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See Tokyo on the Cheap, See It in Lego and More

Master Blaster
Jul 18, 2012
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Who doesn’t love Lego? It’s a toy that has certainly stood the test of time and transcended all boundaries of gender, class and geography with its simple yet endless possibilities.

And who doesn’t love Tokyo? It’s a city that has certainly stood the test of time and grown into quite the cultural mecca of food, science, and art. However, it’s a big city that requires time to explore fully. So why not head down to Decks in Odaiba, Tokyo Beach to see the best of it in everyone’s favorite medium – Lego! But that’s not all Legoland Tokyo has to offer.

Japan
(LEGO • legoland • odaiba)

Scientists One Step Closer to Cure for Body Odor

Master Blaster
Jul 17, 2012

It seems that some of life’s simplest yet most widespread problems never have solutions. Millions of men worldwide have to watch their hair fade away with no reliable cure. Or how about that man or woman who somehow manages to sit next you on the subway or bus making your eyes water with their biological curse of body odor, better known by bacteriologists by its scientific name: “pit stank.”

Pit stank doesn’t discriminate. The victims are our fathers, sisters, children, and spouses. However, thanks to the pioneering efforts of a legal rep for an NPO in Sendai working with Tohoku University’s New Industry Creation Center the world is one step closer to a cure for this socially scorned affliction.

Japan
(bacteria • body odor • sweat)

You Can Do It! A Collection of Inspirational Quotes and the Famous People Who Made Them

Danielnishina
Jul 16, 2012

With the start of the Olympics just around the corner, we bring you a collection of quotes from people of varying degrees of fame and glory, some sure to make you think.

Prayer alone doesn’t give you courage. You need to make the effort and pray.

– Evander Holyfield, boxer who, among other achievements, unwillingly fed Mike Tyson his ear.

Global
(business • icons • inspirational • philosophy • quotes • sports • wisdom)

Infield Fly Controversy Mars Tension-Filled Baseball Grudge Match

Master Blaster
Jul 16, 2012

A recent first round qualifying game for the high school league national championship between rivals Nichidai Fujisawa (Japan University’s High School) and Buso ended in controversy after a botched infield fly ball was mishandled causing a Nichidai runner to steal home and earn a walk-off victory for their team.

Japan
(baseball • controversy • infield fly)

High Ranking Chinese Officer Demands “Japan Should Leave Okinawa”

Master Blaster
Jul 15, 2012

According to South Korea’s Far East Daily newspaper*,* China’s public radio broadcast an interview with a currently active Major General who spoke like many Generals do, with much aplomb and sabre rattling to be heard. Let’s see what he has to say.

China, Japan, Korea
(general • Okinawa • senkaku islands)

Online Customer Review of a Can of Cat Food Horrifies Thousands

Master Blaster
Jul 15, 2012

On first hearing about this story, it’s easy to be skeptical that a review for a can of cat food could possibly be as unnerving as one buyer’s comment on Rakuten (Japan’s answer to Amazon) was purported to be.

Most of us have spent enough time on the internet and saw our share of Goatses and blue waffles. So how could an online review for a tin of Mon Petit Whitefish & Tuna For Kittens possibly turn our web-hardened stomachs?

It did.

Internet, Japan
(cat food • Horror • rakuten)

Man Robs Girlfriend So He Can Buy Her Presents, Gives Love a Bad Name

Master Blaster
Jul 14, 2012

Dating can be difficult and costly no matter what country you live in, but because of the economic inequality and old-fashioned customs of China it can be a down-right nightmare.

Take one Mr. Hu of Hubei Province whose girlfriend, ironically named Ms. Yuan, he had been dating for a couple months. However, because of money troubles he was unable to buy her presents and had to turn to a life of crime.

However, what could have been a romantic “man in love against the world” kind of rebel story turned out incredibly lame when the target of Hu’s criminal behavior turned out to be none other than Ms. Yuan herself.

China
(boyfriend • presents • steal)

How Would You Like to Draw a Picture of Gundam – Using Excel?

Kay
Jul 14, 2012

All right, this video should delight and impress all of you Gundam fans out there. And even if you’re not a Gundam fan, I think you’ll still find the video pretty amazing! You have to admit that it takes a huge amount of dedication, perseverance and love for the anime, not to mention time, to actually do what was done in this video. The end result is a full-color drawing of the Gundam mobile suit machine from the well-known anime series, and while the picture itself is an excellent effort, what is truly impressive about it is the unconventional way it was drawn. Read More

Japan
(anime • excel • Gundam)

This is What a Whopper With 1000 Slices of Cheese Looks Like

Steven
Jul 13, 2012

A few months have passed since our resident reporter Mr. Sato consumed a Whopper loaded with 1050 strips of bacon. Now the smell of bacon grease has finally faded from the office and Mr. Sato seems to have learned his lesson after spending countless hours curled up in the fetal position, praying his arteries would hold out another day.

At least, that’s what we thought until he walked into the office the other day carrying a Whopper with 1000 slices of cheese in his hands.

Cheesus Christ.

Japan
(Burger King • cheese • food challenge • Mr. Sato)

Osaka Temple Offers Visitors Visions of Hell, Tasty Sweets

Jessica
Jul 13, 2012

At the moment there’s a picture book that’s very popular in Japan called “A Picture Book of Hell.” It’s intended to teach kids good manners, and it’s become something of a hot topic, if you’ll excuse the pun. Popular illustrator Akiko Higashimura even mentioned it in her manga series “Mama wa Tenparisto”, loosely translated as “Momma With a Short Fuse”. As you can imagine, there’s been a lot of interest among mothers and educational professionals.

I suppose terrorizing your kids with two-dimensional representations of hell is OK, but did you know there’s a place you can take them to experience it in real life? Read More

Japan
(heaven • hell • kids • Osaka • Senkouji)

New App for College Students May Change the Way They Choose Classes

Jessica
Jul 13, 2012

Awesome Course Schedule, an app released last year by Japanese content provider Labit, has been rapidly gaining traction with students at Japanese universities, because it allows them to rate and review their courses. Read More

Japan
(apps • college • education • university)

Voting is open for the “Most Evil Corporation of the Year” Award for 2012

Master Blaster
Jul 13, 2012

Established by a 10 member team including journalists, activists and University professors, the committee for the “Most Evil Corporation of the Year” (in Japanese “Black Corporation Award”) has made a shortlist of nominees each vying to be the blackest of businesses.

In Japanese, the term “black business” refers to companies who rake in huge profits while exploiting their own work force by discrimination, harassment, unpaid overtime, and short-term contracts. This type of business is a widespread problem in Japanese society but often goes on undiscussed in mainstream media.

Global, Internet, Japan
(black corporation • kuroshi • vote)

Toilet Theme Park Opened In Korea, There is a Rational Explanation for This

Master Blaster
Jul 12, 2012

Only 4 July, Suwon, South Korea officially opened their newest attraction; “The Restroom Cultural Park” which is the world’s first toilet theme park. To answer the question on everyone’s mind – What the…? – we should first look at a little background on Suwon city.

This city located outside of Seoul is well known for two things. First, the great Hwaseong Fortress ranks among UNESCO’s world heritage and has ruins which run throughout the city. Second is their recently deceased mayor who was known affectionately as Mr. Toilet.

Korea
(Mr Toilet • theme park • world toilet organization)

Legendary Manga to Make Comeback? Mystery Countdown on Weekly Shonen Jump Magazine Website Could Mean Exciting News For DB Fans!

Kay
Jul 12, 2012

If you’re a fan of Japanese manga, you may be familiar with the comic magazine “Weekly Shonen Jump” (“Shukan Shonen Jump in Japanese”), one of the longest running and most widely read comic magazines in Japan. Well, you might be interested to know that a mystery countdown has been going on the magazine’s website, and until recently, the page showing the countdown contained just a short Japanese phrase (“最強、始動” which roughly translates to “The Truly Mighty are Getting Ready for Action” ) followed by the letter D covering the page. Read More

Internet, Japan
(Dragon Ball • Weekly Shonen Jump)

New Attraction Opens at Tokyo Disney Sea! But How Long Would You Be Willing to Wait to Get on the Ride? 1 Hour? 2 Hours? Try 6 Hours and 40 Minutes

Kay
Jul 11, 2012

We recently posted a story on the new Toy Story snacks and goodies that have become available at Tokyo Disney Sea in advance of the opening of the new attraction, “Toy Story Mania!“. Well, now that Toy Story Mania! has officially opened on July 9th, we wanted to let you know what the crowd was like on opening day. Okay, the attraction was highly anticipated, with excellent advance reviews, so a huge crowd was fully expected. But who would have imagined that the wait time for the ride at 10:30a.m. on opening day would be a staggering 400 minutes? That’s a 6 hour 40 minute wait! Read More

Internet, Japan
(Tokyo Disney Sea • Toy Story • Toy Story Mania)

HexRinger Turns Your Phone’s Vibrate Mode On and Off Based on Your Location So You Don’t Have To

Master Blaster
Jul 11, 2012

How many of you forgot to put your phone into manner mode (vibrate) when going into the office or a movie theatre only to have it ring and draw the angry scowl of everyone in the room? Of how about when you remember to turn on manner mode but when forget to turn it off you miss that important message you were waiting for?

Wouldn’t it be nice to have an app that automatically turns your manner mode on or off depending on where you are? Wouldn’t it be nice to have HexRinger?

Internet
(Android • HexRinger • manner mode • vibrate)

Robot Guide Scheduled To Work Atop Tokyo Tower Needs a Name

Master Blaster
Jul 11, 2012

With the recent opening of the Tokyo Sky Tree, it’s older little brother, Tokyo Tower has its work cut out for it to gather tourists. In an effort to break out of the shadow of the tallest tower in the world, Tokyo Tower plans to add “Japan’s first autonomously moving robot with a signboard.”

Japan
(guide • robot • Tokyo Tower)

Man Faints and Falls into Cesspool Rescuing Woman Who Fainted and Fell into a Cesspool Attempting to Rescue a Pig Who Fell into a Cesspool

Master Blaster
Jul 10, 2012

Here’s a hypothetical that you can discuss with your neighbors during the next BBQ or dinner party: One of your neighbors had fallen into a pit full of human excrement and the rest of you have to rescue them. Who goes in? What would you do?

This crappy situation played out in a central China province after a pig running into the cesspool of a farm resulted in two people being hospitalized.

China
(cesspool • faint • pig)

A Naruto Fan and Non-Fan Give Their Impressions of the Naruto Live Action Movie on YouTube

Master Blaster
Jul 9, 2012

One of the most popular anime and mangas around the world in recent times has got to be Naruto. With such fame often comes fan fiction, and thanks to the development of easily available production equipment, fan movies are an ever improving art form.

The fledgling American production team Thousand Pounds Action Company has put together a YouTube movie with an original story based on the Naruto universe. A follow-up to their celebrated Street Fighter X Tekken video, the Naruto movie has been getting an equally good reception and then some.

However, would Naruto fans be offending with their handling of the source material, and could this tiny movie company grab the attention of non-fans with their talents? We take a look at it from both sides to see.

Internet, Japan, USA
(comic • Naruto • Thousand Pounds Action Company • YouTube)

McD’s “Miami Fries”, Only in Italia! We Went to Have a Taste

Danielnishina
Jul 9, 2012

They don’t mess around in Italy. Next to the regular french fries on the McDonald’s menu, you’ll find Miami Fries. Customers regularly substitute these fries with the combo sets. Read More