Karaoke is an ever-evolving social activity. In recent years we've seen karaoke-for-one services springing up, karaoke rooms transform into a fashion pop-up shop, and even a karaoke-convenience store ...

Want to give a special something to that special someone? But it's not just what you give. It's how you give. And in Japan, the wrapping and packaging of a gift item is traditionally viewed almost ...

In Japan, Christmas Eve is not a time for church -- it's a time for couples. Restaurants in cities are packed with pairs of diners enjoying expensive, luxury courses. But not everyone has a ...

Former Gravure model and television personality Ayaka Ichinose (34) and actress Akane Sugimori (28) have announced that they are a couple and will marry in Tokyo next April. This follows the news ...

Gotta catch 'em all. Or should that be "eat and drink 'em all"? Shibuya Parco will open the Pokémon Cafe (Pokémon cafe Ω Ruby & α Sapphire) next month. Opening January 9th, the pop-up cafe ...

If we're honest, Japanese television is not acclaimed for its sophistication or journalistic integrity. And the coverage of the recent Lower House election last weekend did little to boost that ...

You got the original Kabuki Face Pack. Then you got the Animal Face Pack, the Cats Face Pack, and the Fashion Face Pack. You probably also went and got the Hello Kitty Face Pack. Well, now how ...

We've all seen them. We've all pitied them. We've all admired them. Japanese trains are full of odd sights -- but perhaps none so odd as the spectacle of people managing to get some shuteye no ...

Google has shared shared the top search terms in Japan for 2014. Here are the top search terms, which were of course originally in Japanese and so vary slightly from the translation or English ...

Move over Christopher Nolan. Mitsubishi recently offered an interstellar virtual test drive for its Outlander Phev model using the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset. Like the Nissan Leaf, the ...

Following last year's top trends and major buzzwords and memes, we are going to take a look back at the big trends and topics for 2014 in Japan. We already examined some of the main Twitter buzz of ...

Twitter Japan has announced the top ten hashtags and top ten trends for Japan in 2014. Anime-related hashtags accounted for four of the top ten, while number 8 was taken by a hashtag for Gravure ...

Can't afford to go to those expensive Tokyo cafes where they serve up latte art? Haven't yet got your hands on the 3D Latte Art Maker Awa Taccino? Then try the Deco Latte Coffee Art ...

Every year in Japan there are illumination and light displays at malls and other venues around the country. Many are elaborate. Most are expensive. But some are just out of this world. The Abeno ...

UNIQLO spin-off GU recently held a kabe-don event at its Ginza branch as a promo for a holiday season sale. Does the idea of having a hot guy leaning up against you inside a clothes store, ...