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Oh La La! McDonald’s Looks to Add a Touch of Class with Professional Baristas Brewing Custom Cups of Joe
- Master Blaster
May 7, 2012 - Tweet
Having recently opened a location in the ultra-trendy Harajuku-Omotesando shopping area of Tokyo, McDonald’s Japan is brewing a new strategy with an extra shot of sophistication.
Don’t worry; it’s not the rebirth of that lame Mac Tonight moon man who played cheesy lounge music on the piano in the 80’s. This time McDonald’s will be serving up freshly made custom cups of coffee by real baristas.
- Japan
- (barista • coffee • McCafe • McDonald's)
Self-Described “Sushidols” are Serving Fans Songs with their Wasabi
- Master Blaster
May 6, 2012
It’s hard making it as an idol group in Japan. In this business thousands of girls and boys are struggling to find their niche be it with snaggleteeth, clean towels, or chainsaws.
This time RocketNews would like to present a girl group who have taken a more fishy road to success, by pitching in at their local sushi shop. Every Sunday you can catch up-and-coming Idol Class do a free concert then sell you some octopus after the show, in what they call Sushidols.
- Japan
- (entertainment • food • girl group • idol • music • sushi)
【Brain Teaser Time】 Can You Guess What These Cute Little Guys Are Used For?
- Master Blaster
May 6, 2012
**SPOILER ALERT**
If you are not ready to see the answer then scroll gently, the answer is at the bottom.
Our modern world is so full of useful products that we are often very cynical of new inventions. In simpler times, when whoopee cushions, pogo sticks, and pet rocks could be considered “cool” much maligned developments like spray-on hair and Mr. T’s Flavor Wave Turbo Oven may have found their place.
However now they are simply lost amidst a sea of gadgets that never took off. As Ron Popiel might say; they were set, and they were forgotten. Such is the case of these little items in the photo above. Though they’ve been around for over a decade we at RocketNews dare you to guess what they do.
- Japan
- (akanbe • brain teaser • inventions • weird)
Harley Davidson Restore Project Stirs Respect, Admiration in Japanese Internet Community
- Mac Denny
May 6, 2012
The heartwarming, true story about a disaster-stricken man being reunited with his long lost Harley Davidson has made the rounds on the Internet and tugged at the heartstrings of Japanese Internet users in particular.
“They’ve started writing the movie already,” posted one enthusiastic reader on the Topsy.com comments section.
Man loses three family members and nearly all of his possessions in a horrific earthquake and tsunami and spends over a year in temporary housing before hearing one day that someone found his treasured motorcycle 4,000 miles across the ocean, reasonably intact considering the beating it took at the hands of the Pacific Ocean? We may have something here, Mr. DeMille. Read More
- Canada, Internet, Japan
- (earthquake • Great Pacific Garbage Patch • Harley Davidson • lost and found)
‘Call of Duty’ Secret Bargain. “Long Live the Emperor! Banzai!”
- Danielnishina
May 4, 2012
‘Call of Duty’ is a popular video game series, with new releases selling out, even in Japan. But did you know there’s a ‘Call of Duty’ that they won’t ever sell a localized Japanese version of, despite high acclaim everywhere else? We’re talking about ‘Call of Duty: World at War’. Read More
- Japan
- (banzai • business • call of duty • entertainment • shopping • technology • video game)
It’s Hello Kitty galore! Ms. Kitty takes over food department at Tokyu Toyoko Department Store
- Kay
May 3, 2012
You may have read our previous report about Ms. Kitty taking on the tough job of being baked into small golden brown cakes. Well, it appears she was just getting warmed up for a huge number of engagements in the Shibuya area this week. When yours truly, a humble Hello Kitty fan, found out that Ms. Kitty would be appearing in various edible forms at the food department of the Tokyu Toyoko Department Store in Shibuya, I knew I just had to go and see Ms. Kitty hard at work. And wow, has she been keeping herself busy! Read More
- Japan
- (cute • cute foods • entertainment • food • Hello Kitty)
You can now have “best breakfast in the world” in central Tokyo! Australian restaurant Bills opens shop in Omotesando/Harajuku area
- Kay
May 3, 2012
Okay, we admit it, we are seriously thrilled about the restaurant “bills” opening in central Tokyo. The Australian restaurant based in Sydney is known to serve the “best breakfast in the world”, and apparently their food is so good that celebrities from around the world travel to Sydney to have a meal there. So, naturally we had to have one of our reporters check the new restaurant – and our verdict? Their amazing soft scrambled eggs are to die for! Read More
The Super Rice Ball – get four flavors in one ball!
- Kay
May 2, 2012
If you’ve lived in Japan, you know that we Japanese love our rice balls, or omusubi as they’re called in Japanese. At every convenience store in Japan, you can find rice balls in every flavor imaginable, from the standard grilled salmon flake omusubi to more quirky flavors like tempura shrimp or bacon and cheese. But the variety can sometimes make it difficult to choose a flavor from all the options. Well now, you won’t have to settle for just one flavor. Read More
Custom-Made Canine “Cake Meals” Abandon Milk and Eggs for Chicken and Peas and Feature Your Dog’s Likeness
- Master Blaster
May 2, 2012
What do you get for that dog in your life that has everything? Dog Diner has the answer with custom made cakes featuring your prized pooch’s puss. And beyond just a special treat these cakes will help keep your pet healthy.
How to Convert Minutes to Cheeseburgers? New McD’s Ad Campaign
- Danielnishina
May 1, 2012
You will stop thinking in minutes and hours, and start seeing time in terms of cheeseburgers and milkshakes, if the McDonald’s new ad campaign’s persuasive power works its charms.
- Europe
- (ads • advertisement • fast food • McDonald's • Poland • warsaw)
The Ultimate Camping Chair Capable of Holding Over 700 Times Its Own Weight
- Master Blaster
May 1, 2012
As the warm weather has finally started to kick in, most of us are looking to get reacquainted with the great outdoors. But for many camping is a new experience and getting the right equipment can make or break their overall enjoyment. Sure you can buy a bulky trailer full of equipment but who want to use the time, money, and muscle power for all that.
Camping equipment brand Doppelganger Outdoor has released a series of lightweight chairs and tables ideally portable and durable for outdoor use. The pièce de résistance of this collection is the Ultra Light Micro Chair, more affectionately known as C1-54.
Talk on the Phone but Still Feeling Lonely? Check Out These Vibrating Snuggle Dolls
- Danielnishina
Apr 30, 2012
Remember the boyfriend arm pillow? And the lap pillow in the shape of a woman’s lower body? (Or perhaps you actually have them?) Read More
- Japan
- (boyfriend pillow • cute • entertainment • pillow • shopping • technology • weird)
McDonald’s Lures Country’s Best and Brightest By Offering a Free Small Fries for Job Applicants
- Master Blaster
Apr 30, 2012
Good news for anyone who’s out of money and food! From now until May 13th anyone in Japan who applies for a job and gets an interview at McDonalds will receive a complimentary small order of fries…
Okay, by now you’ve probably recovered from the shock of this amazing news. According to their recent banner ad which reads “Let’s get started. McCrew: Until 5/13 all interviewees will receive a present of a free small fries.” this is no joke.
Are You Adult Enough for this Pepsi?
- Danielnishina
Apr 30, 2012
Summer is a competitive time for beverage companies, who duke it out to get those thirsty, hot customers. Actually, manufacturers (as well as regular people) are still contending this year with a lean, electricity-short summer, a season when the demand for power understandably goes up. Amid all these circumstances, those of you who yearn for an unsweet soft drink should have a crack at ‘Pepsi Black’, coming mid-June.
What Ever Happened to the Shower? One-Person Karaoke Booths Are a Huge Success
- Master Blaster
Apr 30, 2012
Last November we reported on a karaoke booth for one to three people in Akihabara called Choi Kara, which was becoming a big hit in game centers. Around the same time, another company opened One Kara, “the one-person private karaoke room.” Similar to the Choi Kara in many ways One Kara also lets anyone sing their hearts out without fear of judgment.
- Japan
- (entertainment • karaoke • One Kara • Tokyo)
Special menu for McDonald’s staff – plain “salt-flavored hamburger”- is definitely good enough for regular customers!
- Kay
Apr 30, 2012
You may have heard various stories about special food items at McDonald’s eaten by the staff and not on the regular menu. One such item that is rumored to be a staple among McDonald’s staff in Japan is shio-burger, or plain salt-flavored hamburger. Apparently, this item is quite well-known among McDonald’s fans, so we decided to get to the bottom of what this mysterious hamburger is like. Read More
- Japan
- (B gourmet • fast food • hamburger • McDonald's • special menu)
Get a serious load of cute – this furry little McDonald’s fan has found the purrr-fect toy!
- Kay
Apr 29, 2012
All of you cat-lovers out there, this is something you won’t want to miss! We’ve found a darned cute YouTube video that has captured the hearts of countless cat-loving internet viewers. The video shows a cat making a toy out of an unexpected object – a Mcdonald’s paper bag! Read More
- Japan
- (animals • cats • cute • cute video • McDonald's)
Horror meets baseball – Sadako delights fans with guest appearance at Tokyo Dome Stadium
- Kay
Apr 28, 2012
With a new movie coming out, it seems that Japanese horror character Sadako from the “Ring” series is keeping herself quite busy these days. We’ve already reported to you about how she has collaborated with Hello Kitty. This time, she made a surprise appearance at a baseball game at Tokyo Dome Stadium to throw the ceremonial first pitch. Read More
Emergency Medical Workers in Kyoto Express Outrage at the Media in the Wake of Fatal Accident Involving School Children
- Master Blaster
Apr 26, 2012
In Kyoto, a tragic and fatal incident unfolded involving an unlicensed driver who ran their car into a crowd of people consisting of elementary school children and a pregnant woman. It’s one of those horrible accidents that bring out the deepest hurt, shock and anger in all of us.
So it’s no surprise to hear people lash out at whomever or whatever is responsible but an especially scathing commentary has sprung from a surprising source. Tajima Emergency & Critical Care Medical Center (TECCMC) who had sent an air ambulance to the accident scene, released an uncharacteristically harsh attack not on the driver of the vehicle but on the mass media outlets for their intrusive reporting on the premises in an article titled; Do people in the media have hearts?
Is There a Tiny Person Inside That Bird?! Pet Myna Abe-chan Impresses With His Conversational Skills
- Jessica
Apr 26, 2012
In the bird world, the undisputed masters of mimicry are the myna. You may even have seen them on TV from time to time copying human voices with eerie precision, but you’ve probably never seen one quite as adorable as Abe-chan, a pet myna cum YouTube star.
Read More
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Recent Posts
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MOST POPULAR
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Today
New Pokémon anniversary song is 22 minutes long, features all 1,025 Pokémon species [Video]
Lego PlayStation recreates Sony’s original console, makes unusual choice for games to salute
New Japanese convenience store rice balls taste like instant noodles [Taste test]
7-Eleven Japan releases new Tsukimi Moon-Viewing range for autumn, with a must-try daifuku and teriyaki burger
Kyoto temple bans visitors from wearing kimono
Kobe middle schools begin abolishing extracurricular activities, shift to community programs
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Japan’s Tsukimi One-hand Bento’s name is all wrong, but it still looks entirely delicious
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Join Naked in the Niwa garden: Kyoto Station’s newest spot to craft traditional art
Weekly
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Japan’s first fall color forecast for 2026 is here!
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Monthly
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
7-year-old boy left behind on Mt. Fuji by his own dad
Japan’s final Penguin Suica train cards have already shipped, and when they’re gone, they’re gone
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Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
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Japan approves foreign resident visa renewal fee increases of up to 967 percent, starts soon
Japan tripled its departure tax to fund tourism but is using the money on cherry blossoms and bears
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
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Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
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Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
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Kobe middle schools begin abolishing extracurricular activities, shift to community programs
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