New Products
Ninja Sword Ice Cream: The longest ice cream in Japan looks like a single-edged sword
Japanese summers can be brutally hot, so it always helps to have an arsenal of goods to protect ourselves from the heat. This summer, we’ll be adding a new weapon to that arsenal: Ninjato Ice. “Ice” in Japan is the word used for ice cream, but in this case it… Read
Origami books for kids
Stemming from the words ori (to fold) and kami (paper), origami is the art of paper folding. In the past, this practice was limited to aristocrats and soldiers due to the price of paper. It was originally used for rituals and gift-giving. Today, principles from origami have been applied to… Read
Electric matcha whisk serves up frothy green tea in seconds
Have you ever wanted to make yourself a beautiful cup of matcha but just can’t be bothered to properly whisk it like a tea master? Well, now there’s a new handheld device that’ll do all the whisking for you, and that’s not all — it’ll replicate the hand movements of a tea… Read
Himeji Castle gets first official Lego set; Zen block garden kit on the way too
Himeji Castle, located in Hyogo Prefecture, is widely considered Japan’s most beautiful samurai stronghold. While many of Japan’s current castles are modern reconstructions, Himeji has been standing since 1333, and as a castle built in wartime but never attacked, there’s a unique mix of strength and beauty to the White… Read
A camping essential
As it starts to heat up in Japan, more people are spending their weekends outdoors. From busy hiking trails to crowded beaches, it’s the perfect time of year to head outside and be in nature. For the more adventurous, an overnight camping trip is an easy choice. Packing light is… Read
Poop-themed Japanese drill books for children
Selling over 10 million copies in Japan, these poop-themed drill books are an attention-grabbing way to get your kids to learn hiragana and katakana. Published by Bunkyosha Co Ltd, these Japanese language drill books are made to suit young children of all ages with an overarching theme of, you guessed… Read
Starbucks adds a clear coffee to all its stores in Japan this summer
Last summer, Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo began selling a new type of drink called Coffeeade. Available in three varieties — Lime, Lemon Tonic, and Strawberry Breeze, the drinks were described as “clear iced coffees“, due to the fact that they contained coffee, but were surprisingly clear. The Coffeeade concept was so… Read
From pencils to sprouts
Write, plant and nurture. This is what the Budding Pencil from Ktp.labo aims to do. Taking sustainability to a new heights, this pencil contains different seedlings that sprout when planted. Grow your garden with a mix of flowers and plants like basil, carnation and wildflowers. Planting using the Budding Pencil… Read
Godiva releases first-ever chocolate 'daifuku' in Japan
Belgian chocolatier Godiva has been treating its fans in Japan to some unusual regional exclusives recently, combining its signature rich chocolate with local delicacies like yokan and koji as part of the Godiva x Zen-Noh Collaboration Project. This tie-up with Zen-Noh, otherwise known as the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives Group’s National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations, now has… Read
McDonald’s Japan adds flavor of okonomiyaki to menu for limited time
McDonald’s is continually surprising its customers in Japan with some unusual regional-exclusives, and its latest release is yet another showstopper, as it takes the chain’s ever-popular Teriyaki McBurger and gives it several regional upgrades for a limited time. ▼ The new trio of burgers is called the “Otona no Gotouchi Teriyaki” (“Adult’s Regional Teriyaki“) The… Read
