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Research in Japan proves that pianists can control timber with touch alone
- Master Blaster
Oct 4, 2025 - Tweet
It really is all in the wrists.
- Japan
- (COK • music • pianists • piano • science • Sony Computer Science Laboratories • technology • timbre • tone)
Reality comes crashing down for naked man on trip to escape reality in Japan’s northernmost town
- Casey Baseel
Oct 3, 2025
In the end, he ran into the very thing he was trying to get away from.
Cycling through culture and coastlines in northern Okinawa
- Elliot Hale
Oct 3, 2025
A journey into Okinawa’s traditions in Yanbaru.
- Japan
- (COK • culture • cycling • cycling tour • experience • nature • Okinawa • outdoors • Ta Taki Falls • tourism • travel • Yanbaru • Yanbaru National Park)
Burger King Japan’s crazy patty-only menu item: Depressing, delicious, or both?【Taste test】
- Casey Baseel
Oct 3, 2025
On the Beef plays with our mind, but does it satisfy our stomach?
- Japan
- (Burger King • Burger King Japan • burgers • COK • crazy • fast food • food • hamburgers • meat • SNJO • taste test • weird)
U.S. embassy in Japan suspends Twitter accounts during government shutdown, visa and passport services to continue “as situation permits”
- Casey Baseel
Oct 3, 2025
Disagreement in Washington could cause problems in Tokyo.
Osaka suspending new Airbnb-style special zone private lodging applications following backlash
- Casey Baseel
Oct 2, 2025
Residents don’t think special zone minpaku are very special at all.
- Japan
- (COK • minpaku • Osaka • private lodging • society • tokku minpaku • tourism • travel)
Are blank vending machines the future in Japan?
- Master Blaster
Oct 2, 2025
DyDo is trying to find out with help from Toyota.
- Japan
- (COK • Dydo • technology • Toyota Woven City • vending machines)
Awesome cosplayers and impressive demos from Tokyo Game Show【Photos】
- Casey Baseel
Oct 2, 2025
Our reporter hits the floor of TGS to see the sights and play the games.
- Japan
- (beautiful women • COK • cosplay • cosplayers • Monster Hunter • Monster Hunter Outlanders • Resident Evil • Resident Evil Requiem • SNJO • Tokyo Game Show • Tokyo Game Show 2025 • video games)
Hidden travel gems of northern east Japan, presented by the Kita Kanto Brothers!【Photos】
- Casey Baseel
Oct 2, 2025
Our northern Kanto reporters team up and head to Gunma for a look at this part of Japan that gets overlooked by tourists.
- Japan
- (Calpico • Calpis • COK • food • Gunma • Kanto • katsu • Kita Kanto • Kita Kanto Bros. • Kita Kanto Brothers • Masanuki Sunakoma • north Kanto • northern Kanto • pork cutlet • SNJO • Takamichi Furusawa • Tanuki • Tatebayashi • temples • tonkatsu • tourism • travel)
More tip jars appear at Japanese restaurants, but there are important reasons why you shouldn’t tip
- Oona McGee
Oct 1, 2025
Japan is now at a cultural tipping point, where foreign influences threaten to destroy local customs.
- Japan
- (culture • customer service • customs • japanese customs • restaurant tips • restaurants • society • tipping • tipping culture • tips • tourism • tourist industry • tourist manners • tourists • traditions)
Exhibit of globally popular ’80s and ’90s Japanese cars comes to Toyota Automobile Museum
- Master Blaster
Oct 1, 2025
Finally, an event for Civic-minded folks.
- Japan
- (cars • Civic • exhibits • Honda • Impreza • Integra • JDM • Mazda • nissan • RX-7 • Skyline • TOYOTA • Toyota Automobile Museum • Trueno)
Tokyo has Cold Stone vending machine after ice cream chain leaves city, but is it just as good?
- Casey Baseel
Oct 1, 2025
The American ice cream chain has closed all of its branches in east Japan, but this Tokyo train station sells its frozen treats from a vending machine.
- Japan
- (COK • Cold Stone • food • ice cream • Meidaimae • SNJO • stations • sweets • taste test • vending machines)
Studio Ghibli art train to run in Tokyo at anime film’s real-world location
- Casey Baseel
Oct 1, 2025
Pom Poko tanuki to once again run around Tama Hills.
- Japan
- (anime • cute • manga • Pom Poko • Studio Ghibli • Tama Hills • Tanuki • tourism • trains • travel)
Tasting–and troubleshooting–the elusive, slushy-like Below Zero version of Mitsuya Cider
- Krista Rogers
Oct 1, 2025
We learned some hacks for ensuring the special drink that’s said to partially freeze when you open it does what it’s supposed to do.
- Japan
- (Below Zero • COK • cool • drinks • frozen • Mitsuya Cider • Natsuno Futon • SNJO • soda • soft drinks • vending machines)
Sanrio brings some smiles to Evangelion with new collaboration merch line【Photos】
- Casey Baseel
Sep 30, 2025
Each Eva pilot gets a special Sanrrio friend, while Hello Kitty lends her style to Unit-01 and the Angels too.
- Japan
- (anime • Cinnamoroll • cute • Evangelion • Hangyodon • Hello Kitty • Kuromi • manga • My Melody • Pompompurin • Sanrio)
Starbucks has a Japanese pajama-themed dessert drink, but how does it taste?【Taste test】
- Casey Baseel
Sep 30, 2025
Starbucks Japan teams up with Gelato Pique for a very unique collaboration.
- Japan
- (COK • drinks • Earl grey • Gelato Pique • SNJO • Starbucks • Starbucks Japan • sweets • taste test • tea)
Candidate for Prime Minister of Japan embroiled in astroturfing scandal
- Master Blaster
Sep 30, 2025
Politician caught with bogus posts of support.
- Japan
- (astroturfing • election • LDP • politics • prime minister • scandal • shinjiro koizumi • stealth marketing)
Japanese city abolishes 88th birthday celebratory money gift because people are living longer
- Krista Rogers
Sep 30, 2025
A city’s longstanding tradition is no more as something that’s very good for its residents turns out to be very bad for its budget.
- Japan
- (88 • age milestone • aging population • COK • Keiro no Hi • money • Okazaki • old • respect for the aged day • seniors • society)
Day 2 of our quest to visit all the Pokémon manhole covers in Tottori【Photos】
- Casey Baseel
Sep 30, 2025
Can we get to all the remaining Sandshrews before time runs out?
- Japan
- (anime • cute • Ikuna Kamezawa • manga • Pokéfuta • Pokemon • sandshrew • Tottori • Tottori Prefecture • tourism • travel • video games)
One of the longest footbaths in Japan makes for an unforgettable hot spring experience【Photos】
- Casey Baseel
Sep 30, 2025
We love you, ashiyu at Yuppo no Sato.
- Japan
- (ashiyu • baths • COKTochigi • footbaths • hot springs • Nasu Shiobara • Nasushiobara • onsen • SNJO • tourism • travel)
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Recent Posts
- This is Japan’s best cycling course, but is it fun for bicycling beginners too?
- Mr. Sato searches for the mysterious new wall of fortune in Tokyo
- Starbucks Japan releases now Tokyo Reserve Roastery Christmas drinkware collection [Photos]
- Japanese government announces criteria for creating backup capital of Japan
- This hot spring near Osaka’s Kansai Airport resolves the pick-two-out-of-three bathhouse dilemma
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MOST POPULAR
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Today
Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
Starbucks Japan releases now Tokyo Reserve Roastery Christmas drinkware collection [Photos]
Japanese government announces criteria for creating backup capital of Japan
Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
This hot spring near Osaka’s Kansai Airport resolves the pick-two-out-of-three bathhouse dilemma
Mr. Sato searches for the mysterious new wall of fortune in Tokyo
Japan’s mini Shikoku Pilgrimage walking tour left us feeling immensely satisfied
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Tokyo Skytree set to offer breathtaking Diamond Fuji natural phenomenon view this month
Weekly
- Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
- Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods for 2026, with exclusive holiday surprises- Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
Life-size Monster Hunter dragon statues to be built at Japanese shopping mall
Studio Ghibli homeware brand’s faux oil lamp brings light, smiles, and Kiki’s Jiji to your home
Modern exosuits are opening up ancient Japanese castle climbs to everyone
Evangelion announces collaboration with Hard Rock Cafe
Starbucks Japan releases “Let’s Par-TEA!” Frappuccino and drinks for the holiday season
Cold Stone is closing its final branch in all of east Japan, but it’s going down singing
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
Osaka’s famous Glico Running Man will be removed and replaced with a new-look sign
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
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
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RECOMMENDED STORIES
This hot spring near Osaka’s Kansai Airport resolves the pick-two-out-of-three bathhouse dilemma
Mr. Sato searches for the mysterious new wall of fortune in Tokyo
Japan’s mini Shikoku Pilgrimage walking tour left us feeling immensely satisfied
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Tokyo Skytree set to offer breathtaking Diamond Fuji natural phenomenon view this month
Starbucks Japan invites us to par-tea with its new Earl Gray Frappuccino [Taste test]
This semi-secret, totally free footbath in downtown Tokyo is completely awesome
Evangelion announces collaboration with Hard Rock Cafe
Pokémon guitars from Fender Japan come with 8-bit sound mode for covering retro game music [Vid]
Life-size Monster Hunter dragon statues to be built at Japanese shopping mall
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods for 2026, with exclusive holiday surprises
Osaka’s famous Glico Running Man will be removed and replaced with a new-look sign
This is Japan’s best cycling course, but is it fun for bicycling beginners too?
Shoplifting prevention guard arrested for shoplifting boot from store he was guarding
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