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Studio Ghibli adds “komorebi” Totoro plush toys to its anime merchandise range in Japan
The Small, Medium and Large Totoros finally get their time in the sun. Last month, Studio Ghiblispecialty retail chain Donguri Kyowakokuannounced the grand reveal of its “Komorebi Series“, a collection of plush toys that plays upon the charming word “komorebi“, or “dappled sunlight“.The range shines a light on Ghibli characters that tend to appear out of the shadows, but there was one type of character missing from the lineup: the Totoros from My Neighbour To
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
With a diplomatic spat prompting a warning from the Chinese government, we go to see if it’s had any effect on Tokyo’s most popular historical neighborhood.On November 14, the Chinese government issued a travel advisory calling on its citizens to refrain from traveling to Japan. The condensed version of the spat is that Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi insinuated that, were China to attempt to occupy Taiwan through military force, Japan would provide aid to Taiwan in resisting an invasion.
Here are the top ten foodie factory tours for the fall throughout Japan
Take a bite out of one of these popular places where you can see the behind-the-scenes manufacturing process of some of your favorite foods in Japan.Japanese travel site Jalan recently published its ranking of the top ten fall foodie factory tours throughout Japan. The results were compiled from a survey of 1,050 respondents in their 20s-50s from all 47 prefectures of Japan. When you’ve exhausted your cravings from Jalan’s previous list of the top ten most beautiful travel spots for
Awesome jumbo PlayStation 1 and 2 cushions are warm fuzzy nostalgia that has to be won, not bought
You’ll need skills at a different kind of game to get your hands on these video game plushies.There’s a lot to like about the design of the original PlayStation. Not only did Sony’s bet that the future of gaming would be polygonal and disc-based position the company for nearly instant success as it entered the video game console arena, the PS1’s form factor was pretty much perfect. A mix of hi-tech flourishes with invitingly soft lines to its disc lid and buttons, plus a playful splash of color
Japanese government considering raising foreign resident visa renewal fees by 400 percent or more
Proponents say they want to use extra money to improve quality of life for foreign residents, strengthen programs to find and deport illegal residents.Recently, the Japanese government indicated that it will likely be raising departure taxes by a considerable amount, requiring international travelers to pay more when flying out of Japan. Now it looks like it’s going to cost more to remain in the country too for Japan’s foreign residents.Currently, the Japanese government’s Immigration Services A
Chiba man arrested for putting urine-filled tea bottle on convenience store shelf
Suspect said he did it as a prank while stressed.It is sometimes said in Japan that if you ever find a drink just sitting in the bottom of a vending machine without anyone around, do not pick it up because it might have been injected with poison. Even though it sounds like an urban legend along the lines of razors in Halloween apples, incidents of drinks injected with poison actually have occurred in the past.It’s also important to check the caps of bottled drinks and make sure those littl
Sanrio lucky bag gives you cute My Melody and Kumori merch, all your money back in burgers coupons
If you like Sanrio and hamburgers, there’s really no reason not to snag this fukubukuro.With November winding down, it’s time to start getting serious about making plans for the New Year’s season. Most important of all, of course, is sorting out which lucky bags/fukubukuro to get, and Mos Burger is making a compelling case for picking theirs by teaming up with not one, but two Sanrio stars.My Melody and Kuromi, who respectively celebrating the 50th and 20th anniversaries of their debuts, are len
All-you-can-eat oboro tofu restaurant in Kyoto is a guilt-free experience
What the heck is oboro tofu, and why can you eat so much of it without feeling sick?Just seeing or hearing the words “all-you-can-eat” can make your heart beat faster. The freedom to eat to your heart’s content makes for an exciting dining experience, but the only downside is it’s usually limited to certain types of food like yakiniku (grilled meat), sweets, and Western-style buffets, with traditional Japanese foods, apart from sushi, being hard to find.In Kyoto, however,
Have you ever noticed how much Totoro looks like New Year’s mochi? This plushie’s designers did, and the result is adorable!
Spirited Away’s No Face also gets into the Japanese New Year’s spirit with a special kadomatsu.Traditionally, Japanese homes are decorated with something called kagami mochi at New Year’s. A stack of two thick mochi rice cake discs, usually with a mikan (mandarin orange on top, the kagami mochi symbolizes prosperity in the year to come, and the cakes are customarily broken up and eaten on January 11.The “kagami” part of kagami mochi is the Japanese word for mirror, since the round shape of the r
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
10 great getaways from Japan’s crowded capital, all within two hours of Tokyo Station.With so much to see and do in downtown Tokyo, it’s no wonder that so many travelers choose it as their base when visiting Japan, and as Japan’s most populous city, it’s a popular choice for residents too, of course. However, there are times when the Tokyo city center can start to feel a little too hustling and bustling, or just general wanderlust starts to kick in, and you find yourself craving a day trip out o
7-Eleven Japan’s aged brown rice onigiri reveals a different side to convenience store food
If you’re worried about additives in convenience store food, this rice ball set is for you. When you eat out in Japan on a regular basis, you might find yourself looking for something lighter and simpler to counteract all the rich and salty meals. That’s where our newly established “Light Flavour Gourmet Exploration Team” steps in, with gourmet food finds for those seeking out lighter, healthier options.▼ For this instalment, the team would like to introduce the “N
Green onion baths return to Japanese bathhouse to celebrate Labor Day
You know, you really have been working hard, so why not treat yourself to a dip in a bath full of negi?In Japan, there’s a custom of putting foodstuffs into your bathwater. This isn’t an everyday practice, but the occasional addition of fruits or herbs to the bath is said to aid relaxation, beautify the skin, and provide a soothing aroma.Some of the most common special baths of this type are orange, apple, or yuzu citrus fruit baths, the last of which is pictured above. However, one bathhouse in
Denny’s Japan launches a giant customizable crepe for students
Sweet or savory? With a whole 25 toppings to choose from, after school is getting a lot more delicious.Casual restaurants like Denny’s have long been frequented by students in Japan as a place to stop by after school for a cheap bite to eat or study for a couple of hours, thanks to the unlimited refills at the drink bar.Back in September, Denny’s Japan released the first phase of their new #Deni-bu project that is aimed at students. With the name using the Japanese “bu” that denotes a scho
Giant new nine-floor arcade opens in Tokyo, wants to welcome new and old games fans alike
Landmark Akihabara location reopens with new owners.In July, arcade operator GiGO announced that it would be closing its Akihabara Building 1 branch (pictured above) at the end of August. It’s always sad to hear that an arcade is shutting down, but the sting this time was especially sharp, since not only is the Akihabara neighborhood Tokyo’s biggest video game culture district, before GiGO Akihabara Building 1 was called that, the arcade used to be High-tech Land Sega Shintoku, which was opened
Joint communiqué - 20th EU-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting
The Participants expressed their sincere appreciation to Turkmenistan for hosting the meeting and agreed to reconvene in 2026. The EU proposed to hold the next meeting in Brussels.
Boston International Exhibition & Convention Services 111Sign: A Global Leader in Exhibition and Conference Services
As a full-service exhibition provider, 111Sign offers a diverse range of exhibition, conference, and branding services, ensuring clients enhance their market presence and competitive edge worldwide. · ...
Asia’s Economies Can Embrace Services to Boost Growth and Productivity
The Asia-Pacific region prospered by becoming the source of more than half of global factory output, but another transformation to higher-productivity services has the potential to further support ...
Trump's Asia tour sees deals, knee-bending and a revealing final meeting
US presidential trips abroad have traditionally been an opportunity to display the power of the American nation on the world stage. Donald Trump's five-day swing through eastern Asia, on the other ...
A guide to visiting Sagamiko Illumination, one of the three biggest light-ups in Kanto
With chairlifts, an illuminated slide, and a dazzling Tamagotchi display, Illumillion is a must-visit spot in Japan this winter.Around a year ago, our reporter Masanuki Sunakoma received an invitation from amusement park operator Fujikyu to visit one of the largest illumination events in the Kanto area. With expectations low, he went along to the event and ended up being totally blown away by what he saw. There were lights as far as the eye could see, and he was able to meet popular characters R
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods and a rhinestone tumbler that costs 19,500 yen
Cutlery, mugs, tumblers and MiiR bottles sparkle in this dazzling new collection.The end of the year is a magical time in Japan, when cities sparkle with brighly lit illuminations. Starbucks is now capturing that holiday spirit in its latest Christmas Collection, dubbed “Moments of Joy“, with sparkly details mimicking the city lights and bringing joy and festive fun to the proceedings.This new range has some surprises in store for customers, with a set of cutlery and a couple of furr