represent snowballs.
They’re meant to be eaten with the included jam, which may sound like a weird combination, but it was actually delicious!
Elsa’s plate featured a muffin sandwich and mushroom cream “soup pasta.” Most of the plate is light in color to represent the character’s symbolic ice.
Anna’s plate is a sandwich and tomato soup set. If you’re well-versed in both Frozen and Frozen II, you’ll immediately recall the part in “Love is an Open Door” where Anna and Hans talk about finishing each other’s sandwiches.
(Spoiler alert?) As many of you know by now, Hans turned out to not be such a great boyfriend, which is probably why the plate also includes a mini-likeness of Anna looking particularly grumpy.
By the way, the sandwiches include chicken and vegetables encompassed in delicious, melty cheese. Bittersweet memories are delicious.
As we mentioned in our previous Frozen II cafe article, you can reserve ahead of time for an additional 715 yen (US$6.55) fee, which also includes one of four free lunch mats.
And don’t forget to check out the gift shop for exclusive Frozen II goods!
If you have plans to come to Japan before February 2, don’t miss out on the rare opportunity for you and your stomach to enjoy Frozen II to the fullest (pun intended)!
Photos ©SoraNews24
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/11/29/we-visited-tokyos-frozen-ii-collab-cafe-and-may-have-enjoyed-it-more-than-the-movie-%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 477368 ana5 Japanese students and samurai in the spotlight for Guinness World Records Day 【Videos】 https://soranews24.com/2019/11/25/japanese-students-and-samurai-in-the-spotlight-for-guinness-world-records-day-%e3%80%90videos%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2019/11/25/japanese-students-and-samurai-in-the-spotlight-for-guinness-world-records-day-%e3%80%90videos%e3%80%91/#comments Sun, 24 Nov 2019 17:30:23 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=476633 
In Japan, children and adults alike are achieving amazing things.
Do you remember when your teachers would urge you to break a world record during your school days? No? Just me? Oh well. Either way, The Guinness Book of World Records is a household name that you’ve no doubt heard of.
To celebrate the 15th anniversary of Guinness World Records Day, The Guinness World Book gave a shout out to records broken and not yet broken. As you’ve probably deduced from the title, Japan was on the receiving end of the spotlight a couple of times.
On November 14, the spotlight was on a group of 188 Japanese elementary school children at Dai-2 Tsukishima Elementary School in Tokyo, whose collective skills helped them break the world record for the most consecutive double jumps with jump ropes.
▼ Here’s a short video that The Guinness Book released about their journey.
They pulled this off with the help of pro jump roper Hijiki Ikuyama, who has been coaching them in the art of the double jump since summer break. His careful instruction and determination led the school to succeed in their goal and gain world fame.
▼ The moment they realize they’ve broken the record? Priceless.
The Guinness Book also gave a shout out to a record that we’re not sure is going to be broken quite yet (but we’re dying to know the results next year). Samurai Project Japan, also known as Red Samurai, is setting out on the world’s longest journey by kick scooter.
▼ Here’s a bit about how he’s preparing for his journey to introduce Japan to the world.
He will begin his journey in Japan’s northern Hokkaido region during the summer and make his way down to the southernmost tip in Okinawa (hopefully with an airplane or boat ride or two in between, seeing as Japan is an island nation). The journey is largely being funded by a Kickstarter campaign.
▼ Would a bicycle journey be simpler? Probably. Would it break a world record? No.
Red Samurai received a shout out because The Guinness Book has announced this year’s theme to be “Spirit of Adventure“, supporting long-distance and creative adventurers throughout the world. If you want to follow his journey, find him on Instagram! We hope he can break the record.
Sources and images: YouTube/Guinness World Records via PR Times
]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/11/25/japanese-students-and-samurai-in-the-spotlight-for-guinness-world-records-day-%e3%80%90videos%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 476633 SF 43 Mr. Sato warms an egg in his armpit for a delicious Japanese dish【SoraKitchen】 https://soranews24.com/2019/11/20/mr-sato-warms-an-egg-in-his-armpit-for-a-delicious-japanese-dish%e3%80%90sorakitchen%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2019/11/20/mr-sato-warms-an-egg-in-his-armpit-for-a-delicious-japanese-dish%e3%80%90sorakitchen%e3%80%91/#comments Wed, 20 Nov 2019 05:00:37 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=476133 
This may be the easiest recipe we’ve ever attempted…and maybe the grossest too?
If you’re not familiar with tamagokake gohan, or TKG as we call it around the SoraNews24 office, it’s a Japanese dish where a raw egg (yes, raw) is cracked over a steaming bed of rice. Often seasoned with soy sauce, it’s a quick and easy way to make a hot, protein-rich meal component.
Recently, our boss, Yoshio, heard on a morning television program that famous Japanese painter, calligrapher, and apparently sometimes-chef Rosanjin claimed that the egg used in TKG would become more delicious if warmed by human skin for 30 minutes.
▼ Would you believe this face? Mr. Sato didn’t.
But the only way to find the truth behind this rumor was to try it, and that was the task Yoshio handed down to Mr. Sato. Most people would assume that you’d warm it in your hands…
▼ …because that would be the logical thing to do, right?
But if you’ve already read the title to this article, you’ll know that’s not what he did. The thought of not being able to use your mobile phone- and keyboard-typing hands for a full 30 minutes is, after all, unbearable. So Mr. Sato decided to use one of the warmest places on the human body: the armpit. So Mr. Sato wrapped the egg in some foam to protect it from cracking…
….and probably from his B.O….
…and then it was time to go into his armpit.
▼ In order to have full use of both arms, he taped it to his bare chest.
Mr. Sato decided to pass the 30 long minutes by doing one of his favorite things: playing a game. Isn’t it great to get paid for this?
▼ By the way, we’re not sure why he was shirtless for this.
His game of choice was a battlefield game where his characters kept getting crushed. “Am I too weak or are they too strong?” he pondered. “How can I level up and get stronger faster? Someone help me,” he further lamented.
▼ We’ve all been there, Mr. Sato.
Soon enough, the 30 minutes were up. Mr. Sato carefully unwrapped the egg and checked to see how it had changed.
▼ Yep, still looks like an egg. Maybe the inside will be different?
And so Mr. Sato cracked the egg onto his bed of microwaved rice.
Preparations complete, Mr. Sato decided to spend no more time looking and more eating.
▼ This is the point where the TKG fan club is drooling and the “Oh my god you’re actually going to eat a raw egg?” club comes to a split in the road.
▼ What do you think, Mr. Sato? Was Rosanjin right?
“Well, this is just TKG with a warm egg,” he concluded simply.
So, yeah, warming the egg in your armpit before making tamagokake gohan doesn’t make it taste bad, but it doesn’t really make it taste any better either. If you’re looking for an excuse to rip off your shirt like Mr. Sato, we guess “I’m following the cooking advice of the great artists Rosanjin!” is as good as any, even if it doesn’t produce results quite as delicious as our recipes for leftover sushi fried rice or meatball stew.
Photos ©SoraNews24
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/11/20/mr-sato-warms-an-egg-in-his-armpit-for-a-delicious-japanese-dish%e3%80%90sorakitchen%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 476133 SF 23 We try to guess all of the pieces in Spain’s “Candy Sushi” https://soranews24.com/2019/11/13/we-try-to-guess-all-of-the-pieces-in-spains-candy-sushi/ https://soranews24.com/2019/11/13/we-try-to-guess-all-of-the-pieces-in-spains-candy-sushi/#comments Wed, 13 Nov 2019 02:00:31 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=475184 
Can you guess all of the types of sushi? (Spoiler: we couldn’t.)
When Ikuna Kamezawa from our editing staff made a trip to Spain, she noticed a candy store that sold products by Chupa Chups. If you’ve been to Japan before, then you’ve probably seen Chupa Chups lollipops everywhere; Japanese people love them so much that they’ve made accessories for them.
That’s when Kamezawa noticed Chupa Chups sells more than just lollipops – a whole lot more. What caught her eye almost immediately was something called “Candy Sushi.”
▼ Appropriately placed next to the advent calendars.
“What? Candy sushi? That’s not right,” Kamezawa thought. Sushi candy would make much more sense, or “candy made to look like sushi,” but “candy sushi” was just outright wrong.
▼ It’s not sushi, and it’s never fun to share candy.
Kamezawa’s curiosity couldn’t be satisfied until she bought it, so buy it she did. 28 pieces, with a total of nine different types of “sushi” awaited her judgment.
▼ All of this mystery for just 3.5 euros (US$3.86).
She had to admit that it did look a bit like sushi from the top, but it was difficult to tell exactly which kind of sushi each piece was supposed to represent. That’s when she realized each kind of sushi was labeled on the back of the package.
▼ Can you guess what each type is? Start keeping score.
The first was this fishy looking piece of candy, which makes sense, since most sushi is made with fish. “Maybe kids would enjoy this more than I would,” Kamezawa thought, turning it over thoughtfully with a fork.
▼ The sushi rice is made with marshmallow. Adorable.
The answer is: “Candy Nigiri.” Of course. How could she not see?
▼ Onto the second one. What do you think it is?
“This looks like a battleship,” Kamezawa thought. That’s not even a sushi, though! However, it was hard for her to see it as anything else. The answer is “Candy Maki,” or wrapped sushi.
▼ Mystery candy sushi number three: this is a tough one.
The bright green and pink-wrapped pieces of sushi looked like futomaki, or larger versions of the “candy maki” to Kamezawa. Wrong! They’re “California rolls.”
▼ If you look closely at the details of these pieces, it should be pretty easy.
The answer is “candy ebi,” or candy shrimp. They’re actually marshmallows.
▼ The last one was easy, but we bet you won’t be able to guess this one.
Kamezawa thought they looked just like snap peas, though she couldn’t figure out what they had to do with sushi. It turns out she was close: they’re “candy edamame.”
▼ The next one is this long, red stick.
“Ginger?” Kamezawa guessed. The correct answer, as you might have realized, is “candy kani,” or crab.
▼ Just two more! Can you guess what this ball of sushi goodness is?
Kamezawa couldn’t see it as anything else than a fried dango, but maybe you can see it for what it really is: “candy ikura,” or roe.
▼ The final one: what on Earth could this be?
This green gummy loaded with black and white specks is supposed to represent “uramaki,” or sushi that has nori seaweed on the inside rather than the outside. Kamezawa had a hard time seeing this, and so did we, to be honest.
▼ Bonus: What do you think these gummy strings represent?
The answer is “koikuchi,” which we’ve guessed to mean soy sauce. That completes our candy sushi set.
▼ What a ride that was.
While we can’t say it reminded us of sushi in any way, we have to admire its artistic beauty. If you had to compare it to anything related to sushi, you could go so far as to call it a plate of “Picasso sushi.”
▼ Here’s the back of the package, for all of you doubters.
How many did you guess correctly? Did you have fun with Kamezawa’s quiz? Though it was a bit perplexing to figure out, Kamezawa admitted it was fun and entertaining to see this representation of Japanese culture in one of Japan’s most beloved international candy brands.
Need to find peace of mind after this mind-boggling quiz? Follow up your candy sushi with a candy zen garden.
Photos ©SoraNews24
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/11/13/we-try-to-guess-all-of-the-pieces-in-spains-candy-sushi/feed/ 0 475184 plate Japanese pop star Kyary Pamyu Pamyu lashes out at Shibuya Halloween partiers https://soranews24.com/2019/11/06/japanese-pop-star-kyary-pamyu-pamyu-lashes-out-at-shibuya-halloween-partiers/ https://soranews24.com/2019/11/06/japanese-pop-star-kyary-pamyu-pamyu-lashes-out-at-shibuya-halloween-partiers/#comments Wed, 06 Nov 2019 13:00:41 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=474080 
Someone doesn’t think blasting EDM in the streets is a good pon pon wei to celebrate Halloween.
Let’s face it: people either love Halloween in Shibuya or they hate it. Some think it’s a great way for people to mingle and express creativity while others blast it for its lack of security and, well, certain other incidents.
Japanese pop star Kyary Pamyu Pamyu made it quite clear to the world that she is in the Halloween haters group with a Tweet that inspired over 50,000 responses.
たまたま帰り道渋谷通らなきゃいけなくて若者たち見てたんだけどハロウィンいつからこんなに治安が悪くなったんだ？バイクの音ふかしたり爆音でEDMかけたりめちゃめちゃダサイ。クラブに行け！！！知らんけど！！！！！！！！
— きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ (@pamyurin) October 31, 2019
The tweet, which she posted in the early hours of the morning on November 1, reads:
“It just so happened I had to go through Shibuya on my way home [on Halloween night] and I saw all of the young people. When the heck did Halloween become so chaotic? It’s super uncool for people to be revving their motorcycle engines and blasting EDM. Go a club!! That’s what I think!!!!!!!!”
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s very open opinion inspired some very open support among fans and netizens alike.
“Say it louder!”
“No one can take their kids out if it’s like this.”
“Wow, it’s been a while since Kyary got angry.”
“Seriously, this. I think they have the wrong idea about what Halloween is supposed to be like.”
“They cracked down on the rules this year, so this is pretty safe [as far as Halloween goes], actually!”
We can’t say we blame her for calling it chaotic seeing as nine people were arrested in Shibuya on Halloween night this year, but we also can’t get enough of Japan’s unique spin on Halloween costumes, like the “Jimi” costumes meetup.
It’s not really our place to to deny Kyary Pamyu Pamyu her opinion, but at least now we know not to get in her way if she’s going through one of Tokyo’s most hopping Halloween districts on All Hallow’s Eve.
Sources: Twitter/@pamyurin via Hachima Kikou
Top image ©SoraNews24
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/11/06/japanese-pop-star-kyary-pamyu-pamyu-lashes-out-at-shibuya-halloween-partiers/feed/ 0 474080 SF 31 Pokémon Cafe releases limited-time Pokémon Starter menu ahead of Sword and Shield release https://soranews24.com/2019/11/01/pokemon-cafe-releases-limited-time-pokemon-starter-menu-ahead-of-sword-and-shield-release/ https://soranews24.com/2019/11/01/pokemon-cafe-releases-limited-time-pokemon-starter-menu-ahead-of-sword-and-shield-release/#comments Fri, 01 Nov 2019 01:00:46 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=473217 
Which Starter will you have for your starter?
Pokémon fans worldwide are already amped up for the game series’ latest instalment, “Pokémon Sword and Shield,” which will be released in Japan on November 15. And just in case you’re worrying about not having anywhere to wear your new Pikashu makeup, we’ve got the perfect place for you to go.
To celebrate and give fans a taste (pun fully intended) of what they can expect in the game, the Official Pokémon Cafe (located in Tokyo and Osaka) are releasing special Sword and Shield Pokémon Starter Plates. Each plate is designed after one of the game’s three new Starters, and they all look absolutely scrumptious.
▼ The new Grass type starter is: Grookey!
This is the Grookey Melty Pie Stew. You’re supposed to use Grookey’s signature stick to poke a hole into a flaky pie crust to reveal the delicious stew beneath.
▼ And here’s the Fire type: Scorbunny.
Scorbunny’s Flame Energy Tomato and Meatball Plate includes protein-packed meatballs and edible flame figures that are said to give you all of this cute bunny’s energy. It also comes with a salad and rice decorated to look like the Fire starter.
▼ Last up is Sobble, the Water type starter.
Sobble‘s signature plate is a Berry Berry Fruit Sandwich. Your Sobble-like sandwich comes with whipped cream sandwiched between two pieces of blue bread along with an aesthetic serving of blueberries.
Each limited-edition plate costs 1,848 yen (US$16.97). Also, if you order a drink with your Starter plate, you’ll get one of six random clear coasters that you can also take home as a souvenir! Only five designs have been revealed, so the sixth one is a mystery.
▼ What do you think the secret design is?
This campaign will run from November 15, 2019 to January 17, 2020. If you want to get in on this special deal, make a reservation (it’s required!!) at either the Tokyo or Osaka location and get your stomach ready!
Restaurant information
Pokémon Cafe Nihonbashi, Tokyo | ポケモンカフェ（東京・日本橋)
Address: Tokyo-to, Chuo-ku, Nihonbashi Nichome 11-2, Nihonbashi Takashimaya S.C. East Annex 5F
東京都中央区日本橋二丁目11-2 日本橋高島屋S.C.東館5F
Open: 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Reservations
Pokémon Cafe Shinsaibashi, Osaka | ポケモンカフェ（大阪・心斎橋）
Address: Osaka-fu, Osaka-shi, Chuo-ku, Shinsaibashi-suji 1-7-1, Daimaru Shinsaibashi Main Building 9F
大阪府大阪市中央区心斎橋筋1-7-1 大丸心斎橋店 本館9階
Open: 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Reservations
Sources and images: PR Times
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/11/01/pokemon-cafe-releases-limited-time-pokemon-starter-menu-ahead-of-sword-and-shield-release/feed/ 0 473217 eatyourself Rock star Yoshiki donates 10 million yen to relief from Typhoon Hagibis https://soranews24.com/2019/10/31/rock-star-yoshiki-donates-10-million-yen-to-relief-from-typhoon-hagibis/ https://soranews24.com/2019/10/31/rock-star-yoshiki-donates-10-million-yen-to-relief-from-typhoon-hagibis/#comments Thu, 31 Oct 2019 02:00:16 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=473055 
Yoshiki continues to lend a helping hand to the community.
Besides being the leader of the legendary Japanese rock band X Japan, an accomplished pianist, and a talented songwriter and composer, Yoshiki continues to draw the public eye with his humanitarian efforts.
Japan recently got slammed by Typhoon Hagibis, a monster storm that devastated with flooding and landslides. When Yoshiki heard about the damage done to his home country, he donated a whopping 10 million yen through his foundation (Yoshiki Foundation America) to the Japanese Red Cross.
This isn’t the first time he’s donated by any means; he donated the same amount to help his hometown recover from Typhoon Faxai in September, and 10 more million was donated to Kyoto Animation in August.
While speaking publicly about humanitarian efforts is a given in other countries, it’s still something kept on the down-low in Japan. Yoshiki is trying to set an example with his actions and called for others to do the same in a Tweet (translation below):
僕らみたいな立場の人たちは、寄付のことをどんどん公開した方がいいんです。災害への認知度、そして支援の輪が広げるために。
アメリカに長く住んでいますが、ハリウッドでは普通のことです。
みんなで支援の輪を広げよう！#ＹＯＳＨＩＫＩ 台風被災者支援1000万円..https://t.co/knbHE81b6s— Yoshiki (@YoshikiOfficial) October 18, 2019
“People in our position should be more open about their donations. It raises awareness about disasters and broadens the reach of aid. I’ve been living in America for many years now, and this is a common thing in Hollywood. Let’s further the reach of aid!”
Yoshiki also went one step further by volunteering on-site in one of the disasters when he visited his home nation for a concert and his Yoshikimino fashion show. Despite his packed schedule, he made an effort to help out directly, and his fans love him for it.
Netizens responded with appreciation and fervor, praising the rock star for his valiant efforts.
“I can understand where he’s coming from, and he’s putting it into action.”
“I don’t get people who say he’s just doing this for more attention and money. If doing good things gets you more attention, then I think that’s a good thing. People with money should ‘get more attention’ like this without hesitating.”
“Thank you always.”
While we pray no more large disasters displace those living in Japan, we can continue to hope (and with good reason) that Yoshiki will be there to help them get back on their feet.
Sources: Yahoo! News via My Game News Flash, Twitter/@YoshikiOfficial
Images: PR Times
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/10/31/rock-star-yoshiki-donates-10-million-yen-to-relief-from-typhoon-hagibis/feed/ 0 473055 yd-1 Yoshikitty celebrates 10th birthday by becoming a solid gold figurine https://soranews24.com/2019/10/21/yoshikitty-celebrates-10th-birthday-by-becoming-a-solid-gold-figurine/ https://soranews24.com/2019/10/21/yoshikitty-celebrates-10th-birthday-by-becoming-a-solid-gold-figurine/#comments Sun, 20 Oct 2019 15:00:28 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=471339 
Maybe we should all celebrate our birthday like Yoshikitty.
It’s been ten years since Yoshikitty came to life thanks to Japan Music Agency Co., Ltd. (JMA), Sanrio, and X Japan’s leader Yoshiki. They’ve given us endless joy with plushies, t-shirts, face masks, and so much more. They’ve been in the running to be Sanrio’s most popular character for years, and considering the passion of X Japan fans, we don’t doubt that trend will stop.
Now it’s time for Yoshikitty’s 10th birthday, and they’re making a grand gesture of it.
▼ “Happy birthday to me!”
Fans of both Yoshikitty and Yoshiki surely know that they don’t do things cheap, and only the finest quality will do. Maybe that’s why they teamed up with Tanaka Ginza Jewelry to make a very special product. “K18 Yoshikitty” is a 1.6-inch figurine made of 1.2 ounces of solid 18 karat gold.
▼ Yes, entirely of gold.
K18 Yoshikitty features Yoshikitty’s signature hairstyle, eye shadow, and coat with the official X Japan logo on the back. It also comes in its own case. Only 100 of these babies are available, but they don’t come cheap. One figure costs a staggering 1,100,000 yen (US$10,130), tax and special case included. That must not seem like a lot to someone who casually donates 10 million yen to a good cause.
▼ 18-karat cuteness doesn’t come easy, but it’s worth it.
If you’re interested in purchasing your own K18 Yoshikitty, you only have until March 31, 2020 to do so. They’re available for sale exclusively at Tanaka Ginza’s direct-managed stores and online shop.
Happy birthday to Yoshikitty, even if most of us can’t afford you!
Source, images: PR Times
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/10/21/yoshikitty-celebrates-10th-birthday-by-becoming-a-solid-gold-figurine/feed/ 0 471339 yoshikitty3 Japanese pizza chain releases spooky Zombie Pizzas for Halloween https://soranews24.com/2019/10/19/japanese-pizza-chain-releases-spooky-zombie-pizzas-for-halloween/ https://soranews24.com/2019/10/19/japanese-pizza-chain-releases-spooky-zombie-pizzas-for-halloween/#comments Sat, 19 Oct 2019 03:00:58 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=470925 
Aoki’s Pizza is back at it again with their annual zombie pizza.
You may remember Aoki Pizza’s Halloween pizza from a couple of years ago; we’re here to tell you about the first zombie pizza of Reiwa. This year’s Zombie Pizza from Aoki’s Pizza is called “Chimamire Zombino,” or “Blood-covered Zombino.” It looks like a zombie emerging from the pizza crust Earth to search for human flesh with its olive eyes.
▼ Oh, and it’s got sausage fingers. Yum, protein.
While this year’s zombie pizza may seem less gory than previous years’ (see photos below), 2019’s spooky pie is arguably the healthiest of them all. It’s basically a prosciutto salad with lettuce, sausages, and the teriyaki chicken sauce base that Aoki’s is famous for.
▼ Here’s a Tweet from when the pizza went on sale September 26, complete with a haunted house background.
おはようございます
#血まみれゾンビーノ
今日からご注文できます
(気が早い)
お作りするのにお時間頂きますので事前予約をオススメいたします— アオキーズピザ
モッツァレラ
(@aokis_pizza) September 26, 2019
If you’re not familiar with Aoki’s Pizza, it’s a Japanese delivery pizza chain that serves mainly the areas of Aichi, Gifu, Shizuoka, and Mie prefectures. Should you happen to be in the area and are interested in having one of these horrifying meals delivered to you, you’ll have to pay 2,600 yen (US$23.92) for a medium or 4,200 yen for a large. All pies come with a pizza cutter included.
▼ This is what the 2018 version looked like. Terrifying, much?
Between Aoki’s Black Thunder pizza and Meat Mountain, we don’t think we’ll ever get bored with this highly original chain. We’d even so go far as to say they’ve served up this Halloween’s most appropriate meal. Grab yours before Halloween!
Sources: Value Press, Twitter/@aokis_pizza
Images: Value Press
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/10/19/japanese-pizza-chain-releases-spooky-zombie-pizzas-for-halloween/feed/ 0 470925 zombie1 Japan to release a Complimenting Card Game through crowdfunding https://soranews24.com/2019/10/14/japan-to-release-a-complimenting-card-game-through-crowdfunding/ https://soranews24.com/2019/10/14/japan-to-release-a-complimenting-card-game-through-crowdfunding/#comments Sun, 13 Oct 2019 16:00:08 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=469932 
Boost your Japanese level and your motivation.
When you’re busy dealing with the stress of every day life, whether it be school or work, sometimes you just need to give and receive a good compliment. Osaka’s four-day-long “compliment bar” tested this theory with some teary-eyed results.
Another group is aiming for a more permanent solution, though. A crowdfunding campaign on Japanese site Makuake is currently raising money to produce a card game called Home Jouzu (meaning “Good at Compliments“). This game is all about complimenting your partner and raising each other’s spirits.
▼ It’s a win-win situation for everyone!
The rules are easy enough that anyone from children to adults can play it. When it’s your turn to do the complimenting, you roll the dice and draw the number of cards indicated by the rules. Your objective is to give your partner a compliment using all the cards you just drew.
▼ There are furigana pronunciation guides for all of the kanji characters so it’s easy to understand.
If your partner likes the compliment you gave them, they can give you a little “thank you” card. They’re divided into “great” and “excellent,” so there’s no way to turn down a compliment.
▼ Be grateful for every compliment. Every. Compliment.
The creators of Home Jouzu aimed to raise 100,000 yen in 30 days, but as of Day 11, they’ve raised over five times that amount. It turns out a lot of people like the idea of dealing out positivity. The makers have conducted test runs of the game with couples, office workers, and students. At the university where the test run was conducted, over 90 percent of the participants rated the game as being fun.
▼ Actual students playing the game and enjoying it.
Home Jouzu sounds like a great way for players to raise each other’s spirits, and if you’re studying Japanese, you might even learn some new vocabulary. The game is still taking crowdfunding donations, but it will officially go on sale on November 22 for 2,750 yen (US$25.50). The benefit of donating to the fund is that you’ll get it before everyone else.
▼ Sadly, the cat is not included.
If you’re looking for more card games that are beneficial to society, check out this one about disaster prevention awareness made by the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
Sources: Net Lab, Makuake
Images: Makuake
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