Japan

The Kobekatsu program could end up being better for kids than the options they had before. Extracurricular activities are a big deal at schools in Japan, widely considered an important way for adolescents to develop a sense of responsibility and diligence while forging friendships, developing healthy fitness habits, and deepening their appreciation for the arts. In some schools all students are actually required to join one of the school’s clubs or sports teams, and even at ones without such a

Japanese convenience store chain brings the moon and rabbits to a new range of food for a limited time.  If you’re in Japan this month, you’re in for an absolute treat as 7-Eleven is releasing a limited-edition range of treats to celebrate the upcoming Moon-Viewing festival, known as “Otsukimi” or “Tsukimi” in Japanese. With Tsukimi being celebrated on 25 September this year, 7-Eleven is giving us plenty of time to celebrate, as the new collection is being released across the country from

Workshops offer English instruction in making custom gold leaf bags, weaving bamboo baskets, and crafting samurai armor. Many tourists descend upon the historical capital of Japan each day to appreciate its architectural beauty and cultural charm, but there are fewer who come away from their trip with a tangible traditional souvenir crafted by their own hand. Creative digital arts company Naked is launching interactive cultural workshops starting September 8, held every Tuesday and Thursday at

Name could have used some more time in the kitchen, but we still want these in our stomach ASAP. Today we’re talking about some hearty fare, and it comes with an extra-large portion of linguistics to chew on, so let’s dig in. One-hand Bento by Hokkahokka-tei is a relatively new spinoff from Japan’s chain of Hokkahokka-tei takeout shops that specialize in bento, or boxed lunches. Hokkahokka-tei is a national chain, but they’re headquartered in Osaka, so they had a presence at the Expo 2025 world

Photo book takes you on a journey through some of the most iconic Starbucks stores in Japan. Japan is home to some of the most beautiful and distinctive Starbucks stores in the world, and now there’s an easy way to explore their unique design features, through a special photo book called Starbucks Coffee Japan Store Design Works 002. This new book follows on from the success of the 001 volume, released in 2025, which features 17 stores that opened or underwent renovations between 2023 and 2024.

Nissin’s Donbei comes to Family Mart in a new form. On our most recent visit to Japanese convenience store chain Family Mart, we walked right over to the shelf where they keep the rice balls. The usual range of fillings and flavors, such as salmon and tuna, were all there, but the one we picked out was a noodle-flavored rice ball. ▼ This one OK, we should probably clarify that. Family Mart is currently celebrating the 45th anniversary of the chain’s founding, and it’s marking the occasion by p

Anime characters with beautiful details will keep you smiling all year long.  One of the things we love about Studio Ghibli is how it likes to share its success by collaborating with local companies, bringing them to the plate so they can share the spotlight together. Noritake is one such company, drawing on its 120-plus years of history and expertise to produce ceramics for the studio, with the limited-edition “Yearly Plate” being an annual tradition that fans look forward to. Tho

Because every Pokémon is somebody’s all-star. There have been a lot of special events and surprises this year celebrating Pokémon’s 30th anniversary, and the latest one is a new song from singer Masayoshi Oishi. Of course, even if this is a way of singing happy birthday to the Pocket Monsters, some of them are going to have be left out of the lyrics, right? Nope. “Pokémon All-stars 1,025” is, as the title implies, a song about all 1,025 Pokémon that have appeared in the series so far, and each

Lego version of the launch PS1 reproduces the style and size of the landmark piece of game-changing video game tech. When the original PlayStation launched back in December of 1994, it was an odd-looking design. CD-based gaming was still something new for many mass-market console gamers, making the clamshell-lid design an unfamiliar element, and the controller seemed downright bizarre, with its two-pronged form and lack of exposed center for the directional pad. It wouldn’t become long, though,

Too soon? In 2022, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who at the time had retired and was a Member of Parliament, was shot on the street while campaigning for a fellow party member in Nara City and died soon after. It was a shocking incident in a country with very strict gun control, which the killer, Tetsuya Yamagami, circumvented by building a gun from pipes and a wooden board. The case took an even more surreal turn in the aftermath of the incident, when it was learned that Yamagami had inte

Starbucks in artsy neighborhood wants to showcase work by local creatives. There are a lot of Starbucks dotting the map of Tokyo, but only one of them is also an art gallery. Back in March, Starbucks Japan opened a new branch in the city’s Yanaka neighborhood, known as an enclave for artists and other creative types, and in addition to an especially stylish interior, the coffeehouse also has ample space for displaying works of art. Like any proper art facility, Starbucks Cafe and Art Gallery

Visitors to 600-year-old temple prohibited from wearing traditional garment following problems caused by those prioritizing cool social media photos over basic manners. Seiraiin is a temple in Kyoto’s Gion district, founded some 600 years ago and known for its beautiful garden and dynamic white dragon painting on the ceiling of its main hall. Ordinarily, its traditional aesthetics would make it a perfect place to visit on a day of sightseeing while dressed in a kimono. However, Seiraiin recentl

New drinks coincide with the opening of the chain’s new “Customisation Bar”, giving us a hack for making them even better.   There’s now a distinct feeling of autumn in the air, and Starbucks is heralding its arrival in Japan with a very distinctive autumnal flavour: sweet potato. The ingredient is being showcased in two new drinks, the Torori Mitsuimo Beni Haruka Frappuccino and the Torori Mitsuimo Beni Haruka Mousse Tea Latte, which went on sale on 2 September. With “torori”

No need to feel self-conscious when you can use this automatic ordering and delivery system. Drinking in Tokyo on your own might sound like a daunting prospect for solo travellers in Japan, but if you know where to go it can be a fun time to remember, especially when it doesn’t break the bank. Our team of reporters are seasoned solo dining pros, always on the lookout for new places to eat and drink on their own, and their most recent find is one of the cheapest deals in town, letting you drink

Arrest follows Okinawan hotel fire that took place last month. Okinawa offers a wide range of activities for travelers to enjoy. It boasts Japan’s finest beaches, perfect for relaxing or marine sports such as snorkeling and scuba diving. The prefecture’s dense jungles offer ample hiking opportunities, and its unique Ryukyu cultural heritage can be experienced both at historical sites such as Shuri Castle and through the many restaurants serving traditional Okinawan cuisine. Generally not recomm

Square Enix’s Mini Melody TVs tap into the nostalgia for retro games and old-school electronics. With retro games, there’s often a fine yet indistinct line between games’ whose aesthetics have been canonized as timelessly charming and cultural milestones of digital artistry, and those whose graphics and sounds now merely feel antiquated, making them past their expiration date in terms of triggering a warm, fuzzy emotional response. Tapping into gaming nostalgia gets trickier still when you take

Maps and predicated peak color dates to help you plan your autumn journey to see Japan’s natural beauty. There are a lot of reasons why fall is a great time of year to travel in Japan, such as sunny weather, not-too-hot, not-too-cold temperatures, and smaller crowds. The absolute best reason for an autumn trip, though, is to see the beautiful fall colors. In particular, Japan’s maple and ginkgo trees, or kaede and icho if you’re using their Japanese names, are what turn many of the country’s fo

New “Bunny Autumn Festival” collection celebrates the rabbit in the moon with sweet design details.  As we enter September, people across the nation are beginning to take notice of the encroaching night sky and the beauty of the moon, which appears particularly bright at this time of year. The moon-gazing culminates in Tsukimi (literally “moon-viewing“), a cultural event that occurs around the time of the autumn full moon – this year the date is 25 September – and over a

Multi-million-dollar Myaku-Myaku donation. It’s been nearly a year since the closing of the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, but its official mascot, the gooey humanoid Myaku-Myaku has managed to secure a popularity that has transcended the event it was created to represent. Myaku-Myaku goods are still widely sold, and game centers are still well stocked with crane games offering chances at plush toys and other goods bearing its moist likeness. It’s a rather surprising turn of events for the mascot a

Sushiro, budget-friendly in Japan, is adding private rooms and full-course meals as it arrives in America for the first time. Among Japan’s major kaiten/revolving sushi restaurant chains, Sushiro has the most passionate fans. Pretty much wherever a new Sushiro branch opens, you can expect crowds of sushi lovers looking to grab a seat at peak dining times, and this fall, for the first time, that’s probably going to be happening in America too. Sushiro is just a few weeks away from opening its fi