Features
Casio partners with Pac-Man for a new but vintage-looking digital watch
Pac-Man, originally released as an arcade game by Namco (now Bandai Namco) in 1980, is popular around the world among all generations. Heck, the only reason I even remotely looked forward to going to the orthodontist while growing up in the U.S. was because there was a free-to-play Pac-Man machine… Read
Planted art: Saitama rice field work marks Tokyo Olympics
From the ground, there's not much to distinguish the rice stalks in a field in Gyoda. It's only seen from above that a massive artwork marking the Olympics emerges. The huge, living installation features iconic Japanese images: the famous wave and Mount Fuji of Katsushika Hokusai's woodblock print and a… Read
You put WHAT in your curry? Japanese netizens reveal their favorite secret ingredients
Japanese curry is pretty simple to make. Just pick your favorite roux, add meat and vegetables and that’s it! But, much like other comfort foods from around the world, Japanese curry isn’t limited to just one recipe. Each person has their own individual way of making it, right down to the specific way they… Read
Air France receives 5-star COVID-19 airline safety rating from Skytrax
Air France has received a 5-star COVID-19 airline safety rating from Skytrax. Air France is the first major European airline to receive this award, which is an improvement on the 4-star rating it received in January 2021. The 5-star rating is the highest an airline can receive in this global… Read
Webinar: How to study Japanese in Japan with GaijinPot Study
Learn everything you need to know to study Japanese in Japan through GaijinPot Study. From the process of enrolling in a Japanese language school to applying for a visa and career opportunities for bilingual foreigners. The webinar will be held live online on Monday Aug 2 from 10 a.m. to… Read
New sake earrings let you wear your love for Japanese rice wine on your ears
Japanese novelty retail chain Village Vanguard is the place to go for weird and wonderful goods like flying squirrel cosplay costumes, miso-soup scented bath powder, and Sugar Romper outfits for those who’ve given up being an adult. Now the chain is attracting attention for a unique pair of earrings that “expresses the moment of pouring sake“,… Read
Swimming gives your brain a boost – but scientists don't know yet why it's better than other aerobic activities
It’s no secret that aerobic exercise can help stave off some of the ravages of aging. But a growing body of research suggests that swimming might provide a unique boost to brain health. Regular swimming has been shown to improve memory, cognitive function, immune response and mood. Swimming may also… Read
Study: Vaccinated people can carry as much virus as others
In another dispiriting setback for the nation’s efforts to stamp out the coronavirus, scientists who studied a big COVID-19 outbreak in Massachusetts concluded that vaccinated people who got so-called breakthrough infections carried about the same amount of the coronavirus as those who did not get the shots. Health officials on… Read
The Olympics price balloon continues to swell
Rounded out to about a dozen zeroes, the agreed-upon figure of the total cost to host the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics is 3 trillion yen. What Shukan Post (Aug 13) wants to know is how this enormous figure breaks down, spread out, as it is, amid the complexities of the… Read
Coco’s gets into Japanese summer spirit with kakigori shaved ice desserts
If you visit Japan in the summer you may, nay, will come across a flag that looks like this. This sign is a promise to you, weary traveler, that inside this establishment you may purchase some kakigori— a shaved ice dessert drizzled in syrup and often sweetened with condensed milk that is the highlight of… Read
