Panasonic has been testing a new autonomous delivery robot called HOSPI(R) at a hotel in Narita Airport. From January 14th to January 18th, Panasonic ran trials with HOSPI(R) at the ANA Crowne ...

Sumo has come home as the first Japan-born wrestler for 19 years has been promoted to the rank of yokozuna, the highest in the sport. Following a meeting by the Japan Sumo Association on January ...

By now you've probably heard of maid cafes, where patrons are served by young girls in maid costumes (who also sometimes iron customers' shirts). But what about a maid gym? One exists and is ...

In 2015, ANA generated interest worldwide and a collective jaw-drop when it announced three Star Wars airplanes for its fleet. Evidently the planes in Star Wars-themed exteriors are popular and ...

Tokyo Midtown will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a special installation, Fuji-san: Japan, the Beautiful Garden. Themed around Mt Fuji (Fuji-san in Japanese), it will feature a replica of ...

From traditional instruments to the National Theatre mascot, you've never seen Piko Taro done quite like this. The curiously attired Piko Taro recently returned with a follow-up to his global ...

Want your vegetables from somewhere with more personality than the usual supermarket or convenience store? Tokyo has a new designer greengrocer's where you can pick up some greens in a ...

We've seen our fair share of character- and franchise-themed cafes over recent years, especially in Tokyo but also in other cities around Japan. Past examples include cafes for Miffy, Sailor Moon, ...

When the top 20 releases of the year are dominated by AKB48 or male idol bands from Johnny & Associates, what can a rock band do to stand out? Harness wearable technology. The band One OK Rock is ...

Panasonic has announced a new desktop companion robot that has human-like movements and communication skills. The unnamed concept robot was recently presented at CES2017 in Las Vegas between ...

Toyota has announced a new concept car, Concept-i. The name combines the Japanese character for "love" (ai) with the letter "i". As this choice indicates, the car is inspired by the idea that future ...

Piko Taro, the alter ego of comedian Daimao Kosaka, rocked Japan and the world with his indelibly catchy "Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen (PPAP)" video in 2016. Having inspired so many imitators and boosted ...

Coin laundries are hoping to spruce up their image in Japan by transforming into cafes. The trend is being set by such venues as Eco Wash Cafe, a large and stylish laundromat in Fuchu City on the ...

If you thought Piko Taro's "Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen" (PPAP) couldn't get any more "Japanese", think again. Adding to the countless numbers of adaptations and parodies already out there clogging up ...

What were the biggest trends and news events of 2016 in Japan? Here is our round-up. Political and Celebrity Scandals Every year there are plenty of political and celebrity scandals, though ...