The second Canadian pop star to run afoul of Japan this week! Following Justin Bieber's innocent visit to a certain shrine in central Tokyo, now comes Avril Lavigne's music video where she pines for ...

There are two important foreign dignitaries in Japan right now. One is the President of the United States of America and the other is, well, Justin Bieber. The former is the reason why there ...

Now this is an innovative way to cool down your drink. While we still love the quietly industrial and precise ice sphere offered by the Ice Ball Mold, there is something to be said for having ...

Traditionally in Japan people clean their ears using a bamboo ear pick (mimikaki). This is actually said to be much safer and more hygienic than the typical cotton bud swab people use in other ...

The end of an era. Hostess culture magazine Koakuma Ageha will cease publication in the wake of the bankruptcy of its publisher, Inforest Publishing. The title first went on sale in October 2005 ...

As previously reported on JapanTrends, AKB48 has recruited a new older female member for its ranks as part of a spring and summer campaign for Papico, an ice cream product by Glico. There was some ...

Tokyo Dome City will be converted into a remarkable planetarium event this summer. TenQ is a space museum that opens on July 8th in Tokyo Dome City, complete with a 11-meter "Theater Sora" that gives ...

Been there, done that. Sometimes it seems that fashion has little new left to offer. But then along comes another neat innovation that proves you wrong. Fashion models strutting their wear down a ...

Despite the recent ruling on March 31st by the International Court of Justice that Japan must stop "scientific" whaling and the government's initial announcement that it would abide by the ruling, ...

Almost no sight says "Tokyo" more than Shibuya's "scramble crossing", the immense intersection in front of the Hachiko exit of the station in which multiple banks of pedestrians converge on each ...

Tears. Tantrums. And a yuru-kyara mascot character. The Public Affairs Section/Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo has produced a very original video promoting studying abroad in ...

Vending machines come in all shapes and sizes, and seem to sell everything from books to snacks, drinks, used panties and more. But how about a vending machine that lets you have a private dance ...

Snoopy and green tea? Whatever will they think of next. Actually, this isn't such a big shock, since Snoopy is a popular character in Japan, though this is still a pretty original way to utilize ...

Take two things Japan does very well -- and combine them! Just when you think there isn't much more room for innovation with the world of karaoke, along comes FamilyMart with a new branch, ...

Another day, another intriguing Hatsune Miku collaboration. From expensive opera productions to every piece of merchandise an otaku can get his hands on, Hatsune Miku is not just a virtual idol, ...