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Pokémon Lego kits are finally on their way!【Photos】

• Casey Baseel
  Jan 13, 2026
• Tweet

After 30 years of waiting, combination Pokémon Trainers/Lego builders finally get the kits of their dreams.

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• Global, Japan
• (anime • cool • LEGO • manga • Pikachu • Pokemon • toys • video games)

Taste of spring coming this winter with sakura flower and leaf green tea and matcha from Ito En

• Casey Baseel
  Jan 13, 2026

No need to wait until winter ends to start enjoying the cherry blossoms.

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• Japan
• (cherry blossoms • COK • drinks • green tea • Ito En • matcha • Matcha Love • Oi Ocha • sakura • tea)

Researchers in Japan give mouse glowing sperm

• Casey Baseel
  Jan 13, 2026

It sounds like the worst Pokémon ever, but it’s actually an important medical breakthrough that will benefit humans.

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• Japan
• (animals • crazy • gross • health • mice • science • weird)

New adults go wild at Seijinshiki Coming-of-Age ceremony in Kitakyushu, Japan 【Photos】

• Oona McGee
  Jan 13, 2026

This celebration throws everything you thought you knew about Japanese culture out the window. 

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• Japan
• (bosozoku • coming of age • Coming of Age Ceremony • Coming of Age Day • cosplay • culture • fashion • hakama • kimono • Kitakyushu • seijinshiki • SNJO • society • Yankee • youth)

Best practices for celebrating Coming of Age Day for those turning 18, 20, or both in Japan

• Krista Rogers
  Jan 12, 2026

With the change in the legal age of adulthood in Japan, even Japanese people are confused about when and how to celebrate this milestone.

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• Japan
• (adulthood • best practices • ceremony • Coming of Age Day • gifts • Seijin no Hi • seijinshiki • tips)

Starbucks Japan releases new popcorn Frappuccino at one special location

• Oona McGee
  Jan 12, 2026

Popcorn with espresso is the new must-try drink of the year.

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• Japan
• (coffee • drinks • espresso • Frappuccino • Japanese Frappuccino • latte • opera cake • Starbucks • Starbucks Japan • Starbucks Reserve • Starbucks Reserve Cafe)

Japanese women showing rebounding interest in giving Valentine’s Day chocolate【Survey】

• Casey Baseel
  Jan 12, 2026

Annual survey shows nearly a 70-percent increase in two years for number of Japanese women giving chocolate on Valentine’s Day.

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• Japan
• (chocolate • COK • food • romance • society • survey • sweets • Valentine's Day • valentine's day chocolate)

Man arrested for violating Japan’s anti-dueling law in downtown Tokyo

• Casey Baseel
  Jan 12, 2026

Yes, even in 2026 you can still get arrested if you don’t follow a law originally enacted to keep ex-samurai in line.

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• Japan
• (Act Concerning Dueling • Act Concerning the Criminality of Dueling • anti-dueling law • crazy • crime • dueling • dueling law • Kabukicho • weird)

Studio Ghibli’s kodama ready to leave the Princess Mononoke forest as a squeezable keychain【Pics】

• Casey Baseel
  Jan 12, 2026

This kodama is looking to see the world beyond its hometown trees with you.

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• Japan
• (anime • awesome • cool • Donguri Kyowakoku • interior • key chain • key holder • keychain • keyholder • kodama • magnets • manga • Princess Mononoke • Studio Ghibli)

Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.

• Casey Baseel
  Jan 11, 2026

Japanese home-away-from-home hotel rooms reflect the new face of Japan travel.

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• Japan
• (group travel • hotels • Japan travel • Osaka • tourism • travel)

What’s inside Starbucks Japan’s fukubukuro lucky bag for 2026?

• Oona McGee
  Jan 11, 2026

A bundle so sought after we had to resort to unprecedented methods to get one. 

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• Japan
• (drinks • fukubukuro • fukubukuro 2026 • Lucky Bag 2026 • Lucky Bags • new year • Starbucks • Starbucks Japan)

How lucky are the themed retro video game lucky bags from this shop in the Tokyo boonies?

• Casey Baseel
  Jan 10, 2026

Love, conquest, existence, and gatherings.

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• Japan
• (COK • fukubukuro • fukubukuro 2026 • fukubukuro roundup 2026 • lucky bag roundup 2026 • Lucky Bags • lucky bags 2026 • retro games • SNJO • video games)

Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day

• Oona McGee
  Jan 10, 2026

This limited-edition romance is said to be deeply delicious.

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• Japan
• (cacao • drinks • Frappuccino • Japanese Frappuccino • latte • Starbucks • Starbucks Japan • Valentine's Day)

Bamboo trees vandalized near Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari shrine, foreign graffiti prevalent

• Casey Baseel
  Jan 10, 2026

Shinto shrine in Kyoto has become globally famous for its beauty, but inconsiderate visitors are ruining the view for everyone but themselves.

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• Japan
• (bamboo • COK • Fushimi Inari • Fushimi Inari Shrine • Fushimi Inari Taisha • graffiti • Japan travel • Kyoto • nature • overtourism • tourism • travel • vandalism)

Say hello to Japan’s new stationmaster cat!【Video】

• Casey Baseel
  Jan 10, 2026

Feline railway legacy continues with two kitties inaugurated as stationmasters in Wakayama Prefecture.

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• Japan
• (animals • cats • cute • Kishi Station • Nitama • Tama • tourism • trains • travel • video • Wakayama • Wakayama Electric Railway • Yontama)

Princess Mononoke magnets return just in time to treat yourself to awesome anime decorations

• Casey Baseel
  Jan 10, 2026

They couldn’t make it in time for Christmas, but we’re glad these Studio Ghibli stars are here now.

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• Japan
• (anime • awesome • cool • Donguri Kyowakoku • interior • magnets • manga • Princess Mononoke • Studio Ghibli)

Japan’s Valentine’s Day gets extra cute with the return of KitKat Heartful Bear【Photos】

• Elliot Hale
  Jan 9, 2026

This year, KitKat is bringing everyday goods like pouches, tumblers, and towels to make the holiday feel much more adorable.

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• Japan
• (Afternoon Tea Living • bears • COK • collaboration • collaboration goods • cute • gifts • goods • Heartful Bear • KitKat • KitKat Heartful Bear • limited edition • love • Nestle • Nestle Japan • products • Valentine's Day • Valentine's Day gifts)

Umamusume anime girl plushie recalled for having parts she absolutely should not have【Pics】

• Casey Baseel
  Jan 9, 2026

Nope, no horse girl is supposed to have those.

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• Japan
• (anime • funny • manga • plushies • Uma Musume • Uma Musume Pretty Derby • Umamusume: Pretty Derby • video games • weird)

Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal

• Elliot Hale
  Jan 9, 2026

Starting in his 40s and still going strong, Mr. Sato offers realistic tips for anyone trying to shift some extra weight this year.

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• Japan
• (COK • diet • exercise • fitness • health • moving • Mr. Sato • New Year's Resolution • pole dance • pole dancing • SNJO • touching • weight loss)

We ate sushi made from Japan’s most expensive tuna ever【Taste test】

• Casey Baseel
  Jan 9, 2026

Tokyo’s  record-breaking New Year’s Day fish market auction tuna arrives at one of Japan’s favorite casual sushi restaurant chains.

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• Japan
• (COK • crazy • expensive • fish • food • ichiban maguro • maguro • SNJO • sushi • Sushi Zanmai • taste test • Tokyo fish market • tuna)

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• Recent Posts

  • This hot spring near Osaka’s Kansai Airport resolves the pick-two-out-of-three bathhouse dilemma
  • Starbucks Japan invites us to par-tea with its new Earl Gray Frappuccino [Taste test]
  • Tokyo Skytree set to offer breathtaking Diamond Fuji natural phenomenon view this month
  • Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
  • Japan’s mini Shikoku Pilgrimage walking tour left us feeling immensely satisfied

• MOST POPULAR

  • Today
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  • Yearly

  Today

  1. Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
  2. Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
  3. Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
  4. Japan’s mini Shikoku Pilgrimage walking tour left us feeling immensely satisfied
  5. Starbucks Japan invites us to par-tea with its new Earl Gray Frappuccino [Taste test]
  6. Tokyo Skytree set to offer breathtaking Diamond Fuji natural phenomenon view this month
  7. Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
  8. Shoplifting prevention guard arrested for shoplifting boot from store he was guarding
  9. This semi-secret, totally free footbath in downtown Tokyo is completely awesome
  10. This hot spring near Osaka’s Kansai Airport resolves the pick-two-out-of-three bathhouse dilemma

  Weekly

  1. Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
  2. Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
  3. Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods for 2026, with exclusive holiday surprises
  4. Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
  5. Life-size Monster Hunter dragon statues to be built at Japanese shopping mall
  6. Studio Ghibli homeware brand’s faux oil lamp brings light, smiles, and Kiki’s Jiji to your home
  7. Modern exosuits are opening up ancient Japanese castle climbs to everyone
  8. Evangelion announces collaboration with Hard Rock Cafe
  9. Starbucks Japan releases “Let’s Par-TEA!” Frappuccino and drinks for the holiday season
  10. Cold Stone is closing its final branch in all of east Japan, but it’s going down singing

  Monthly

  1. Pokémon Company announces first-ever permanent Pokémon store to open outside Asia
  2. Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
  3. What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?
  4. Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
  5. Chainsaw robots helping keep trains running safely in east Japan [Video]
  6. New Studio Ghibli anime gets extended run at the only cinema in Japan where it’s being shown
  7. Tokyo train station will play Godzilla theme song as new departure melody
  8. Osaka’s famous Glico Running Man will be removed and replaced with a new-look sign
  9. Studio Ghibli creates illustrated Kyoto sightseeing map, available at any 7-Eleven Japan store
  10. Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect

  Yearly

  1. Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
  2. Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
  3. Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
  4. Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
  5. Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
  6. Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
  7. Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
  8. Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
  9. Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
  10. Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa

• RECOMMENDED STORIES

  • Tokyo Skytree set to offer breathtaking Diamond Fuji natural phenomenon view this month
  • Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
  • Shoplifting prevention guard arrested for shoplifting boot from store he was guarding
  • This semi-secret, totally free footbath in downtown Tokyo is completely awesome
  • This hot spring near Osaka’s Kansai Airport resolves the pick-two-out-of-three bathhouse dilemma
  • Pokémon guitars from Fender Japan come with 8-bit sound mode for covering retro game music [Vid]
  • Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods for 2026, with exclusive holiday surprises
  • Life-size Monster Hunter dragon statues to be built at Japanese shopping mall
  • Osaka’s famous Glico Running Man will be removed and replaced with a new-look sign
  • Evangelion announces collaboration with Hard Rock Cafe
  • Can Japan’s Self-Defense Forces legally open fire on a zombie horde?
  • Guile cosplay goes with everyone for Halloween at SoraNews24 HQ [Photos]
  • Hello Kitty cuts ties with hit Japanese spy drama Vivant over torture scenes
  • Studio Ghibli homeware brand’s faux oil lamp brings light, smiles, and Kiki’s Jiji to your home

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• • Pokémon guitars from Fender Japan come with 8-bit sound mode for covering retro game music [Vid]
  • Evangelion announces collaboration with Hard Rock Cafe
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