Azia Phreak Mail Surver

Mass murder plot stopped by friend of Akihabara mass murderer

A friend to the friendless.On 11 July, Toyama Prefectural police knocked on the door of an apartment in the city of Namerikawa. They informed the 53-year-old resident that he was under arrest for plotting to kill multiple people in Tokyo. Inside the apartment, they found that he had reserved a bus to Tokyo and placed a knife in his backpack.The man admitted to the plan during questioning, telling police that the rising cost of living had driven him to want to die. He decided to accomplish this b

Defacing the Japanese flag is now a crime, says government, punishable by up to two years in jail

Causing “unpleasantness” could put you behind bars.On Friday, the plenary session of the House of Councilors of Japan’s Diet (national assembly) concluded, but before it did, its members made sure to vote on, and pass, a bill that makes it not only illegal to desecrate the flag of Japan, but also to make it a jailable offense.The bill, jointly submitted by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, the Japan Restoration Party (called “Nippon Ishin no Kai” in Japanese), Democratic Party For the People,

After job-quitting service, leave-of-absence-request proxy service sees rising demand in Japan

Sometimes you need to tell your bosses you need a break, but you need someone else to be the one to tell them.Job-quitting services have been a thing in Japan for several years now. Essentially you pay a fee to an agency, and they’ll dispatch a representative to inform your employer that you’re quitting and handle any paperwork or other procedures that need to be done so that you can sever the professional relationship with no loose ends.Now, though, there appears to be rising demand for proxies

Asia And The Pacific’s Agricultural Innovations Take Centre Stage At The FAO Global Conference On Smart Farming

FAO continues to support Member Nations in advancing smart farming solutions. Building on the momentum of the Global Conference on Smart Farming, the Organization will also deepen its focus on ...

Baskin-Robbins Japan’s semi-secret affogato is a perfect mix of fun and fancy [Taste test]

Not every Baskin-Robbins Japan branch has it, but it’s very much worth tracking down.Among the frozen treat faithful Baskin-Robbins, or “Thirty-one” as fans in Japan call it, is known for being a quick, casual, and youthful place to get your ice cream fix. So imagine our surprise when we found out that the chain also serves up desserts that are elegant, sophisticated, and worthy of being enjoying at a leisurely pace.We made this discovery while shopping at the Baskin-Robbins branch at the Bay Qu

Teen girl in Japan refuses to be victim, personally escorts train pervert to police for arrest

Things did not turn out how this creep had planned.Without delving too in depth into the mindset of sexual predators who prey on victims on trains in Japan, their basic M.O. is to stay subtle as they being to commit their despicable acts, whether groping or voyeuristic photography. If everything goes according to plan, if and when their target does finally realize what’s happening to them, they’ll not only be too paralyzed with fear, confusion, or embarrassment to directly resist, by the time th

Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]

The styles of six virtual idols, one modern-day illustrator, and one legend of Japanese art history come together in beautiful ways.Earlier this week, we took a look at a new project for Hatsune Miku that’s steeped in the Japanese tradition of high school extracurricular clubs kicking things up a notch in the summertime. But now the original virtual idol is getting even more traditional, as she and her Vocaloid friends are stepping into the works of Japan’s most famous painter, ukiyo-e master Ka

Is Japan’s tourism boom slowing down? Foreign visitor numbers fall for first time in five years

New report shows a worrying trend, but is it the beginning of the end for Japan’s popularity as a tourist destination?In recent years, Japan has been experiencing an unprecedented tourism boom, with the number of overseas visitors setting new record highs in 2024 and 2025.Now, though, the number of foreign visitors to Japan has dipped for the first time in five years.According to figures released by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) on 15 July, Japan welcomed an estimated 21,0

Tokyo and Osaka make it into this year’s EIU ranking of the world’s Top Ten Most Liveable Cities

Plus, we share our recommendations for off-the-beaten-path places to visit in each of them.The Economist Intelligence Unit announced the results of its annual Global Liveability Index on July 7. This year’s report considered a total of 173 cities throughout the world. Ratings were based on a combination of factors that each carried a different weight towards the total achievable score of 100: Stability (25 percent), Healthcare (20 percent), Culture and Environment (25 percent), Education (

Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea raising ticket prices, free Fast Pass ending next month

New economic realities are coming to the place that bills itself as the land of dreams.A lot of times, when Tokyo Disneyland makes an announcement, it’s something that puts smiles on fans’ faces. The park continuously cycles in new parades, shows, food, and themed merch throughout the year, often previewing them months ahead of time to help people plan their visits.The announcement this week from Tokyo Disney Resort operator Oriental Land didn’t fall into any of those fun categories, though, as

China to host the 2026 APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting

China will host the 2026 APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on July 23. [Photo provided to ...

Kyushu yakisoba Sofuren’s new food truck ventures into the Kanto region for the first time

This “Kyushu soul food” also has a fun connection to the creator of a manga/anime series of titanic proportions.For 70 years, the Hita, Oita Prefecture-based restaurant Sofuren has been filling the bellies and hearts of locals with legendary yakisoba noodles. The chain is the originator of Hita-style yakisoba, which are made by placing uncooked noodles directly onto a grill plate so that the end result is pleasantly crispy.In a new development, beginning this month for the first time

7-Eleven Japan releases new sandwich that technically contains fruit but isn’t a fruit sandwich

Japanese convenience store chain makes us rethink the fruit sando with a beautiful new release.When you walk into a Japanese convenience store in search of a beautiful sandwich, or “sando” to use the Japanese term, your eye will likely be drawn to the fruit sandwiches, with their gorgeous fillings of whipped cream and carefully placed slices of fruit.Soon, though, you might find yourself drawn to the savoury sandwiches, because 7-Eleven has just unveiled a variety that’s every bit as

Starbucks Japan adds new Frappuccino, Tea, and Chillax Soda to its limited-edition summer menu

Exclusive drinks showcase two fruits, done three ways. It was just the other day when Starbucks Japan unveiled the final peach drink in its early summer lineup, but now the chain is already moving on, with the announcement that a trio of new drinks will soon be on its way.This time, two fruits will be sharing the spotlight, appearing as the main ingredients in three very different beverages.▼ The star of the show is the “Gyugyutto Orange & Mango Frappuccino” (Tall size only; 707 yen [US$4.75

Evangelion beautifully reimagined as iconic classical Japanese folding screen art series [Photos]

Fujin and Raijin take a break and leave divine duties up to the Eva units.Before solidifying their reputations as some of the most iconic designs in the history of anime, back when Evangelion first started airing on TV in 1995, the series’ robots looked pretty weird to a lot of viewers. Instead of taking styling cues from suits of knightly armor like so many other animated robot series, the major inspiration for the Eva units were oni, the horned demons/ogres of Japanese legends.But as Evangelio

Studio Ghibli releases huge new wooden clip collection featuring 25 anime movies

From Nausicaä to Earwig and the Witch, this collection celebrates all but one of Ghibli’s major feature films. Part of what makes a Studio Ghibli film so memorable is the cast of characters you meet along the way, with each one bringing an individual charm to the storyline.While these characters stand out in our memories long after the credits roll on the film, there’s now a way to make them stand out on our desks too, thanks to a massive new wooden clip collection from specialty Ghibli re

Shinkansen trial of moderately air conditioned cars draws mixed reactions from travellers

Some passengers are grateful for the warmer carriages, while others say they’re the last thing Japan needs during an excruciatingly hot summer.One of the unique quirks of train travel in Japan is the ability to hop on a moderately air-conditioned carriage. These carriages, which have the air conditioning set at a higher temperature than the rest of the train, are commonly found on a number of commuter railways across Japan, offering a more comfortable environment for passengers who are sen

Japan has otaku/fan event insurance to cover oshikatsu expenses when events are cancelled

If you don’t want to travel if you can’t see your oshi, JCB understands.Before we get to our main topic, let’s start with a quick linguistics refresher. In Japanese, oshi literally means “support,” but in modern pop culture circles it’s taken on the meaning of a fan’s favorite character or performer, especially in the idol and anime spheres. The idea is that a fan is earnestly devoted to the continued success of their oshi, making them especially active about attending meet-and-greets, concerts,

APEC trade ministers’ meeting bears fruitful outcomes; Suzhou Statement injects new growth momentum into Asia-Pacific economy: MOFCOM official

The just-concluded APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting held in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, achieved multiple results and consensus, with 2026 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Joint Statement ...

Can instant TKG from Don Quijote really recreate Japan’s beloved raw-egg-on-rice dish?

“TKG Anywhere in Seconds!?” promises to taste like tamago kake gohan, so we put it to the test. Raw egg on rice, known in Japan as “tamago kake gohan” or simply “TKG”, is one of the easiest and tastiest meals you can make, but taking it to work or packing it in a lunchbox can be innately difficult. Either you have to bring a raw egg with you, and hope to God that it doesn’t crack during the journey, or transport it premade, which runs the risk of having stools as runny as the yolk later on.There