#japan

#japan

LA’s Oldest Japanese RestaurantFor businesses to thrive and gain more customers, they usually rely on marketing and advertising. For restaurants and other types of food places, you’d probably see them reach out to food critics, post TikToks and hope to be viral.One restaurant in LA, however, has survived for so long without a single penny spent on marketing. Meet Otomisan, a Japanese restaurant that has been open for 66 years. The owner, Yayoi Watanabe, claims his place to be “the last Japanese restaurant in the Los Angeles Boyle Heights area.” Customers flock here via word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family. Otomisan is known for its tempura, udon, oyakodon bowls, and karaage. Check out VICE’s video on how the restaurant started, and how it is still standing today.Image credit: Richard Schave#restaurants #Japan #cuisine #JapaneseFood #LosAngeles #Otomisan

Yu-Gi-Oh! Creator Kazuki Takahashi To Be Remembered As a Hero For Trying to Save People From a RiptideIconic manga artist Kazuki Takahashi passed away both as a legend and a hero. Responsible for creating and kick-starting the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise that produced multiple anime episodes, merchandise, trading cards, and more, Takahashi has also reportedly not spared a moment’s thought in saving other people in times of strife.The Japanese artist helped rescue three people: a soldier, an 11-year-old girl, and her mother from a current in a dive spot in Japan. Unfortunately, the conditions in the water were really rough for the mangaka to recover on his own. The dive spot reportedly had heavy currents where the woman and her daughter were initially screaming for help. The 60-year-old artist was traveling to do some snorkeling when the tragedy struck. His body was found by the Japanese Coast Guard hours after the incident and was officially declared dead the next day to the public. Rest in power, Takahashi-sensei. Image credit: Wikimedia commons #manga #YuGiOh #KazuhiTakahashi #tragedy #gooddeeds #divingspots #Japan #waterincidents

Shizuoka City in Japan Has Plastic Model Public Pay PhonesShizuoka City has the distinction of being Japan’s model city. But it’s not what you think. Shizuoka produces 80% of Japan’s plastic model kits (assembling model kits is practically a national pastime for Japanese). Even the legendary model kit maker company Tamiya is based in Shizuoka.Now, Shizuoka City has installed unique pay phones that commemorate this feat. You might think nobody uses pay phones anymore nowadays, but this one is so tongue-in-cheek that it will put a smile on any onlooker. The payphones, placed outside of Shizuoka Station, are constructed to resemble a toy model kit. And not just replicas, people can actually make calls using the phones. The model phones are part of the Shizuoka City Plastic Model-ization Plan, a PR campaign with public art pieces with a plastic model aesthetic. The project has turned everything - from mailbox to monuments - to resemble model kits. Image: @NTTWestOfficial/Twitter#PlasticModelKits #ShizuokaCity #Japan #Tamiya #payphone #mailbox

Banking with Ghosts: This Japanese ATM is Shaped like an Old Creepy Ghost House Filled with Yokai SpiritsThis Japanese ATM truly redefines banking, with unearthly style.In the city of Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture, there is a stretch of road called Mizuki Shigeru Road. This road is lined up with about 150 statues of yokai, Japanese folklore ghosts that are often depicted as creepy and cautionary in local myths. And it’s in this street that Tottori Bank placed one of the most unique ATM spots to ever exist.The ATM is designed to look like an old-time house complete with thatched roof and white paper lantern hanging on the window. Not only that, upon getting closer or sitting on the bench in front of the ATM box, customers will be greeted by a one-eyed goblin child, activated using motion sensor. When they step into the box, there is a sign that reads, “Never reveal your PIN, even when asked by yokai around the ATM.” It’s not just a decoration; unassuming older folks often fall victims to swindlers asking for their ATM PIN numbers. In a way, this is a warning to be aware of the real-life yokais around us.Image: @pepin0323/Twitter and @shideau/Twitter#ATM #bank #yokai #ghost #Japan

Cup Noodle Soda is ComingNissin’s Cup Noodle will be 50 this month, and to celebrate, we are getting a lot of gifts. Just when we thought the brand couldn’t do more after giving us a special range of Umaibo snacks and fancy meals, they made an anniversary announcement unveiling the Cup Noodle Soda.There are four different flavors: Cup Noodle Soda; Cup Noodle Seafood Soda; Cup Noodle Curry Soda; and the Cup Noodle Chili Tomato Soda. Each flavor reproduces a carbonated form of its corresponding Cup Noodle. The Cup Noodle Soda is said to be a ginger ale-style soda that contains the aroma of salty sauce and pepper, while the Seafood Soda uses a cream soda-style base with a hidden hint of seafood. The Curry Soda is a Coca-Cola style soda with curry spices, and the Chili Tomato Soda is a tomato-style soda with a refreshing tingle that stimulates the taste buds.Nissin is aware that their customers are fun-loving and would join them on culinary adventures and won’t shy away from this challenge by saying “Whether it’s delicious or not is up to you! Overwhelmingly positive responses are found online, and people are more than happy to find out if these drinks taste good or not, and there are a number of ways to get them!”They can be bought online from the Nissin Store as part of the Cup Noodle 50th Anniversary Complete Set which has all four sodas, all eight Cup Noodle Umaibo snacks, and eight Cup Noodles in the eight standard flavors for 2,998 yen or $27.23. Pre-orders will be available by September 13-17, after which regular sales will be available, if the limited stock of 15,000 don’t sell out.The set of four sodas and nine Cup noodles can also be bought from Amazon; au PAY Market; Rakuten; Lohaco; and Yodobashi. Prices, start times, and delivery dates vary from other sellers than Nissin so check the details to not miss out!#Nissin #CupNoodles #NissinCupNoodles #CupNoodlesSoda #Soda #JapanImage Credit: Nissin Foods

Pollution Monster Hedorah Kaiju is Now a Dust MopIn 1971, Japan’s King of the Monsters, Godzilla, faced off against one of his toughest foes, the pollution monster Hedorah. Then, modern environmentalism was young and Hedorah was meant to be an embodiment of humanity’s difficulty in controlling pollution.But now, Hedorah can now wipe out dirt as he wipes out people, for 3520 Yen or $32 you can have a piece of this tokusatsu history with the Hedorah Desktop Mop. You can now preorder through the Premium Bandai online shop, with deliveries expected in December.The mop takes Hedora’s flying form as its shape and will wipe out dust with extreme prejudice using its polyester tendrils. However, much like the real Hedorah, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight will weaken the mop.This is one of the many items released this year to honor the 50th anniversary of Godzilla vs. Hedorah. For 5000 Yen, Japan post is selling a collection of items including a framed set of 10 Godzilla vs. Hedorah stamps, foldable stamp mount, pin, poster, 10 postcards, and also a groovy looking face mask case. You can also go out in style while paying respects to the Smog Monster in the Hedorah T-Shirt from Amnibus for 3,800 Yen or $35.There’s definitely a lot of Hedorah to be had this year, and we have done so little to act on the environmental problems Hedorah tried to warn us 50 years ago, so he may very well be poised for a comeback to the silver screen in one of the current Godzilla reboots going around.#Hedorah #Godzilla #Japan #Anniversary #GodzillaMerch #Godzilla2021Image Credit: Toho Co.,LTD.

The Cutest Totoro Shrimp Burger With Matching Soot Sprite FriesInstagram user @petrichoro posted her version of a shrimp burger inspired by the internationally acclaimed 1988 Studio Ghibli animated film ‘My Neighbor Totoro’. The shrimp burger is accompanied by disc-shaped fries made to resemble the adorable soot sprites from 'Spirited Away,' an animated film from Studio Ghibli as well. The burger is made with a light brioche bun topped with lettuce, tomato, mozzarella cheese, avocado, Kewpie mayo, Sriracha, and a hefty shrimp patty. These treats hit the mark when it comes to nostalgia and aesthetics, and we’re sure they taste scrumptious.#myneighbortotoro #totoro #spiritedaway #hayaomiyazaki #studioghibli #burgers #shrimpburger #fries #food #anime #japanImage: @petrichoro