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Instant Ramen #1 on Favorite Japanese Factory Tours, Field Trips
The Japanese version of the popular travel information site Trip Adviser recently published a list of the best factory tours in Japan. Perhaps unsurprisingly, one of the nation’s most popular exports makes it to number one. Read More
- Japan
- (Aichi • business • cup noodles • food • Hokkaido • Hyogo • Nagoya • Okinawa • travel • Yamanashi)
KDDI Releases First Iridium Satellite Phone with GPS Capability
- Mac Denny
Apr 13, 2012
On April 13, KDDI will begin selling “Extreme,” the newest Iridium satellite phone model and the first equipped with a GPS function.
With the GPS function, Extreme users can periodically update people in their address book on their location via email. In case of emergency, they can push the SOS Button on top of the unit to send an automatic message containing their GPS position.
At 10% thinner and 7% lighter than 9555, the previous model, it is now the thinnest, lightest Iridium satphone, and it also features better resistance to water and dust. Read More
- Japan
- (business • Iridium • KDDI • satellite phone • satphone • technology)
Newspaper Companies Rally Against Inevitable Demise by Giving a Few Free Copies Away with the Purchase of an Egg McMuffin
- Master Blaster
Apr 12, 2012
McDonald’s may not be the best place to get nourishment for your body, but for one week at selected branches you could get some food for thought, in the form of a free newspaper.
That’s right, McDonald’s restaurants and the Japan Newspaper association have collaborated to bring you Spring Newspaper Week (April 6 to 12), which many are lauding as a glorious waste of time.
The purpose of Spring Newspaper Week is to combat the growing trend of young people not using newspapers. Strangely, more and more younger people prefer reading their news on phones that fit in the palm of their hands rather than cumbersome sheets of paper that make their fingers black.
Panasonic Developing 24-Fingered Hair-Washing Robot
- Mac Denny
Apr 10, 2012
If Panasonic has its way, the next human task we entrust to Japanese robots will be hair-washing. The electronics manufacturing giant is developing a hair-washing robot and hopes to put it into actual service in beauty salons before the end of the year.
First, the robot moves its mechanical fingertips around the customer’s head, measuring it with sensors. Once it has an idea of the unique shape of the customer’s head, it applies hot water and shampoo and uses its 24 digits to wash the customer’s hair. Read More
- Japan
- (business • Panasonic • robot • technology)
Yay ‘merica! Bacon Shake! But How’s It Taste?
- Danielnishina
Apr 9, 2012
Well, that’s what we’re here for.
So, Americans love bacon. Bacon with eggs. Bacon with burgers. Bacon with waffles, even. We’ve even seen bacon with chocolate and other sweets. Read More
Amazon Buys Robot Company for $755M Reducing Warehouse Staff’s Duties to Standing Still and Pushing Pretty Red Buttons
- Master Blaster
Apr 7, 2012
Kiva Systems is a company that found some success selling their warehouse robots to many major retailers looking to keep up with the juggernaut that is Amazon.com notable clients of their included the GAP and Toys “R” Us.
However, just recently Amazon responded with a big capitalistic FU to their competitors by buying Kiva Systems. This means that Amazon now kind of owns the distribution systems of many of their rivals. The price of $755 million doesn’t sound too crazy now, does it?
But as we shall see, the real loser in this deal is the human race. This is because along with this acquisition, Amazon is now the proud father of Kiva’s army of tiny orange warehouse robots. Kiva’s promotion video gives us a bleak view of how the world will look when the robots take over.
Car Horns on Steroids in India. They Will (Luxuriously) F* You Up
- Danielnishina
Mar 30, 2012
To say that the streets in India are congested is an understatement. If you’re used to driving in Europe or the U.S., basically you’d need to prepare to enter a completely different world, like in Running Man but with 10,000 other contestants.
Put the Tokyo Subway in Your Mouth!
- Jessica
Mar 29, 2012
Among both train nerds and the general public, the bright red 300-series cars that originally ran on the Marunouchi subway line in Tokyo are much beloved. This year, that line celebrates the 50th anniversary of the completion of its full length, and someone has fittingly made it a cake. Literally.
The cakes, called Marunouchi Line 300-Series 3D Cake, are being sold for a limited time at the price of 7980 yen (about $97).
Read More
- Japan
- (300-series • business • cake • food • Marunouchi Line • otaku • shopping • Tokyo • Tokyo Metro)
Kirin Releasing Fat-Busting Cola
- Jessica
Mar 28, 2012
This month, beverage maker Kirin announced that it will be releasing the first ever health food cola on April 24th. The drink will be called Kirin Mets Cola. No connection to the MLB team, although fans will find the font suspiciously familiar.
According to the company, the drink contains an indigestible form dextrin sometimes used as a fiber supplement, which restricts the body’s ability to absorb fat while eating. It contains no sweeteners and has strong carbonation for a refreshing feel. They also claim that blood tests performed in house after consuming the beverage prove the drink keeps levels of neutral fats low after eating.
Read More
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Recent Posts
- New Era celebrates three decades of Pokémon with new 30th anniversary cap line [Photos]
- Two Tokyo neighborhoods to gather on bridge and shift their recognized border through tug-of-war
- Hello Kitty ready to keep you company in the bathroom with new dessert-aroma Sanrio toilet paper
- Cinnabon gets into the Japanese spirit with new Wagokorobon treats
- Japan’s new matcha vending machines serve freshly prepared matcha in five different strengths
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MOST POPULAR
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Today
Two Tokyo neighborhoods to gather on bridge and shift their recognized border through tug-of-war
Starbucks Japan unveils new winter drinkware collection with limited-edition Stanley cups
Hello Kitty ready to keep you company in the bathroom with new dessert-aroma Sanrio toilet paper
Japan’s new matcha vending machines serve freshly prepared matcha in five different strengths
Pachinko parlor operator arrested for not obscuring the act of gambling well enough
New Era celebrates three decades of Pokémon with new 30th anniversary cap line [Photos]
Cinnabon gets into the Japanese spirit with new Wagokorobon treats
Restaurant opens in Japan with all-dementia waitresses, serves up ramen, awareness, and kindness
Pokémon doughnuts pop up at Mister Donut, with a new gathering that’s bigger than ever
Get the taste of the U.K. in Tokyo with 99 Flakes, meat pies, and Jaffa Cakes
Weekly
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]
Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
Pachinko parlor operator arrested for not obscuring the act of gambling well enough
Starbucks Japan unveils new winter drinkware collection with limited-edition Stanley cups
Liquid croissant coffee is coming to Japanese stores this month
Pokémon doughnuts pop up at Mister Donut, with a new gathering that’s bigger than ever
Starbucks Japan releases now Tokyo Reserve Roastery Christmas drinkware collection [Photos]
First-ever cafe on Tokyo Imperial Palace Garden grounds is now open
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Monthly
Pokémon Company announces first-ever permanent Pokémon store to open outside Asia
Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?
Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
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
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
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
New Era celebrates three decades of Pokémon with new 30th anniversary cap line [Photos]
Cinnabon gets into the Japanese spirit with new Wagokorobon treats
Restaurant opens in Japan with all-dementia waitresses, serves up ramen, awareness, and kindness
Pokémon doughnuts pop up at Mister Donut, with a new gathering that’s bigger than ever
Get the taste of the U.K. in Tokyo with 99 Flakes, meat pies, and Jaffa Cakes
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
Discount retailers known for massive bargains releases massive Japanese egg sandwich
Continuing cyberattacks hit Japanese arcade hard [Photos]
Liquid croissant coffee is coming to Japanese stores this month
Osaka’s famous Glico Running Man will be removed and replaced with a new-look sign
Japan’s free stock image site of muscular men doing whimsical and mundane things reveals rankings
Japanese government hires leading comedy agency to explain national defense spending
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
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