hana – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today. Thu, 15 Jan 2026 05:00:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/en_rocket_1024.png?w=32 hana – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com 32 32 176746664 McDonald’s Japan releases a Mushroom Mountain and Bamboo Shoot Village McFlurry https://soranews24.com/2026/01/15/mcdonalds-japan-releases-a-mushroom-mountain-and-bamboo-shoot-village-mcflurry/ https://soranews24.com/2026/01/15/mcdonalds-japan-releases-a-mushroom-mountain-and-bamboo-shoot-village-mcflurry/#comments Thu, 15 Jan 2026 05:00:22 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=724468 
New limited-edition dessert fans the flames of a longstanding chocolate war.
McDonald’s has a variety of items on its menu that you’ll find in countries around the world, and one of them is the frozen soft serve dessert known as the McFlurry.
One thing you won’t find at every McDonald’s though, is the Kinoko no Yama to Takenoko no Sato McFlurry, which is coming exclusively to McDonald’s stores around Japan. This is massive news to any Japanese chocolate lover, as Kinoko no Yama (literally “Mushroom Mountain“) and Takenoko no Sato (“Bamboo Shoot Village“) are two of the countrry’s most iconic chocolates.
▼ Kinoko no Yama are shaped like mushrooms…
▼ …and Takenoko no Sato are shaped like bamboo shoots.
While the chocolate-covered cookies might seem similar, you wouldn’t want to fall into the trap of thinking they taste the same, because these treats are at the centre of what’s known as the “Kinoko-Takenoko War“. This playful, long-running rivalry began when fans became increasingly vocal about their favourite variety, aligning themselves with either the “Kinoko Faction” or the “Takenoko Faction”. It’s a debate so strong that makers Meiji even hold national popularity contests known as the “General Election” to find out which treat reigns supreme.
▼ The Kinoko Faction, out looking for votes.
While the two treats are usually pitted against each other as rivals, McDonald’s is doing the unthinkable by bringing them together in the Kinoko no Yama to Takenoko no Sato McFlurry, which translates as the Mushroom Mountain and Bamboo Shoot Village McFlurry.
The rivalry even forms the basis of the commercial for the new McFlurry, where Mahina from seven-member girl group HANA performs a rap and dance about it, with the lyrics, “A McFlurry with Mushroom Mountain? Bamboo Shoot Village? Both!”
Mahina cleverly combines the words “Kinoko” and “Takenoko” together in the commercial, referring to them jointly as “Kinotake“, a term we’ll no doubt be hearing between mouthfuls when people get to try the new dessert.
▼ The McFlurry will retail for 370 yen (US$2.33).
It’s nice to see the chocolate rivals come together to form a friendly village of flavours, but what fans will think of the unexpected coupling is yet to be seen. Curiosity is likely to get the better of everyone though, so you’ll want to get in quick to try the Mushroom Mountain and Bamboo Shoot Village McFlurry while it’s available from 21 January until the end of March.
Source, images: Press release
Photos©SoraNews24
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2026/01/15/mcdonalds-japan-releases-a-mushroom-mountain-and-bamboo-shoot-village-mcflurry/feed/ 0 724468 Mcdonalds japan mcflurry takenoko no sato kinoko no yama best Meiji chocolate new limited edition exclusive English menu news 2 Kyushu company develops robot dog that faints if your feet smell too bad https://soranews24.com/2017/09/09/kyushu-company-develops-robot-dog-that-faints-if-your-feet-smell-too-bad/ https://soranews24.com/2017/09/09/kyushu-company-develops-robot-dog-that-faints-if-your-feet-smell-too-bad/#comments Fri, 08 Sep 2017 15:00:55 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=388423 
Feet with good hygiene will earn snuggles from the robotic pooches.
From time immemorial foot odor has plagued humankind. According to legend, Greek soldier Pheidippides ran 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the town of Marathon to Athens to announce the defeat of the Persians but died immediately after… I’m presuming from his own terrible foot odor.
But now we have the technology, we can make foot-odor-combating tools better, stronger and faster than they were before. One group on the forefront of this science is the National Institute of Technology Kitakyushu College (NITkit) and their affiliated company NextTechnology.
▼ This is NextTechnology’s original robot, Shuntaro, in 2015
Having already developed scent-detecting sensors to rate foot and mouth odors, they have now achieved what they feel is a marketable product in the form of Hana, the robot dog. Punningly named after the Japanese word for “nose,” Hana is a 15-centimeter long puppy that will smell your feet, so you don’t have to.
After detecting the scent emanating from your feet Hana will give one of three reactions: If there is no significant odor, then she will cuddle your feet. If there is a problematic scent she will begin to bark. Finally, if your feet are on the verge of becoming biohazardous Hana will simply faint and pass out.
The system was calibrated using feet that had worn the same socks for two days straight as a benchmark for a terrible smell.
At a trial demonstration, Hana was presented with the honorable feet of Kitakyushu mayor, Kenji Kitahashi. After giving a smell of the mayoral socks, Hana began snuggling and Mayor Kitahashi’s chances of re-election remained intact. He then declared Hana to be “a wonderful idea to blend robots into civic life.”
Wonderful ideas often come at a price, however, and Hana’s appears to be rather steep. It is estimated that the robot will cost between 100,000 and 200,000 yen (US$930 to $1,860) when it hits the market next spring.
▼ This is Hana in 2017
They don’t really mention what Hana can do beyond smelling peoples feet but I’m hoping it’s something for that price tag. NITkit and NextTechnology also hope to add a built-in deodorizing spray, but it is unclear if it will be included in time for the debut models.
I suppose you could use it to evaluate any scent from your breath to even having little Hana critique the amount of garlic you put in your pesto. Hana would have been an invaluable tool for our own research into the correlation between sock types and the stank they generate.
But this is yet another example of human jobs being replaced by machines. And as someone who used to smell people’s feet for nickels at the airport (I also rewarded with snuggles), it troubles me to see this noble profession also get taken over by robots.
Source: Yomiuri Online
Feature image: YouTube/NextTechnology
]]> https://soranews24.com/2017/09/09/kyushu-company-develops-robot-dog-that-faints-if-your-feet-smell-too-bad/feed/ 0 388423 Return of our favorite cat duo: Maru & Hana starring in “Box and Cats 15″【Video】 https://soranews24.com/2014/04/08/return-of-our-favorite-cat-duo-maru-hana-starring-in-box-and-cats-15%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2014/04/08/return-of-our-favorite-cat-duo-maru-hana-starring-in-box-and-cats-15%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/#comments Mon, 07 Apr 2014 19:00:19 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=138835 
We all know Maru. We love him, watch his videos on YouTube and then wonder how we can make our own animals as amazing as he is. This time around, Maru and his companion Hana find themselves with a new box. The newest challenger is long and rectangular with a perfect circle cut out of one end. What will happen next?!?!?! Drum roll please!!!!
And in perfect form, Maru has squeezed his head through the opening of the box. He could be Thomas the Tank Engine’s furriest new friend! Videos of cats have become super popular in recent years, but nothing beats them sticking their heads where they don’t belong. With this being the 15th video in an ongoing series, an entire afternoon can be enjoyed with Maru and Hana.
Poor Hana really doesn’t know what to make of Maru this time. But in typical kitten form, she just wants to play. Good thing cats don’t suffer from black eyes.
As well as the “Box and Cat” series, uploader mugumogu has the “various cat” videos and the “Brushing and Maru” series. For pet enthusiasts everywhere, this is a channel to keep coming back too. Everyone needs something fun to get them through a grueling day, and Maru has always provided that entertainment.
Be sure to share your favorite “Maru Moments” in the comments below! And if you’re looking for more #MaruMo at RocketNews24, you can find it here, here, and here.
Source: Byokan Sunday
Images: YouTube
]]> https://soranews24.com/2014/04/08/return-of-our-favorite-cat-duo-maru-hana-starring-in-box-and-cats-15%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 138835 Maru and hana feature pic Maru and Hana feature Maru and Hana reveal Maru and Hana play maru and hana face