Features
Pokemon and Iwate team up to elect Geodude as tourism ambassador to the prefecture
There are tons of cute and cool Pokemon among the 700-plus creatures in the franchise, but Pikachu and Eevee always seem steal the limelight. That’s why we’re always happy to see another Pokemon get to take center stage, like Geodude. The rock-type creature that looks like a head with arms may not exactly be the… Read
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Hinasushi, known for all-you-can-eat sushi including toro and uni, opens in Roppongi
If you want to eat sushi to your heart's content when you visit Japan, you either need to have yen to spare or find a restaurant with an all-you-can-eat sushi plan. The problem with the latter is that all-you-can-eat sushi plans often have a limited list of sushi items to… Read
Häagen-Dazs Japan’s 35th anniversary Green Deep Tea ice cream is no ordinary matcha dessert
We’re still enjoying the culinary afterglow of our all-matcha multi-course Häagen-Dazs meal in Tokyo’s swanky Roppongi neighborhood, but if we’ve learned one thing in life, it’s that you can’t spend too much time living in the past. And so we now bravely turn our hearts and minds to the future, specifically… Read
Could the fabled Orient Express take to the rails again?
It conjures up the atmosphere of rail travel from a bygone golden age, steaming through Europe experiencing top-notch cuisine and the company of fellow passengers who could be writers or spies. And who knows, maybe a mysterious murder along the way deep in the night... The last true Orient Express… Read
Will U.S. Supreme Court reconsider abortion rights?
American evangelicals have high hopes that the Supreme Court, with its newfound conservative majority, will be tempted to chip away at its historic decision to legalize abortion. Forty-six years after its landmark Roe v Wade decision, the high court is at the heart of a heated offensive led by states… Read
Fights to end polio, contain Ebola made tougher by rising violence, research finds
Documented attacks on health workers in conflict areas increased dramatically last year, endangering both children waiting for polio vaccines and efforts to contain the latest outbreak of Ebola, research shows. Last year 973 attacks were reported on health workers in nearly two dozen conflict-ridden countries, killing 167 workers, according to… Read
Smartphone app can sound out sign of kids' ear infections
Researchers have created a way for a smartphone to "hear" a warning sign of ear infections — fluid buildup behind the eardrum. If it pans out, parents might one day check their tots' ears at home simply using a phone app and "stuff you have around the house — paper,… Read
Furano: So this is what they mean by frolicking
Hokkaido might conjure images of majestic untamed wilderness, but in Furano, known affectionately as the “bellybutton” of Hokkaido, it’s the tenderly cultivated flower fields that get jaws dropping with just as much drama. Midsummer’s gently rippling lavender rows are the height of loveliness. Go ahead: fulfill your inner flower child’s… Read
Vegetable kebabs with a crisp exterior and juicy interior
Vegetables on their own can be a great option for grilled kebabs, because they cook quickly and, when done right, offer a crisp, charred exterior and a juicy, tender interior. Tossing grilled vegetables with a bold dressing can do wonders to brighten up an otherwise boring dinner, but for our… Read
Studio Ghibli anime films get American comic book style update with new glassware collection
If you’re looking for official Ghibli merchandise in Japan, the Donguri Kyowakoku (“Acorn Republic”) retail chain has you covered. This is where you’ll find items like a remote-controlled catbus, Baby-G watches adorned with Kiki and Jiji from "Kiki’s Delivery Service," and even lucky bags filled with secret Ghibli goods at the beginning of the new year.… Read
