Author: William

Following the Tohoku disaster in March 2011, we've all thought much more about the kind of tools and clothes that we need when society as we know it breaks down. From flashlights to emergency ...

Foot-in-mouth disease strikes Toru Hashimoto again. On Monday the brash right-wing politician shocked reporters in Osaka when he said that the so-called "comfort women" (local women forced into ...

For its latest concept bra to announce its new range, Triumph has come up with the Branomics Bra. Yes, you've guessed it. This is a reference to Prime Minister Abe's "Abenomics", the fiscal ...

If Kabukicho had a theme park starring Akihabara chika aidoru ("underground" idols), this might be it... After opening last summer amidst much sound and fury, we finally paid a visit to the Robot ...

Residents in Japan may have spotted that recently Kirin has been featuring Disney characters on its Gogo no Kocha (Afternoon Tea) drink bottle labels. Just another gratuitous and forgettable ploy ...

Panasonic has just launched a new service whereby you can get your very own uniquely designed camera. The Design Simulator customizing service can be accessed via PanaSense, the maker's ...

Lanterns in Japan are called chochin and are featured on the front of most izakaya restaurants, as well as shrines. There is a famously huge one, for example, at Kaminarimon ("Thunder Gate") in ...

A men's apparel shop that offers fashion based on anime franchise Mobile Suit Gundam, Strict G, has announced a new collection. Amuro Style is inspired by the clothes worn by Gundam protagonist Amuro ...

In case you didn't notice, it's April and with the "cruellest month" comes a change in the fiscal year. Hence lots of emails from people announcing they are changing jobs or departments at ...

Hungry Ultra Seven fans, get ready. If your very own Ultra Seven guitar wasn't enough for you, there is even now a special hashed beef dish especially for your retro diet. It may need no ...

We've already blogged before about la farfa, Japan's first fashion magazine for pocchari larger ladies. Well, now it has held its first fashion show to celebrate the launch of the debut issue on ...

A minor revolution has occurred in Tokyo transport. The Tokyu Toyoko line has gone underground at last for the stretch between Shibuya and Daikanyama, spelling the end for the 48-year-old Tokyu ...

This hasn't taken off yet like we hoped it might -- if YouTube video numbers are anything to go by at time of writing -- but we wanted to share this video we spotted of an "Avatar Man" roaming the ...

A long time ago, long before we had augmented reality toys or flying gadgets that interacted with your smartphone -- long before even anime had really got going and brought with it the toppling ...

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Hirohiko Araki's manga that started life in 1987, may not be as big as One Piece or have the otaku kudos of Neon Genesis Evangelion, but that hasn't stopped it selling 70 ...