New Products
Jiji piggy bank dances and plays music from 'Kiki’s Delivery Service'
If you count yourself among the multitudes who love Studio Ghibli, you may already have goods at home featuring one of the memorable characters from their films. You may even have a piggy bank such as this No-Name who devours coins, burps and plays music. But if "Kiki's Delivery Service" has a… Read
Drinking bottles using kimono fabric now available with new designs
Recently reality TV star and aspiring businesswoman Kim Kardashian caused a major stir when she tried to trademark the phrase “Kimono Solutionwear” for her upcoming shapewear line, and for good reason. Kimono, the beautifully decorated, long-sleeved, robe-like clothing, play a very important role in Japanese culture even to this day. The fabric… Read
Starbucks Caramel S’mores Frappuccino coming to Japan for a limited time
Starbucks has been catering to local tastes in Japan with some very Japanese flavors like Cherry Blossom and Matcha in recent years, but now it’s time for everyone to enjoy a taste of America, with the brand new Caramel S’mores Frappuccino. Just in time for National S’mores Day on 10 August, the new Frappuccino aims to… Read
Samurai backpacks from Kyoto combine lamellar tradition, awesome style and modern functionality
In modern Japan, the odds that you’ll be attacked by brigands or invaded by a hostile samurai clan are far lower than they used to be, which is undoubtedly a good thing. But while a peaceful lifestyle is definitely something to be thankful for, the downside is fewer chances to… Read
Mini wearable personal air conditioner
Summer in Japan can be grueling, with a combination of heat and humidity often overwhelming the most seasoned travelers, with cases of heatstroke and dehydration occurring often. So as you can imagine, it's quite easy for those who live in Japan to rack up quite the air conditioning bill. While… Read
Coca-Cola releasing Demon Lemon canned Japanese cocktails
Like a lot of foreign-founded companies that do business in Japan, Coca-Cola has found success in the country by not only sticking to what’s worked in its home market, but by also adding items to its product lineup to suit local tastes. So sure, you can buy Coca-Cola’s signature cola here, but… Read
New drink line-up from Asahi Beverages boosts concentration with NIPPLTQTPVVVPPFLQPE
In April 2015, the Consumer Affairs Agency of Japan introduced a new system called Foods with Function Claims (kinosei hyoji shokuhin) 機能性表示食品 to cover new foods with additional nutritional claims. These are clearly labelled to have specific nutritional functions based on verified scientific evidence. Together with the previously established "Tokuho"… Read
Macho gorilla pillow lets you snuggle on its ripped chest for a comfortable sleep
Whether you swear by the adorable Pikachu tail pillow or even the sucking Kirby plushie cushion, having a good night’s rest depends very much on your choice of pillows. But for people who prefer a solid, reliable companion who will always offer an arm to rest on, perhaps a different approach in the form… Read
Makoto Shinkai anime-inspired tea
If you’re a fan of anime, there’s a lot to be excited about this week, since Makoto Shinkai, the director behind "your name.", has just released his latest film, titled "Weathering with You." It’s definitely worth watching, but a trip to the theater isn’t the only thing that’s in order following "Weathering with You’s" premiere, but… Read
Village Vanguard releases cat motif gaming earphones
When it comes to interesting, funny, and subculture products, Village Vanguard is one of our first stops. We love how practical many of their cutest and most humorous products are. Now it’s time to make gaming a bit more catty (sort of). Village Vanguard Online started reservations for their new gaming… Read
