Japanese Hotel in Hot Water for Fermenting Drink with Bacteria on Employees’ Hands
A popular Japanese hotel has been forced to issue a public apology after it was reported that employees at its cafe fermented a citrus drink by using the bacteria on their own hands. The AWA Nishiizu Hotel in Numazu, Japan’s Shizuoka Prefecture, has come under fire for putting its clients’ health at risk by breaking […]
Article on Raw ‘Crow Sashimi’ Sparks Controversy in Japan
The Tokyo Shimbun newspaper recently sparked controversy in Japan with an article on consuming raw crow meat, a practice that experts say could cause serious health problems, even death. Last month, the Tokyo Shimbun, one of the most-read newspapers in Japan, published an article on the consumption of so-called ‘crow sashimi’ (raw crow meat marinated […]
World’s Oldest Surfer Still Rides Waves at Age 89
89-year-old Seiichi Sano holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest surfer on Earth, but what makes his feat even more impressive is that he only took up the sport at age 80! They say surfing is a young man’s game, and it’s easy to see why. The water sport requires a combination of balance, […]
45-Year-Old Man Finds Online Success by Posing as a Teenage Girl
Nanami Kana (Nanamiかな) looks like a Japanese teenage girl in most of the photos she posts on Twitter, but she recently shocked her fans with photos of herself from 12 years ago in which she appeared as a bearded, overweight man. A Japanese influencer with around 35,000 Twitter followers, Nanami Kana is actually just the […]
Japanese Cafe Fires Waitress for Mixing Her Own Blood in Cocktails
A young Japanese waitress has been accused of ‘borderline terrorism’ by her employers after it was discovered that she mixed her own blood into a patron’s cocktail. The Mondaiji Con Cafe Daku (Problem Child Dark Cafe) in Sapporo, Japan opened its doors for the first time on March 3rd. It hoped to attract patrons willing […]
How a Popular Anime Caused Japan’s Raccoon Infestation
Raccoons are not native to Japan, yet in the last few decades, the furry critters have become naturalized in 44 of the country’s 47 prefectures, causing all sorts of problems for humans and other animal species. And to think it all started with a cute anime series… In 1963, American writer Sterling North launched his […]
Japanese Civil Servant Fined $11,000 For Smoking on the Job 4,512 Times in 14 Years
A Japanese civil servant in Osaka was recently forced to return 1.44 million yen ($11,000) of his salary after being found guilty of smoking during work hours more than 4,500 times in 14 years. When people say smoking is an expensive vice, they are generally referring to the cost of cigarretes, but in cities like […]
Man Climbs 4,100m Mountain in Three-Piece Suit and Leather Shoes
A popular Japanese tailor and adventurer recently went viral on social media after climbing Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in Malaysia, in a three-piece suit and stylish leather suit. One of the last things you would expect to see at the top of the 4,095-meter Mount Kinabalu is a Japanese fellow wearing a pristine three-piece […]
Suction Cup Tug of War – A Bald Man’s Sport
The Japanese town of Tsuruta is famous for hosting a unique annual competition – a popular game of tug of war in which bald men attach suction cups to their heads and pull in opposite directions. The Covid-19 pandemic threw a wrench in all aspects of Japanese society, but it’s fair to say that social […]
Scientists Finally Solve Mystery of Japan’s Tiny Mummified Mermaid
For decades, the mummified remains of a creature resembling a small mermaid have been worshipped at a temple in Asakuchi, Japan, but scientists have long suspected that the mermaid mummy was actually man-made. Allegedly caught in the Pacific Ocean, off the island of Shikoku, between 1736 and 1741, the famous mermaid mummy has been kept […]
SpoGomi – How Japan Turned Collecting Trash Into a Competitive Sport
SpoGomi, a combination of ‘sport’ and ‘gomi’ (Japanese for rubbish) is a popular competition in which teams of 3-5 people try to pick up the most trash of the highest quality in a set period of time. Japan recently announced that it would host the first SpoGomi World Cup in November of 2023, with teams […]
Lay Down Anywhere With This Wearable Beanbag
A Japanese garment company recently made international news headlines for its newest creation – a wearable beanbag that allows you to comfortably sit or lay down anytime, anywhere. When thinking about ultimate comfort, a giant beanbag that you can wear is probably not the first thing that comes to mind, but according to Takikou, a […]
Blind Computer Scientist Creates AI-Powered Suitcase For the Visually Impaired
AI Suitcase is a smart suitcase developed by a blind computer scientist to aid the visually impaired in navigating their surrounding more efficiently without the aid of white canes or guide dogs. 65-year-old Chieko Asakawa has been completely blind since she was only 14, following a tragic accident. A computer scientist and also the director […]
Racehorse Runs Entire Race Without a Jockey, Wins Anyway
The Tokay Stakes 2023 horse race at the Chukyo Racecourse in Nagoya, Japan was technically won by a racehorse that ran the entire race without a jockey. While it’s true that a jockey can’t really help a slow horse win a race, their role in professional horse racing is undeniable. The jockey plays many roles […]
Restaurant Serves Classic Miso Ramen With a Slice of Strawberry Shortcake
A restaurant in Osaka, Japan has built a reputation for serving traditional miso ramen with an unusual twist, like a slice of strawberry shortcake. Franken, a Japanese restaurant specializing in miso ramen, first made international news headlines last January, when it started selling a unique variant of sweet-and-sour red miso ramen with a cone of […]