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Global (Page 51)
We Prove We Are Culinary Wizards by Turning Cup Ramen Ingredients into Delicious Gourmet Meals
Cup Ramen, known to Westerners as “Grade A college student feed,” is perfectly formulated with enough sodium and other preservatives to both fuel late-night study sessions and cure massive hangovers, but nobody’s ever accused it of being a gourmet food.
China Releases Knockoff iPhone5S Before Actual iPhone5S Goes on Sale
- Michelle Lynn Dinh
Mar 16, 2013
Just like every other Apple release, scores of eager Apple fanatics will wait in line for hours (or days) in order to be one of the first to get their hands on the new iPhone5S. But for those who are so eager they can’t wait for the rumored August 2013 release, there is now an alternative to waiting: purchase the Goophone i5S, China’s knockoff iPhone5S, on sale now.
Japanese Companies Expected to Still Be Around in 50 Years: No. 3 Japan Rail, No. 2 Honda, and No. 1…
- John Stuart Translations
Mar 15, 2013
Risk Monster, a credit management outsourcing service that calculates bankruptcy risk, recently announced the results of its first survey asking, “Which Japanese Companies Do You Expect to Still Exist in 50 Years.” The survey was conducted over the Internet on Feb. 25 and 26, and received 1,000 valid responses from influential individuals between the ages of 20 and 69.
Coming in third was Honda, second place went to the East Japan Railway Company, and grabbing the top spot was…
Read More
- Global, Japan
- (automobiles • bankruptcy • canon • economy • equity capital • Honda • Japan Railway • Japanese companies • Kirin Beer • nissan • Panasonic • risk • TOYOTA)
Research Shows Eating Kimchi Every Day Helps Lower Cholesterol and Blood Glucose Levels
- Michelle Lynn Dinh
Mar 14, 2013
Kimchi is a fermented cabbage dish from Korea that is often referred to as “Korea’s national dish.” It’s so pungent that those who enjoy eating copious amounts of kimchi have been known to purchase a separate fridge dedicated to storing it. For decades, Korean mothers have sworn by the health benefits of adding kimchi to one’s diet, but now it seems scientists agree as well. New research published in the Journal of Medicinal Food suggests that eating even a small amount of kimchi every day may help lower cholesterol, LDL (“bad cholesterol”), and fasting blood glucose levels.
How Many Calories are Burned with the Click of a Mouse?
- John Stuart Translations
Mar 11, 2013
For those whose work has them chained to a desk, concerns about whether or not they are getting enough exercise often creep into their minds.
In Japan, it is estimated that an average adult male should burn about 2,000 calories a day while an adult female should use around 1,700 (numbers vary according to age and build). Even armed with that knowledge, many people still consume more calories than they burn by indulging in snacks between meals and eating excessively late into the night. A lot of desk jockeys are probably wondering what they should do to better their situation.
Well, there might be some good news. The number of calories burnt at the click of a mouse has recently been calculated.
Read More
- Global
- (calories • desk work • diet • exercise • mouse click • Office Worker • weight loss)
Tokyo Disneyland Hosts Its First Gay Wedding
- Jessica
Mar 7, 2013
A while back, we reported that Tokyo Disneyland had agreed to offer its wedding packages to same-sex couples in Japan. This month, the very same lesbian couple that encouraged the company to do so became the first to get hitched at the park, with Mickey and Minnie in attendance, of course. Read More
Latest Edition of Cell Highlights Ground Breaking Research on… Two Girls in Kimonos Pushing a Clock Around
- Master Blaster
Mar 4, 2013
Take a good look at this cover for the 28 Feb. issue of noted science journal Cell. If you can tell me what this image means without reading the article then I’ll give you a shiny nickel!*
We see two young women wearing kimonos each with a hand on the minute hand of a giant clock. There are various letters and numbers printed on them, but what does it all mean?
Japanese Cosmetic Group Shiseido Abolishes Animal Testing, Fuzzy Little Critters Rejoice!
- John Stuart Translations
Mar 4, 2013
Founded in 1872, Shiseido, one of the world’s oldest cosmetics companies and the fourth largest, announced on Feb. 28 that from April onward it would put an end to all testing on animals in the development of raw materials for its cosmetic and quasi-pharmaceutical products.
- Global, Japan
- (Animal testing • animal welfare • cosmetics • cruelty-free • Shiseido)
Lone Japanese Golf Putter Craftsman Flooded with Orders from around the World Including Barack Obama
- Master Blaster
Mar 3, 2013
Yamada Putter Workshop in the city of Yamagata has previously been known in pro-golf circles, but through a twist of fate it has become the maker of the most sought-after putters in the world.
In otherwise economically depressed Japan, Yamada Putter Workshop has received up 300 orders in a single day from 20 countries around the world.
Needless to say, business is booming for the small outfit, but there’s just one problem – Yamada Putter Workshop, since opening in 1986, has only one employee: 57 year-old President Toru Yamada.
Sony Unveils its Vision for the Future of Video Games with PlayStation 4
- Philip Kendall
Feb 21, 2013
Just a couple of hours ago, Sony Computer Entertainment began streaming its worldwide presentation being held in New York. In it, the console giant invited dozens of acclaimed game developers to give us brief glimpses of their upcoming titles and to discuss the ethos behind the new console.
Curiously, the company did not give attendees and viewers at home a peek at the console itself – something that we’re sure will disappoint many fans – but in many respects, perhaps this is in line with Sony’s new mission statement as the company focuses less on physical hardware and more on the online interactive experience as a whole. With streaming, remote play and even the ability to watch and remotely operate a pal’s game from thousands of miles away, Sony is promising gamers “the fastest, most powerful network in the world,” and aims to bring gaming and social networks together in a big way.
- Global
- (Playstation 4 • Sony • tech • video games)
Japan Weighs in on the Eternal Question: Is it OK to Pee in the Shower?
- Jessica
Feb 20, 2013
Japanese are generally perceived as being particularly fastidious when it comes to bodily cleanliness, what with the special toilet slippers and showering before getting in the bath and all. But it turns out that doesn’t keep some of them from engaging in a much debated activity: peeing in the shower. Read More
The Surprising Truth Revealed! Now We Know Why Hello Kitty Has Been Working So Hard
- Kay
Feb 20, 2013
We’ve brought to you many stories previously about how Hello Kitty isn’t picky at all about her jobs. Collaborating with other popular characters, operating hotels and restaurants, changing herself into various foods (and even going nude!) — you name it, she’s probably done it. Yes, she’s the internationally loved cat of all trades. And you may love her even more once you find out just why she’s been working so hard. Read More
- Global, Japan
- (copyright sales • Hello Kitty • Sanrio)
Do All Asians Look the Same to You? Take the Test!
- Michelle Lynn Dinh
Feb 14, 2013
“All Asians look the same.” Whether or not you agree with this incredibly broad statement, you’ve no doubt heard it before. Now, thanks to a website called All Look Same, you can test your ability to differentiate between Japanese, Korean, and Chinese faces, turning the statement into a question: “Do all Asians look the same to you?”
- Global, Internet
- (All Look Same • Asian • Test)
【Bucket List】 Top 15 Libraries to Visit Before You Die
- Michelle Lynn Dinh
Feb 6, 2013
This one’s for the girls (and guys) who watched Beauty and the Beast as a kid and wished they could visit that gorgeous library. Check out this compilation of the 15 libraries to visit before you die according to Trip Advisor Japan.
- Global, Japan
- (bucket list • library • top 15)
More Countries Join the New List of 100 Busiest Train Stations, Japan Still Claims 82 of Them
- Master Blaster
Feb 2, 2013
A few days after a mysterious list of the 51 busiest train stations in the world emerged on the Internet an expanded version listing the 100 busiest train stations around the globe has shown itself.
Although other countries such as China and Germany made appearances, the densely populated island of Japan still holds 82 of the bustling transport hubs. And while Japan seems full of stations that resemble Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, only the top 10 are really that freakishly large and chaotic.
- Global
- (100 • busy • list • train station)
PlayStation 4? Sony Teases Fans with Mysterious Video and Conference Announcement *UPDATED*
- Philip Kendall
Feb 1, 2013
Despite Sony Computer Entertainment’s head honcho Kazuo Hirai going on record just 10 days ago to state that he thinks it better to let competitors make the first move when it comes to releasing details of new consoles, a sudden official announcement from Sony earlier today has whipped gamers and tech fans alike into a frenzy.
Although the electronics giant’s video, simply titled “PlayStation 2013”, does not show any actual hardware footage or make any promises, it looks a lot like a teaser for a big forthcoming announcement if you ask us.
- Global
- (playstation • Sony • tech • video • video games)
New Video Game Evoland Turns Technological Advancement into a Game in its Own Right
- Philip Kendall
Jan 31, 2013
While it’s true that a number of the world’s best-selling action RPGs – including those that this new video game emulates – hail from Japan, we have to admit that we’re taking the unusual step of reporting on non-Asia specific news with this article; the reason being that it’s simply it’s too awesome not to share.
What you’re about to witness is a short promotional video for Evoland, a new game from Boreaux-based Shiro Games that’s just a few weeks away from release. But this is no ordinary video game. Imagine playing a game that quite literally evolves as you progress; its graphics, sound and gameplay mechanics gradually changing from those of the early 80s to the multi-million dollar standards set by this generation’s sprawling action RPGs.
Taking its cues from industry greats like The Legend of Zelda, Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy, Evoland allows players to experience first-hand both the growth of the genre and the technological advancements that the video game industry has made over the past three decades, meaning that the game you finish will be almost unrecognizably different to that which you originally began.
The 51 Busiest Train Stations in the World– All but 6 Located in Japan
- Master Blaster
Jan 30, 2013
A couple of days ago this little graph surfaced online displaying some interesting statistics. It’s a bar chart of the busiest train stations in the world, measured by the number of people who pass through them each year.
Perhaps coming as no surprise to those who have experienced its mind-numbingly complex transport complexes, Japan tops the list. What is surprising is the degree to which Japan dominates this list, with all but six stations residing here, and about half of them in the Tokyo area alone.
- Global
- (busy • ranking • train station • transport)
The Taste of Luxury in a Can: Japanese Canned Food Worth Your 100 Yen
- Andrew Miller
Jan 25, 2013
Consider the following scenario: you’re having a chat with a friend about some of the high quality foods on the market out there. You mention some of the more refined dishes you’ve tried first hand and how, as much as you’d like to eat them day after day, doing so would undoubtedly leave a large hole in your wallet. If your friend responded by saying, “I have a product just for you. It’s got the high class factor, is easy on the finances, and is packed into a small can.”, I’m sure you’d think he’d lost the plot a little.
Inaba and other Japanese food companies beg to differ, and have developed a new set of canned food products that turn the notion that cheap ≠ quality on its head.
- Global, Japan
- (100yen • canned food • cheap • Japanese food company • luxury food)
Measure Asia’s Air Pollution with a Map Based on the Length of Your Nasal Hair!
- Andrew Miller
Jan 23, 2013
In recent years along with many other developing Asian nations, China has been increasing its level of industrial manufacturing as it readies itself for remarkable industrial growth. However, neglecting its environment for the sake of industry has brought with it the problem of dense smog pollution, with microscopic smog particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less having been detected in overwhelming large amounts in China’s air in recent days.
The smog is the same as that found in factory exhausts, car fumes and the like. Measured per cubic meter, at one instance the observed value of pollution in Beijing reached levels 10 times the Chinese government’s recommended safety level. If one were to go by the Wealth Health Organization (WHO)’s recommended value, the figure rises to 40 times greater than normal. When it comes to pollution, it is thought that of the asian nations undergoing remarkable growth, 70% of nations are reaching a critical level. The toxic substances that seep out into the environment cause asthma, pneumonia and even in some cases death.
Of course, those living in highly polluted areas will surely want to know how their air compares, but measuring the levels each time can prove tiresome and expensive. With this in mind, one innovative company called Clean Air Asia has stumbled upon a way determine just how polluted your air is, and has designed an interactive map based on – wait for it – nostil hair.
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Recent Posts
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Today
Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
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Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
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Weekly
Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
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Monthly
Pokémon Company announces first-ever permanent Pokémon store to open outside Asia
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?
Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
Chainsaw robots helping keep trains running safely in east Japan [Video]
New Studio Ghibli anime gets extended run at the only cinema in Japan where it’s being shown
Tokyo train station will play Godzilla theme song as new departure melody
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Studio Ghibli creates illustrated Kyoto sightseeing map, available at any 7-Eleven Japan store
Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
Yearly
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
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