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Homestar Classic Ultraman is home planetarium for retro TV stargazing
If you’re a fan of the retro Japanese tokusatsu TV series Ultraman or its spin-off, Ultra Seven, you will already know you have plenty of tie-up merchandise and events to gorge your hobby. Whether it’s...
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Kengo Kuma to design luxury hotel in Ginza
Further cementing his place as the top star in Japanese architecture today, Kengo Kuma will next design a luxury hotel in Ginza set to open in early 2020. In addition to designing the new Yamanote Line...
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Transformers reclaims long-lost retro appeal with Infobar mobile phone project
The only thing cooler than intergalactic alien robots that transform into muscle cars and big rigs are ones that transform into outdated (but stylish!) mobile phones. A collaborative effort between...
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Casio’s Lesson Pod is miniature “lesson partner” for English conversations at...
What’s the secret to improving Japan’s somewhat notoriously poor English-speaking levels? More English conversation schools? Native speakers installed in every elementary school? Speed-learning...
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Hiroshima’s Mr. Kure mascot T-steps and stanky legs his way to viral fame
If drawing attention to a Japanese city or region is the purpose of the yuuru-kyara mascot, consider Mr. Kure’s mission accomplished. This blue, kanji-emblazoned fuzzball may well be the most fly of...
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Weekly Shonen Jump manga magazine sales decline 10 percent in a year
The Japan Magazine Publishers Association (JMPA) has released new data of magazine sales for October-December 2016 that reveal a major decline for Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump, one of Japan’s biggest...
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Justin Bieber and Piko Taro team up to sell student mobile phone discounts
The latest stars in an advertising campaign for mobile phone provider SoftBank is the unlikely pairing of Canadian singer Justin Bieber and comedian Piko Taro of PPAP fame. So far only a preview of the...
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Samurai pictograms help tourists navigate public bathing and travel in Japan
Given the large increase in inbound tourist numbers in Japan, local authorities and service operators are on the lookout for ways to improve communication with all these newcomers. Experiencing Japan’s...
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Experience Doraemon’s Anywhere Door in virtual reality
Experience Doraemon in virtual reality. That’s the irresistible idea behind Bandai Namco’s Doraemon VR attraction. The manga and anime character Doraemon is famous for having an “Anywhere Door” that...
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De-stress with aroma-infused Star Night Healing planetarium event in Tokyo
When you’re surrounded by nearly 14 million people, you have to get creative about how you de-stress. Fortunately, a new and utterly unique event is debuting this month for those eager to escape...
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Take a whirlwind tour through the history of Japanese schoolgirl fashion
Ever wondered how quickly junior high school fashion changes in Japan? Look back over the shifts in junior high school (known as “JK” in Japanese) fads from 2016 to 2015, 2008, 2000, 1995, 1980 and,...
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Nara town promotes tourism with flying dog-drone mascot, Yukimaru
The latest example of a regional Japan promotional video hoping to go viral is this one from Oji in Nara Prefecture, which features a flying dog. The drone-dog flies around the area, “walking in the...
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Chanel opens Rouge Coco Gloss lipstick cafe pop-up in Omotesando
Chanel will open a pop-up space on Omotesando in March. Coco Cafe will be open at So-Cal Link Gallery from March 3rd until March 12th. The spacious-looking Coco Cafe will feature advance sales of a new...
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Justin Bieber advertises student phone discounts, speaking Japanese in school...
After teasing us with a preview and some hilarious-looking images, the first SoftBank commercials in the Justin Bieber “super student” campaign have finally been released. It features the Canadian pop...
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High-tech Cocomi undershirt detects drowsiness in drivers
At a glance, Japan’s roadways would seem plenty dangerous: a high pedestrian count, non-existent bike lanes, an increasingly elderly population behind the wheel, Pokémon Go. But despite the slew of...
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“It’s not-a me, Mario!” claims go-karting company in response to Nintendo...
From the company name to its conspicuous advertisements, Tokyo-based go-kart rental service MariCar basically screams “It’s-a me, Mario!” and, according to a lawsuit filed last Friday, Nintendo is not...
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Unusual Hinamatsuri festival doll designs
It’s almost time for the traditional festival of the Hinamatsuri, also known as Doll’s Day or Girls’ Day. This is when ornamental dolls representing the emperor and empress from the Heian period are...
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Bidocoro lacquerware toilet brings traditional Japanese crafts into the lavatory
Japan is famous for its toilets. Japan is also famous for its crafts. So why not combine the two? Well, someone did. Japanese toilets are somewhat renowned for their technology ingenuity, from the...
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Hatsune Miku guides travelers around Japan’s regional food delights
Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has recruited the virtual idol Hatsune Miku to promote Japanese food around the country. Perhaps only in Japan would you get a...
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First look at artwork by Yayoi Kusama at Ginza Six complex, opening spring 2017
The new retail and commercial complex Ginza Six was announced last autumn, designed by Yoshio Taniguchi and featuring shops, offices, a rooftop garden and Noh theater. The center of the complex, which...
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