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Mike

With nothing better to do in his native Ohio, Mike took a leave of absence from all responsibilities in life and came to Japan for the first time in 2006. After several years of what amounted to an extended vacation with occasional Japanese lessons, circumstances led Mike to finally settle down in Tokyo and get serious about life in 2009. He’s worked at magazines, a Japanese ad agency, and currently works in the entertainment industry. He also co-founded and writes for the humorous Japan news website Tokyodesu.com.

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Posted by Mike (Page 2)

We check out Kawaichi, a crazy good soba shop in Akihabara

Mike
Aug 18, 2016
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The shop is a bit of a walk from the station, but the superb soba at this Akihabara eatery is worth the trip.

Japan
(Akihabara • food • soba)

Korean mobile game featured eerily similar gameplay to Pokémon Go…in 2011

Mike
Aug 12, 2016

Korean netizens unearth a Korean mobile game that seems to be a blatant ripoff of the wildly popular Pokémon Go, except it predates Niantic’s megahit by five years.

Korea
(apps • games • Pokemon • Pokémon GO)

We try out McDonald’s Japan’s new Banana Tart McFlurry on Japan’s unofficial “Banana Day”

Mike
Aug 10, 2016

Marking Japan’s unofficial “Banana Day” celebration of bananas, McDonald’s Japan offers us a sneak preview of its upcoming summer exclusive McFlurry flavor.

Japan
(desserts • McDonald's • McFlurry • snacks • summer)

Singapore food stall is declared the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant in the world

Mike
Aug 8, 2016

Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle, an unassuming street vendor in a Singapore open-air food court, has officially been crowned the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant.

SE Asia
(B gourmet • food • Michelin Guide)

Image of Godzilla designs past and present show newest Japanese film’s monster is the tallest yet

Mike
Aug 6, 2016

A new graphic shows that Godzilla has been on some serious nuclear-infused ‘roids the last 60 years.

Japan, USA
(Godzilla • Godzilla Resurgence • kaiju)

Former Ghibli producer has (somewhat) harsh words about the Ghibli working environment

Mike
Aug 4, 2016

Former Ghibli producer Hirokatsu Kihara gave an interview with Dazed magazine, and some of his insights paint the famous studio in a negative light.

Japan
(anime • controversy • Hayao Miyazaki • Studio Ghibli)

“Long Live China!”: Chinese players hijack Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine Pokémon Go gym

Mike
Aug 1, 2016

Some Chinese Pokémon Go players have apparently teamed up to conquer the in-game gym located in Tokyo’s infamous Yasukuni Shrine.

China, Japan
(apps • China • games • Pokemon • Pokémon GO • video games)

Nagasaki’s Peace Park asks Pokémon Go developer to remove game functionality on park grounds

Mike
Jul 27, 2016

Nagasaki’s Peace Park, a memorial to victims of the atomic bomb attack, has requested that Pokémon Go developer Niantic stop items and monsters from appearing on park grounds.

Japan
(Nagasaki • Nagasaki Peace Park • Pokémon GO)

Love hot springs and tattoos? You won’t want to miss this onsen paradise near Tokyo!

Mike
Jul 27, 2016

Tattooed guests are often turned away at the door at many Japanese hot springs, but a Chiba-area hot spring location is explicitly allowing guests with tattoos, and it’s a multi-floor relaxation paradise to boot!

Japan
(hot springs • onsen • resorts • spas)

The inevitable march of Pokemon Go clones continues as Korean publisher announces “Pororo Go”

Mike
Jul 22, 2016

The production house behind Korea’s hit kid’s show Pororo the Little Penguin recently announced a partnership with a developer to release an augmented reality game called Pororo Go.

Global, Korea
(apps • entertainment • Pokémon GO • Pororo the Little Penguin • TV • video games)

The simple beauty of Japan’s “rock-paper-scissors” culture

Mike
Jul 22, 2016

Whether resolving a dispute, deciding who pays the check for lunch, or simply passing the time, Japan’s “Jan-ken” culture is simple, surprisingly elegant, and a lot of fun.

Japan
(culture • Janken • Rock paper scissor)

Watch an 80-year-old toymaker handcraft beautiful, retro wooden toys

Mike
Jul 17, 2016

80-year-old Masaaki Hiroi has dedicated his life to handcrafting gorgeous wooden toys the old-fashioned way.

Japan
(art • toys • video • YouTube)

Confusion as Imperial official denies rumors that Japan’s Emperor Akihito plans to step down

Mike
Jul 14, 2016

It’s been a whirlwind day in the Japanese media amidst rumors that Emperor Akihito plans to abdicate in the near future, but an Imperial official is now denying these claims.

Japan
(Emperor • Emperor Akihito • news)

Hollywood reportedly wants to make a Pokémon live action film because of, you know, that one game

Mike
Jul 13, 2016

Thanks to Pokémon GO, Hollywood executives are reportedly super-interested (again) in the idea of a live-action Pokémon movie.

Entertainment, Games & Tech, Global
(entertainment • Live action • mobile games • movies • Pokemon • Pokémon GO • video games)

Feast your eyes on this incredibly detailed US$300 Venom Snake statue complete with cute puppy

Mike
Jul 11, 2016

Boutique figure maker Gecco introduces an ultra-detailed statue of Venom Snake from Metal Gear Solid V that will lighten your wallet and make you weep tears of nerd joy.

Entertainment, Global
(figures • Gecco • Konami • Metal Gear • solid snake • toys • video games)

Which is the real winner of McDonald’s Japan v. America burger throwdown? Here’s our taste test!

Mike
Jul 8, 2016

McDonald’s Japan recently introduced two new burgers representing Japan and the U.S. in a sandwich showdown. We conduct a taste test with our Japanese sister site to see which takes burger supremacy.

Japan
(fast food • food • McDonald's • Seiji Nakazawa • taste test)

Well-meaning creator makes nightmare-inducing Thomas the Tank Engine ceiling-crawling abomination

Mike
Jul 6, 2016

A hobbyist has inadvertently given life to an Eldritch horror posing as a Thomas the Tank Engine toy by giving it glowing eyes and the ability to scale walls and ceilings.