Features
U.S. 'medical tourists' seek cheap health care abroad
When Veronica Merrill decided to undergo stomach surgery for weight loss, she found two options: pay $12,000 at home in the United States, or have it done in Mexico for $4,000. She packed her suitcase. Her insurance would only cover the operation if she was morbidly obese and suffering from… Read
We recreate the delicious-looking meatball stew from 'Laputa: Castle in the Sky'
You know that feeling when you’re watching an anime and the characters eat something, and it just looks soooo good? For me, it was the cream stew that Brock made in the original "Pokemon" series. It just looked so hearty and creamy…I craved it for years. Since anime foods somehow have the mysterious… Read
Kansai police pursue manic minicar driver in a not-so-merry 45-kilometer chase
On Oct 14, police in Hyogo Prefecture arrested Keiichi Ito, a 52-year-old unemployed man from Chiba Prefecture, on suspicion of violation of the traffic law. Police had earlier received a telephone call to its 110 emergency number, reporting a car "moving erratically" near Wakihama on the Hanshin Expressway. About 23… Read
Okinawa soul food: We try the most epic pork and egg onigiri rice balls in Japan
If you’re looking to explore a very different side of Japan, then you really must visit Okinawa. As the country’s southernmost prefecture, Okinawa is closer to Taiwan than it is to Japan’s main island of Honshu, and boasts different traditions, landscapes, architecture and cuisine that makes it a fascinating place to visit.… Read
Athletes can now approach Tokyo Olympics focused on performance, not survival
The news that the marathon and walking events at the Tokyo Olympics are set to move to a cooler climate will be welcomed by the majority of athletes, who can now focus on reaching their absolute maximum without fear of a major medical breakdown. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has… Read
Worried about flying on a 737 Max? Your options may be few
At some point early next year, air travelers will need to decide if they're willing to take a flight on a Boeing 737 Max. If they're not, they'll need to find out what their travel options are. There will be no government-ordered compensation in North America or Europe for travelers… Read
Scientists shed light on how brains turn pain up or down
Pain perception is essential for survival, but how much something hurts can sometimes be amplified or suppressed: for example, soldiers who sustain an injury in battle often recall not feeling anything at the time. A new study published in Cell Reports has honed in on the brain circuitry responsible for… Read
Starbucks Japan releases new limited-edition mugs, cards and travel bottles for Halloween
Starbucks knows how to keep us reaching into our wallets every season, and this fall, we’re handing over our yen for their limited-edition Halloween drinkware range. Let’s take a look at this year’s range below. The Halloween 2019 LED Lid Night Parade Double Walled Sunny Bottle (2,900 yen) This travel bottle comes adorned with… Read
Lost something on a Japanese train? Look for it at the railway’s lost-and-found market
With trains in Japan ranking as the busiest in the world, lost-and-found offices at terminal stations can be filled with all sorts of unusual items. They can’t be held there forever, though, so after a set amount of time, unclaimed items get auctioned off to independent sellers, who then sell them on to… Read
Japanese illustrator’s realistic Asahi Super Dry artwork looks good enough to drink
It might seem that only using pencil might be a dead giveaway for even some of the most realistic artwork as simply a drawing, but Japanese illustrator Kohei Ohmori (@kohei6620) may have found the perfect subject for his hyper-realistic pencil artwork in the form of Japan's number one beer, Asahi… Read
