SoraNews24 —Japan News—

Japan may be an awesome country, but for some Japanese people who’ve experienced life abroad, it’s just not for them anymore. Here are five reasons why.

Japan
(expats • Japan • life abroad • Women in Japan • work-life balance)

Nintendo reveals NX, smartphone game plans for 2016

Anime News Network
Jan 18, 2016

New business model aims for US$855 million in profits in several years.

Japan
(2016 • Japan • nintendo • NX • plans • video games)

Japanese architect turns eight one-room apartments into quirky Cubism-inspired family home【Video】

Philip Kendall
Jan 14, 2016

Built with wooden frames and light materials, the majority of Japanese homes are torn down and rebuilt from scratch once they begin to age. But one architect in Chiba had a slightly different idea…

Japan
(Apartment • architecture • conversion • design • Fair Companies • homes • Japan • Kirsten Dirksen • video)

Warning: do not play Taiko no Tatsujin with Star Wars’ Kylo Ren【Pics】

Philip Kendall
Jan 9, 2016

Even if you haven’t caught Star Wars: The Force Awakens yet, you’ve probably heard about Commander of the First Order Kylo Ren. And his temper…

Internet, Japan
(arcade games • emo • funny • Japan • Kylo Ren • photos • Star Wars • Star Wars: The Force Awakens • Taiko no Tatsujin)

New sakura-flavoured Red Bull to be released in Japan in time for cherry blossom season

Oona McGee
Jan 6, 2016

Say hello to the world’s first sakura-flavoured energy drink from Red Bull.

Japan
(cherry blossoms • energy drinks • hanami • Japan • limited edition • Red Bull • sakura • seasonal drinks)

Happy New Year from RocketNews24!

Philip Kendall
Jan 1, 2016

And just like that, 2015 was no more! It’s now January 1 all the way across Asia, which means it’s officially the Year of Monkey! Happy New Year, everyone!

We’ll be putting our feet up for the rest of today, but we promise we’ll be back tomorrow with more of the news, cuteness, cats, food, fukubukuro, Mr Sato and all the weird and wonderful stuff from Japan and Asia that you know—and hopefully love—us for.

Thank you for continuing to visit our site, share our stories and follow us on Twitter and Facebook (281K and counting!!), and for helping us to grow and grow. 2015 was very good to us, but here’s hoping that 2016 will fill us all with the sprightly energy of a whole mess of merry monkeys and that we can continue to make our little site even better—although hopefully without any poo-slinging.

Stay tuned, Rocketeers, and have yourselves a great New Year’s Day!

Global
(2016 • happy new year • Japan • Year of the Monkey)

Another sensible Pokémon purchase…

Philip Kendall
Dec 17, 2015

At some point we all let our fandom get the better of us…

Internet, Japan
(fail • inflatable • Japan • merch • otaku • Pokemon)

Japan’s cats are figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu’s biggest fans【Pics】

Philip Kendall
Dec 16, 2015

We all know that Japan loves cats. But what do Japan’s cats love? If these photos are anything to go by, the answer is simple: figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu.

Japan
(cats • cute • figure skating • funny • Japan • TV • twitter • Yuzuru Hanyu)

Playing with pandas: Do Adventure World’s zoo keepers have the best job ever?【Video】

Philip Kendall
Dec 15, 2015

Ice cream taster; sleep research participant; full-time sperm donor. There are few jobs that could ever be described as truly enjoyable, but playing with an adorable panda cub is probably one of them.

Japan
(Adventure World • cute • Japan • pandas • video • Wakayama • zoo)

American reporter visits Ramen Jiro for super salty ramen, Japan’s netizens love his reaction

Evie Nyan
Dec 13, 2015

When a reporter for popular social news site BuzzFeed ate at Ramen Jiro recently, Japan’s netizens had plenty to say about it!

Global, Internet, Japan
(foreigner • Japan • Japanese food • ramen • ramen jiro • Tokyo • tourism • travel)

Sailor uniform loungewear for men sells out in 2 days

Anime News Network
Dec 9, 2015

Item’s popularity highlights growing acceptance of cross-dressing.

Japan
(cross-dressing • Japan • loungewear • men • sailor suit)

8 things you should never say to a Japanese person

Amy Chavez
Dec 9, 2015

We asked Japanese people to tell us the things foreigners say or think about Japan that really gets their goat—and they were happy to oblige! How many of these faux pas are you guilty of?

Japan
(faux pas • Japan • Japanese culture • opinion • Yasukuni Shrine)

Why do the Japanese call the UK ‘Igirisu’?

Philip Kendall
Dec 5, 2015

Amerika. Itaria. Kanada. The majority of countries are known in Japan by names that sound vaguely similar to their native monikers. So why on earth do the Japanese call the UK ‘Igirisu‘?

Japan
(countries • etymology • Igirisu • Japan • name • UK)

Check out Tokyo’s incredible Christmas illuminations!【Video】

Oona McGee
Dec 3, 2015

Last year, we treated to you a slide-show of some of the best Christmas lights on display in Tokyo. This year, we’re bringing you a full video!

Japan
(Caretta • Christmas lights • illuminations • Japan • Marunouchi • pretty • Roppongi • Tokyo • video)

Japan releases results of its first national same-sex marriage survey

Jamie Koide
Dec 2, 2015

On November 28, the results of Japan’s first national survey about attitudes toward gay marriage were revealed. What kind of image did they paint of the people of Japan?

Japan
(gay marriage • gay rights • government • Japan • LGBT • national survey • survey)

Check out the newest ‘treat’ from Japan—candy that tastes like pork ramen soup!

Kay
Dec 1, 2015

We all love candy, don’t we? But how would you feel about candy that, rather than tasting like peaches and cream, tastes like pork stock ramen soup?

Japan
(candy • Japan • Nissen • Pine • ramen • soup • weird snacks)

Denny’s is turning Japanese with its new location, offering rice, noodles, tempura and more

Meg Murphy
Nov 26, 2015

While there is nothing “American diner” about Denny’s in Japan, the well-known family restaurant chain is going all-out Japanese with its new location in Tochigi Prefecture.