Yoshio – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today. Sun, 24 Sep 2023 05:00:24 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/en_rocket_1024.png?w=32 Yoshio – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com 32 32 176746664 28 things that surprised SoraNews24’s Japanese founder on his trip to San Diego https://soranews24.com/2023/09/24/28-things-that-surprised-soranews24s-japanese-founder-on-his-trip-to-san-diego/ https://soranews24.com/2023/09/24/28-things-that-surprised-soranews24s-japanese-founder-on-his-trip-to-san-diego/#comments Sun, 24 Sep 2023 05:00:15 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=636591 
A trip to visit Big Sis takes Yoshio an ocean away from Japan, and in some ways a world apart.
Most of the time, you can find SoraNews24 founder Yoshio at his desk at SN24 HQ in downtown Tokyo, but recently he wasn’t just out of the office, but out of the country, spending two weeks in California. Now back in Japan, he’s made up a list of the things that surprised him as a Japanese visitor on his visit to the U.S.
This August, I spent two weeks visiting my older sister and her family at their house in San Diego. Even though I’d visited San Diego about a half-dozen times before, going there again I found 28 things that surprised me, and today I’m sharing them with you.
Before getting into the list, though, I’ll say that I was really startled by how high prices were overall. In the time I was there, I only ate in a restaurant where you leave a tip once, and almost all of my meals were things we cooked at home, with some takeout sprinkled in here and there. Right now the yen is really weak against the dollar, so as someone from Japan, it felt extra expensive to me. Even if the exchange rate were back at 100 yen to the dollar, though, San Diego isn’t an inexpensive place at all, so budget-wise it was a tough trip.
The weather in San Diego can get really hot, but it’s dry, with hardly any humidity, so compared to the summer in Japan, it’s a lot more comfortable. It makes me want to go back again next summer, as an escape from the muggy heat we get in Japan.
OK, let’s get into the list of 28 things that surprised me, as a Japanese person, in San Diego.
1. People brining their dogs into restaurants and supermarkets like it’s no big thing
In Japan, it’s pretty much the rule that you can’t take pets into stores, and only very few restaurants allow dogs.
2. The screen windows and doors don’t open
You can always expect the screen doors and windows in Japanese homes to be the kind you can slide open, so it was inconvenient having ones that are permanently closed.
▼ American screen windows can’t be slid open.
3. Costco gives out A LOT of samples
Costcos in Japan give out samples too, but it’s almost always something the staff has cooked. Like, say, stir-fried beef and rice, which gives that part of the store a nice meaty aroma. The Costco in America, though, gives out samples of things you don’t need to cook, like candy and drinks, and I was amazed out how many different kinds they give. There were so many that I could get completely full just walking around the store.
4. Costco sells cars
I have never, not even once, seen cars for sale at Costco in Japan.
5. The cotton part of American cotton swabs comes off really easily
Sometimes when I’d be cleaning my ears with an American cotton swab, part of the cotton on the tip would tear off inside my ear. That’s something that almost never happens with the cotton swabs they sell in Japan, which are sturdier. I even gave an American friend of mine some Japanese cotton swabs as a present, and he was really happy with how good they were, so if you get a chance to come to Japan, please try out cotton swabs.
6. The most popular souvenir I brought from Japan were the rice balls
I brought a lot of different food souvenirs for my sister’s family, but the biggest hit was the onigiri (rice balls) I bought at 7-Eleven in Japan. I just picked them up at the 7-Eleven at Narita Airport before I got on the plane, but my sister was so happy, saying “You can’t get Japanese-style rice balls like these in America.”
7. Kura Sushi’s Bikkura Pon isn’t as good of a deal in America
The Japanese conveyor belt sushi chain Kura Sushi has branches in America now too, and just like at their restaurants in Japan, you can get free Bikkura Pon capsule toys depending on how many plates of sushi you eat. In Japan, though, you get one toy for every five plates, but in San Diego, you have to eat 15 plates to get just one Bikkura Pon! I think it should be just five plate in America too.
▼ The Bikkura Pon machine at the San Diego Kura Sushi
▼ Bikkura Pon in Japan
Magnet Gacha Spin at Kurasushihttps://t.co/v5mhSHNXf7 pic.twitter.com/jJ3XO36lh6
— SoraNews24 (@RocketNews24En) July 21, 2022
8. Kura Sushi charges you for green tea
Not just at Kura Suahi, but at all conveyor belt sushi restaurants in Japan, the tea is free, with unlimited refills. Really, it’s understood that at all types of sushi restaurants in Japan, the tea is free. At the San Diego Kura Sushi, though, green tea is $3.80 a cup. I was shocked!
9. The prices at Kura Sushi are really high
In Japan, Kura Sushi’s prices are basically 115 yen ($0.78) a plate. Sure, there are some special items that are 165 yen ($1.12) a plate, or even more, but most of them are 115 yen. On the other hand, in San Diego, the basic sushi plates were $3.50 (514 yen).
10, Kura Sushi USA’s Soy Pepper Roll
This was a nice surprise! In Japan, we don’t have “soy pepper rolls,” at Kura Sushi or anywhere else, but this Soy Pepper Spider Hand Roll was really, really good, and now I wish they sold it at Kura Sushi in Japan too!
11. They charge you for luggage carts at the airport
At airports in Japan, the luggage carts are free, but San Diego International Airport’s departure gate area charges you $7 for a cart, which was a big shock (the carts at the arrival gates are free, though).
12. McDonald’s Apple Pie is different
McDonald’s Japan fries their apple pies, so they’re crispy, so I was surprised to see that McDonald’s America bakes theirs. You get a totally different cooking method depending on which country you’re in.
▼ American McDonald’s Apple Pie
▼ Japanese McDonald’s Apple Pie
▼ Because the Japanese Apple Pies are fried, they make a snapping noise when you cut them with a knife! Take a listen for it in the video here.
13. Long poles sticking up from shopping carts
At some stores in America, there’s a long rod that sticks up from the frame of the shopping carts, to keep people from stealing them. I’ve never seen this in Japan.
14. The hamburger chain Five Guys has all-you-can-eat peanuts
Something else I’ve never seen in Japan: a hamburger chain that gives you all-you-can-eat peanuts!
15. “Telephone” play equipment in the park
I saw this at this one park in San Diego. It’s a piece of play equipment that lets two kids talk to each other from far apart, like an analog telephone. This is a cool idea, and something I’ve never found in a park in Japan.
16. Putting chili powder on watermelon
At the supermarket in San Diego, they sell chili powder right next to the watermelons. I heard that putting chili powder on watermelon is popular with the city’s large Mexican population. In Japan, we just eat watermelon as-is or maybe with some salt. I gave it a try with chili powder, but it tasted a little weird to me.
17. Cucumber water
During my trip, I also spent a night in a hotel in Los Angeles. There was a water cooler in the lobby for guests to use, but I was startled to see a cucumber floating in it! It gave the water a little bit of a cucumber flavor, which was kind of funky. In Japan, you might sometimes find water with lemon or other citrus fruits, but we usually just drink/serve it plain.
18. You can use credit cards at laundromats
It’s really convenient how you can use credit cards at laundromats in America! There are hardly any in Japan that take credit cards, and at most of them you have to pay in coins only.
19. The 99 Cents Only Store doesn’t sell much for 99 cents
I went to the 99 Cents Only Store, but they hardly have anything that costs 99 cents. Almost everything is ore expensive. Yeah, recently in Japan 100 yen shops like Daiso have some items that are more than 100 yen too, but the majority of their things are still 100 yen.
20. These crazy sodas
Won’t find these for sale in Japan!
21. Penny press souvenir machines
These are pretty cool! We don’t have them in Japan, but after making one at an aquarium in San Diego, I wish we did.
22. Discounts for retired military members
One day, we drove to Cabrillo National Monument. Usually, they charge $20 for parking, but because my sister’s husband, who’s American, used to be in the military, our parking was free. My sister says that a lot of places in America, as a show of respect, offer discounts for former military members, but that doesn’t really happen in Japan for former Self-Defense Force members.
23. American toilet and kitchen fixtures are so high
Compared to houses in Japan, houses in America are designed with really high fixtures. My niece is still in elementary school, and my sister says it’s hard for her to sit on the toilet. After two weeks I started to get used to how high the fixtures are in America, though, and when I came back to Japan, I got reverse culture shock from how low they are here! Now I don’t know which seems easier for me to use.
24. There’s a gym where everyone who’s shopping at the shopping center next door can see you
We went to a shopping mall that had a gym attached, and you could totally see into the place. I’ve never seen a gym in Japan with this kind of open layout.
25. Nobody was using swim rings at the beach
When I go to the beach in Japan, I see lots of kids who are playing in the water wearing swim rings, but I didn’t see even a single kid with one at the beach in San Diego. I wonder why that is?
26. There are traffic jams at schools in the morning
In Japan, we don’t have a custom of parents driving their kids to school. That’s really common in America, though, and I was startled to see traffic jams in front of schools in the morning from all cars of parents who were dropping off their kids.
27. Toilet seat covers are easy to find in American public restrooms
It was nice to see how many public restrooms have disposable paper toilet seat covers. You can sometimes find them at restrooms in Japan too, but in recent years they’re more likely to have a cleaner dispenser for you to squirt onto a piece of toilet paper and wipe the seat off with instead.
28. Trader Joe sells orchids for pretty cheap prices
Like I said, pretty much everything in San Diego seemed expensive, but something that didn’t was the orchids at Trader Joe’s. In Japan, orchids are really pricey, since we use them for special occasions and celebrations, and they’d be a lot more than the $25 Trader Joe’s was asking for the ones in this photo.
And that wraps up Yoshio’s list of surprises as a Japanese visitor to San Diego. They say the best trips are the ones that leave you with a newfound appreciation both for where you went and where you’re from, and that looks to be what’s happened with Yoshio. Odds are he’ll be back in San Diego again begore long to experience new surprises, but in the meantime if he starts getting nostalgic for America, at least we’ve got some extensive Japan hot dog recommendations for him.
Photos ©SoraNews24
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
]]> https://soranews24.com/2023/09/24/28-things-that-surprised-soranews24s-japanese-founder-on-his-trip-to-san-diego/feed/ 0 636591 98F9A90A-A47D-4D63-8BEB-5A1879AC5DC0 Cat Sushi figures return to Japanese vending machines! Our collection (and lives) are complete https://soranews24.com/2014/09/26/cat-sushi-figures-return-to-japanese-vending-machines-our-collection-and-lives-are-complete/ https://soranews24.com/2014/09/26/cat-sushi-figures-return-to-japanese-vending-machines-our-collection-and-lives-are-complete/#comments Fri, 26 Sep 2014 07:30:20 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=183872 
We recently added to our collection of weird Japanese toys by buying a couple of Doggy Bread Figures. But while the canine fans in the RocketNews24 office were happy, our resident cat lovers couldn’t help but sigh in sad reminiscence of the good old days when they could decorate their shelves with cat sushi.
Well, the worlds of Japanese cuisine and cute kitties have once again collided, as there’s a new batch of really (and surreally) cute sushi cat figures on the market, and we’ve already compiled a complete set.
Tracking down the elusive toys was no easy task, though. They’re available from gachapon machines, Japan’s class of vending machines that dispense capsules with all manner of trinkets inside. We started our hunt by contacting the manufacturer, Kitan Club, who told us we could probably find sushi kitty-stocked machines at kitschy retailers like Tokyu Hands and Village Vanguard.
Unfortunately, our calls to both chains turned up none that had sushi cats for sale. We knew from experience, though, that the Akihabara branch of electronics giant Yodobashi Camera has a gigantic gachapon bank, so we picked up the phone again, and were informed that sure enough, we could find what we were looking for there.
The newest batch of sushi cats, officially called the Nekozushi Nyaata line, is available as either key chains or strap-free decorations. We were determined to take all five cats home with us, and since we don’t need that many key-chains, we opted for the decoration type.
With that decision taken care of, we started pumping coins into the machine (each one sells for 400 yen, equal to about US$3.75), and didn’t stop until 10 tries later, when our kitty collection was finally complete!
Once it was, we were so excited we couldn’t wait to crack open the capsules, so we arranged an impromptu photo session next to the Kandagawa River.
▼ Nyata, the designated main character of the non-existent cat sushi saga, is a vegetarian with an ise ebi (Japanese spiny lobster) on his back.
▼ Nyata’s mischievous and energetic friend Margo, wrapped in a bit of egg
▼ Section Chief Sakekawa, who’s affectionately known as “Shakebu,” shoulders a slice of salmon (called either sake or shake in Japanese) and has been working at Cat Sushi Inc. for 35 years.
▼ Wasabi, the young owner of the Cat Sushi Marketplace, which was started by his grandfather
▼ And finally, the lovely Toromi, who has recently fallen in love for the first time, and probably has a randoseru full of toro, or fatty tuna.
Each capsule also contains a flier, showing you the whole team lined up.
But now that we’ve got our set, we can take our own group photos!
▼ Up close, their faces are surprisingly detailed, and also predictably adorable.
So thanks again, Kitan Club! Nyanta and his pals may not satisfy our cravings for sushi, but having them in the office sure brings smiles to our faces, even when our stomachs are rumbling.
Photos: RocketNews24
]]> https://soranews24.com/2014/09/26/cat-sushi-figures-return-to-japanese-vending-machines-our-collection-and-lives-are-complete/feed/ 0 183872 拡大P1110365 p1110349 P1110285 P1110282 P1110278 P1110280 P1110296 P1110318 P1110336 P1110328 P1110329 P1110326 IMG_9968 P1110339 P1110344 P1110349 P1110354 P1110355 P1110365 P1110307 P1110309 P1110313 拡大P1110365 Our reporter goes looking for fans at Comic-Con…in his Sailor Venus cosplay outfit https://soranews24.com/2014/07/28/our-reporter-goes-looking-for-fans-at-comic-conin-his-sailor-venus-cosplay-outfit/ https://soranews24.com/2014/07/28/our-reporter-goes-looking-for-fans-at-comic-conin-his-sailor-venus-cosplay-outfit/#comments Mon, 28 Jul 2014 08:00:52 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=168498 
Our Japanese correspondent Yoshio recently made the trip for Tokyo to San Diego to attend Comic-Con for the first time. After seeing all the fans in costume showing their enthusiasm for their favorite series, Yoshio got bitten by the cosplay bug and decided to dress up too.
But which character to cosplay as? He knew he wanted someone Japanese, to represent his home country. Someone strong and just, with a kind heart. And while he was at it, why not add long, flowing hair and miniskirt to the checklist?
In other words, Yoshio spent a day at Comic-Con rocking a Sailor Venus outfit.
We’ll let Yoshio take it from here:
After I woke up on the second day of the con, I was still on the fence about whether or not to go through with the cosplay. I’d already seen so many great costumes at Comic-Con, and I didn’t want to make a bad impression on all of the fans there.
But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I had to do this. Cosplay is an important part of Japanese pop culture, after all! So after I picked up a bento boxed lunch at a Japanese grocery store in the La Jolla neighborhood, I got my makeup ready and drove to the San Diego Convention Center.
When I entered the Convention Center, it was so crowded that for a second I thought I was back at Shinjuku Sanchome Station near the RocketNews24 offices in Tokyo! Since I wanted to change into my costume as soon as possible, I headed for the bathroom right away, and at first I thought I was in luck, since there was exactly one unoccupied stall.
Well, it was unoccupied if you don’t count the massive turd that someone left floating in the bowl. The toilet was busted and wouldn’t flush, and aside from being grossed out, I was worried about dropping any part of my costume in there, so I left and started searching for another restroom.
▼ Yoshio, still dressed as Yoshio.
Finding an open stall turned out to be as tough as finding an empty parking space in downtown San Diego on Preview Night. It took an hour to finally locate one, and I was happy to see it didn’t contain a floating turd! Unfortunately, the toilet was this time full of pee, and once again it wouldn’t flush.
Still, I figured this was as good a chance as I was going to get, so being extra careful, I slipped out of my street clothes and into my sailor costume. There obviously wasn’t a mirror in the stall, so I used the camera on my iPad to check how I looked.
After about 10 minutes, Sailor Venus (male version) was ready to go! Since my head is kind of big, the wig barely fit, and was so tight it was painful. Still, I decided to bear with it since it really ties the outfit together, and since I’d come all the way to Comic-Con, I was prepared to go all out in the name of the moon/Venus.
First, I decided to show off my costume in the main hall. Even before I got there, though, I came across a girl in the hallway cosplaying as Sailor Moon! I quickly asked her to take a couple of pictures with me.
We snapped the pic and I said “Thanks!” For some reason, though, she seemed kind of upset, and walked off, leaving me feeling a little bit guilty, even if I don’t know what I did wrong. Is there some secret cosplay code of conduct that I’m not aware of here?
Still, I decided to carry on, and as I walked around the hall and checked out the booths, I could hear people commenting on my costume.
“Man!”
“You gotta respect that guy’s guts.”
“Oh mu gosh!!!”
“Ewwwwwww!!!!!!”
“You’re so adorable.”
“Beautiful!”
Small kids, though, just stared at me with their mouths open. I smiled back, but that just made them turn away. Come to think of it, you don’t see many guys crossplaying as female characters at Comic-Con, even though a lot of women dress up as guys. The kids who saw me were probably thinking, “Who is this nut job?”
The adults were a little more talkative. I actually had a security guard tell me, “You’re the most beautiful Sailor Venus I’ve seen today!” I hardly saw anyone else cosplaying as her though, so I think the compliment might have just been some empty flattery.
As the afternoon went on, I heard about a Sailor Moon screening being held at the Marriot Hotel at 4:45, so I started walking over there. On the way, I passed by an African-American guy who suddenly gave me a high-five. As the sound of our palms slapping rang out, I felt a rush of confidence about my costume. I just wish I could have gotten a photo of that moment.
Next, my eyes happened to meet those of a fellow Sailor Moon cosplayer, this Sailor Jupiter who looked about a hundred times cuter than I did. “Let’s take a picture together!” she said, and I was overcome with happiness at making my second friend in San Diego. I knew coming to Comic-Con was a good idea!
Eventually, I got to the Marriot, and saw they were selling official Comic-Con t-shirts! There was a huge line, but I wasn’t going home without one. There were sold out of smalls, but after 10 minutes, I had my wardrobe addition in hand.
Unfortunately, the Sailor Moon screening turned out to be nothing special.
It was just a room showing the Sailor Moon anime, uncut and subtitled in English. I stuck around until the end, but sadly, only about half the seats were filled, and there were hardly any cosplayers for me to hang out with.
Still, it was a productive half-day as Sailor Venus. I had about a half-dozen people talk to me about my costume, and I think I made on impact on the psyches of many more. Whether good or bad, I can’t say!
Photos © RocketNews24
]]> https://soranews24.com/2014/07/28/our-reporter-goes-looking-for-fans-at-comic-conin-his-sailor-venus-cosplay-outfit/feed/ 0 168498 P1000315 P1000315 P1000222 P1090742 P1000265 P1000264 P1000285 P1000284 P1000290 P1000293 P1000302 P1000301 P1000286 P1000288 P1000289 P1000295 P1000340 P1000336 P1000308 P1000307 P1000246 P1000316 P1000298 P1000299 P1000312 P1000318 P1000328 P1000330 P1000313 P1000314 P1000315 The amazing cosplayers of (the first two days of) Comic-Con 2014 https://soranews24.com/2014/07/26/the-amazing-cosplayers-of-the-first-two-days-of-comic-con-2014/ https://soranews24.com/2014/07/26/the-amazing-cosplayers-of-the-first-two-days-of-comic-con-2014/#comments Sat, 26 Jul 2014 01:49:55 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=168223 
Our Japanese reporter Yoshio is currently attending his first ever Comic-Con in San Diego. After completing such epic quests as flying across the Pacific and finding a parking spot near the Convention Center, he’s been enjoying Preview Night plus the first two days of the show.
But while Comic-Con is the world’s biggest celebration of comics, animation, movies, video games, and all other sorts of 2-D fiction, Yoshio’s been blown away by something very real and three-dimensional: all of the amazing cosplayers!
Without further ado, we present How Yoshio Spent His First Comic-Con, Part 1: Gawking at Cosplay.
This helmet with exposed chin is half Gundam, half Robocop.
“Eh, I’m really only into invisible machines.”
Is this Darth Vader’s scarred complexion making Yoshio regret having Papa John’s pizza for dinner after Preview Night?
There’s no mistaking the designs from Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland.
Mutton chops? Check!
We’re a little sad Wolverine didn’t bring Ponyo with him on his way back from Hiroshima, though.
“Hey, can I borrow this until the end of the con?”
With Sailor Moon available on DVD in the U.S. for the first time in years, plus a new series that just started this month, we’re not surprised to see a smile on this girl’s face.
On the other hand, we’ve got no idea what kind of expression this guy has going on under there.
This guy looks a lot more like Master Roshi than Chow Yun-fat ever did.
Yes! Space Dandy cosplay! Awesome!
So many Michael Myerses…
A little Kill la Kill crossplay.
a
A couple hours out in the warm California sun ought to add some color.
Apparently Cyclops’ soul was so disappointed by X-Men: The Last Stand that it refuses to acknowledge the movie’s existence, and sees no reason to stay dead. We think it has a point.
Welcome to America, Yoshio, where people are proud to exercise their right to bear shark arms.
We wonder if Lady Loki has met the masculinized Kill la Kill Ryuko we saw earlier?
“I have a sister?”
“THIS…IS…”
“LEAVING VERY LITTLE TO THE IMAGINATION!”
Nuh nuh nuh nuh Bat Girl!
Sometimes, there’s so much stink eye it needs an extension.
But…can’t we just read? I mean, it’s the least we can do, since you were thoughtful enough to make a sign and all.
It sure was nice of these kids’ parents to let them go to Comic-Con.
“Hmm…so your country is infested with trolls, Elsa? Would you like me to exterminate them all? Because I can do that for you.”
Yeah, we know it looks cool and all, but Comic-Con lasts for four days, Maleficent. To help keep the Convention Center clean, you might want to spread some newspaper under that crow. Just sayin’.
The worst part of trying to adjust to life after 70 years in suspended animation? Getting used to the price of coffee in the 21st century.
Being a superhero between movies must be kind of like being a schoolteacher during summer vacation. Sometimes, you have to take on a second job to make ends meet.
That’s all for now, but make sure to check back soon for more reports from Comic-Con!
Photos:Rocketnews24
]]> https://soranews24.com/2014/07/26/the-amazing-cosplayers-of-the-first-two-days-of-comic-con-2014/feed/ 0 168223 P1090793 P1000135 P1090793 P1090809 P1000202 P1090807 P1090773 P1000178 P1090816 P1000208 P1090730 P1090724 P1000140 P1090735 P1000145 P1090737 P1000143 P1090748 P1000149 P1090777 P1000179 P1090780 P1000183 P1090787 P1000189 P1090793 P1000193 P1090796 P1000197 P1090801 P1000200 P1090814 P1090812 P1090676 P1000105 P1090679 P1000108 P1090693 P1000120 P1090696 P1000121 P1090709 P1000125 P1090711 P1000132 P1090715 P1090718 P1000135 P1000137 P1090639 P1000070 P1090643 P1000074 P1090647 P1090652 P1000090 P1090659 P1000093 P1090660 P1000096 P1090667 P1000098 P1090671 P1000100 P1090682 P1000112 P1090691 P1000118 P1090632 P1000065 P1090637 P1000068 P1090699 P1000123 P1000127 P1000173 P1000172 P1000166 P1000164 P1000168 P1090633 P1000063 P1090832 P1090701 P1090705 P1000049 P1000054 P1000057 P1000036 P1090820 Our Japanese correspondent’s report from his first-ever San Diego Comic-Con https://soranews24.com/2014/07/25/our-japanese-correspondents-report-from-his-first-ever-san-diego-comic-con/ https://soranews24.com/2014/07/25/our-japanese-correspondents-report-from-his-first-ever-san-diego-comic-con/#comments Thu, 24 Jul 2014 15:31:38 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=167810 
Here at RocketNews24, we often send our English-speaking staff out to cover events and places of interest related to Japanese animation and movies. This week, though, we’re pulling a 180 by sending one of our Japanese language reporters, Yoshio, to Comic-Con in San Diego.
Yoshio completed Phase One of his mission with no problems by successfully flying the 10 hours from Tokyo to California. Next on his list of objectives: a blow-by-blow report of Comic-Con’s preview night.
1. I hopped in the car early and drove to the San Diego Convention Center, which meant I arrived with plenty of time left to stare at the parking lot and its total lack of any empty spaces.
2. From the driver’s seat, I spent the next hour-plus appreciating the architecture of downtown San Diego/searching for a place to park, which I eventually found in a lot charging 25 bucks.
3. After completing the epic journey from my far-off parking space to the Convention Center entrance, I waited in line for 20 minutes to get my entrance badge.
4. Finally inside, I started by walking around the outer edge of the convention floor, where I was excited and a little honored to see how big the followings are in America for titles like Sailor Moon, Naruto, and One Piece.
5. Really, the venue is so huge I didn’t know what to check out first!
6. I spotted this crazy line stretching from the Bandai booth, but it was so long I had no idea what everyone was waiting for.
7. A few minutes later, the Bandai staff made some kind of announcement, which got the fans at their booth all agitated. Whatever that line was for, I guess they ran out.
8. There was no way I wasn’t stopping to take a picture of this awesome Darth Vader car.
9. Since I’d worked up a thirst, I headed over to the refreshment stand and got myself a Coke. It really hit the spot, but at $4 a pop, I think I’m going to stock up on cheap drinks from the grocery store and bring them with me tomorrow.
10. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there was something about a few of the cosplayers that I found positively enchanting.
11. Iron Man may not have had his own personalized ride like Lord Vader, but these figures were cool enough to warrant a photo session of their own.
12. I was all psyched to play some Super Smash Bros., but before I could get to the front of the line, nature called and I had to drop out. But at least I didn’t get beat!
13. The trim and toned Wii Fit Trainer was looking as good as some of the booth girls.
14. My feet were starting to get tired, so I sat down on the ground for a second on the edge of the exhibit space. Right away, a staffer told me to stand up. Who says being a comic fan means not getting any exercise?
15. After two hours of hanging out in the hall, I bought my first piece of merch: this mask which I’m taking back to Japan as a souvenir for one of RocketNews24’s pro wrestling-loving editors.
16. Preview Night shuts down at 9 p.m. As I left the Convention Center I realized I hadn’t eaten dinner yet, so when I got back to my friend’s house where I’m staying, I ordered a pizza from Papa John’s.
17. While enjoying a slice, I reminded myself that Comic-Con was just getting started, but I’ll do my best!
▼ Darth Invader attracting a crowd
Post from RICOH THETA. - Spherical Image - RICOH THETA
▼ Star Wars
Post from RICOH THETA. - Spherical Image - RICOH THETA
From all of us back in Japan, otsukaresama Yoshio! Good luck and sweet dreams. Sweet, pizza-induced dreams.
Photos © RocketNews24
]]> https://soranews24.com/2014/07/25/our-japanese-correspondents-report-from-his-first-ever-san-diego-comic-con/feed/ 1 167810 P1000057 P1090479 P1000020 P1090606 P1090578 P1090582 P1090521 P1000031 P1000035 P1090545 P1090607 P1000057 P1000055 P1000048 P1090514 P1090497 P1090504 P1090595 P1090604 P1090602 P1000062 【Partner applications now open】Want to publish your site’s content on RocketNews24? https://soranews24.com/2013/12/09/%e3%80%90partner-applications-now-open%e3%80%91want-to-publish-your-sites-content-on-rocketnews24/ https://soranews24.com/2013/12/09/%e3%80%90partner-applications-now-open%e3%80%91want-to-publish-your-sites-content-on-rocketnews24/#comments Mon, 09 Dec 2013 09:25:56 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=108702 RocketNews24, the home of all things weird and wonderful from Asia, is currently looking for partners to join our expanding network. If you’d like to share your site’s Asia-related content on RocketNews24, get in touch today!
We are currently working with sites such as America’s Business Insider to provide our readers with the best in fun and entertaining news content from Asia, and our network is growing fast.
For more information about partnering, contact us at: info[at]en.rocketnews24.com
]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/12/09/%e3%80%90partner-applications-now-open%e3%80%91want-to-publish-your-sites-content-on-rocketnews24/feed/ 0 108702 partner For all chip lovers around the world! This is the ultimate ranking of potato chips in Japan https://soranews24.com/2013/10/03/for-all-chip-lovers-around-the-world-this-is-the-ultimate-ranking-of-potato-chips-in-japan/ https://soranews24.com/2013/10/03/for-all-chip-lovers-around-the-world-this-is-the-ultimate-ranking-of-potato-chips-in-japan/#comments Thu, 03 Oct 2013 01:00:39 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=90937 
*** The following was written by our chip-loving Japanese reporter equipped with a fighting spirit and an English dictionary. Please enjoy her top ten ranking of the best potato chips in Japan. ***
What is your favorite potato chips? Lay’s classic? Ruffles BBQ? Or Pringles hot & spicy? You might stick to your favorite one for refreshment, but when you get a little tired of it and feel like to have something Japanese you can try our recommendation.
Here is the ultimate ranking of potato chips in Japan (on RocketNews24 English’s own judgment). We tried to choose unique and Japanese flavors as much as we can. Therefore, the ranking does not include something standard like just salt, classic…etc. We hope you have a chance to try all the snacks here and put some of them on your favorite chips list!
10. Shuwa-Shuwa Cola Flavored Corn Snack (“shuwa-shuwa” is for fizzy in Japanese)
Okay, we admit this is not potato chips. But we cannot help listing this because actually we really get surprised and curious when it comes to the market in July 2013 from Japan Frito-Lay.
The corn snack collaborated with Pepsi tastes like cola first, then bit salty. You can also feel fizzy on your tongue just like when you drink soda.
For your information, the company already stopped manufacturing this fizzy corn snack in September. The reason has not been mentioned, but they just might realize that it is better to have snacks and cola separately.
9. Kata-age Potato Aburi-Mentaiko Flavor
This can be translated as “hard fried potato with broiled walleye pollack roe flavor”. Mentaiko is fish roe seasoned with salt and hot pepper, which is commonly going with rice in Japan.
This flavor may not be for everyone. However, if you are adventurous for any food, it is worth trying. And for adults, it goes quite good with beer!
8. Suppa-Mucho Premium Ponzu Flavor (“suppa” is for sour)
Ponzu is citrus seasoned soy sauce dressing. If you are a salt and vinegar lover, you will definitely love this too. The citrus smell sharpens your appetite.
7. Potato Chips Soy Sauce & Mayo
Soy sauce and mayo never go wrong. This flavor could be for anybody loves chips.
6. Kara-Mucho Hot Chili Flavor (“kara” is for spicy)
This is one of the long seller chips in Japan. Kara-Mucho is loved by kids and adults, though it is a little too hot for some younger kids.
5. Potato Chips Ume Flavor
Ume is also called as Umeboshi, which is a pickled plum. This flavor comes with sour taste and good smell of plum.
4. Pizza Potato
However you may have potato chips with pizza flavor in your country, this Japanese snack can still impress you with its cheese. Pizza Potato is not only pizza flavored but topped with real cheese (Cheddar and Emmental). This is definitely for cheese lover.
3. Wasabeef
As you can guess from its name, this is wasabi and beef flavor. It is a marvelous invention as once you have it you will notice that wasabi goes quite well with many things, not only sushi and sashimi. If you cannot get Wasabeef in your supermarket, we recommend you to have your beef steak with wasabi and salt or soy sauce.
2. Jagariko Potato & Butter Flavor
Jagariko is not chips. It is a potato made snack with absolutely nice texture. It might be better expressed with word “crunchy” than “crispy”. Jagariko has other flavors like cheese, salad, and some seasonal ones.
1. Potato Chips Nori-Shio Flavor
This is our No.1. Nori-Shio is a long seller loved by so many fans in Japan. Nori is seaweed and Shio is salt, that is seaweed-salt flavor. It is simple but never-get-tired taste.
Which potato chips has got your attention most?
Photos:Kie Yoshikuni
]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/10/03/for-all-chip-lovers-around-the-world-this-is-the-ultimate-ranking-of-potato-chips-in-japan/feed/ 0 90937 top top 10a 10b 9a 9b 8a 8b 7a 7b 6a 6b 5a 5b 4a 4b 3a 3b 2a 2b 1a 1b Green men pitching trouser tents and hat-wearing horses: the mascots of Japan https://soranews24.com/2013/07/27/green-men-pitching-trouser-tents-and-hat-wearing-horses-the-mascots-of-japan/ https://soranews24.com/2013/07/27/green-men-pitching-trouser-tents-and-hat-wearing-horses-the-mascots-of-japan/#comments Fri, 26 Jul 2013 18:30:54 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=72769 
Japan’s mascot obsession is known by those even marginally familiar with the country’s culture. Characters like Hello Kitty and her signature silhouette are recognized in countries across the globe, and thanks to the wonders of the internet we’re able to learn more about other cultures than ever before. But something I find that many people don’t realize about Japan is the sheer breadth of things that get their own mascots. Take, for instance, Japanese prefectures.
In the US, all states have their own flag and flower. Some have state foods and animals. One thing in which we are sadly lacking, however, is a cute little cartoon representation of our little section of the country. Japan has us soundly beat in that regard. Most prefectures in Japan have at least one, if not several official and unofficial mascots. There’s even a popularity contest for a specific type of prefectural mascot called the “Yura-Kyara” (from a shortening of “Yurui (loose) Mascot Character”). In the “Yuru-Kyara Grand Prix”, people can vote on their favorite character from the prefecture of their choice.
There are basically no limits to what can become a mascot character. Some mascot images are adorable, such as Gunma Prefecture’s horse mascot, “Gunma-chan.” Others are downright strange, like Iwate’s bowl of soba noodles named “Kokucchi”. Some are more humanoid like the Tochigi’s mascot, the “Nikko Kamen” super hero.
And then there’s Hokkaido.
Hokkaido, the Northern-most of Japan’s four main islands and a prefecture of its own, is known for its frigid winters and beautiful snow festivals. And it’s very awkward mascot.
▼ Well hello there, ladies!
This is Hokkaido’s adopted mascot character, Marimokkori. The name comes from a species of algae native to Hokkaido called a “marimo.” Marimo are round, green puffball plants that are often kept as novelty, low-maintenance pets throughout Japan. “Mokkori” is a Japanese onomatopoeia meaning “bulge” and used in the common vernacular as a euphemism for an erection. The character design is rather straightforward: a marimo for a head and, you guessed it, a lump in the character’s pants. That’s right–this is a registered mascot character stifling a stiffy.
Needless to say, this algae character with his impressive junk is quite popular with the younger generation. Many English-teaching friends of mine have told me stories of their students’ fascination with this debatably indecent character. Though the character hasn’t been added to the list of Yuru-Kyara contestants for the chilly prefecture, it’s popularity has spawned a vast array of merchandise. There are keychains, pens, coffee cups, lighters, and even caramel candy. His infamy isn’t limited to Japan, but also includes foreign residents. Many travelers find the fact that someone can market a trinket sporting a boner quite titillating, and buy Marimokkori presents for friends and family back in their home country.
▼ Someone get this guy some more noodles! Marimokkori ramen keychains.
Whether you like the cute or the naughty, Japan’s got a mascot for every one… and quite literally, everything.
Sources: tanukiya.co.jp , yurugp.jp
Top image: MaroMokkori Blog
Inset images: gtia.jp,yurugp,pds.exblog.jp
]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/07/27/green-men-pitching-trouser-tents-and-hat-wearing-horses-the-mascots-of-japan/feed/ 0 72769 mori top m1 nikkou kamen mori mokkori keychain We spend a night at the Legoland Hotel (no assembly required) https://soranews24.com/2013/06/05/we-spend-a-night-at-the-legoland-hotel-no-assembly-required/ https://soranews24.com/2013/06/05/we-spend-a-night-at-the-legoland-hotel-no-assembly-required/#comments Tue, 04 Jun 2013 21:00:53 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=60207 
There are plenty of reasons to visit San Diego, California. Aside from beautiful beaches, visitors to the Golden State’s southernmost metropolitan area can watch professional baseball and football, see killer whales and other marine life at Sea World, and dine on authentic Mexican cuisine.
And of course, there’s also Legoland California, North America’s first theme park dedicated to the Danish blocks that have captivated generations of kids. Since its opening in 1999, Legoland California has gone through numerous renovations, and as of April even has its own Legoland Hotel, one of only three in the world.
Needless to say, we booked our reservation as soon as possible.
The Lego experience started even before we entered the hotel itself. Aside from jumbo-sized versions of the standard Lego people, realistic, life-sized statues of vacationing families made of the blocks stand about the parking lot. Perched in a tower is a gigantic green dragon, peering down at guests as they pass underneath on their way to the building’s main entrance.
We headed inside to check in, and our eyes were greeted first by Legos, then by more Legos, and finally even more Legos! Even the flowers decorating the reception desk are made of the things. The lobby gift shop came as no surprise, but the awesome free play area, complete with pirate ship, castle, menacing ogre, and pit full of building blocks was definitely an unexpected bit of hospitality.
The Legoland Hotel also has a spacious outdoor pool. After dipping in a toe to confirm that it was, in fact, filled with water and not pastel-blue blocks, we hopped in. With summer not yet in full swing it was still a little too cold for us to spend more than a few minutes in the water, but the temperature didn’t seem to be any sort of issue for the kids splashing around. And should you or any of you little ones forget to bring a towel from the room, the attentive staff places a stack of them poolside for any guests to use.
By this time our stomachs were growling, so we headed to the hotel’s buffet. Kid favorites such as pizza and pasta with meatballs are available, as well as a sampling of Chinese-style dishes. For the health-conscious, there’s a salad bar and selection of fruit, with cantaloupe and honeydew melon cut into, appropriately, blocks. Kids are encouraged to draw or color on the large paper tablecloths, which we think is a perfect way to keep the creative kind of tikes who love Legos entertained during mealtimes.
Finally, we arrived at our room. Nothing is too good for our reporters here at RocketNews24, so we splurged on a suite, and it did not disappoint. Our medieval-styled room came with three beds, including a bunk bed with an additional pull-out section, and, of course, a slew of creatures fashioned out of Legos. While that’s more than enough to satisfy the kids, adults will also appreciate that the hotel doesn’t skimp on toiletries and provides guests with shampoo and soap from respected manufacturer Bath & Bodyworks (although oddly enough toothbrushes aren’t provided, so be sure to bring your own).
With American schools just about to start their long summer vacations, rates at the Legoland hotel will be rising, at the same time as your chances of booking a room on short notice drop. Even still, we can’t recommend a night at the place enough, even if it means having to plan a few months in advance. If nothing else, it’ll give you time to think up some plans for all the cool stuff you can build once you get there.
Photos: RocketNews24
]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/06/05/we-spend-a-night-at-the-legoland-hotel-no-assembly-required/feed/ 0 60207 DSCN2879 DSCN2880 DSCN2877 DSCN2876 DSCN2873 DSCN2872 DSC02545 DSCN2881 DSCN2882 DSCN2883 DSCN2893 DSCN2887 DSCN2968 DSCN2969 DSCN2970 DSC02557 DSC02583 DSC02587 DSCN2951 DSCN2953 DSCN2956 DSCN2957 DSCN2958 DSCN2962 DSCN2885 DSCN2886 DSCN2964 DSCN2965 DSCN2966 DSC02558 DSC02569 DSC02600 DSC02601 DSC02602 DSC02603 DSC02605 DSC02607 DSC02608 DSC02609 DSC02610 DSCN2972 DSCN2974 DSCN2975 DSCN2976 DSC02552 DSC02580 DSC02581 DSCN2899 DSCN2900 DSCN2901 DSCN2902 DSCN2904 DSCN2905 DSCN2906 DSCN2907 DSCN2908 DSCN2909 DSCN2910 DSCN2911 DSCN2912 DSCN2913 DSCN2915 DSCN2918 DSCN2926 DSCN2927 DSCN2930 DSCN2931 DSCN2933 DSCN2936 DSCN2937 DSCN2938 DSCN2940 DSCN2945 DSCN2946 DSCN2948 DSCN2950 Chinese Air Pollution Expected to Cross Over to Western Japan https://soranews24.com/2013/01/17/chinese-air-pollution-expected-to-cross-over-to-western-japan/ https://soranews24.com/2013/01/17/chinese-air-pollution-expected-to-cross-over-to-western-japan/#comments Thu, 17 Jan 2013 03:27:35 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=35571 
For days now Beijing has been suffering from a prolonged spell of the worst air pollution in the city’s history, a crisis so bad that it has been dubbed the “airpocalypse”.
The air has been classified as hazardous to human health and has already sent countless people to the hospital for respiratory ailments. The city is blanketed in a thick grey fog that is said to smell of coal and sting the eyes, leading officials to close highways, force the cancellation of flights and outdoor activities, and warn people in affected areas to remain indoors.
According to a researcher at Kyushu University, China’s giant toxic cloud of pollution is now expected to cross over to western Japan sometime later today.
The information was reported early this morning by Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS).
In the report, TBS cites a simulation created by Professor Toshihiko Takemura of Kyushu University that shows the pollution moving across the Sea of Japan to cover the western tip of Japan’s main island, Honshu, and the islands of Kyushu and Shikoku.
Professor Takemura explains that it’s highly likely the pollution will reach Japanese shores sometime between the morning of January 16 and the afternoon of January 17 (JST).
Seeing as how it’s already noon at the time of this writing and there’s still no word of contaminated air from western Japan, the good professor may have missed the mark.
You won’t find us complaining if that’s the case: Japan already gets its fill of industrial pollutants carried via air from China every spring with the seasonal “yellow sand” phenomenon.
As one Japanese netizen comments: “Maybe we can send them some radiation in return.”
Source: TBS News, Jinsoku
Header Image: NASA
]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/01/17/chinese-air-pollution-expected-to-cross-over-to-western-japan/feed/ 1 35571 china_tmo_2013014 china_tmo_2013014 Japan Celebrates Premiere of Game of Thrones with Ice Castle Theater — in the Worst Location Possible https://soranews24.com/2013/01/13/japan-celebrates-premiere-of-game-of-thrones-with-ice-castle-theater-in-the-worst-location-possible/ https://soranews24.com/2013/01/13/japan-celebrates-premiere-of-game-of-thrones-with-ice-castle-theater-in-the-worst-location-possible/#comments Sun, 13 Jan 2013 03:16:14 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=35054 
Some of you in the English-speaking world have probably heard of a little fantasy TV series called Game of Thrones. It’s won a few awards here and there, has a fairly enthusiastic fan base, and — let’s face it — is all around a huge freakin’ deal.
While America and the rest of the world fill their goblets with mead in anticipation of the March 31 premiere of season 3, Japan is finally getting their first taste of the series when season 1 airs on January 27 — and they’re promoting it by holding free screenings of the first episode in a castle built from actual blocks of ice.
Unlike the fever of anticipation that surrounded the show leading up to its broadcast in America, the Japanese premiere of Game of Thrones has approached relatively uncelebrated and unnoticed.
Despite its popularity overseas, most people in Japan have never heard of Game of Thrones or A Song of Ice and Fire, the series of novels it was adapted from. Nor are the Japanese high fantasy junkies like many Westerners, especially in the face of home-grown fantasy in the form of anime and manga.
Star Channel, the Japanese network that localized the series, is hoping to build hype for the show by screening the first episode for two days inside a specially-erected theater surrounded by castle walls made of ice — 50 tons of ice, to be exact.
This appropriately named “Ice Castle Theater” is located at DiverCity Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba, which happens to be the location of another large promotional structure that is of far more interest to the Japanese than swords and dragons:
That’s right, they built Ice Castle Theater right next to the giant Gundam. Does anyone know how they golf clap in Westeros?
Take a look at the video below to get an idea of just how insignificant the Game of Thrones display looks next to the life-sized mobile suit:
This video was taken by our reporter on Saturday evening during one of the free screenings. In contrast to the large crowd of people surrounding the Gundam, only a trickle of people could be seen going in and out of the castle, though the staff were doing their best to hand our pamphlets to everyone who walked by.
Our reporter was allowed entrance to the theater in between screenings and tells us that the inside was incredibly cold. They give viewers blankets to wrap themselves in while they watch the show, but we’re not sure how effective that is when it’s a winter night and you’re sitting in a castle made of ice.
Still, a lousy promotion doesn’t necessarily mean the show will flop. Those American dramas that are localized in Japan usually do well, and the success of films like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings prove that Western fantasy can go over well with a Japanese audience if they’re just given the chance. Our Japanese staff recently even wrote an article praising Game of Thrones to the skies after getting a sneak peek last week.
Who knows, maybe the giant Gundam will one day be accompanied by a life-size statue of Tyrion Lannister.
The Game of Thrones Ice Castle Wall will be up until January 14. Free screenings of episode 1 (Japanese dub) will be shown on Sunday, January 13 at 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, and 18:00. No reservation required.
Photos & Video: RocketNews24
▼ Game of Thrones Ice Castle Theater
▼Inside the castle
▼ Maintenance staff work around the clock to make sure the walls stay together
▼ Game of Thrones never stood a chance against Gundam. No one ever did.
]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/01/13/japan-celebrates-premiere-of-game-of-thrones-with-ice-castle-theater-in-the-worst-location-possible/feed/ 2 35054 DSCN1039 DSCN1064 DSCN1035 DSCN1036 DSCN1040 DSCN1057 DSCN1058 DSCN1067 DSCN1068 DSCN1042 DSCN1070 DSCN1073 DSCN1074 DSCN1075 DSCN1077 DSCN1078 DSCN1084 DSCN1037 DSCN1038 DSCN1045 DSCN1046 DSCN1061 DSCN1062 DSCN1043 DSCN1044 DSCN1049 DSCN1051 DSCN1052 Fitness Meets Cute Anime Girls in Exercise App, “Burn your fat with me!!” https://soranews24.com/2013/01/07/fitness-and-cute-anime-girls-collide-in-japanese-exercise-app-burn-your-fat-with-me/ https://soranews24.com/2013/01/07/fitness-and-cute-anime-girls-collide-in-japanese-exercise-app-burn-your-fat-with-me/#comments Mon, 07 Jan 2013 12:00:01 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=33935 
The holidays are over, you’ve gained a few extra pounds, but you’re finding it difficult to start a workout routine after so many peaceful days spent lounging around. What you need is a workout buddy to help you stay motivated. Preferably a cute girl.
For those of you who don’t know any cute girls willing to get sweaty with you, Japanese indie developer Creative Freaks has you covered with Burn your fat with me!!, a fitness app/dating simulation game where players must workout in real life to impress a 2D anime love interest.
Burn your fat with me!! markets itself as a fitness app that provides players with the motivation to work out through moé, a Japanese term describing “that heart-melting feeling you get when you see an adorable female anime character.” They’ve dubbed this new genre “moévation”, because that’s what you do when the pun Gods grant you an opportunity like this.
The gameplay is in the vein of Japanese visual novels like Phoenix Wright or Professor Layton, but instead of building a case or solving puzzles, the player advances the story by clearing fitness goals, such as performing 50 sit-ups in three minutes.
When you boot up the app you’re given the option to play in either ‘Story Mode’ and ‘Training Mode’, the former of which is composed of a series of “episodes” where you assume the role of a Japanese high school student who has put on quite a bit of weight over the past few years but lacks any real motivation to slim down.
This all changes when you’re awoken from a lazy afternoon nap one day by your childhood friend Mayu Uehara. Concerned for your well-being, Mayu encourages you to start a sit-ups routine and offers to help get you back in shape.
Before you can explain to her that you are a beautiful and unique snowflake, Mayu slips into her gym clothes, grabs you by the legs, and starts the timer.
At this point, you — yes, the actual you — are expected to lay on your back, rest your smartphone or tablet on your knees, and start working that core. Mayu then counts your repetitions and cheers you on as you progress through your set. This is all done automatically if your device has a front-facing sensor, otherwise you’ll have to tap the screen at the peak of each repetition.
While Mayu only has you do 10 sit-ups at first, she raises the bar considerably higher with each episode, to the point that clearing the main eight-episode story arc could take several months of training if you’re starting out with a flabby stomach. If you do find yourself struggling, you can always switch between the appropriately-named Hard’ and ‘Soft’ difficulty settings, and there isn’t really anything stopping you from just tapping on the screen while eating a donut.
Training Mode brings you straight to the ‘exercise interface’, allowing you to train with Mayu until you’re ready to take a crack at the next Story Mode goal.
There’s even the option to change Mayu’s costume, with additional costumes unlockable through Story Mode or purchasable as add-ons:
^Some of the costumes avaliable. Each come with themed ‘voices’ as well
While the base app only allows for sit-ups, there are two additional exercises, push-ups and squats, that can be purchased as add-ons. These expansions also come with four additional story episodes using the new exercise mode.
The sit-ups module works particularly well if you’re using a device with a sensor, though Mayu’s suggestive positioning underneath you might feel a bit embarrassing as you lift your body up and down above her.
^The player sarcastically calls them ‘Make Out Pushups’ in the story
The squats function is also interesting to see in action, with each drop to the knees giving you a good look at Mayu’s…motivators.
The app has been fully localized into English, including nearly 1,000 fully-voiced lines for story and training modes. The additional training mode voices that come with the squats expansion in particular feature some pretty painful sit-up puns based on famous video game lines that are worth a listen.
For you anime purists out there, there is also the option to play with Japanese voices and English subtitles, though you’ll miss out on some of the quirky English wordplay like with the video game parodies mentioned above.
Burn your fat with me!! is available for iOS, Android, and even Kindle Fire. The base app is normally priced at $1.99, but is currently on sale for $0.99 until December 9.
According to the developers, a running app featuring the same protagonist but a different love interest, as well as as a completely new, female-targeted (otome) app are currently in the works and are due out sometime this year. For updates and more information, check their Facebook, Twitter, or Homepage.
Source: Burn your fat with me!!
▼Mayu and the other two girls appearing in the game, Yuki Hashio and Maria Kugawa
▼ Clearing story mode goals will treat you to a special event scenes
▼ SPOILER ALERT
▼ Creative Freaks even sold an illustration booklet featuring original artwork at last month’s Comic Market
]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/01/07/fitness-and-cute-anime-girls-collide-in-japanese-exercise-app-burn-your-fat-with-me/feed/ 0 33935 Mayu4 Mayu4 Mayu1 Mayu2 Costume Mayu4 Sqat nensho Mayu5 Mayu6 05 Nensho_girls_C83_iPhone5 Hamburger Review: We Sample Wendy’s New (¥1280!) Lobster-Based Burgers https://soranews24.com/2012/09/05/hamburger-review-we-sample-wendys-new-%c2%a51280-lobster-based-burgers/ https://soranews24.com/2012/09/05/hamburger-review-we-sample-wendys-new-%c2%a51280-lobster-based-burgers/#comments Wed, 05 Sep 2012 10:00:00 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=17293 
Despite having once pulled out of the country, sorely missed hamburger chain Wendy’s returned Japan in 2011 with just a single location. In response to calls for additional restaurants, Wendy’s cut the tape on its new Roppongi store in August this year, bringing with it the special ‘Ocean Premium’ range, which includes two new ‘Japan Premium’ hamburgers.
So what about these newcomers is ‘premium’, exactly? In a word: lobster! Far from being made from cheap, compacted seafood cut-offs, Wendy’s are using whole pieces of genuine, thick lobster in their new hamburgers, each one as tender and meaty as you could ever dream. The Lobster Surf & Turf burger sandwiches a traditional beef patty and generous chunks of lobster between soft buns, while the Caviar & Lobster burger sees the lobster take the star role, topped off with- you guessed it-real caviar. Both burgers are undeniably tempting, but, priced at ¥1280 each, they certainly don’t come cheap. So which of these two new creations should the gastronomic adventurer attempt first?
・Lobster Surf & Turf Burger
A combination of Wendy’s unique beef patty and chunky lobster, this is a genuinely luxurious burger with plenty of volume. The patty itself is delicately seasoned, not to mention juicy, and it definitely requires a fair amount of willpower not to devour the entire thing mere seconds after the first bite, especially when knowing that the lobster was about to make its entrance.
When it did arrive, however, the lobster- the newcomer we’d been salivating for- struggled to make its presence felt. Despite existing in big, thick chunks between the buns, for the sake of maintaining its original flavour, little is added to the lobster in the way of seasoning, and as a result it’s soon lost behind the taste of the rich beef patty. Judging by the name of the burger, the lobster should feature alongside the patty on equal footing, but the only time it ever really stepped into the limelight was as a slightly sweet aftertaste. After the patty’s incredible warm-up act, we couldn’t help but feel a little let down by the lobster’s underwhelming performance.
・Caviar & Lobster Burger
It all comes together in a bite: light and fluffy buns, then crisp, fresh vegetables, and then… full, tender lobster! It’s here!
With each bite, the taste of the lobster comes forward more and more, spreading through your mouth and leaving no taste-bud left unchecked. The crispness of the vegetables combined with the mildly-salted mustard mayonnaise do a superb job of complementing the lobster’s sweet flavour- this is one genuinely delicious burger. If you’re looking for that lobster taste, we heartily recommend ordering up one of these little beauties.
There was, however, one thing we were disappointed with: the caviar. In all honesty, we barely even noticed it. Eaten on its own, caviar is undeniably delicious, and it no-doubt helps bring out other subtle flavours in the burger, but we were more than satisfied by the taste of the lobster alone and felt that the caviar wasn’t entirely necessary. Although it’s an issue of personal taste, we found ourselves wondering whether, if it helped bring the price of the burger down little, why not omit the caviar altogether?
Wendy’s is well known for its motto ‘Quality is Our Recipe,’ which is used in many countries across the globe, and the ingredients used in both the Lobster Surf & Turf and Caviar & Lobster burgers are without a doubt of incredibly high quality, with nothing sacrificed for the sake of keeping prices down. It’s the very quality of these ingredients, however– with each able to stand on its own perfectly well– that makes the imbalance between the flavours so striking, and leaves us wondering whether that same sense of quality couldn’t be applied to a slightly simpler recipe…
]]> https://soranews24.com/2012/09/05/hamburger-review-we-sample-wendys-new-%c2%a51280-lobster-based-burgers/feed/ 1 17293 rob0-1 robk1 robs2 robs3 robk1 rob2 robk2 rob1 rob5 rob0 Figurine of Naked Anime Girl on a Pile of Hamburgers Anyone? https://soranews24.com/2012/08/02/figurine-of-naked-anime-girl-on-a-pile-of-hamburgers-anyone/ https://soranews24.com/2012/08/02/figurine-of-naked-anime-girl-on-a-pile-of-hamburgers-anyone/#comments Thu, 02 Aug 2012 13:17:14 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=14938 
Wonder Festival is a bi-annual event in Tokyo to showcase amateur figures, toys and garage kits.
It is also, not surprisingly, full of wonderful things. At the most recent Wonder Festival, held on July 28 at Makuhari Messe convention center, there was one particular item that caught our eye even among all of the figures of Rei Ayanami bending over suggestively: McDonald’s nyotaimori figures.
If you’re unfamiliar with the beautiful Japanese tradition, nyotaimori is the practice of eating sushi from the body of a naked woman.
While there were regular nyotaimori figures as well, it was the naked anime girl lying suggestively over a pile of Big Macs, Filet-O-Fish and McCafes that real got our mouths watering.
Sorry ladies, we can’t recommend trying a McDonald’s nyotaimori at home: no matter how many kilos you dropped on your tomato juice diet, those burgers aren’t going to support your weight.
But if you do try it, please contact us at info@rocketnews24.com beforehand.
Photos: Rocketnews24
▼ Traditional nyotaimori, for reference 
]]> https://soranews24.com/2012/08/02/figurine-of-naked-anime-girl-on-a-pile-of-hamburgers-anyone/feed/ 0 14938 nyotai3 nyotai2 nyotai1 nyotai2 f06c6da2-s Kit Kat Ice Cream Cone is Seriously Just a Kit Kat in an Ice Cream Cone https://soranews24.com/2012/08/01/kit-kat-ice-cream-cone-is-seriously-just-a-kit-kat-in-an-ice-cream-cone/ https://soranews24.com/2012/08/01/kit-kat-ice-cream-cone-is-seriously-just-a-kit-kat-in-an-ice-cream-cone/#comments Wed, 01 Aug 2012 05:54:02 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=14556 
You’d think that when someone at Nestle proposed making a Kit Kat ice cream cone, they would have taken the conventional route and used ice cream with crushed up bits of Kit Kat in it.
But that was not the case with the frozen treat we came across at a supermarket during a recent trip to Sakhalin. Instead, this “Kit Kat Cone” was nothing more than a regular store-bought ice cream cone with a single Kit Kat wedged in the top.
Not gonna lie, we felt a little insulted after unwrapping the Kit Kat Cone. We could have just bought a pack of Kit Kats separately, stuck one into the top of a plain ice cream cone and still have had 3 Kit Kats left over for later.
The taste? Do we really need to explain it? Grab a pack of Kit Kats and a Giant Cone/Drumstick/whatever they call them in your region and find out yourself…
Kit Kat Cone is available in Sakhalin and, according to the internet, Japan (we’ve never seen it…), Malaysia and parts of Europe.
Photos: RocketNews24
]]> https://soranews24.com/2012/08/01/kit-kat-ice-cream-cone-is-seriously-just-a-kit-kat-in-an-ice-cream-cone/feed/ 1 14556 DSC03757 Use RocketNews24 Articles on Your Site! Partner With One of Japan’s Leading Blogs and Help Us Promote Our Brand Overseas! https://soranews24.com/2012/04/05/use-rockenews24-articles-on-your-site-partner-with-one-of-japans-leading-blogs-and-help-us-promote-our-brand-overseas/ https://soranews24.com/2012/04/05/use-rockenews24-articles-on-your-site-partner-with-one-of-japans-leading-blogs-and-help-us-promote-our-brand-overseas/#comments Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:11:12 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=7061 
RocketNews24 English is currently looking to contribute articles to blog networks, web portals and other web outlets.We can provide a full contribution feed via RSS or a partial selection of articles per request.
If you are interested, please contact us at info@en.rocketnews24.com and we will get back to you within 2-3 business days.
＜Example＞Google News
]]> https://soranews24.com/2012/04/05/use-rockenews24-articles-on-your-site-partner-with-one-of-japans-leading-blogs-and-help-us-promote-our-brand-overseas/feed/ 0 7061 P1030134580 googlemews Japanese Part-Time Jobs Bring in Cash Money! $12.50/hr for Entry-Level Convenience Store Clerk https://soranews24.com/2012/03/14/japanese-part-time-jobs-bring-in-cash-money-%ef%bc%8412-50hr-for-entry-level-convenience-store-clerk/ https://soranews24.com/2012/03/14/japanese-part-time-jobs-bring-in-cash-money-%ef%bc%8412-50hr-for-entry-level-convenience-store-clerk/#comments Wed, 14 Mar 2012 05:31:02 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=6061 
Japan may hold the reputation as one of the most expensive countries in the world, but that doesn’t mean the majority of the population is struggling everyday just to scrape by. In fact, even part-timers can do pretty well for themselves thanks to the high wages offered for even some of the most basic jobs.
When I was in university, I supported myself by working part-time at a restaurant for 900 yen ($10.80) an hour which carried me through those four years just fine.
Wages seem to be even higher now, perhaps due to a recent scarcity of part-time labor, especially in Tokyo.
To give you a better idea of just how much Japan rewards its part-time employees, I’ve selected a few entry-level jobs from around Tokyo to share with you all. Be sure to let us know how the wages compare with your own country!
※All wages are per hour, converted at 80yen = 1 dollar.
■Pachinko Staff
$15.00（1200yen）,$16.25（1300yen）（for 17-22hrs/wk）,$18.75（1500yen）（for 22hrs/wk or more）
Store：GAIA (Nishiogikubo Minamiguchi branch)
Address：3-9-10 Nishiogikubo, Suginami-ku, Tokyo
※Pachinko is a unique Japanese arcade game usually used as a gambling device instead of recreation. Pachinko parlors are bright, noisy, cigarette smoke-filled places that may not make for the most comfortable working environment.
■CoCo Ichi Staff
$ 12.50（1000yen）, $ 15.62（1250yen）（22hrs/wk or more）
Store：Curry House CoCo Ichibanya (Shinjuku NS Building branch)
Address：2-4-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
※ Check here if you want to know what CoCo Ichi is all about.
■Gas Station Staff
$ 12.50（1000yen）
Store：JOMO-NET Co. (Nerima Interchange branch)
Address：5-30-7 Tanihara, Nerima-ku, Tokyo
■Volkswagen Dispatch Staff
$ 13.50（1080yen）
※Deliver cars to customers
■Family Mart Staff (Convenience Store Chain)
$ 12.50（1000yen）
Store：Family Mart Shinjuku Yasukuni Dori
Address：5-18-21 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
■Subway Staff
$ 11.87（950yen）
Store：Subway Shinjuku Higashiguchi
Address：3-26-6 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
※Eat fresh.
■Tokyo Disneyland Cast
$ 12.5（1000yen）, $ 19.37（1550yen）（22hrs/wk or more）
Amusement park：Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo Disney Sea
Address：1-1 Maihamae, Urayasu-shi, Chiba-ken
■Baskin-Robbins Staff
＄11.87（950yen）, ＄12.12（970yen）（Weekends）
Store：Baskin-Robbins Hikarigaoka IMA
Address：5-1-1 Hikarigaoka, Nerima-ku, Tokyo
What do you think?
I realize the yen is high against the dollar right now but even still, you have to admit those are some pretty impressive numbers for part-time.
Of course, when comparing with other countries, things may pan out slightly different when you consider that there is no tipping in Japan…
Again, feel free to share with us how much part-time jobs pay where you’re from!
]]> https://soranews24.com/2012/03/14/japanese-part-time-jobs-bring-in-cash-money-%ef%bc%8412-50hr-for-entry-level-convenience-store-clerk/feed/ 0 6061 parttimejob_copy P1020396_copy_copy 245255555 311253_261926260498158_100000423570362_881233_1939139_n main09 2245354235234 452454451 IMG_1028 IMG_4940580 Pop Quiz: Is This A Gigantic Camera Or A Tiny Cart? https://soranews24.com/2012/02/13/pop-quiz-is-this-a-gigantic-camera-or-a-tiny-cart/ https://soranews24.com/2012/02/13/pop-quiz-is-this-a-gigantic-camera-or-a-tiny-cart/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:33:03 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=4959 
Looking at this picture closely you can probably tell it’s a tiny cart, although it seems an equally odd idea to make a huge camera.
I bought this from Tokyu Hans the other day on a whim after hearing about it from the internet. Before you think I’m crazy I should mention, it’s remote controlled!
The idea of having a remote controlled cart appealed to me since I’m by no means a rich person and will probably never be able to get that robot butler I really want. At 2079 yen (US$27) this is a pretty reasonable consolation.
I felt a pang of buyer’s remorse after pulling my new cart from its packaging. It was much lighter than I expected and all made from plastic – not quite the heavy duty cart I thought I was getting.
But after taking it for a spin around the editorial department I was happy with the replies I got from female coworkers like “Awww that’s so cute! You could serve people tea with it.” or “I would never buy something like that, but can I try it out?”
And yet aside from getting people to notice me I can’t really find a good use for it. It has pretty good handling with the remote control and seems capable of hold various home or office items, but what everyday items do I need to send across rooms by remote control?
If any readers out there have suggestions please leave them in the comments. For the ladies, if you’re racking your brains for a Valentine’s Day gift this year, get the guy in your life one of these babies. Then please, please tell me how they make use of it.
Original Story: Pouch
]]> https://soranews24.com/2012/02/13/pop-quiz-is-this-a-gigantic-camera-or-a-tiny-cart/feed/ 0 4959 img_2849 img_28531 img_2854 img_2855 img_2856 img_2850 Report From Japanese Nuclear Industry Insiders: Business is Booming https://soranews24.com/2012/02/10/report-from-japanese-nuclear-industry-insiders-business-is-booming/ https://soranews24.com/2012/02/10/report-from-japanese-nuclear-industry-insiders-business-is-booming/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:22:11 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=4925 A lingering topic of the Fukushima incident has been how to go forward. Should nuclear plants in Japan be improved or discontinued. What have been revealed to reporter Hirotoshi Ito by industry insiders are the massive business deals being prepared behind this important social issue.
According to Ito, what we don’t see occurring is what he calls “backspin business” which is profit made off of situations that undo previous progress. Key players that once had the now-dubious honor of building a strong, clean, and safe nuclear power infrastructure are making preparations to profit from its damage.
For example, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has long struggled with the task of disposing of nuclear waste. Local residents of all TEPCO’s desired locations have been understandably hesitant to accept tons of radioactive material into their neighborhoods. Luckily for TEPCO the wasteland of the likely to be decommissioned Fukushima Daini (Number 2) Reactor is now the perfect place for them to set-up a decontamination factory.
Geologically it’s a nice fit due to the shallow bedrock perfect for such an installation. In addition, TEPCO doesn’t have to worry about pesky resistance from concerned residents since one of the worst nuclear accidents in the world already occurred right next door.
Even in 2009, the mayor of Naraha Town, where part of the Daini reactor lies, agreed to let TEPCO set up a waste management facility there, on the suggestion of part of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) then known as Power Reactor and Fuel Development (PNC). Although the city later changed its mind, recent developments and its original acceptance make this deal likely to go through now.
The closing of the Daini Reactor may sound like the end of a progressive nuclear industry and the beginning of Ito’s “backspin business” where companies now make money taking down the mess that they themselves created. However, a former TEPCO employee says different. The company is preparing to create nuclear plants that can withstand any possible threat.
These “perfect nuclear plants” are being designed and tested for situations well beyond what we can realistically expect to happen. Failsafe on top of failsafe is being prepared to make sure that the reactor core can be shut down and cooled in any emergency from anywhere.
This sounds all fine and well but where will TEPCO get the money to pay for all this. For instance, one pump that would have been able to overcome the pressure in the core at Fukushima and allow coolant to be sent in, costs tens of billions of yen. Expect this money to come from the government (via taxpayers) or higher electric bills.
At the moment TEPCO is beaten and can’t expect to see real profits for quite some time. The real winners in this new business are the manufacturers namely Toshiba, Hitachi, and Mitsubishi. These three companies are in a great position to market their experience with Fukushima overseas as “leaders in nuclear safety” in addition to receiving the largely government money for their work on the “perfect plants.”
General contractors are also in line to rake in money. Thanks to their friends at the JAEA, three companies, Kashima, Obayashigumi, and Taiseikensetsu were responsible for building 45 of Japan’s nuclear plants. Now they are looking to JAEA for work decontaminating 12 cities in Fukushima Prefecture. The Japanese government has entrusted JAEA with management of clean-up efforts in the area. If you recall, one of JAEA’s previous incarnations, the PNC, was responsible for the Monju Nuclear Plant accident and cover-up. JAEA has since been bogged down in an expensive effort to restart and maintain that plant for over a decade.
One benefit to regular citizens is the trickle-down revenue local business can make from clean-up crews. Beyond that, the largest investors in this massive project, the Japanese taxpayers, are taking all the risk and getting no dividends. Meanwhile in the words of one TEPCO employee “after the closing and decontamination, [these companies] will be able to put food on the table for decades.”
Original Story: NewsPostSeven
]]> https://soranews24.com/2012/02/10/report-from-japanese-nuclear-industry-insiders-business-is-booming/feed/ 0 4925 Investigation of North Korea Reveals Their Fried Chicken Is Pretty Good https://soranews24.com/2012/02/09/investigation-of-north-korea-reveals-their-fried-chicken-is-pretty-good/ https://soranews24.com/2012/02/09/investigation-of-north-korea-reveals-their-fried-chicken-is-pretty-good/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:00:54 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=4825 
In these days of globalization there are very few countries that can keep themselves shrouded in a veil of mystery like North Korea does. Although there is information out there, it can be hard to get a clear picture of what life is like in such a guarded nation. For example, how do they eat?
North Korea would never allow Western businesses like McDonald’s or KFC to get their greedy capitalist hands on its people, but that doesn’t mean they reject the fast food format itself. In February, 2012, one lucky Japanese traveler in Pyongyang was able to experience what a North Korean fast food shop was like first-hand and document it.
After getting his guide to do him a big favor, the traveler, who goes by the handle Kuzo, was taken to a hamburger joint equipped with all the familiar trappings: hamburgers, hotdogs, fried chicken, chicken nuggets, French fries, and even waffles.
The prices on the menu were in North Korean Won but, surprisingly, they were open to taking any major currency at simple rates, like Yen, US Dollars, or Euros. For example, if you were to buy a hamburger costing 180 won (€1.04), you could pay for it with €1.80. A combo with a hamburger, fried chicken, and coffee for 532 won (€3.08) cost €5.30 on this trip.
According to Kuzo, “The hamburgers weren’t quite up to snuff, but the fried chicken was delicious with a nice crispy coating. Also, since they gave me a little plastic glove to eat my chicken, my hands didn’t get all greasy. I thought it was a pleasant little surprise to the whole experience.”
As he ate, Kuzo couldn’t shake the feeling that this store caters only to the tastes of Westerners with their free-wheeling currency policy and the fact that only two local people came into the store while he was eating there. Given that Westerners in North Korea are few and far between, it’s hard to image how this restaurant stays afloat.
Aside from the lack of business that Western fast food establishments often enjoy, this place recreated them fairly well with a few exceptions. The décor is a throwback to the 1980’s and their coffee is served in a very Asian-looking cup. On top of that, there seems to be an electricity issue since the heater wasn’t on. This can be a fatal blow for any restaurant. No matter how the food tastes, no one can enjoy a meal in -15℃ weather.
▼Most days the temperature was 10-15℃
▼The interior design is similar to Western restaurants, only a little outdated.
▼Where cultures meet: A Japanese register with some Chinese straws.
▼Their menu offers a wide selection.
▼They even have combos! But supersizing hasn’t reached here yet.
]]> https://soranews24.com/2012/02/09/investigation-of-north-korea-reveals-their-fried-chicken-is-pretty-good/feed/ 2 4825 5355545 425252 252452 552552 2454524524 82454525 42525 958845 98254 59355 25245445 42454525252 52454545 97842454545 454225 8788 245545525255 624225 9885 422545252525