SoraNews24 —Japan News—

Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.

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Hello Kitty theme park to be overrun by zombies this summer, young children barred from entering

Casey Baseel
May 16, 2025
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Eradication squads to be dispatched to deal with outbreak, guests will need to prove they’re not infected by completing missions inside haunted theme park.

Japan
(Amusement Parks • crazy • haunted houses • Hello Kitty • Horror • Obaken • Puroland • Sanrio • Sanrio Puroland • scary • theme parks • video • zombies)

Steampunk vending machines appear in Japan, and here’s how to find them

Oona McGee
May 16, 2025

Two unusual machines look like they’re powered by steam and wood.

Japan
(coffee • coffee beans • COK • cool • drinks • Japanese vending machines • Kanagawa • new • Noborito • Noborito Station • SNJO • steampunk • taste test • travel • vending machine • vending machines • Yomiuriland)

More yakuza members caught stealing huge haul of sea cucumbers from the ocean

Master Blaster
May 16, 2025

Latest bust in the long-running sea cucumber racket of organized crime.

Japan
(crazy • crime • Hokkaido • Otaru • poaching • sea cucumbers • weird • yakuza)

Utada Hikaru sings incredible new one-take version of “First Love,” 26 years after original release

Casey Baseel
May 16, 2025

J-pop mega star returns to the biggest hit of her career as an adult, with some help from a special musical partner from her past.

Japan
(First Love • Hikaru Utada • J-Pop • music • The First Take • Utada Hikaru • video)

British couple in shorts, T-shirt call for rescue from Japanese mountain, say it’s too cold for them to move

Casey Baseel
May 16, 2025

Once again, foreign nationals need help after taking the risks of mountain hiking too lightly.

Japan
(hiking • Hokkaido • Mountains • nature • outdoors • rescue)

Studio Ghibli anime to stream online in Japan for first time ever, but not from any deal with Ghibli

Casey Baseel
May 15, 2025

Netflix Japan will be the first service to stream Ghibli anime online in Japan, but the debut won’t be a tale of whimsical adventures.

Internet, Japan
(anime • Grave of the Fireflies • Netflix • Netflix Japan • streaming • Studio Ghibli)

Angry Japanese mayor wants off-season Mt. Fuji hikers to pay costs of their rescue operations

Casey Baseel
May 15, 2025

“They are taking Mt. Fuji too lightly.”

Japan
(COK • Fujinomiya • hiking • Mountains • Mt. Fuji • outdoors • rescue • Shizuoka • Shizuoka Prefecture • society)

Studio Ghibli brings anime cake from Kiki’s Delivery Service to life… without the calories

Oona McGee
May 15, 2025

A new way to enjoy the cake from the anime movie.

Japan
(anime • anime food • anime merchandise • cakes • cute • Donguri Kyowakoku • Ghibli • Jiji • Kiki's Delivery Service • merchandise • pouch • pouches • Studio Ghibli • sweets)

Randy’s Donuts opens first-ever branch in Japan, brings L.A.’s donuts to Tokyo【Photos】

Casey Baseel
May 15, 2025

Landmark of the sweets and movie world sets up its colossal donut sign in Shibuya Ward, and we stop by for several bites to eat.

Japan
(cafes • COK • donuts • doughnuts • food • Randy's Donuts • restaurants • Shibuya • SNJO • sweets)

Title of Super Mario movie sequel briefly revealed, sounding very familiar, then gets removed

Casey Baseel
May 15, 2025

Producers update statement to hide by-name mention of the hotly anticipated sequel for Nintendo’s hero, but the name they let slip makes a lot of sense.