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TikTok releases its Year in Music 2025 – Japan’s Top 10 Songs ranking
- Krista Rogers
Dec 16, 2025 - Tweet
Japanese idol units and songs about not giving up strike big in this year’s list of the most influential TikTok tracks in Japan.
Japanese readers vote for the top five concluded manga series of the past 15 years
- Krista Rogers
Jan 2, 2024
The surprising omission of a few popular series has some net users shaking their heads.
- Japan
- (anime • Comic Natalie • concluded • election • finished • manga • popular • ranking • survey • top five)
Want to try this super popular ramen shop, but can’t get a reservation? We’ve got tips for you
- Dale Roll
Apr 3, 2023
This ramen shop is so popular it’s impossible to get into. Don’t worry though–there are other ways to try its delicious ramen!
- Japan
- (Iida Shoten • Kanagawa • Numazu • popular • ramen • Shizuoka • taste test • Yugawara)
Competitive karuta manga series Chihayafuru lays all cards on the table with its final chapter
- Krista Rogers
Jul 5, 2022
Beloved manga series that revolutionized a traditional Japanese card game will officially end on August 1 with some special commemorative features.
- Japan
- (anime • Be Love • ending • Hyakunin Isshu • manga • popular • Yuki Suetsugu)
Japanese travel agency reveals summer 2022’s most popular destinations domestically and abroad
- Krista Rogers
Jun 28, 2022
Company also shares which departure dates are the most popular throughout the months of July and August so you can plan accordingly.
Japan’s favorite Pokémon types by prefecture–which types are the most popular?
- Dale Roll
Jan 7, 2021
You might guess the most popular Pokémon type in the country, but each prefecture might surprise you!
- Japan
- (anime • Chubu • Chugoku • Hokkaido • Japan • Kansai • Kanto • Kyushu • Okinawa • Pokemon • popular • prefectures • ranking • Shikoku • survey • Tohoku)
Three reasons why new girl idol group “Beyooooonds” may be the next big thing in Japan【Video】
- Koh Ruide
Aug 26, 2019
We explain how they become so massively popular in such a short span of time.
- Japan
- (Beyooooonds • catchy • girl group • idol group • music video • P.K. Sanjun • popular • YouTube)
Yo-kai Watch sales fall drastically in 2016, future does not look bright for fabled spirits
- KK Miller
May 14, 2017
Jibanyan is nyat so popular anymore.
- Japan
- (Bandai Namco Holdings • drop • earnings • popular • Yo-Kai Watch • Yokai Watch)
Sake on ice! Akita sake brewery has special brewing process that is spinning up tons of interest
- KK Miller
Apr 17, 2017
Who knew Japanese sake and figure skating would score a perfect 10?
“Ordinary” foreigner tries to become famous in Japan in new documentary
- Corey Gold
Nov 30, 2016
A “really ordinary person from Australia” attempts to become famous in Japan and is making a film about it.
- Australia, Japan
- (australian • becoming famous • big in japan • bob sapp • DIY • documentary • fame journey • film • film maker • foreigners • gaijin • lady beard • popular)
Canadian YouTuber explains why she quit working on Japanese TV
- Corey Gold
Sep 18, 2016
Prominent “J-YouTuber” tells of her bitter experiences working with Japanese TV.
- Canada, Japan
- (celebrity • criticism • exploit • exploitation • j-youtuber • Japanese TV • micaela • popular • quit • talent • viral • vlog • YouTube • YouTuber)
Meet the Korean dog (or cotton candy?) with more Instagram followers than you
- Krista Rogers
Jul 8, 2016
Let this perky pup with the perfectly groomed spherical head in South Korea lift your spirits mid-week.
- Internet, Korea
- (Bichon Frise • cute • dog • Instagram • popular • social media • tori)
Japan’s top baby names for 2015: Will Naruto-influenced monikers still reign supreme?
- Scott Wilson
Nov 13, 2015
Choosing a name for your newborn son or daughter can be tough. Not only are you responsible for bestowing a name upon another human being—a collection of vowels and consonants that that will stick with them for life and likely have a profound effect on how people initially perceive their owner—but if you live in a country like Japan, then you not only have to choose the baby’s name, but how it will be written in kanji characters as well. Talk about pressure.
But that’s the reason we have baby name lists! For the past two years we’ve been keeping track of the most popular names for baby boys and girls in Japan, and this year we’re keeping up the tradition. Take a peek at what trends are spreading through Japan by seeing which names are in this year and which are out.
- Japan
- (2015 • baby names • Japanese baby names • kanji • most popular • Naruto • popular • ranking)
Some reflections on the popularity of Japanese manga in Spain
- Krista Rogers
Jun 30, 2014
You may be surprised to hear this, but Japanese manga is thriving in Spain. Look no further than massive conventions such as Madrid’s Expomanga and Barcelona’s Salón del Manga, where fans can celebrate their favorite series and characters with other like-minded people. So what are some of the factors that contribute to manga’s success in España?
The folks at Japanese website Niconico News recently caught up with David Hernando, the Editorial Editor of Planeta DeAgostini Comics, which is a Spanish-Italian publisher that distributes many beloved Japanese manga series throughout the Spanish-speaking world. Mr. Hernando graciously shed some light on the current market for manga in Spain in an exclusive interview with them, and the following piece will attempt to summarize some of his key points, along with some other related topics we have taken notice of.
We would love to hear the thoughts of our readers residing in Spain as well, so please leave your comments at the end of the post!
- Europe, Japan
- (Dragon Ball • Fuku Fuku Funyan • manga • popular • reasons • Spain • Spanish • Vinland Saga)
The top 10 baby names in Japan 2013
- Michelle Lynn Dinh
Dec 1, 2013
The name you give to your child will stay with them for the rest of their life, so parents are always careful to choose one that will stand the test of time and carry them through to adulthood. In the United States, Sophia and Jacob took the top spots for baby names in 2013, while Ava and Noah took first place in the UK (depending on which site you consult). Let’s take a look at this year’s top 10 baby names in Japan as reported by Japanese pregnancy and parenting site, Tamahiyo.
- Japan
- (baby names • popular • ranking)
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Recent Posts
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- Tokyo train station will play Godzilla theme song as new departure melody
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Today
Tokyo train station will play Godzilla theme song as new departure melody
Experimenting with making hot sandwiches in the microwave with a device from Japan’s 3COINS
Osaka man arrested for running little pet shop of horrors with dangerous crocodile
Video released of Pikachu’s real-world trip to space! [Video]
Shibuya goes hard on Halloween, announces countermeasures to prevent chaos on the streets
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
My Neighbor Totoro calendar for next year can be yours right now at Donguri Kyowakoku
Tokyo government announces removal of all public phones from city’s Toei subway stations
Starbucks Japan releases new seasonal chilled cup tea latte with surprising accents in flavour
Starbucks Japan serves up new Coffee Espresso Cream Frappuccino for Nighttime Dolce Coffee range
Weekly
Japan announces new permanent residency guidelines, foreigners must earn more than average Japanese person
Studio Ghibli’s Calcifer is ready to light up your home as a magical-looking candle lamp [Photos]
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Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Make-your-own-Totoro plushie workshop event coming to Ghibli Park park this fall
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Casio collaborates with a Kyoto foil master for a luxurious one million yen G-SHOCK
Toys R Us is leaving Japan after 35 years in the country
Foreign tourist numbers drop in Osaka, despite record-setting highs from U.S. and Korea
Osaka man arrested for running little pet shop of horrors with dangerous crocodile
Monthly
Japan announces new permanent residency guidelines, foreigners must earn more than average Japanese person
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Starbucks Japan unveils new Pokémon collaboration with Pikachu Latte and exclusive goods
Studio Ghibli’s Calcifer is ready to light up your home as a magical-looking candle lamp [Photos]
Lady Gaga and Family Mart team up for a Japanese convenience store work video [Video]
New Gundam Base superstores coming soon in the U.S., with one opening this month
Studio Ghibli releases new plush mascot character collection with a focus on friendship
Studio Ghibli releases new onigiri rice ball-shaped lunch bag for Kiki’s Delivery Service fans
Do Japan’s new single-minded convenience store bento show depressing poverty or satisfying focus?
How to watch Studio Ghibli’s new anime in Japan, with a special after-dark outdoor screening for Halloween
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
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
My Neighbor Totoro calendar for next year can be yours right now at Donguri Kyowakoku
Tokyo government announces removal of all public phones from city’s Toei subway stations
Starbucks Japan releases new seasonal chilled cup tea latte with surprising accents in flavour
Starbucks Japan serves up new Coffee Espresso Cream Frappuccino for Nighttime Dolce Coffee range
Starbucks Japan unveils new Halloween goods with secret glow-in-the-dark details
Starbucks Japan releases new Halloween Frappuccino for 2026, inspired by a cat in a mystery forest
Wendy’s Japan goes big with new limited-edition Mega Wendy’s, but is it worth the calories?
Make-your-own-Totoro plushie workshop event coming to Ghibli Park park this fall
Tokyo no-map-app walk! Getting lost with Mr. Sato on the way to Kishimojin
Japan announces new permanent residency guidelines, foreigners must earn more than average Japanese person
Yogurt and Japanese koji fungus is Japan’s latest food trend, but how does it taste? [Taste test]
Sendai Bank gifts babies their weight at birth in money upon opening a new bank account
Studio Ghibli’s Calcifer is ready to light up your home as a magical-looking candle lamp [Photos]
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