It’s more like a Golden Brown Fryday.
I never really got all the craziness over Black Friday sales. I guess you have to be in the USA to get the really good ones, because I always see news stories from there about people camping out overnight or injuring each other to get in on these insanely good deals. But whenever I look online or in my local fliers, it’s always one percent off a PlayStation 5, half off dietary fiber pills, or other “bargains” I couldn’t be less interested in.
That is, until 7-Eleven Japan announced one of the best Black Friday sales I’ve ever had the opportunity of taking advantage of. Playing off a “fried-day” pun, the convenience store chain will be offering 50 percent off select fried foods nationwide from 27 to 30 November.
First up are 7-Eleven’s highly underrated fried chicken cutlets. While everyone always seems to rave about Family Mart’s famous Famichiki, I always felt they were way too oily. The ones at 7-Eleven usually have a much more balanced juiciness, and if you don’t believe me, you can see for yourself when they’re sold for the half-price of just 111 yen (US$0.72) on 29 November.
The spring rolls at 7-Eleven are nothing to scoff at either, and make for a cheap and hot snack that can’t be beat. And for two days, they’ll be even cheaper at 56 yen a piece on 28 and 30 November.
And if that’s still not cheap enough for you, here come the Hokkaido Potato Beef Croquettes for just 50 yen each on 27 November. Each one is stuffed with exquisite, piping hot Hokkaido potatoes and a savory hint of beef.
Also, the “Friday” aspect of Black Friday isn’t the only thing 7-Eleven is having fun with. For the month of November, they’ve been selling special black-colored foods. Their Zakuchiki (Jet Black Double Pepper) chicken filets went on sale on 4 November, followed by the Black Sukiyaki Spring Rolls on 11 November. Still to come are the Store-Baked Black Cookies on 18 November, as well as the Black Melon Pan, Curry Stick Black, and Chewy Donut Black on 25 November.
So don’t waste your time hunting out deals on already-overpriced and unnecessary things and pig out on greasy black food instead! I believe it’s what the founding fathers of the USA intended when they invented Black Friday while having a feast with the Native Americans who chopped down their cherry trees to make wooden teeth for George Washington after he lost his original ones flying a kite that got hit by lightning.
I learned a lot about that country from TV.
Source, images: PR Times 1, 2
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”The dream of taking a nap wrapped in Totoro’s tummy has come true.”
The idea of a Totoro blanket might sound equal parts cute and impractical. Sure, the cuddly Studio Ghibli star makes a fine muse for something soft to snuggle up under, but he’s also a pretty irregular shape to try to cover yourself with, isn’t he?
Ah, but Ghibli specialty shop Donguri Kyowakoku has taken this into consideration, which is why their latest offering isn’t a Totoro-shaped blanket, it’s a Totoro Tummy Blanket.
That means that the blanket itself is an orthodox rectangle, 115 centimeters long by 85 wide (45.3 x 33.5 inches), but the pattern matches the marking on Totoro’s stomach, and the fabric colors are the same as those of his fur.
Even the texture is meant to evoke thoughts of the forest spirit, as this is what’s called a “towelket” in Japan, a blanket with a terrycloth towel-like fuzziness to it.
The blanket, which has My Neighbor Totoro written in Japanese (となりのトトロ) near the top, is made of organic cotton, a choice the nature-loving Totoro would no doubt applaud (figuratively, anyway, since without fleshy palms it’s not clear whether or not Totoro is physically capable of clapping). There’s also a trio of Soot Sprites, embroidered in a rayon/polyester blend, who’ll be joining you for your snooze.
With the Totoro Tummy Blanket, Donguri Kyowakoku declares that it has “made the dream of sleeping wrapped in Totoro’s tummy come true.” We’re not sure we would have phrased our Totoro naptime ambitions in that exact way, but there’s no doubting that the blanket is adorable, and while it might not be big enough to completely cover an adult Ghibli fan, it’d still make a very cozy lap blanket for curling up on the couch with, and it can be ordered through the Donguri Kyowakoku online store here for 5,280 yen (US$35.20). And if you’re looking for more Totoro-themed ways to stay toasty warm this winter, don’t forget about the Catbus sleeping bag.
Source: Donguri Kyowakoku
Top image: Studio Ghibli
Insert images: Donguri Kyowakoku
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There’s more to this festive cake than just pretty packaging.
It’s been a whirlwind of a year for Starbucks releases, and the run of limited-edition surprises is now culminating in the long-awaited Holiday collection. In amongst the colourful festive goods and tasty drinks, however, is a food offering that tends to be overlooked — the stollen.
While the traditional German Christmas bread might not be everyone’s first choice at Starbucks, it has a lot going for it, starting with the pouch it’s sold in. Made with a cute pink corduroy material, the pouch has a sophisticated look, a smooth, supple feel, and the familiar Starbucks logo in the centre.
On the back, you’ll find a sweet “enjoy your day” message in handwritten-style embroidery, with a smiley face beneath it.
▼ Starbucks is all about spreading joy in the details.
The zip pouch isn’t just pretty, it’s practical too, with enough room in its 21 x 8 x 12 centimetre (8 x 3 x 5) dimensions to store things like makeup, small gadgets…and a chunk of stollen.
Uncut and dusted with a thick coating of powdered sugar, the stollen looks like the traditional ones you’ll find in Germany, but how does it taste? Taking it out of the bag, we could instantly smell the soft scent of cinnamon and cardamom as we cut into it, making us feel like the holidays had well and truly arrived.
Biting into it, we were greeted by the warming flavour of Christmassy spices, carried through the palate on a delectable crust with a moist, chewy centre. Packed with raisins, cranberries, orange peel, almonds, walnuts, and pistachios, we were able to enjoy sweetness and tartness in equal measures, with an overarching richness that grew in depth with every mouthful. It was a fantastic cake, and looking at the back of the packaging, we found there was a secret to its deliciousness.
▼ Every stollen is made by Takaki Bakery (“タカキベーカリー”), a local company that operates popular bakery brands such as Little Mermaid.
Knowing that the stollen is made by such a trusted company made it seem even more delicious, and the 2,350 yen (US$15.19) price tag was reasonable too. Considering you get a stollen and a pouch for that price, we might just make a return trip to snag another one while we can, as they’re only available in limited numbers until Christmas Day.
Source, images: Press release
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Kumacon provides everything you need to deal with up to a three-day bear siege, manufacturer says.
An unprecedented number of bear attacks have been taking place this year in Japan, with the situation having gotten so bad that mail deliveries are potentially going to be disrupted and even the Ground Self-Defense Force has been enlisted to help deal with ursine incidents. “I think the bears really have the upper hand here” one of my colleagues said the other day as we discussed the situation (having recently concluded our scholarly debate on who the best Final Fight character is), and if the government thinks military-grade training and equipment is required for an adequate response, it really does make you wonder what we ordinary civilians can hope to do.
One Japanese company, though, thinks it has the answer. Get yourself a bear shelter.
Pictured above is the latest offering from Jacaon: the Life Shield Container. The company also has a nickname for the product, though: the Kumacon, or “bear container.”
That might make it sound like it’s a container for bears, but it’s actually the opposite, a shelter where you and your fellow humans can take refuge while keeping any bears on the outside of the structure. The Kumakon is a redesigned shipping container, of the sort used on international cargo freighter vessels, but with additional features to keep you safe during a bear attack, even an extended one.
Starting on the outside, the Kumacon, which Jacacon developed in collaboration with Tokyo University of Science (not to be confused with the University of Tokyo), is strong enough to withstand any physical ursine aggression. The bite of a brown bear, the largest breed in Japan, is said to have strength equal to roughly 7 MPa (megapascals), but shipping container steel can withstand up to 350 MPas. Likewise, while an angry bear can pack a wallop with a force of a few hundred kilograms when it barrels into something in full run, the Kumakon can withstand over 192 tons.
While the outside is shipping container-sturdy, plenty of interior improvements have been made to help make your stay, if not necessarily cozy, at least bearable while you wait for it to be safe to step outside again. The Kumacon has a solar energy storage system that can power its USB power outlets. A toilet and ventilation system are standard, but you can upgrade your shelter with motion and infrared sensors to help you keep an eye on the animals, as well as flashing strobe lights and a public address microphone with which to try to scare the bears off. The Kumacon also comes with three days’ worth of emergency food rations, a supply of bottled drinking water, first aid kits, and bear repellant spray.
Jacacon, which specializes in repurposing shipping container designs for use as storefronts and lodging, says it hopes the Kumacon will serve as “a new form of disaster-preparedness infrastructure to protect the lives of people in locations such as on their home property or at educational facilities and camp grounds. In addition to bear attacks, the company says the Kumacon is “a multi-functional life shield” that can also keep you safe during natural disasters, though common sense dictates that it shouldn’t be used as an alternative to following evacuation recommendations when issued by local authorities.
The Kumacon will be offered in three different sizes, 12, 20, and 40-foot (3.7, 6.1, and 12.2-meter) configurations. The largest, if Jacacon’s concept images are anything to go by, looks large enough to hold a dozen people, and while there’s not much room to stretch out with that kind of occupancy, the lack of bears does make it a tempting place to hang out if there’s a potentially dangerous one outside.
▼ Jacacon doesn’t say why everyone is looking in the same direction here. Maybe there’s also a thirteenth person in the Kumacon who’s using its toilet right now.
Prices have yet to be announced for the Kumacon, but Jacacon says it’s going to start taking orders for the shelters in December. Ordinarily, you’d expect most bears to be hibernating by then, but ostensibly customers will have their Kumacons installed and ready by the time the bears wake up in the spring.
Source, images: PR Times
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Public reactions to redevelopment plan for Japan’s largest collection of historically significant artwork has been less than positive.
Located at the edge of Ueno Park, the Tokyo National Museum houses one of the most important collections of historically significant artistic and cultural artifacts in Japan, containing an estimated 10 percent of all the works officially designated as National Treasures in the country. Adult tickets are priced at 1,500 yen (US$10) by pre-sale or 1,700 yen at the door, which is a bit on the high side for museum admission in Japan, but doesn’t feel exorbitant, considering the care required in preserving the items inside.
And like many museums, the Tokyo National Museum, which is operated by a government-owned corporation, periodically has donation drives and crowdfunding campaigns. The purpose of its latest one is rubbing a lot of people the wrong way, though, since the museum is looking for handouts to cover the cost of removing its pond and replacing it with a space to be used for beer gardens and music events.
The pond, shown above, is located in front of the museum’s Main Building, or Honkan, which was constructed between 1932 and 1938. Under the Tohaku Open Park Project, announced by museum director Makoto Fujiwara last Monday, the pond will be demolished and covered with concrete, and its surrounding shrubbery removed to create more grassy lawn space.
The additional solid ground, the planners say, will allow the area in front of the main building to be used as a venue for outdoor events, with beer gardens and concerts specifically mentioned in the press release.
9 times out of 10 beer garden plans will get an enthusiastic thumbs up from most people in Japan, but reactions so far to the Tohaku Open Park Project have been much less positive. The Tokyo National Museum was Japan’s first national museum, and as a government-affiliated facility, many are saying that hosting loud, booze-fueled events is an inappropriate use of its grounds. Many are also lamenting the loss of the plaza’s classical aesthetics, particularly after sundown when the surface of the water takes on the warm glow of nearby lights and serves as a mirror reflecting the uniquely beautiful museum architecture.
東京国立博物館の池がなくなるなんて静謐で荘厳なものを国が守って欲しいここから意見が送れますhttps://t.co/I5DbWutEoO写真は2023年の今頃#トーハク #東京国立博物館 https://t.co/HYiIdjJMBb pic.twitter.com/o0GoL1Vsha— 原 知恵子 Chieko Hara ( chienoix ) Praha (@chienoix_praha) November 13, 2025
東京国立博物館の池のある風景 pic.twitter.com/5Xa27yVWGH— 在華坊 (@zaikabou) November 12, 2025
トーハク正面玄関の池は、晴れていれば水面に「逆さ本館」が映って 東京国立博物館をより美しく唯一無二のものにしていたと思うから、残念だなあ https://t.co/5gjd8cjaf8 pic.twitter.com/k38chGCStQ— くるっくる*避難用 (@sannenseabura2) November 12, 2025
So while the planners are saying the purpose of the redevelopment is to “create a relaxing place that all people can comfortably and safely use in their own way,” many online commenters are saying the way they want to use the plaza is just as they originally did, tranquilly admiring the view, including the pond (and the planners mention of safety is laughable, as the pond isn’t at all deep and no drowning incidents have taken place in it). Adding insult to injury, in detractors’ eyes, is that not only is the Tokyo National Museum planning to pave over the pond, it’s asking the public for donations to fund the Tohaku Open Park Project, and is currently accepting donations through its website.
All of this has led to such angry online comments as:
“So they’re just spending money to destroy something of value? I have no idea why they think the National Museum needs to hold concerts and beer garden events.”
“I’ve never seen one of these redevelopment ‘projects’ that actually feels like an improvement. It’s always just some cliched eyesore that messes up the local scenery and environment.”
“You don’t go to a museum to drink beer and listen to music. The museum is supposed to be our nation’s greatest treasure trove of knowledge, so let it be that, there’s no need to try to attract everyone and everybody. If it’s a place where people who want to connect with the knowledge of people from prior parts of history, that’s all it needs to be.”
“Please keep the plaza as the quiet, beautiful place that it’s always been.”
“Oh, so they’re just doing this to hold events and get more money? Pitiful.”
“If they’re going to abandon their pride as a museum, they should just go all the way with it. Put in a sake corner where you can drink in front of the Buddhist statues on display. Use the National Treasure katanas to cut tuna sashimi…Just leave the existing façade, hollow the interior out, and build a modern entertainment complex on top of it.”
Comments in favor of the plan have been much fewer and farther between, but those that have been made contend that the museum’s pond is less than majestic in appearance, and others speculate that the cost of maintaining it isn’t worth the marginal aesthetic boost it provides. Lending credibility to the speculation that cost is a factor in the decision to get rid of the pond, it’s been drained of water for some time now.
東京国立博物館の庭の池を埋め立ててイベントスペースにする案は愚策すぎる。池の水は、もうだいぶ前から抜かれたままだ。国立劇場も閉鎖されたまま。行く末を憂う胸が痛む問題だ。 pic.twitter.com/rIrDjYsvgO— 長宗我部元ちな (@chinasyogi) November 12, 2025
However, numerous commenters have countered that if maintenance costs are an issue, they’d rather the Tokyo National Museum be soliciting funds to be used to cover those costs, not to cover the pond with concrete. Others have said that getting rid of the pond because it’s not financially feasible to maintain is a decision they can see the logic in, but if that’s the case, the museum should just say so, rather than trying to feed people lines about the redevelopment being necessary to “create a safe and relaxing place for everybody.”
Still, at the moment the Tohaku Open Park Project is scheduled to go on as planned, with an estimated completion date of March 2027. Those who think it’s the right call can contribute donations for the redevelopment through the Tokyo National Museum website here, while those of the opposite opinion can make their feelings known through the museum’s general feedback form here.
Source: Tokyo National Museum (1, 2) via Hachima Kiko, Tiwtter/@JapanArchitects
Top image: Wikipedia/Wiiii
Insert images: Tokyo National Museum
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Sometimes it’s good to be a petite Ghibli fan.
Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbor Totoro contains what’s arguably the coziest looking nap in the history of animation. In the scene in which we get our very first look at the cuddly forest spirit, he’s snoozing away inside his burrow until he gets an unexpected visitor as Mei comes rolling in, then proceeds to take a nap on top of his ample tummy.
With winter on the way, though, it’s going to be too chilly to sleep on top of Totoro. Luckily, there’s a warmer alternative: the Totoro sleeping bag.
Just restocked by Ghibli specialty shop Donguri Kyowakoku, this microfiber-lined sleeping bag is soft and warm, and, most importantly, looks like a smiling Totoro. The zipper pull is shaped like an acorn, and the sleeping bag comes bundled with a fuzzy-fabric pillow too.
That’s not the only Totoro-themed sleeping bag currently on offer from Donguri Kyowakoku, as they’ve also got a Catbus version.
And yes, they made sure to include all 10 of its legs.
The zipper pull here is a mouse, like the ones that hang off the front corners of the Catbus.
The Catbus sleeping bag comes with a pillow as well, with its own unique fabric pattern.
The sleeping bags are both priced at 19,800 yen (US$132) and can be ordered through the Donguri Kyowakoku online store here. However, before you toss out the bed you’re currently sleeping in for these seemingly obvious upgrades, be aware that the total length of the Totoro sleeping bag, including its ears, is 140 centimeters (5 feet, 5.1 inches), so it’s meant for petite and/or young Ghibli fans. The Catbus version, meanwhile is listed with a length of 192 centimeters (6 feet, 3.6 inches), though again that includes the ears and also the tail, so depending on your own height, these might have to serve as blankets instead.
Source: Donguri Kyowakoku
Top image: Studio Ghibli
Insert images: Donguri Kyowakoku (1, 2), Studio Ghibli
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