SoraNews24 —Japan News—

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Bandai cancels gacha/blind-buy system for anime cosmetics, will let fans choose what they buy

Casey Baseel
May 1, 2026
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Reversal of policy for new Chara Cosme releases follows survey showing immense dislike for randomized merch purchases.

Japan
(anime • Bandai • blind-buy • Chara Cosmetic • cosmetics • CreerBeaute • gacha • Idolish7 • makeup • manga • Touken Ranbu)

Is spending 248,380 yen (US$1,840) on an anime boy doll a wise choice? Our fangirl finds out!

Casey Baseel
Mar 3, 2023

A big love for Touken Ranbu leads to a big expenditure, but is it money well spent?

Japan
(anime • COK • dolls • figures • Katana • manga • otaku • SNJO • swords • Touken Rambu • Touken Ranbu)

We got a massage and talked games at Tokyo clinic made for and run by otaku

Shannon
Oct 21, 2022

Japan truly is the place to live your best otaku life.

Japan
(anime • COK • cool • massage • otaku • shinjuku • SNJO • Tokyo • Touken Ranbu)

We made hanamaru monaka, a traditional Japanese sweet loved by legendary-swords-turned-hot-guys

Katie Pask
Jun 10, 2022

Even those of us who weren’t legendary swords in a previous life will fall in love with these easy-to-make sweet treats!

Japan
(food • Japanese sweets • monaka • recipe • SNJO • sweets • Touken Ranbu • traditional Japanese sweets • traditional sweets • Udonko)

How many otaku penlights do you need to survive a blackout in Japan?

Oona McGee
Apr 3, 2022

Light up the darkness with a little love from your idol.

Japan
(COK • crazy • culture • experiment • glow sticks • idol • Idols • lighting • otaku • penlights • SNJO • Touken Ranbu • weird)

Japanese company asks fans to refrain from sending Valentine’s chocolate to game characters

Casey Baseel
Jan 30, 2022

Company known for its games filled with handsome samurai says thanks, but no thanks.

Japan
(chocolate • Koei Tecmo • Touken Ranbu • Valentine's Day • video games)

Cosplay-friendly interior design — Japanese cosplayer shows off crazy apartment entryway

Casey Baseel
Nov 6, 2021

Most Japanese apartment entryways are filled with shoes, but this one is filled with something else.

Japan
(awesome • cool • cosplay • cosplayers • crazy • funny • Katana • swords • Touken Ranbu)

Genuine Muramasa blade and Muromachi katana on display at Tokyo’s Touken Ranbu store【Photos】

Casey Baseel
Oct 23, 2021

The game/anime franchise about anthropomorphized Japanese swords is offering a chance to see some real ones.

Japan
(anime • awesome • COK • cool • history • Japanese swords • Katana • Muramasa • SNJO • swords • Touken Ranbu • video games)

Kyoto hiking – Recreating a Touken Ranbu sword boy expedition in real life【Photos】

Casey Baseel
Sep 25, 2021

Can we make it to this mountain temple and back before our sword boy does the same in the game?
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Japan
(COK • Enryakuji • hiking • Kyoto • nature • SNJO • temples • Touken Ranbu • travel • video games)

The anime crush savings plan: Woman explains how to save thousands of dollars, have fun doing it

Casey Baseel
Feb 2, 2020

Having an anime crush usually drains your wallet, but here’s how your 2-D passion can make you richer instead.

Japan
(anime • clever • funny • life hacks • money • otaku • Savings • Touken Ranbu)

First details and steamy main cast revealed for live-action Touken Ranbu film

Krista Rogers
Mar 13, 2018

The historical-swords-as-handsome-guys will make their first foray into reality on film!

Japan
(anime • history • Katana • Live action • Saiji Yakumo • swords • Touken Ranbu • video games)

Legendary crescent moon katana, one of Japan’s Five Swords Under Heaven, now on display in Tokyo

Casey Baseel
Jul 21, 2017

One of Japan’s most beautiful and important katana is proving popular with history buffs and young ladies alike.

Japan
(beautiful • cool • culture • history • Katana • museums • swords • Tokyo • Tokyo National Museum • Touken Ranbu • Ueno)

Jewelry forged with Japanese sword-making techniques are a cut above the rest

KK Miller
Nov 4, 2016

These necklaces not only look extremely chic, but subtly show one’s love of the gorgeous swords/men from Touken Ranbu

Japan
(custom jewelry • earrings • Japanese swords • necklaces • swordmaking • Touken Ranbu)

Slice into a traditional sweet range with some of Japan’s most famous swords

Oona McGee
Oct 14, 2016

The beautifully designed metal replicas are modelled on real-life weapons that come with amazing historical stories.

Japan
(anime • cute • Katana • mobile games • samurai • sweets • swords • Touken Ranbu • video games • Yokan)

【Monday Kickstart】Adorable kitten cosplays as Japanese swordsman from popular game Touken Ranbu

Oona McGee
Jun 13, 2016

This cosplaying kitten and his adorable poses are all you need to get through Monday.

Cats, Cute, Japan
(anime • cats • cosplay • Cosplay costume • cosplayers • cute. cats • Monday Kickstart • samurai • Touken Ranbu • video games)

Cosplay in your underwear with anime-inspired lingerie made to order in Japan

Oona McGee
Feb 8, 2016

Customised lingerie service offers a range of options which are a perfect match for some of the anime world’s most popular characters.

Japan
(anime • characters • cosplay • cute • free • manga • One-Punch Man • Prince of Tennis • Touken Ranbu)

Japanese internet has brief but passionate love affair with hot Chinese cosplayer Huang Jingxiang

Cara Clegg
Dec 18, 2015

Girls in Japan are going gaga over this unbelievably perfect Chinese cosplayer, but much about him remains a mystery.

China
(China • cosplay • hot guy • Touken Ranbu)

Order your own historical sword-turned-hot-guy Touken Ranbu cake just in time for the holidays

Krista Rogers
Dec 1, 2015

Remember Touken Ranbu, that game where you turn historical Japanese swords into hot men? Well, one shop is now turning those men into delectable cakes!

Internet, Japan
(cake • card game • swords • Touken Ranbu)

Worst vacation ever? DMM to offer a week of hikikomori life free to one lucky fan

Preston Phro
Jul 23, 2015

While some may find the idea of locking themselves in their room for months or even years at a time horrifying, for some that’s just their daily life. And if you’re one of those people who much prefer their bed to the sun, this special competition sponsored by DMM may be just what you’re looking for. If you’re chosen, you’ll get free room-and-board for a week, along with all-you-can-play games — but you won’t be allowed to go outside even once.

If that sounds like a great summer vacation to you, read on to find out more.

Japan
(crazy • DMM • Kantai Collection • This is definitely a human rights abuse • Touken Ranbu • weird • wtf)

Fan shows how to snap a picture of you and your 2-D crush sharing a passionate embrace

Casey Baseel
Jun 23, 2015

Last weekend the inaugural CharaExpo, a celebration of Japanese animation, comics, and video games, was held in Singapore. The event hosted artists, musicians, and voice actors, plus independent dojinshi producers and cosplayers, and also had an array of exhibit booths from a variety of game and anime companies.

At one booth, fans could take photos with some of the characters from Touken Ranbu, the computer game that’s been winning the heart of female otaku for the way it turns historical Japanese swords into handsome young samurai hotties. But while taking a picture with a flesh-and-blood celebrity crush means he might affectionately put an arm around you as you smile for the camera, you can’t ask a cardboard cutout to do the same. However, one attendee has shown that with a little creativity you can take a photo that makes it look like you’re in the passionate embrace of your inanimate anime crush.