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Osaka Prefecture bans seniors from talking on the phone while using ATMs

• Master Blaster
  Mar 26, 2025
• Tweet

Ban is first of its kind in Japan.

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• Japan
• (ATM • ban • crime • elderly • ordinances • Osaka • seniors • special fraud • tokushu sagi)

Japanese ramen shop bans YouTubers

• Scott Wilson
  Oct 10, 2021

“To put it bluntly, it’s kind of gross and uncomfortable…”

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• Japan
• (ban • ramen • ramen shop • Tokyo • YouTuber • YouTubers)

Anime masterpiece Akira seemingly banned in Russia due to fears of mentally damaging kids

• SoraNews24
  Jul 8, 2021

St. Petersburg doesn’t want people to watch Neo Tokyo EXPLODE.

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• Japan, Russia
• (AKIRA • anime • ban • censorship • Katsuhiro Otomo • movies • Russia)

Japanese government to lift ban on reselling masks and hand sanitizer, citizens express concern

• Dale Roll
  Aug 26, 2020

Is it too soon to allow people to resell hot public health commodities?

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• Japan
• (ban • COK • coronavirus • crime • economics • hand sanitizer • health • Japanese Government • masks • resale • reselling)

Mie Prefecture to become first in Japan to ban outing LGBT individuals

• Master Blaster
  Jun 3, 2020

Outing will soon be officially out in Mie.
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• Japan
• (ban • COK • discrimination • Eikei Suzuki • law • LGBT • Mie • Mie Prefecture • outing)

Bubble tea helps herbivore men meet women during Shibuya Halloween

• Oona McGee
  Oct 29, 2019

Unexpected outcome of alcohol ban has boba bonding partygoers in the best way possible.

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• Japan
• (alcohol • ban • boba • bubble tea • dating • halloween • Japanese women • love • milk tea • nanpa • romance • Shibuya • Shibuya Halloween • society • tapioca • Tokyo • women)

Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood bans public Halloween drinking following mayhem

• Casey Baseel
  Jun 20, 2019

Truck-tipping vandalism a major part of tipping-point decision in ordinarily pro-alcohol Japan.

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• Japan
• (alcohol • ban • COK • crime • drunk • halloween • Shibuya • Shibuya Halloween • Shibuya truck • society • Tokyo • vandalism)

China bans rap music in an effort to reduce “vulgar” culture

• Dale Roll
  Jan 26, 2018

Since January 23, rap artists are no longer allowed on public broadcasts in China.

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• China
• (ban • censorship • China • chinese music • hip hop • rap music)

Japanese government mulling indoor smoking ban to be introduced as early as next year

• Casey Baseel
  Oct 14, 2016

The pallor of smoke that covers so many restaurants and bars in Japan may become a thing of the past.

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• Japan
• (2020 Olympics • ban • government • health • laws • smoking • society)

Iran becomes first country to completely ban Pokémon GO

• Casey Baseel
  Aug 10, 2016

Sorry, Pikachu, but the Middle Eastern nation doesn’t choose you.

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• W Asia
• (ban • Iran • Pokemon • Pokémon GO • video games)

Geoff Keighley: Konami bans Metal Gear Solid V’s Hideo Kojima from game awards

• Anime News Network
  Dec 4, 2015

Kojima also did not accept award at PlayStation Awards in Japan on Thursday.

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• Japan
• (awards • ban • Hideo Kojima • Konami • Metal Gear Solid V • PlayStation Awards • video games)

Japan Basketball Association considering prohibiting zone defense to minors

• Master Blaster
  Jun 5, 2015

As much as I sometimes wish I were young again, there’s no denying the fact that youth has its drawbacks. For example, just think of all the things someone under the age of 15 can’t do in Japan: they can’t enjoy a glass of elephant poop beer, vote for some naked, sword wielding guy standing in municipal elections, go to an Edo period erotic art show, or buy a carton of Marlboro and exquisite steak curry at the same place.

And if the muckety mucks in the Japan Basketball Association have their way, anyone under 15 may soon be prohibited from playing zone defense. However, the JBA would like to remind youths that it’s for their own good, and hurts the association more than it does them.

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• Global, Japan
• (ban • basketball • FIBA • JBA • sports • Tokyo Olympics • zone defense)

Chinese city government bans Christmas in schools

• Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi
  Dec 30, 2014

While many of us spent the last few days stuffing our faces with Christmas treats, singing jolly carols and hoarding presents, one whole city of school children in China were unfortunately unable to celebrate the occasion because the Grinch, a.k.a. adults, had stolen their Christmas.

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• China
• (ban • Christmas • schools)

It’s official! The Sony PlayStation is coming to China

• Michelle Lynn Dinh
  May 27, 2014

All the rumors are true! Sony has just announced a partnership with Shanghai Oriental Pearl Group to produce and sell PlayStation consoles in China. There have been plenty of knock-offs floating around on the grey market, but this new partnership with Sony marks the first time in 14 years China will allow the sale of consoles.

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• China
• (ban • console • playstation • Sony • video games)

• Recent Posts

  • Japanese taxi drivers granted right to kick rude passengers out of their cabs before destination
  • This Japanese sandwich mascot is filled with fiery rage, and he’s got a point [Video]
  • Studio Ghibli creates illustrated Kyoto sightseeing map, available at any 7-Eleven Japan store
  • Japan’s bean sprout shortage hitting Jiro-style ramen businesses hard
  • Studio Ghibli adds new Totoro and Jiji blanket socks to its merchandise store in Japan

• MOST POPULAR

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  Today

  1. Studio Ghibli creates illustrated Kyoto sightseeing map, available at any 7-Eleven Japan store
  2. Studio Ghibli adds new Totoro and Jiji blanket socks to its merchandise store in Japan
  3. Japan’s bean sprout shortage hitting Jiro-style ramen businesses hard
  4. This Japanese sandwich mascot is filled with fiery rage, and he’s got a point [Video]
  5. Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
  6. Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest Christmas celebration coming to Yokohama next month
  7. We waited three hours to get into the new carb heaven all-you-can-eat bread restaurant in Osaka
  8. We hunt for treasure at an all-you-can-stuff Kanagawa secondhand shop for just 1,000 yen
  9. Japanese taxi drivers granted right to kick rude passengers out of their cabs before destination
  10. Ghibli/Kyoto crossover artwork decorates goshuin papers for Zen and Ghibli art exhibition [Pics]

  Weekly

  1. What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?
  2. American man runs out of money in Japan, gets arrested for overstaying tourist visa
  3. Japanese milk carton cakes are a genius idea that the world needs to know about
  4. Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
  5. New Studio Ghibli notebooks are a beautiful reason to write and draw by hand [Photos]
  6. Foreign travelers sitting on sidewalks of Tokyo’s Ginza are Japan’s latest tourism culture clash
  7. Studio Ghibli adds Totoro family goods to its anime merchandise store in Japan
  8. New Gundam plush goods mix cosplay and comfort for Char-custom-level coziness [Pics]
  9. We waited three hours to get into the new carb heaven all-you-can-eat bread restaurant in Osaka
  10. Giant wagashi cushions will turn your home sweet home into home sweet Japanese sweets home

  Monthly

  1. Japan announces new permanent residency guidelines, foreigners must earn more than average Japanese person
  2. Starbucks Japan unveils new Pokémon collaboration with Pikachu Latte and exclusive goods
  3. Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
  4. Studio Ghibli’s Calcifer is ready to light up your home as a magical-looking candle lamp [Photos]
  5. Lady Gaga and Family Mart team up for a Japanese convenience store work video [Video]
  6. What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?
  7. New Gundam Base superstores coming soon in the U.S., with one opening this month
  8. Studio Ghibli releases new plush mascot character collection with a focus on friendship
  9. Tokyo train station will play Godzilla theme song as new departure melody
  10. Do Japan’s new single-minded convenience store bento show depressing poverty or satisfying focus?

  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

  • Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest Christmas celebration coming to Yokohama next month
  • We waited three hours to get into the new carb heaven all-you-can-eat bread restaurant in Osaka
  • We hunt for treasure at an all-you-can-stuff Kanagawa secondhand shop for just 1,000 yen
  • Japanese taxi drivers granted right to kick rude passengers out of their cabs before destination
  • Ghibli/Kyoto crossover artwork decorates goshuin papers for Zen and Ghibli art exhibition [Pics]
  • KFC Japan releases its first thigh-meat fried chicken burger in 43 years, but was it worth the wait?
  • New Studio Ghibli stamp rally set to start in Japan, with exclusive merchandise for anime fans
  • Man in Japan says monkey threw his cat into a pond before attacking him
  • Foreign travelers sitting on sidewalks of Tokyo’s Ginza are Japan’s latest tourism culture clash
  • New Gundam plush goods mix cosplay and comfort for Char-custom-level coziness [Pics]
  • Tokyo Monorail, other east Japan rail networks announce discontinuation of magnetic paper tickets
  • Studio Ghibli adds Totoro family goods to its anime merchandise store in Japan
  • American man runs out of money in Japan, gets arrested for overstaying tourist visa
  • Vietnamese-language driver’s license tests suspended in Japan following alleged cheating

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