Light-up Totoro is a mix of centuries-old pottery techniques and classic anime cuteness【Photos】 | SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Studio Ghibli’s anime forest spirit gets the Shigarakiyaki treatment.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Classic Clamp anime series has its home video release recreated in mini charm form. Japan has a lot of capsule toys, and a whole bunch of those are stocked with anime items. Even though anime has become a medium that fans increasingly consume digitally, it makes sense that there should still be a desire for […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Kanoke-in invites you to crawl into a kanoke. Japan is big on places to relax. Whether it’s a cozy cafe, mountainside hot spring, or just a park with benches along tree-lined footpaths, the appeal of somewhere where you can give you mind a rest is something many people can see. So initially Meiso Kukan Kanoke-in, […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Like a Dragon/Yakuza exhibition offers wedding ceremonies with charavter of your choice, provides paperwork to tie the knot and sever it too. The storylines of Sega’s Like a Dragon/Yakuza games get into some pretty crazy scenarios. Sure, they start off gritty and grounded, with missions focused on loansharking and personal injury scams, but before you […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
For years of perpetual joy. Studio Ghibli delighted fans around the nation last month, when it announced the release of its 2026 anime calendars. However, there was one drawback to the collection, in that we still had to wait several months before we could actually use them. Here to solve that problem, though, is Ghibli […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
We check out the new hamburger specialty shop with nice buns that has joined its sister shop I’m Donut? in Shibuya. A new Japanese restaurant specializing in hamburgers called 28 entered the burger game on October 11. It has the same operating company, Peace Put, as the I’m Donut? Japanese donut chain, which opened its […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Travelers give their picks for the best places to take a trip to see seasonal leaves and feel yesteryear vibes. We’re right on the cusp of peak fall color season in Japan. The leaves have already started turning to vivid hues of crimson and gold in northeastern Japan, and are now working their seasonal shade-changes […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
With Halloween yet to come, Starbucks is already serving up festive cheer. There’s a lot of competition out there in the world of sweet dessert drinks, so one way to stay ahead of the curve is by beating everyone to the punch with seasonal releases. Nobody beats Starbucks at this game, because on 27 October, […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
This month marks 30 years since the release of “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis.” You won’t find many better fits between an anime and its opening theme song than Evangelion and “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis.” It’s not one of those on-the-nose openers that directly references the characters or plot. Instead, it establishes a mysterious tone that’s […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
The next best thing to carrying a sack full of magical acorns. Studio Ghibli specialty chain Donguri Kyowakoku has its finger on the pulse when it comes to seasonal releases, and this autumn it’s serving up acorns. It’s an apt release, not only because acorns are a common autumn motif, but because the word for […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Rest in peace, Clemens. For all its pros and cons, social media remains an extremely powerful force in the world. It’s a way to tap into the public consciousness unlike any other medium before, and while many companies, celebrities, and politicians have tried to harness this power, few have managed to reach social media’s full […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Ridiculously easy and amazingly tasty come together in this takikomigohan rice cooker idea. It’s chestnut season, which is a time of year that always puts our Japanese-language reporter Takuya Inaba in a good mood. In Japan, you can find all sorts of cafe desserts and supermarket sweets that make use of chestnuts in the fall, […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Pokémon/Mister Donut collaboration continues to evolve. Pokémon donuts are among Japan’s most eagerly anticipated seasonal sweets, and they’re just about to make their customary late-autumn return to donut chain Mister Donut. But while Pokémon sweets have become an annual tradition, Mister Donut still looks for ways to innovated every year, and for 2025 they’ll be […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
The northeastern Japanese prefecture is the only one selected in Japan. American publishing giant National Geographic revealed its annual “Best of the World” travel destinations last week, and this year’s list includes only one location in Japan. While readers may initially assume that the selection was somewhere internationally famous for its history and traditional culture […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building joins iconic skyline spires in Star-Spangled Banner-style welcome. Though it’s no longer the tallest structure in the city, Tokyo Tower still stands out in the Tokyo skyline, thanks in no small part to its distinct orange-and-white color scheme. However, on Monday the spire was looking a little different, with a special […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Mini clasp pouches double as adorable bag accessories. Japanese is a beautiful language, but when it comes to gamaguchi, you could make a strong argument that the English equivalent, kiss-lock, is much more eloquent-sounding. That’s because gamaguchi literally translates to “toad’s mouth,” and while that’s not an inaccurate description of the shape of the open-wide […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Help the crying food and save money too! Although long used by supermarkets to clear out their precooked foods nearing expiration, convenience stores in Japan have recently been adopting stickers indicating perishable food that’s a little cheaper than the fresher stuff. It’s a part of an increasing effort by many companies in the industry to […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Sound-bite version of legal ruling is an imbalanced substitute for a proper meal/understanding of the situation. Before we get into the meat of this article, let’s start with a linguistics appetizer. Pretty much anyone with a passing interest in the Japanese language, or even Japanese culture in general, knows that the suffix -san often gets […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Men and women show a difference in opinion on how strongly they need the cinematic romance staple in their real-life love life. You can’t talk about dating in Japan without the concept of kokuhaku, or directly confessing one’s romantic feelings, coming up. But while a pivotal kokuhaku scene is a must in romance TV dramas […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
After more than 40 years of effort, Tokunoshima Coffee is finally available for purchase. Many of Japan’s favorite things to eat and drink are also things that the country takes great pride in producing. Rice and green tea are the two most obvious examples, but foodies in Japan also sing the praise of Japanese-grown fruit […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Studio Ghibli’s anime forest spirit gets the Shigarakiyaki treatment.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Dance Towns & Dragons. Nagasaki Prefecture is a rather popular tourist destination and even placed in very respectable 11th place in the prefectural attractiveness ranking this year for its many sights and culinary delights. And if you ask our writer Mariko Hanabatake, one of the best times to visit is 7, 8, and 9 October, […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
No-plan Naoshima visit leaves us with regretful satisfaction. Some might say he’s impulsive, and others might call him adventurous, but in any case our Japanese-language reporter Kouhey has a tendency to fly by the seat of his pants when travelling. So when he recently found himself in Takamatsu, the biggest city in Kagawa Prefecture, he […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Film Labo promises a perfect fit with no stress, no matter how clumsy you are. As smartphones become both increasingly expensive and integrated in so many aspects of daily life, it’s more important than ever to protect your screen from scratches, cracks, and other damage. The simplest way to do this is by applying a […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
The littlest Totoro gives a lesson on a subtle point of Japanese vocabulary. Honnori is one of those Japanese expressions that’s hard to translate into a single word in English. It’s close to “subtle,” but you can’t use honnori to describe, say, a subtle suggestion or a subtle storytelling device. “Soft” doesn’t quite do it […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Find out what you should order from the menu at this super popular family restaurant chain. For the past few years, our team of Japanese-language reporters has been visiting the nation’s top chains, setting themselves a challenge to find out what customers can get for 1,000 yen (US$6.62). This time, they’ve pulled up a chair […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
The first event of its kind in Japan converts traditional culture into a thrilling new sport of strength and technique. When my mind combines the words “Red Bull” and “contest,” it inevitably wanders to Red Bull’s version of the Birdman Rally, the Red Bull Flugtag, where competitors drive manmade contraptions off a ramp into the […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Häagen-Dazs’s Japan hardly ever disappoints, but hardly any ice cream has ever made our taste-tester this happy. On the Japanese seasonal desserts schedule, sweet potato’s time comes in autumn. So does chestnut’s, though, and rather than split their attention between the two flavors, for the last few years Häagen-Dazs Japan has chosen to focus on […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Temple founded centuries ago helps out with unique modern ceremony in Osaka Prefecture. Each year, monks from Shinguji, a temple in the town of Yao, Osaka Prefecture that was founded in the late 17th century, hold a massive funeral service. Last year’s ceremony was to celebrate and put to rest more than 50,000 individuals. Thankfully, […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Collaboration comes as Tamagotchi nears its 30th birthday. A toy has to have a pretty great design for its name to basically become the shorthand for its entire genre, but that’s exactly the phenomenon-level of pop culture presence that the Tamagotchi achieved. Toymaker Bandai first released the pioneering digital pets in 1996, and as they […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Toto gives us a guide on proper bathroom etiquette in Japan. When you think of Japanese toilets, chances are the nation’s advanced Toto washlets may come to mind. However, there are plenty of traditional squat-style toilets around the country too, and they can be slightly more puzzling to use. The first thing you need to […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
A rare case of udon being unexpected in Udon Prefecture, but where they came from is still a mystery. Usually, there’s nothing strange about finding udon noodles in Kagawa Prefecture. The place is so heavily associated with the dish and has so many restaurants specializing in it that it’s jokingly referred to as “Udon Prefecture,” […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Free toast with your coffee? How about an entire loaf of bread, ice cream, and a souvenir to take home? There are few places in Japan that have a thriving morning cafe culture at the same level as the Tokai area, which includes Aichi, Shizuoka, Gifu, and Mie. A mo-ningu (“morning”) is an early-morning service […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Number of international visitors to Japan continues to rise, but spending patterns are shifting as bargains start to dry up. In terms of the number of people visiting, Japan’s inbound tourism boom isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. Recent statistics from the Japan Tourism Agency and Japan National Tourism Organization revealed that one Japan […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Cels and background art from four Hayao Miyazaki-directed Ghibli anime are on offer. Heritage Auctions bills itself as the world’s largest auction company specializing in collectibles and pop culture memorabilia, and with Japanese animation now enjoying worldwide popularity, that means the U.S.-based company also handles anime art. Over the next few days, Heritage Auctions will […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Ryu takes on Gouki Nalds and Chun-Li battles Smile Guile. McDonald’s Japan recently teased a collaboration with Street Fighter video game franchise, posting a series of silhouette images that fans of the video game series immediately recognized as belonging to its cast of globe-trotting martial artists. With the not-really-a-mystery solved, McDonald’s is now ready to […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Mushrooms are in, bamboo is out this season. For years now, Japan has been a country divided between Kinoko no Yama, which is a chocolate and cookie snack shaped like little mushrooms, and Takenoko no Sato, which is a chocolate and cookie snack shaped like little bamboo shoots. It’s a rather silly feud really, because […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
A once-adored location in Ikebukuro is down to its last few months. Japan is one of the last bastions of video game arcade culture, but these are tumultuous times for the industry. It’s not just little local arcades that have been closing their doors, as even multi-story, once-landmark game centers in major urban centers have […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
The newest official Nintendo shop will be open surprisingly soon. When Nintendo opened its first-ever specialty shop in Japan, it made the obvious decision of putting it in Tokyo, in the Shibuya neighborhood to be precise. Osaka was a logical choice for the next, as it’s central Japan’s largest city and there’s synergy to create […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Enjoy an elevated Starbucks experience at this famous tourist site. Starbucks has a lot of beautiful branches in Japan, but the most impressive amongst them are the “Regional Landmark Stores“, of which there are only 29 across the country. Located in iconic or culturally significant sites like historic buildings, these special stores have unique architectural […]| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Yufuin is often thought of as Oita’s “other” hot spring town, but this ryokan plays second fiddle to nowhere.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
BowBear hopes you'll see no bear.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Bear attacks occurred on three consecutive days in northern Japanese prefecture.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Experience the delicious flesh of the coffee cherry.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Attack occurred near stop for shuttle bus to Shirakawa observation area.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Golden luxury for travelers with cash to spare.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
A retired Thunderbird gets a pink facelift and futuristic interiors that'll whisk you away to another world.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Two ways to really enjoy the ride in Japan’s biggest prefecture.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
There's one carriage that requires a special fare to ride in, but it's worth it.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Travel off the beaten path and enjoy exquisite meals on this very special Japanese train.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Would you like rice with that?| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Family Mart’s festival of fried foods also includes fried chicken-themed accessories, clothing items, and luggage.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
It sure seems like Americans would like it.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
237-year-old Kyoto rice merchant helps make a new kind of rice burger.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
On the Beef plays with our mind, but does it satisfy our stomach?| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Our reporter hits the floor of TGS to see the sights and play the games.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Japan is now at a cultural tipping point, where foreign influences threaten to destroy local customs.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Less than an hour away from downtown, this Tokyo Lake is a beautiful and relaxing oasis from busy city life.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Pom Poko tanuki to once again run around Tama Hills.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Japanese loungewear and sleepwear brand takes "wearable dessert" concept to new levels.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Gelato Pique creates sweet and cozy sets for fans of Eevee, Slowpoke, and more.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Starbucks Japan teams up with Gelato Pique for a very unique collaboration.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
There’s a premium matcha version of Japan’s favorite cheap chocolate cookie snack, and we need to know if it offers anything the standard one doesn’t.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Behold the Udonuts, with a texture like no other doughnut in Japan.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Normally feel a bit peckish during an ultra-marathon? Then stop for some udon noodles, six times!| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
As if consommé potato chips alone didn't sound fancy enough.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
P.K. is feeling cold, but is anyone willing to warm him up?| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Just another day in the office as P.K. and Go brawl in SoraNews24 headquarters.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Really, did you think we were going to go to the trouble of making an adorable bear suit and not show it off at our local coffeehouse?| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
It's only natural to want to shake your pippi.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
P.K. and Pokémon Pansage make their nuikatsu debut.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Totoro and Ponyo are waiting for you to eat them at this beautiful Hayao Miyazaki-endorsed cafe.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Now you don't have to visit Shirohige's Cream Puff Factory to get a taste of Totoro.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Moving Yoshinoya is an Orange Dream on the food truck scene...for those who know where they're hiding.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Glamorous streetcar on historic tram line is ready to give you the best ride around town.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Studio Ghibli’s veteran producer recalls a major change of heart by the legendary anime director.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Silent serenity speaks volumes with its overwhelming beauty.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
Two of the country's best coffeehouse chains go head to head in this battle of seasonal flavours.| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
How does it even work?!| SoraNews24 -Japan News-
