Apr 07, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- McDonald’s Japan adds new Hello Kitty and Pompompurin drinks to the menu for a limited time Sanrio characters add sweetness to first-ever McDonald’s smoothie and frappe collaboration, complete with a Japanese idol commercial. As Japan’s hardest working feline, Hello Kitty’s work is never...
Apr 07, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- New Japanese KitKats come in sakura flavour, with poetic symbolism for success “Sakura saku” literally means “Sakura bloom” but it’s also code for something else. Japanese often feels like a deeply poetic language, where even everyday expressions carry layers of imagery and ...
Apr 07, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- 7-Eleven Japan’s new baked-in-store sweet treat is only available in three parts of the country This is one of 7-Eleven Japan’s rarest sweets, but is it worth tracking down? 7-Eleven is an ubiquitous part of Japanese cityscapes, but while you’re never too far from a branch of the convenience ...
Apr 06, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa Requirement to be added to “jobs in which Japanese is used.” For foreigners wanting to work in Japan, one of the most common paths into the country is through a Specialist in Humanities/Internation...
Apr 06, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Japan named most sleep-deprived country for fourth year in a row, according to survey Look, I’m tired. Just think up your own lede for this, OK? The other day, I was talking to someone I hallucinated about the importance of sleep. In these days, where the world never seems to stop m...
Apr 06, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Sailor Moon’s Artemis is part of the Artemis II NASA mission control team[Video] Celestial themed anime plushie is in the room monitoring the real-world mission to the moon. For the first time in over 50 years, NASA has a manned mission to the moon again with Artemis II. The Ar...
Apr 06, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain Cozy Corner unveils a mini-Pokédex’s worth of adorable Pokémon desserts. Variety is the figurative name of the game in the Pokémon franchise. Even if you’re not aiming for full-on caught-em-all Pok...
Apr 06, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Japan’s full-facemask Ninja Parka still lets you eat ice cream[Photos] Perfect for the shinobi who wants to stay out of the sun and snack on sweets. Japanese clothing brand Sara’s catalog includes a zip-up hoodie that’s officially named the “Perfect Parka.” The compan...
Apr 06, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Animal Crossing plushie pouch towels and cozy socks show up at Family Mart convenience stores Family Mart’s celebration of the Nintendo series continues with fuzzy, useful, and, most importantly, cute merch. The villagers of Nintendo’s Animal Crossing video game series recently moved into n...
Apr 05, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations Even the massively popular coffee chain itself wasn’t expecting such a positive response, prompting temporary closure less than half a year after opening. It was with great fanfare that, in Novembe...
Apr 05, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Beautiful Ghibli earrings allow you to finally reunite two of the studio’s star-crossed lovers This Whisper of the Heart couple can finally have the happy ending they never got in the anime. With a main character who’s an aspiring novelist, it’s fitting that Whisper of the Heart is a Ghibli ...
Apr 04, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Can a downtown Tokyo super sento bathhouse beat a hotel for a one-night stay? Does the morning sauna make up for a night of communal snoring? With Tokyo hotel prices increasing due to the tourism boom, both domestic and international travelers are often left on the hunt for ...
Apr 04, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Licca-chan dolls released in North America for first time in nearly 60 years Huge in Japan but rarely seen outside of it. Back in 1967, Japanese toymaker Takara Tomy (then just “Takara” and currently just “TOMY” in Western countries) developed their own fashion doll, simila...
Apr 04, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Two food hacks take Japan’s convenience store fried chicken to amazing new sandwich heights Skipping the regular Family Mart buns for these substitutes transforms Famichiki into something even more magical. Convenience is obviously a big part of why we find ourselves inside of Japan’s con...
Apr 04, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- A Kyoto factory vending machine sells gourmet mystery meals at bargain prices Frozen home-style cooking with unbelievable tastes. If you ever find yourself away from the bustling crowds of Kyoto’s cultural hotspots, wandering around the quiet industrial pockets of Fushimi Wa...
Apr 03, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Starbucks Japan unveils epic Frappuccino hunt with five to find in new Star birthday campaign There is a way to try them all. On 2 August, 1996, Starbucks opened its first-ever Japanese branch in Tokyo’s Ginza district, making 2026 its 30th birthday year. To celebrate, the chain has a huge ...
Apr 03, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Pokémon Centers across Japan cancel April events after stabbing in Tokyo No meet-and-greets or Pokémon Card Game classrooms will be taking place for at least one month. On March 26, a female employee at the Pokémon Center store in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district was stabbed ...
Apr 03, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Chrono Trigger comes to Japan’s capsule toy gacha machines Keychains feature beautiful pixel art from an all-time classic. For as critically acclaimed as Chrono Trigger is, publisher Square Enix doesn’t produce a whole lot of merchandise for it. But the 19...
Apr 03, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Tokyo teahouse serves up a sakura matcha dessert you won’t find anywhere else Unique cherry blossom dessert conceals a surprising filling of traditional flavours. If you’re looking to explore an area of Tokyo that retains an air of traditional Japanese charm, then Kagurazaka...
Apr 03, 2026 from SoraNews24 -Japan News- Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events Ikea is all about creating cozy living spaces, and ditto for Pokémon Pokopia. In Pokémon Pokopia, the goal shifts from capturing Pocket Monsters to creating a home. Taking on the role of a determin...
