Lifestyle
Sushi-delivering robots to go into operation in Japan next month
It’s hard to fully express the joy of eating at a kaitenzushi restaurant, where conveyor belts parade an endless loop of mouthwatering plates of sushi right in front of you. If you have any appreciation for delicious food or technological innovation, it’s something you really need to experience at least once in your… Read
Cosplay Yokocho: Tokyo alley where customers eat and drink in cosplay costumes
The word yokocho, or “alley” is often used in Japan to refer to a narrow side street lined with izakaya taverns and restaurants, all clustered together in a small space to create a lively atmosphere filled with the sound of happy diners. Usually, the customers at these restaurants are dressed… Read
Pokemon fans can now get married with Pikachu marriage registration forms in Japan
There are a lot of big decisions life can throw at you. I think we can all agree, though, that two of the choices that stand to have the greatest influence on your overall happiness are “Who will you choose as your starting Pokemon?” and “Who will you choose as your spouse?”… Read
JR to build team of robots to help travelers, catch criminals in its stations
East Japan Railways (JR East) has announced the formation of JRE Robotics Station. While that may sound like a special train station for robots to use as they make their way around the country, the truth is a little different, though no less cool. Despite the name, Japan Railways does more than… Read
Is it OK to take your girlfriend to Yoshinoya on a date?
Yoshinoya is Japan’s most prolific chain of gyudon (beef bowl) restaurants. With locations seemingly everywhere, many dishing up hot, inexpensive meals 24 hours a day, Yoshinoya is always a viable dining choice for busy businesspeople, starving students, or ravenous revelers looking for mid-all-nighter nourishment. But is it an acceptable place to go on… Read
Sleep gadgets adjust if you're restless -- or snoring
Pillows that track your snoozing patterns? A bed that adjusts based on how much you twist and turn? Companies are adding more technology into their products, hoping to lure customers craving a better night's sleep. Some specialized businesses are making gadgets that promise to measure and improve the quality of… Read
Met exhibit looks at Japan's fine craft of bamboo basketry
Bamboo is getting attention these days as a versatile and sustainable material for housewares, so the timing is good for a Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibit that explores Japan's ancient craft of basketry. "Japanese Bamboo Art: The Abbey Collection" is devoted to masterworks, including a half dozen works by two… Read
Enjoy morning coffee at your barber in Japan
Twenty-eight barbershops in Japan have teamed up for “Barbers Project,” led by Takuya Yuino, to promote a new style of barber in Japan, which has been a recent global trend. Guests can enjoy a morning special called “Morning at Barber” consisting of shaving, hair-styling and coffee service. Barbers with bar services, or barbers… Read
Killer or creepy: 5 Japanese bugs to avoid this summer
I remember as a child growing up and seeing something that absolutely terrified me. No, it wasn’t a horror movie, nor was it the mid-’80s threat of nuclear war. It was a BBC documentary about insects that went into graphic detail about just how many creepy crawlies are living in… Read
Majority of Japanese women in poll support idea of men-only train cars
Japanese trains are internationally famous for three things: being amazingly punctual, startlingly crowded, and distressingly the place where chikan, men who grope other passengers, operate. The second and third characteristics are related, since chikan often take advantage of the packed conditions to make it harder for victims to identify or confront them. In an… Read
