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Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade

• Elliot Hale
  Dec 26, 2025
• Tweet

A simple envelope leads to funding children’s aid, and providing steady work for people with disabilities.

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• Japan
• (Anji Tabata • charity • COK • cultural traditions • culture • donation • gift • New Year's New Year's money • New Year's traditions • otoshidama • pochi bukuro • traditions • welfare)

Posthumous “Gwegh, I’m deadngo” tweet sparks nationwide cancer awareness movement in Japan

• Master Blaster
  Oct 28, 2025

Rest in peace, Clemens.

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• Japan
• (cancer • cancer research • charity • COK • epithelioid sarcoma • health • Japanese language • japanese slang • Kanaru Nakayama • moving • social media • touching)

The heartwarming impact of convenience store donation boxes in Japan

• Oona McGee
  Apr 16, 2025

Little-known konbini feature reveals new insights into the top three chains.

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• Japan
• (7-Eleven • charity • COK • combini • convenience store finds • convenience stores • donation box • donations • Family mart • fundraising • Japanese convenience stores • konbini • Lawson • SNJO)

Kids takoyaki charity almost shut down by reselling middle schoolers, but owner soldiers on

• Casey Baseel
  Aug 30, 2024

Octopus dumpling stand finds out it’s not always easy helping others, but finds a way to do it anyway with some heartwarming help.

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• Japan
• (charity • COK • food • kids • kids cafeteria • kodomo shokudo • moving • takoyaki • touching)

Studio Ghibli director Goro Miyazaki creates charity character T-shirt for Japan’s 24-Hour TV

• Oona McGee
  Jun 22, 2024

Hayao Miyazaki’s son creates a new anime character on behalf of Studio Ghibli despite programme’s embezzlement scandal.

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• Japan
• (anime • anime characters • art • charity • charity goods • cute • Ghibli • Goro Miyazaki • Hayao Miyazaki • news • Nippon TV • shop • Studio Ghibli • t-shirts)

Hayao Miyazaki-painted Totoro post cards on sale, proceeds help preserve real-life Totoro forest

• Casey Baseel
  Jun 11, 2024

Postcards and more are part of the special Totoro Fund line.

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• Japan
• (anime • charity • Donguri Kyowakoku • ecology • environment • Hayao Miyazaki • manga • My Neighbor Totoro • nature • Sayama • Sayama Hills • Studio Ghibli • Totoro • Totoro Forest • Totoro Fund • Totoro no Furusato Foundation • Totoro's Forest)

Come buy the SoraNews24 lucky bag and help support a good cause at Subculture Market

• Casey Baseel
  Mar 17, 2024

We go from lucky bag buyers to sellers to raise money for disaster relief.

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• Japan
• (charity • Daikanyama • disaster relief • fukubukuro • Lucky Bags • Noto earthquake • SNJO)

Yoshiki auctions off beloved crystal piano to support Noto Peninsula earthquake victims

• Master Blaster
  Jan 19, 2024

It’s the end of a crystal era.

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• Japan
• (charity • crystal piano • donations • Kawai • music • Noto earthquake • Noto Peninsula • X Japan • Yoshiki)

Watch Ishikawa-set anime, support January 1 earthquake relief efforts

• Krista Rogers
  Jan 17, 2024

The 2011 anime series Hanasaku Iroha and its film are now streaming on YouTube for free for residents of Japan with proceeds going towards aid.

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• Japan
• (anime • benefit • charity • disaster relief • Hanairo • Hanasaku Iroha • hot springs • Ishikawa Prefecture • Kanazawa • Noto earthquake • Noto Peninsula • ryokan • Yuwaku Onsen)

Bill Gates effect works its magic at Parasitological Museum in Tokyo

• Oona McGee
  Sep 8, 2022

Struggling museum sees its fortunes reversed after tweet from famous visitor.

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• Japan
• (Bill Gates • charity • donations • Meguro • Meguro Parasitological Museum • museums • nonprofit • parasites • social media • Tokyo • travel • twitter • weird • wtf)

Japanese public restroom ads donate to charities every time a stall is used

• Master Blaster
  Jun 15, 2022

Come be a part of the movement!

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• Japan
• (ads • charity • COK • crazy • restrooms • Toilets • Vacan • weird)

National dekotora association mints NFTs for charity and to support the art of decorating trucks

• Master Blaster
  May 7, 2022

Help dekotora help everyone.

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• Internet, Japan
• (art • charity • culture • Dekotora • NFTs • trucks • Utamarokai • vehicles)

Studio Ghibli anime artist to sell artwork to support Ukraine

• Oona McGee
  Mar 2, 2022

One of Japan’s leading art directors leads the way in raising funds for an issue that’s close to his heart.

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• Europe, Japan, Russia
• (animation • anime • art • artists • charity • Ghibli • Nizo Yamamoto • Russian invasion of Ukraine • spirited away • Studio Ghibli • twitter • Ukraine • war • Weathering with You)

Rakuten CEO donates one billion yen to Ukrainian humanitarian relief

• Casey Baseel
  Mar 1, 2022

Says that “the trampling of a peaceful and democratic Ukraine by unjustified force is a challenge to democracy.”

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• Europe, Japan, Russia
• (charity • COK • donation • Hiroshi Mikitani • moving • rakuten • Russian invasion of Ukraine • touching • Ukraine)

With Comiket returning, so is its anime-posters-for-otaku-blood blood drive

• Casey Baseel
  Dec 12, 2021

Donors get three posters this year, which helps us estimate the value of otaku blood.

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• Japan
• (anime • blood • blood drive • charity • Comiket • Comiket 2021 • Comiket 99 • donation • manga • otaku • Red Cross)

Uniqlo Japan will pay you for your old clothes with new recycling project Re:Uniqlo

• Shannon
  Oct 23, 2021

You know what’s even better than buying Heat Tech? Recycling your Heat Tech.

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• Japan
• (charity • environmental issues • environmentally friendly • Re:Uniqlo • recycle • Uniqlo)

If Fast and Furious was about 1970s Japanese truckers, this dekotora would be the star【Photos】

• Casey Baseel
  Aug 31, 2021

The hero car from “Truck Guys” is now a real-life hero too.

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• Japan
• (cars • charity • COK • crazy • decoration trucks • Dekotora • moving • SNJO • touching • trucks • weird)

A+ in kindness — Tsukuba university donates over 19 tons of food to students during pandemic【Vid】

• Casey Baseel
  Jan 25, 2021

School staff, Tsukuba farmers, and local businesses all pitch in.

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• Japan
• (awesome • charity • coronavirus • crazy • donation • food • moving • schools • touching • University of Tsukuba • video)

Okayama’s Tiger Mask makes final donation of school bags after five years of generosity

• Master Blaster
  Dec 21, 2020

Hopes someone else will pick up the mask from here on out.

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• Japan
• (anime • backpacks • charity • donation • kasaoka • manga • moving • Okayama • orphanages • randoseru • Tiger Mask • touching)

Kobe hospital gets anonymous 5 million yen cash donation, gives it back, gets it again, keeps it

• Master Blaster
  Oct 29, 2020

Random acts of kindness can sometimes be tricky to pull off.

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• Japan
• (anonymous • charity • coronavirus • COVID-19 • donation • etiquette • Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital)

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• Recent Posts

  • 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
  • Restaurant opens in Japan with all-dementia waitresses, serves up ramen, awareness, and kindness
  • Get the taste of the U.K. in Tokyo with 99 Flakes, meat pies, and Jaffa Cakes

• MOST POPULAR

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  Today

  1. Japan’s new matcha vending machines serve freshly prepared matcha in five different strengths
  2. Starbucks Japan unveils new winter drinkware collection with limited-edition Stanley cups
  3. Pachinko parlor operator arrested for not obscuring the act of gambling well enough
  4. Get the taste of the U.K. in Tokyo with 99 Flakes, meat pies, and Jaffa Cakes
  5. Pokémon doughnuts pop up at Mister Donut, with a new gathering that’s bigger than ever
  6. Restaurant opens in Japan with all-dementia waitresses, serves up ramen, awareness, and kindness
  7. Hello Kitty ready to keep you company in the bathroom with new dessert-aroma Sanrio toilet paper
  8. Cinnabon gets into the Japanese spirit with new Wagokorobon treats
  9. Discount retailers known for massive bargains releases massive Japanese egg sandwich
  10. Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan

  Weekly

  1. Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
  2. Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
  3. Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
  4. Pachinko parlor operator arrested for not obscuring the act of gambling well enough
  5. Liquid croissant coffee is coming to Japanese stores this month
  6. Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
  7. Pokémon doughnuts pop up at Mister Donut, with a new gathering that’s bigger than ever
  8. Starbucks Japan releases now Tokyo Reserve Roastery Christmas drinkware collection [Photos]
  9. Starbucks Japan unveils new winter drinkware collection with limited-edition Stanley cups
  10. Japanese government announces criteria for creating backup capital of Japan

  Monthly

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

  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

  • Restaurant opens in Japan with all-dementia waitresses, serves up ramen, awareness, and kindness
  • 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
  • Discount retailers known for massive bargains releases massive Japanese egg sandwich
  • Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
  • Liquid croissant coffee is coming to Japanese stores this month
  • First-ever cafe on Tokyo Imperial Palace Garden grounds is now open
  • Starbucks Japan reveals this year’s lucky bag, but you’ll have to act fast to get one
  • Japanese government hires leading comedy agency to explain national defense spending
  • Continuing cyberattacks hit Japanese arcade hard [Photos]
  • 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]
  • Mr. Sato searches for the mysterious new wall of fortune in Tokyo
  • Japan’s free stock image site of muscular men doing whimsical and mundane things reveals rankings

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• • Hello Kitty ready to keep you company in the bathroom with new dessert-aroma Sanrio toilet paper
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