Jun 29, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Sanrio Character Poll announces winners, Hello Kitty absent from top 10 in many countries 70,647,379 votes tallied, and one European nation apparently loves Sanrio’s often-forgotten grannie character. Hello Kitty may be the face of Sanrio, but she’s far from the only adorable icon at Ja...
Jun 29, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Mt Fuji installs new emergency shelters ahead of the 2026 climbing season New reinforced shelters are designed to protect climbers from volcanic eruptions, falling rocks and lightning. As Mt Fuji prepares for the start of the 2026 climbing season on 1 July, two new emerg...
Jun 29, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Live-action Spirited Away stage play announces world tour with first-ever U.S. and Canadian dates The Spirited Away stage play will cross over to the other side of the Pacific for the first time ever, plus make its return to the U.K. Though in-the-know overseas otaku, cinephiles, and animation ...
Jun 29, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Here’s what Shibuya’s famous scramble intersection looked like after the Japan vs. Sweden match Did the aftermath of Japan’s final match in the World Cup group stage result in order or chaos at one of Tokyo’s biggest gathering spots? The FIFA World Cup currently taking place in Canada, Mexico...
Jun 29, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- International fugitive Carlos Ghosn says he’d be best person to head Nissan now I think I have a better chance of becoming CEO of Nissan at this point. In the evening of 30 December, 2019, when much of Japan was gearing down for the New Year’s holidays, a small team led by a f...
Jun 29, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Japan’s Mos Burger goes super-premium for summer with eel burgers that require pre-orders Summer is the season for unagi, and Mos Burger has some very special, and very expensive, sandwiches on the way to celebrate Doyo no Ushi no Hi. Despite having a name that sounds intimidatingly ide...
Jun 28, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Taco Spaghetti appears in Japan, and our taco fan rushes to try it[Taste test] Tacos and spaghetti have earned love around the world, but will their meeting in Japan be a tragedy? Japan loves spaghetti, but doesn’t necessarily feel bound to tradition when it comes to the dish...
Jun 28, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Blind Tokyo commuter explains the easiest place for him to stand while riding the train While waiting for the train, there’s always one spot he hopes will be empty when it comes. Today, we’re featuring the writing of a special guest columnist, Ryoku. Ryoku works as a producer in the T...
Jun 28, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Beautiful new dangling Totoro socks let the Ghibli mascot sway with every step[Photos] Lacework designers turn their talent to Totoro for adorably fashionable socks and clutch bag. As any Studio Ghibli fan can tell you, Totoro’s natural habitat is a lush forest. That doesn’t mean he’...
Jun 27, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Krispy Kreme Japan releases new fruit doughnuts…that taste better cold We find out if these limited-edition treats really taste like the fruits that inspired them. Krispy Kreme Japan is going fruity this summer, with not one, not two but three delicious creations des...
Jun 27, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Japanese man’s gross conveyor belt sushi social media prank video gets him a 500,000-yen fine Cost of sushi? 132 yen. Cost of being a moron? 500,000. In addition to being tasty, casual, and convenient, low prices are a big part of the appeal of Japan’s conveyor belt sushi restaurants. At th...
Jun 27, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Testing Japan’s latest food hack trend: Adding instant corn soup powder to popcorn[Taste test] A two-ingredient food hack promising a delicious upgrade. From time to time, Japan sees interesting and unusual food hacks popping up on the internet, preparing food in new ways for unexpected deli...
Jun 27, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Pikachu brings electric style to brand-new Pokémon G-Shock watch featuring every stater trio Timepiece is a stylish salute to 30 years of Pokémon history. The name of Casio’s G-Shock line of watches is short for “Gravitational Shock,” a nod to its design priority of impact and vibration re...
Jun 26, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Starbucks Japan releases three new peach drinks, but the real star isn’t the Frappuccino One drink will have us coming back for more this summer. Summer has arrived in Japan, and the season is looking particularly peachy at Starbucks, where you’ll find several new drinks filled with th...
Jun 26, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- The adorable, delicious joy of the Totoro cream puff gift box[Taste test] Turns out Studio Ghibli’s forest spirit is also a magical dessert. I don’t really have any close acquaintances who live in my neighborhood here in Japan. Sure, I’ve got plenty of friends, professio...
Jun 26, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Tokyo cops arrest foreigner for suspected visa violation, don’t know what new residence cards look like Seems like the people doing on-the-street immigration checks should know what immigration documents look like, doesn’t it? As we’ve talked about before, police officers in Japan sometimes engage in...
Jun 26, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Starbucks Japan reopens Shinkansen platform store after redesigning it for speed Japan’s only Starbucks on a bullet train platform now has faster ways for passengers to get their coffee before boarding. Starbucks Japan has announced the reopening of its Shinkansen platform stor...
Jun 26, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Nintendo’s Animal Crossing crosses over to Baskin-Robbins Japan with special ice cream and merch Nook Inc. takes part in delicious new business venture. Baskin-Robbins Japan’s Dragon Quest promotion is down to its last few days, with the series’ Slime mascot set to shuffle off to Yoshinoya soo...
Jun 26, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Married Japanese man must pay 4.6 million yen after faking being single and impregnating partner Falsifying a relationship status can land you with a massive bill. Romance is a beautiful thing: two strangers creating a bond that will tie them together for a lifetime of love and joy. Sadly, not...
Jun 25, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Japanese theme park adding Immersive Death Game with a “bomb collar” you have to wear Little kids are not allowed to play the death game inspired by Alice in Borderland at one of Japan’s favorite theme parks. Many would say that Japan’s Huis Ten Bosch theme park, located in Nagasaki...
