Grilled fish, curry, and homemade croquettes make for a shockingly affordable and satisfying meal. During a company meeting at the office, the topic came up of how all-you-can-eat restaurants are seeing a surge of popularity right now. So, when our Japanese-language reporter Masanuki Sunakoma was on his commute to our office in Shinjuku, he kept his eyes peeled for any evidence suggesting as much. Shortly, just after leaving Shinjuku Station’s Southeast Exit, he quickly spotted a sign that read “Lunch Buffet: All You Can Eat, 850 yen” (US$5.53). While there are certainly quite a few places that offer all-you-can-eat deals as long as you’re looking for them, 850 yen for a buffet right in front of Shinjuku Station is absurdly cheap. There was no way that Masanuki was going to pass up on this deal, so come lunch time he found himself back at the izakaya called Yottekiya, only a minute or so walk from the station exit. For being so close to Shinjuku Station, the price is truly shocking, being cheaper than some set meals at a chain restaurant. There was even an additional offer listed on the sign saying that on Tuesdays and Thursdays, customers can enjoy “homemade croquettes”, which is not something you want to be missing out on. According to the website, the weekday buffet lunches run from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and while you can make reservations for daytime parties or drinking gatherings, you are unable to do the same for the buffet. Upon entering, Masanuki was greeted by a cool-looking staff member who emerged from the back of the store stating that it was a “pay before eating” system. After handing over the money, the employee vanished into the depths of the store, leaving behind a sense of complete freedom to enjoy the lunch in whatever way he fancied. Masanuki, while initially surprised at the lack of explanation of any rules, felt the simplicity of “just feel free to help yourself” was very refreshing in comparison to other places that might have limits, such as only being able to stay for 60 minutes. Masanuki took over an empty seat before going to get food. The dishes were lined up along the counter, and you could take as much of whatever you liked. Whenever you’ve stuffed yourself to the brim, all you need to do is just take your dishes to the return area. ▼ There’s also a selection of drinks, including coffee, Calpis (a probiotic milk drink), green tea, water, and oolong tea. The lineup of dishes available was surprisingly varied, with grilled fish, mapo tofu, curry, twice-cooked pork, simmered chicken wings with daikon, and other delicious-looking food. There were also plenty of side dishes, like Korean seaweed, eggs, natto, and the aforementioned croquettes. The staff only came out occasionally to restock the food, but otherwise they completely left the guests alone, making it easy for Masanuki to eat at his own pace. Masanuki piled his plate high with whatever dish caught his eye, coming away with a collection of foods typically ordered at izakayas, all well-seasoned with a rich, umami taste that makes you want to keep eating rice to go with them. Despite being on his lunch break, he knew he was going to end up eating a lot, and hopefully the sleep demons wouldn’t attack too aggressively in the afternoon. The croquette was particularly delicious, being crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. There was also the mapo tofu. A sign on the counter said, “Please do not place the mapo tofu on the white trays,” so Masanuki decided to create a mapo tofu rice bowl by popping it straight on top of his rice. The spicy, rich flavor mixed beautifully with the rice, and he polished off every last bite. Overall, being an izakaya, the flavors were very strong, but that only made it more satisfying for both Masanuki’s stomach and soul. The level of satisfaction granted for just a mere 850 yen is astounding, especially at a time when even chain restaurants are struggling to keep their set meals under that price. The lunch buffet at Yottekiya delivers far more than what your money is worth, so if you’re ever around Shinjuku Station, you’ll definitely want to swing by for lunch. Restaurant information Yottekiya Shinjuku-ten / 酔ってき屋 新宿店 Address: Tokyo-to, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku 3-35-9 Eiwashoji Biru 1F 東京都新宿区新宿3-35-9 永和商事ビル1F Open: 12:00 p.m.–12:00 a.m. (Sunday, Monday–Thursday, Holidays) 12:00 p.m.–2:00 a.m. (Friday, Saturday, and days before holidays) Weekday Lunch: 11:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (Monday–Friday, and days before holidays) Website Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Alien spacecraft looks even better when lit up at night.  With hotel prices skyrocketing around Japan, we’re always on the lookout for bargain stays, and our latest find comes with something rather extraordinary — a view of a UFO. Located in Makuharihongo, Chiba Prefecture, less than an hour out from Tokyo Station and Narita Airport, this hotel is just a 10-minute train ride from Makuhari Messe, the large convention centre where events like Tokyo Auto Salon and Tokyo Game Show are held. ▼ Called Famy Inn, this business hotel comes with a public bath and sauna, and operates a free shuttle bus to Kaihin Makuhari Station and Makuhari Messe. When our reporter Masanuki Sunakoma arrived to spend the night there, he opted to walk from the station as it was only a 7-8 minute journey from Makuhari Hongo Station. As he walked through the streets though, he found himself in a love hotel district, which made him wonder if the great deal he got on the Famy Inn was because it was actually a love hotel. ▼ At 8,100 yen (US$52.88) a night, with a 1,000-yen discount voucher from travel provider Rakuten Travel, Famy Inn is a very cheap place to stay. When he arrived at the lobby, however, he found his fears were unwarranted, as the only reference to love here was the image of Aphrodite on the foyer wall. Upon entering his room, it was clear that this was a legit business hotel, with simple rooms that include a clean bed, a private bathroom, a desk, and a TV. It may not have been the pinnacle of luxury, but hey, for 8,100 yen a night, with a public bath and sauna thrown in, this was a great deal. ▼ The bath and sauna are open from 5 p.m. to midnight. With an expressway nearby, the hotel provides earplugs in every room for those who might be sensitive to noise. Pulling back the curtain to see where the expressway was, Masanuki stepped back in shock at the sight that lay before him. ▼ There was a super huge UFO right in front of his eyes. Sitting there as if it had just landed, the UFO seemed to be hiding in plain sight amongst the lights of the city. Blinking in surprise, Masanuki realised he wasn’t dreaming and quickly ran to grab his camera, before proceeding to take about 50 photos of the unusual sight. There was no mention of a “UFO view” when he’d booked the hotel room so he quickly headed downstairs to find out what it was all about. As he approached the structure, he discovered that this was actually a love hotel called “Hotel UFO”. ▼ For love that’s truly out of this world. Up close, it was even bigger than Masanuki had imagined. He says it was a masterpiece, and after doing some research on it, he found that the facility had just recently been completely renewed before opening in July 2024. Heading back to his room, Masanuki left the curtains open awhile so he could admire the view. Before hopping into bed, with thoughts of aliens outside the “Save Our Planet!”message card immediately jumped out at him as a warning of some sort. Upon closer inspection, though, he found this wasn’t a threat to humanity from an alien invasion, instead it was a call to conserve resources during hotel stays. As he snuggled up in bed, Masanuki drifted off to a peaceful slumber, feeling strangely comforted by the UFO outside his window. In the morning, Masanuki felt like a child on Christmas morning as he pulled back the curtains to see what was there. ▼ To his joy, the UFO was still there. Pulling on his clothes, Masanuki scampered outside to get a daytime view of the UFO, and it looked just as massive and awe-inspiring as it dod the night before. Returning to the hotel to hop on the shuttle bus to Kaihin Makuhari Station, he had a skip in his step that made him start the day right. For a UFO lover like Masanuki, who once saw an unidentified flying object when he was younger and even visited Japan’s UFO village to indulge his curiosity, this was remarkable find, IT just goes to show that no matter how many years you live here, there’s always something new to discover in Japan! Hotel information Famy Inn Makuhari / ファミーINN幕張 Address: Chiba-ken, Chiba-shi, Hanamigawa-ku, Makuharihongo1-33-3 千葉県千葉市花見川区幕張本郷1-33-3 Website Related: Rakuten Travel Images © SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Art, history, and high-end dining make for a unique Japanese getaway. Living National Treasures are legendary figures who play an important role in the transmission of a country’s intangible cultural heritage, all worthy of a great deal of respect in the fields that they represent. So, on our travels through Nara, we were surprised to learn about how the childhood home of one of Japan’s earliest Living National Treasures has been converted into a hotel and restaurant. Born in what was once Osaka Prefecture’s Heguri District, Kenkichi Tomimoto became one of Japan’s most celebrated ceramic artists, active from the Meiji (1868–1912) through the Showa (1926–1989) eras. Tomimoto was friends with the famed Bernard Leach, one of the most influential artists in British studio pottery, and he only started studying ceramics when he was 27. Going from learning a new craft by himself to becoming a Living National Treasure is a feat worth respecting. Tomimoto’s childhood home has since been transformed into the elegant Ubusuna no Sato Tomimoto. This beautiful house has been remade into a fully reservation-only restaurant and a hotel with just two guest rooms: Nisshin and Chikurin Tsukiyo. Nisshin preserves Tomimoto’s original study, offering guests the rare opportunity of staying where the master himself once worked. ▼ With twin occupancy and… ▼ … a semi-open-air bath. Whereas Chikurin Tsukiyo is a renovated two-story warehouse. ▼ Featuring: a living and bedroom area… ▼… a tatami room… ▼ … and another semi-open-air bath. With only two rooms available, competition can be quite intense, so securing a room might mean that you would have to book months in advance, particularly if it’s a weekend. Even if you don’t have the luxury of staying overnight, the restaurant alone is worth the trip. The menu changes throughout the year, highlighting local and seasonal ingredients: sweetfish and matsutake mushrooms in autumn, and pike conger and blowfish hot pots in winter. ▼ The tableware is exquisite, with designs unique to the area. For people who want a bite of exquisite Japanese dining on their visit to Horyuji, purportedly home to the oldest wooden building in the world, this restaurant is an excellent choice for either lunch or dinner. If you’re a fan of Japanese art, or ceramics, then you’ll be excited to know that Tomimoto’s works are displayed throughout the property, and visitors can even try pottery or painting workshops, where perhaps the spirit of the skilled artist will inspire you to create a masterpiece of your own. Located about a 30-minute walk from either JR Horyuji Station or Kintetsu Hirahata Station, it’s best accessed with a car or taxi, unless you’re traveling light. However, when you finally arrive there you’ll discover a peaceful retreat filled with Japanese art and cuisine. Whether you’re an art enthusiast or keen to immerse yourself in a part of Japanese cultural heritage, Ubusuna no Sato Tomimoto offers an elegant stay for when you want your trip to feel truly special. Location information Ubusuna no Sato Tomimoto / うぶすなの郷 TOMIMOTO Address: Nara-ken, Ikoma-gun, Ando-cho, Higashiando 1442-banchi 奈良県生駒郡安堵町東安堵1442番地 Open (restaurant): 11:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. Closed: Tuesdays Website Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Lapras’ latest collaboration with the region it’s an ambassador for is now ready to receive fans and provide squeals of joy. Since 2016, Japan’s northeastern Tohoku region has had a special relationship with the Pokémon Lapras. The Tohoku prefectures of Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima suffered severe damage during the 2011 March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and in order to help encourage tourism to the areas which were ready to start receiving visitors again, the Lapras encounter rate in Pokémon GO was increased for those playing in the region. Since then, Lapras’ connection to Miyagi in particular has deepened, with the species becoming the official ambassador Pokémon for the prefecture, and that’s led to the opening of a brand-new Lapras Park. Lapras Park is actually a park within a park, as it’s a play area located within Moririn Kasenuma Park, which is itself in the Miyagi town of Rifu. Standing tall in the center is a Lapras that’s so big, it’s actually bigger than the creature’s official Pokédex dimensions. The main Lapras Park Lapras is 4 meters (13 feet, 1 inch) tall, whereas according to the Pokédex the species usually only grows to a height of 2.5 meters. The extra-large Lapras isn’t there just to look cool, either. As Poké scholars are well aware, Lapras loves to have people ride on its back as it swims around the seas, and so the sides of the statue’s shell have grips to use to climb up to the top, and there’s a slide around back for when you’re ready to come down. The park also has a smaller Lapras. This one isn’t for climbing, though. Instead there’s a space for kids to climb inside as the Pokémon rocks back and forth. You’ll spot even more Lapras (Laprases? Lapri?) here and there around the park… …and they’re not the only Water-types waiting for fans to come and play with them, as there’s also a ridable Mantyke, Torkoal, and Sharpedo trio. Five Wigletts can also be found around the park, three by a series of musical play chimes… …one chilling by itself… …and the last hiding out inside this seashell-style dome. In addition, Lapras Park is home to the newest Pokéfuta/Pokémon manhole cover, showing Lapras, Mantyke, Swanna, and Staryu. Even for fans too big to play on the slides, swings, and other equipment themselves, a visit to the park is sure to be fun for anyone who loves Pokémon, and the planners knew that people will be snapping lots of photos, which is why they made sure to install a camera stand for selfies. Lapras Park in Kasenuma, to use its full official name, is open to the public as of October 31. And if you want even more Pokémon parks to put on your Japan travel itinerary, don’t forget about Chansey Park in Fukushima and Sandshrew Park in Tottori. Park information Lapras Park in Kasenuma / ラプラス公園 in かせぬま Located inside Moririn Kasenuma Park / モリリン加瀬沼公園 Address: Miyagi-ken, Miyagi-gun, Rifu-cho, Kase Shintsutsumashita 宮城県宮城郡利府町加瀬新堤下 Moririn Kasenuma Park official website Source: Pokémon official website via Sendai Keizai Shimbun Images: Pokémon official website ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

With no clear answers, it’s up to the wallet’s owner to choose what he wants to believe about the person who had it. About a week ago, our Japanese-language reporter P.K. Sanjun was sitting at home when his phone rang at about 10 p.m. Surprised that someone would be calling instead of texting at that time, and not recognizing the number of the caller, he answered the call and tentatively said hello. “This is Detective A from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Z Precinct,” said the voice on the other end of the call (we’ve redacted the specific names for the sake of privacy). “We found your wallet.” P.K. did indeed lose his wallet, but that was all the way back in mid-September. What’s more, since he usually keeps his wallet in his bag and uses his phone for so many of his payments, when he finally did reach for his wallet and discovered it was gone, a whole three days had passed since he last remembered seeing it. So even though he filed a missing property report with the police, he didn’t really expect to actually get it back. He wasn’t happy about losing the 20,000 yen (US$130) he’d had inside, but he’d managed to cancel his credit and ATM cards without anyone making unauthorized use of them. Getting his driver’s license and other forms of ID reissued had been more of a hassle, but he’d finally gotten everything sorted out, and by the time he got this phone call, he’d practically forgotten all about having lost his wallet. ▼ P.K. doesn’t have time to mope about losing his wallet when there’s rare Japanese-grown coffee to taste, among other things on his schedule. Between how much time had passed since the incident and the hour of night at which the call came in, P.K. thought this might be a scam. “How can I know you really are who you say you are?” he asked. Detective A advised P.K. to take a look at the official website for the precinct he said he was calling from, where there’s a listed contact phone number, and to call it and ask to speak with Detective A. P.K. did that, and sure enough, the operator connected him to the same person, proving that Detective A was a legit law enforcement member. With that settled, P.K. and the detective could discuss getting his wallet back to him. The detective asked P.K. to confirm his address and other particulars, and P.K. had a question for him too, asking where the police had found his wallet. “We found it at a private residence within our jurisdiction,” Detective A informed him. “We actually had an emergency call from another party saying that they’d been unable to get in contact with the resident and were worried about them. When we entered the home, we found your wallet, and also that the resident had passed away.” P.K. was startled by this unexpected information, but the conversation didn’t go on much longer, as Detective A said that the precinct would be in touch again soon to determine a date for P.K. to come pick up his wallet. Three days later, he got another call, this time from a Detective B who confirmed, one by one, the contents of the wallet when it was found, and it turned out that each and every one of P.K.’s cards had been recovered. “I’m sorry to inform you that the cash was gone,” said Detective B. “I believe Detective A has already mentioned it, but the resident of the home where we found your wallet is deceased. So, will you be pressing charges?” It took P.K. a moment to process that the detective was asking the question in earnest, and was waiting for his response. “Wait, you can file charges against someone after they’re dead?”, he asked in return. “Yes. The process is sort of involved, but it is possible,” Detective B explained. Possible or not, P.K. had no intent of trying to get cash from a dead man. Actually, he was concerned about what had happened to him. “By the way, was this a suicide, or do you think there was some sort of foul play?” he asked, but all Detective B could tell him was “That’s part of an ongoing investigation.” P.K. made an appointment to come to the police station and pick up his wallet two days from then, and after he checked in at the front desk, he was ushered into an interview room by a Detective C. Sitting on the desk waiting for him was his wallet, and after they confirmed its contents, yet another detective, Detective D, came in carrying a thick folder. “The deceased resident of the home where we found your wallet was a Sri Lankan national,” said Detective D as he opened up the folder to a page with a photocopy of a foreign resident ID card. “Do you remember having seen or met this person before?” P.K. looked at the photo on the card, which showed a man with long hair and glasses who appeared to be about 30 years old. P.K. had never seen him before in his life. “I see,” said Detective D when P.K. told him, and he then closed up the folder and left the room. As Detective C was wrapping up the paperwork, P.K. took the opportunity to ask a few more questions, starting with “Did you find any other missing wallets in the residence?” “No, just yours.” the detective answered. “It was sitting inside the entryway.” He then made an observation that made P.K. feel hollow in a way far beyond the simple 20,000 yen he’d lost. “If we’d found your wallet, say, hidden inside the deceased’s bag, then we’d definitely suspect him of having stolen it. But having it just sitting in the entryway like that, it’s possible that he was planning to return it to you.” P.K. also asked again if they’d figured out what had happened to the guy, but was told that the cause of death was currently undetermined. As he left the building with his wallet back in his bag, P.K. struggled to sort out his emotions. Yes, his wallet had been missing, but he hadn’t been mugged. It’s possible that someone stole it out of his bag, but it’s also possible that he accidentally dropped it or left it somewhere while he was out. And yes, when the police had found it the cash that was inside was gone, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the Sri Lankan man had taken it. It’s possible that he’d found P.K.’s wallet after someone else had pocketed the cash, but figured that the rightful owner would still want the wallet itself and cards it contained back, but hadn’t been able to start the process of returning it before his life ended. It’s unlikely that P.K. will ever conclusively know how or why his wallet ended up in the Sri Lankan man’s home, and precisely because he’ll never know, he has to decide for himself what to believe. He’s choosing to have faith and believe that the man was trying to do the right thing and return his wallet, and so while he’ll never have the chance to tell him in-person, P.K. wants to say thank you, and hopes that he’s resting in peace. If you or someone you know is in Japan and having suicidal thoughts, there are people here to help. Click here for more info. Top image ©SoraNews24 Insert images: SoraNews24, Pakutaso ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Sign language art-themed Hello Kitty pop up shop opens in Tokyo. Hello Kitty is always ready to make new friends. Having just taken part in collaborations with the casts of the Evangelion and Sonic the Hedgehog franchises, the Sanrio star’s newest pal isn’t an anime or video game character, but real-life Japanese artist Hidehiko Kado. Kado was born to deaf parents and became proficient in sign language from an early age. His desire to express thought and emotions that couldn’t be summed up entirely with spoken words or signing led him to become an artist and establish his own brand, Smile Talking Hands. On November 6, the Hello Kitty x Smile Talking Hands Pop Up Shop opened in Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood. Kado has created a series of new artwork pieces for the project, and they serve as the motif for the merchandise collection being offered. Not only do they combine Kado’s stylish sensibilities with Hello Kitty’s characteristic cuteness, they also teach some very useful sign language. The first is one you might already be familiar with, as the sign for “I love you” is the same in Japanese and American sign language. The sign for “konnichiwa,” meaning “good afternoon” (and sometimes used for “hello” in a broad sense), is more indicative of Japanese culture, though… …since you turn your index fingers towards each other and bend them, so that they “bow” to each other in greeting. ▼ “Konnichiwa” in Japanese sign language VID Finally, there’s Kitty-chan demonstrating the sign for “arigatou” (“thank you”), in which you bring the edge of your right hand down in a gentle chopping motion onto the back of your left. The Hello Kitty x Smile Talking Hands collaboration will be offering T-shirts with the “I love you” design for 3,250 yen (US$21.50)… …tote bags with a design that combines all three signs (2,640 yen)… …as well as stickers (440 yen) and pins (550 yen). A randomly selected magnet of one of the single-sign designs will also be given to shoppers who purchase 3,300 yen or more worth of items at the store. The Hello Kitty x Smile Talking Hands Pop Up Shop will be open until November 19, but many of the items can also be purchased online here. Shop information Hello Kitty x Smile Talking Hands Pop Up Shop Address: Tokyo-to, Shibuya-ku, Sakuragaokacho 1-1, Shibuya Sakura Stage Shibuya Side 3rd floor Characolle 東京都渋谷区桜丘町１−１　渋谷サクラステージSHIBUYA　SIDE 3Fキャラコレ店内 Open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Runs November 6-November 19 Website Source: Shibuya Keizai Shimbun, PR Times, Hidehiko Kado official website Top image: PR Times Insert images: Morimo Craft Online Shop, PR Times ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

One of Kitty-chan’s favorite foods is the inspiration for her birthday sundae. There’s nothing wrong with treating yourself to a little sweet reward when you’ve been working hard, and no one works harder than Hello Kitty, who’s been especially busy these past few weeks making new friends and learning sign language. That’s not the only reason the timing feels right for the Hello Kitty Loves Ice Cream campaign at Baskin-Robbins Japan, either, since November 1 was Kitty-chan’s birthday. As of November 1, Baskin-Robbins (or “Thirty-one,” as it’s more commonly called by fans in Japan) is serving up frozen Sanrio fun, so we made sure to hurry to our nearest branch to order a Hello Kitty Special Cup. This is a two-scoop ice cream cup (680 yen [US$4.55] for small scoops or 930 yen for regular-size) that comes in a special container covered in adorable Hello Kitty illustrations. ▼ Baskin-Robbins Japan has stuck with the pink-and-navy blue color scheme that the chain recently shifted away from in the U.S., and it’s also featured on the cup. We suspect some fans might wash the cup out after they’re done eating so that they can keep it as a memento of this sweet moment, but even if you don’t, you also get a Hello Kitty charm, in which she’s enjoying a cone of Baskin-Robbins’ Popping Shower, perennially one of the chain’s most popular flavors in Japan. While it comes attached to the spoon, the charm can easily be unclipped and transferred to a bag strap or key ring. Also included with the Hello Kitty Special Cup is an icing cookie, featuring one of three randomly selected icing renderings of Kitty-chan. Sweet and crunchy, it also helped prevent brain freeze by keeping our mouth from becoming overly chilled from the ice cream. This is just the tip of the iceberg for the collaboration, though. According to her official profile, one of Hello Kitty’s favorite foods is apple pie, which brings us to the Hello Kitty Apple Pie Sundae. This sundae in a cup gives you two small-size scoops of ice cream, an apple-shaped chocolate, and pie crust sticks. Swirled at the top is whipped cream drizzled with a sweet apple sauce with bit of apple in it, and dipping the pie sticks into the cream gives a flavor like eating a slice of apple pie. As with the Hello Kitty Special Cup, you can pick what flavors of ice cream you want for the 1,370-yen Hello Kitty Apple Pie Sundae. We opted for one of this month’s special limited-time flavors, which is also a nod to Hello Kitty’s tastes, Caramel Apple Pie, and this turned out to be an excellent choice for meshing deliciously with the rest of the sundae’s ingredients. The Hello Kitty Apple Pie Sundae comes with three toothpick-style Sanrio character decorations. You might be wondering why Hello Kitty appears twice, but as Sanrio scholars know, November 1 isn’t just Kitty-chan’s birthday, but also the birthday of her twin sister Mimi. Mimi generally leaves the limelight to her much more active sibling, but every now and then she’ll make an appearance too, as she does here along with Kitty’s teddy bear pal Tiny Chum. And while you don’t get the charm strap with the Hello Kitty Apple Pie Sundae, you do still get a very cute extra in the form of a reversible cloth cup sleeve. The Hello Kitty side features a bow in the colors of Baskin-Robbins’ Banana and Strawberry ice cream flavor, while Mimi’s has the hues of Caramel Ribbon. No matter which side you have facing outward, though, it’s warm and fuzzy in both the literal and emotional sense. Basking-Robbins actually has even more Hello Kitty-themed sweets and merch available right now, but it turns out that eating three frozen desserts in one sitting is beyond even our capacity (we know, we were shocked to discover this ourselves). But with the Hello Kitty Loves Ice Cream collaboration running until November 27, there’s still time to fit multiple visits into your dessert schedule. Bottom image: PR Times All other photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Mister Ditto. The new Mister Donut Pokémon donuts recently went on sale in Japan, with this year’s batch featuring the debut of the Fluffy Pikachu and Foongus donuts. It turns out, though, that Mister Donut secretly had another surprise in the oven all along, and it’s one that fittingly involves the easiest Pokémon to overlook. The shapeshifting Ditto will soon be transforming into the Ditto Donut Tree. This decadent offering is actually 10 treats in one. At the base of the “tree” is a white chocolate-covered old-fashioned donut filled with custard cream. Stacked on top of that are eight donut holes (or “Donut Pops,” as Mister Donut calls them) and, most importantly, a strawberry chocolate-coated Ditto-shaped donut. Finally, the whole thing is given a sprinkling of sugar as a finishing touch. Given how involved the production process is, Mister Donut understandably doesn’t want to just have a bunch of these sitting around in its display case. Instead, the Ditto Donut Tree, which is priced at 648 yen (US$4.30) is available only by pre-order made either with the Mister Donut smartphone app or through its online order website. Pre-orders will be open from November 12 to December 24, with selectable in-store pickup dates between November 26 and December 25, so you can use the Ditto Donut Tree as a Christmas tree too (note that the Ditto Donut Tree is a takeout-only item). However, while the pre-order window is scheduled to last for a month and a half, Mister Donut says that they’ll stop early if supplies run out, and also cautions that different branches will have differing quantities available per day. Given the huge fanbases of both Pokémon and Mister Donut, demand is sure to be high for the Ditto Donut Tree, so if you want to snag one you’ll probably want to put your order in as soon as possible. Related: Mister Donut mobile order page, app Source, images: PR Times ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Wrap yourself up in the warmth of an anime movie.  There’s something infinitely charming about Studio Ghibli’s animated movies, with hand-drawn scenes pulling you into the action… and the quiet moments shared between characters. One such moment occurs when Kiki from Kiki’s Delivery Service chats with Ursula, who offers sage advice that helps her regain her confidence as a blossoming witch. ▼ In that moment, Kiki can be seen bundled up in Ursula’s blanket. It’s a cosy moment perfect for recreating in the colder months, and Studio Ghibli is now giving us a way to do that, with the release of Ursula’s Half Blanket. Measuring 140 x 100 centimetres (55.1 x 39.4 inches), this 100-percent wool half blanket perfectly replicates the hue of the one worn by Kiki in the movie. ▼ And you can wear it over your shoulders just as she does, too. The reversible design is pink on one side while the reverse features some of Ursula’s favourite items, notably her straw hat, backpack, and artist’s brushes. ▼ Look closely and you’ll find an image of the stuffed animal that resembles Jiji, which Ursula mended. The compact size makes it perfect for use as a lap blanket or shoulder wrap, while parents can use it for children’s afternoon naps. Its soft texture will gently envelop you and keep you warm, with contrast stitching and a movie label adding an air of quality to the item. While the blanket is designed for comfort and warmth, it also looks good when casually thrown over a sofa or chair. The blanket is priced at 16,500 yen (US$107.75) and will be available to preorder on the Donguri Kyowakoku online store from 12:00 pm on 8 November, with delivery scheduled for early to mid-December. Reservations will close once the planned number of reservations is reached, and general sales at physical branches of the chain are scheduled to begin after pre-orders have been shipped. If the product is sold out during the pre-order period, though, there will be no general sales so you’ll need to act fast if you’d like to wrap yourself up in the warmth of a Ghibli movie. Source, images: Donguri Kyowakoku ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

The orthodox Osaka style of Japan’s beloved octopus balls is waiting at Jugemu. Takoyaki is impossible to find in Tokyo…??? That statement didn’t seem right to us. Sure, Japan’s beloved octopus dumplings may have originated in Osaka, and the city is still considered takoyaki holy ground and has the most enthusiastic fans, but takoyaki is popular across Japan. There’s even a major takoyaki chain, Tsukiji Gindako, that was founded in Tokyo’s Tsukiji neighborhood. But as our Osaka-born reporter Seiji Nakazawa will vehemently tell you, he doesn’t consider Gindako takoyaki to be real takoyaki. Sure, he admits they’re tasty enough, but to him, “Gindako” are their own kind of food, separate from takoyaki. ▼ For everyone else on our staff, this is a picture of Gindako’s takoyaki, but for Seiji, it’s a snapshot of Gindako’s Gindako. Seiji feels similarly about pretty much all the takoyaki he’s had since moving to Tokyo: They may not be bad, but they’re not takoyaki. So what’s his beef with how Tokyo does octopus balls? Their texture. Take another look at Gindako’s version in the photo above. See how the outside has been cooked enough to develop a sort of crisp crust? That’s the problem. Takoyaki isn’t supposed to be like that, Seiji says. Instead, the dumpling is supposed to be tender not just at the center, but all the way through. The outer texture should be no firmer than what it would feel like biting into a thin crepe. To Seiji’s palate, Tokyo’s takoyaki feel more like they’re fried than grilled. Again, he’s not saying that the contrast between the crisp outer layer and gooey center in Gindako takoyaki is bad. However, it feels too fancy, too calculated, too much like someone is trying to elevate the dumplings into a serious dish. The proper takoyaki ideology, Seiji says, is that takoyaki should be a completely unpretentious snack that you can scarf down as quickly as you want to, and the soft Osaka-style texture is what makes that possible. So imagine how high Seiji’s heart jumped while he was walking around the Ameya Yokocho section of Tokyo’s Ueno neighborhood and saw a stand boasting that it sold not only Osaka takoyaki, but Osaka Senshu takoyaki, referencing the part of Osaka Prefecture where Seiji grew up. Right away, the down-to-earth, no-frills seating area had Seiji feeling confident that this place, called Osaka Senshu Jugemu, had brought the old-school Osaka takoyaki philosophy with it to Tokyo. The menu is straightforward too. You choose how many takoyaki you want (starting at six for 480 yen [US$3.20]) and then your sauce/primary seasoning, with options consisting of the standard savory Worchester-like takoyaki sauce, a spicy variant, ginger, and salt and pepper. Seiji opted for a six pack with the standard sauce, plus some mayo, bonito flakes, and aonori (powdered seaweed). Once he had his order, he knew he was in for some, by his definition, real takoyaki. The texture was perfectly gooey, sometimes so much so that the dumpling would melt away before he could bring it up to his mouth and he’d eat the octopus and batter separately, the latter mixing with the sauce and mayo into a delicious mess. As happy as Seiji was to have finally found a place to get his preferred style of takoyaki in Tokyo, he was even more thrilled when he did some checking and found out that Jugemu also has two other branches in the city, one in the Nakano neighborhood and the other in Koenji. So whether you’re an Osaka-style takoyaki hardliner like he is, or you’re just interested in getting a taste of the dish’s roots without going all the way to Osaka, be sure to check them out. Restaurant information Osaka Senshu Takoyaki Jugemu (Ueno Okachimachi branch) / 大阪泉州たこ焼きじゅげむ（上野御徒町店） Address: Tookyo-to, Taito-ku, Ueno 6-9-1 東京都台東区上野6-9-1 Open 1 p.m.-10 p.m. Website Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!