Fire at Tsukji Fish Market ahead of relocation to contaminated new site
August 4, 2017
/Japan Trends
A fire at Tsukji Market on August 3rd has damaged the internationally famous fish market.
The fire raged for 15 hours at the site of the world's largest wholesale fish and seafood market. No ...
Visitors to SoftBank stores in Tokyo and many other areas around Japan would have likely encountered the small white robot Pepper.
The humanoid robot, co-developed by Aldebaran Robotics with the ...
2020 Tokyo Olympics launches official promotional song and summer dance
July 26, 2017
/Japan Trends
The countdown to the 2020 Olympics continues in earnest: there is now just three years until the opening of the Summer Games. While the main stadium in central Tokyo is still far from completion, ...
Piko Taro and Ministry of Foreign Affairs promote United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
July 14, 2017
/Japan Trends
If you thought Piko Taro was silly enough when he made his viral hit Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen, you were probably surprised when he started appearing in mainstream TV commercials.
You were probably ...
Mount Fuji Tin Metal Cup
Tinware drinking tankard for beer and sake
There is a major shortage in hotel rooms as Tokyo continues to experience a tourism boom. This has led to all sorts of novelties, from Airbnb's advance in the local market to even love hotels ...
Studio Ghibli anime Kiki’s Delivery Service returns as short animated TV commercial
June 20, 2017
/Japan Trends
The classic Studio Ghibli anime Kiki's Delivery Service has been resurrected with a quasi-sequel, though sadly without the participation of director Hayao Miyazaki and his studio.
Part of a ...
Play virtual reality Mario Kart in Tokyo at VR Zone Shinjuku
June 16, 2017
/Japan Trends
As previously reported, VR Zone Shinjuku opens this summer as Tokyo's latest virtual reality entertainment facility.
Produced by Bandai Namco, the large space in Kabukicho features a range of VR ...
Fans, your prayers have (almost) been answered.
Studio Ghibli has negotiated with Aichi Prefecture on the location of a Ghibli theme park, set to open sometime in 2020 -- mostly likely in time for ...
Iaido Martial Arts Face Mask
Antibacterial, odor-resistant sports face protection
All aboard the Pikachu train this summer!
If you loved the Pokémon concept cars by Toyota, how about a train next?
In 2012, the Pokémon With You project launched a Pokémon train in northeast ...
Piko Taro and Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike team up to perform PPAP, promote low-energy LED light bulbs
May 29, 2017
/Japan Trends
What next after PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen)? In the wake of the success of the viral hit of 2016, the comedian Piko Taro has tried to extend his popularity with a guest appearance in a K-Pop hit ...
Tokyo Art City by Naked immerses visitors in projection mapping and digital recreation of Tokyo
May 25, 2017
/Japan Trends
"Tokyo Art City by Naked" is set to be the latest digital spectacle to take the capital by storm when it runs at Gallery Aamo inside Tokyo Dome from June 16th to September 3rd.
Mixing video, ...
The capsule hotel renaissance continues unabated as 9 Hours opens up a new branch in Kanda, Tokyo, exclusively for women.
Long the quirky preserve of budget travelers and eventually edged out by ...
Beat the Japanese summer with antiperspirant that turns armpits blue
May 23, 2017
/Japan Trends
The Japanese summer is hot and humid, which can be extremely unpleasant for those unfortunate souls who have to travel the Tokyo public transport system during the peak rush hour. Sweaty bodies and ...
Credit card company forms music idol group, Higashi-Ikebukuro 52
May 22, 2017
/Japan Trends
How can a credit card company find a new way to advertise its services? In Japan, it would seem to mean by forming an idol group.
Higashi-Ikebukuro 52 is not the latest "sister group" spin-off of ...
JAL launches new Doraemon plane flights between Tokyo, Beijing and Guangzhou
May 19, 2017
/Japan Trends
Apparently in a move designed to compete with ANA's popular Star Wars airplanes, Japan Airlines has launched a Doraemon-themed Boeing 787.
If you're a Doraemon fan in Japan, you will want to book ...