Manneken

If you’ve been following this site or my Twitter, you’d probably heard these glorious waffles mentioned many a time already. But we’ve have yet to feature Manneken on its own post that it so deserves. Simply put Manneken’s waffles are possibly the best you’ll find in Japan.
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Gundam Front

Not too long ago, we reported about the Real Grade 1/1 Gundam Project and how it has shifted to Odaiba recently. This week, Bandai revealed their much bigger plans for the life sized Gundam figure with the announcement of the Gundam Front, a small theme park that will open inside of the new DiverCity Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba come this Spring.
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Japanese Train Station Jingles

Every once in a while my tetsudo instincts kick in and I’m compelled to write an article like this. Despite Japan being better known for its tendency to conform, there’s just something about Japanese train stations and how they each exude a distinct personality that is only possible with privately owned stations such as those by Japan Railways. One large contributing factor is the use of unique departure jingles at many commonly used stations.
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Radio Eva Fukubukuro

During the New Year’s holiday season, nearly every shop or brand offers Fukubukuro these days. Literally, translated as Lucky Bags, Fukubukuro are packs filled with random items but often of more value. This year, I ordered myself a bag from the Radio Eva store. We unbox the contents within.
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Nightlife in Asia

Many locations in Asia are famed for its nightlife, including perennial entertainment favorites such as Tokyo, Singapore, Bangkok, and Macau, which offer virtually any experience under the sun depending on your tastes. Whether you’re looking to play casino games, dance into the wee hours at popular clubs, or spend a more refined evening at the ballet or opera, you’ll be able to find something to enjoy among the diverse and sprawling continent that is Asia.
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Real Grade 1/1 Gundam Project

After making its debut at Odaiba back in 2009, the giant Gundam was moved to the Shizuoka Hobby Fair where it stood until March this year. Since August, parts of the famous life sized Gundam statue were returned to Odaiba where they were put on display. But last month, work began on reassembling the statue Gundam once more at Odaiba.
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Hero / Sweet Jewel

Today marks the day of the second release by avex trax’s latest group of music talents, Fairies. The new single is a double A-side of Hero / Sweet Jewel. Both songs feature high quality, pleasant and incredibly listenable sounds, with Hero reiterating their hip hop inspired style established in their first single and Sweet Jewel being a more typical Christmas themed pop song.
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Mister Donut

While the sparsity of Krispy Kremes often attracts long queues to the cafe during lunchtime hours, Mister Donut shops are rarely packed. I used to be an avid Krispy Kreme supporter too but when comparing the two now, Mister Donut takes the cake for being my preferred doughnut place.
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EveryBody JUMP!!

Fast rising Avex Trax idol group SUPER☆GiRLS announced that they will be releasing their new album scheduled for 1st February 2012. This is their second stage album after Chouzetsu Shoujo last December and will provide them with new group and unit songs for their 2012 performances.
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Memories for the Future Project

Previously we mentioned Google Japan’s efforts to promote Japan’s cultural offerings and encourage foreigners to continue visiting Japan in response to the Tohoku disaster. Since May this year, the Japan Street View team have been actively working on another humanitarian program with their Mirai e no Kioku (Memories for the Future) Project.
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Tsukematsukeru

Blogger turn fashion model Kyary Pamyu Pamyu (きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ) is back again with her first individual single release since the album Moshimoshi Harajuku, which contained the much talked about PONPONPON.
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AKB48 Google+

Today marks the 6th anniversary of AKB48′s theater debut at Akihabara and will be celebrated in the evening with a grand performance no doubt, a performance that we tried applying to but sadly failed to get tickets for. Instead, we’ll be cheering them on from the sidelines.

At 12.30 PM this afternoon though, many waited in anticipation as the AKB48 YouTube channel revealed a special announcement. AKB48 will be teaming up with search giant Google, to make use of their new social network Google+ in their future efforts to reach out to global fans.
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Japan Top 20 Hip List 2011

Earlier today, the Dentsu Innovation Institute released their findings for 2011′s top “hit products” in Japan. The list shows the top 20 items, figures and phenomenons as seen from a internet survey the company carried out earlier this month. It’s a nice representation of the current buzzwords and what’s hot in Japan right now.
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Yomenya Goemon

It has always been a struggle to find food that agrees with the rest of the crowd while not breaking the wallet, especially when one is in town over the weekends. I’m happy to announce that with the recent addition of Yomenya Goemon in town, it could really be a good option to dine at. After all, how many people can say no to both Western and Japanese food?
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Honke Owariya Soba

If you’re walking in the middle of Kyoto taking in the cool atmosphere while the yellow autumn leaves wavering with each caress of the wind, you’ve had that craving for soba. Honke Owariya is one soba shop that is worth a try. The restaurant has been making buckwheat soba since the Edo period. Their soba noodles have served the Japanese Imperial family since then.
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Sundown Festival 2011

In the past couple of years, the Sundown Festival have brought an assortment of popular Korean and Japanese artists over to Singapore. Acts primarily consisted of Korean boy and girl bands such as Brown Eyed Girl, Afterschool and FT Island, growing in 2010 to encompass Japanese visual-kei bands SuG and L.M.C..

The Sundown Festival 2011 returns this Saturday at Marina Promenade’s F-1 Pit, with similar performances from fast rising K-pop group Teen Top and visual-kei band ViViD. But the outdoor concert extravaganza also expands to Taiwan’s Mandopop scene with guests Show Luo, Zhang Yun Jing and Hebe Tien (of S.H.E. fame) being featured as this year’s top acts.
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Marimokkori

Hokkaido’s mascot, Marimokkori is a play on the two words Marimo and Mokkori, the later of which is Japanese slang for erection. You’ll find this whimsical (to put it nicely) character for sale at almost all souvenir and gift shops from Hokkaido and as far as Tokyo. It’s apparently popular among kids too.
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Top 10 Japanese English

While researching on wasei-eigo for a second, more interesting follow up to our popular Made In Japan English article, I came across this survey by search engine Goo where Japanese netizens answered what words they were previously most unaware of actually being Japanese Engrish.
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Sukajan

If you’ve ever been to any touristy area in Tokyo, or had the misfortune of watching either season of Majisuka Gakuen, then you would had probably have come across these jackets. Sukajan, an acronym for Yokosuka and Jumper refers to these snazzy jackets made popular by their badass appearance.
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Nabana no Sato Lights

Every year, the Nabana no Sato theme park in Kuwana, Mie is decorated with millions of sparkling LED lights during the Winter season. This year, the park outdoes its previous record with an amazing 6.3 million lights adorning the beautiful night time landscape.
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