School idols will create original songs, hold live performances. Extracurricular activities at schools in Japan can be broadly divided into two categories. Some of them are the same sort of sports teams or cultural clubs as you’d find in many other countries, like a soccer team or marching band. Other activities, though, are uniquely Japanese, and often tied to centuries-old traditions, like kendo or sado (tea ceremony). However, one high school is adding a new club that’s very Japanese but also rather modern: an idol club. Nichidai High School is a private school in Nagano City, and with the new school year scheduled to start in spring, the administration is finalizing what sorts of extracurricular activities its students can choose from. Brand-new for 2026 will be the idol club, whose members will form an official idol unit to represent the school. As with other clubs, the idol club will hold meetings, practice sessions, and activities after class and on weekends. In addition to having specialized dance and vocal lessons, the club will create and distribute original songs, perform concerts, and appear at live events and on local radio and TV broadcasts. While idol music is characterized by its upbeat sense of fun, the idol club itself is meant as a legitimate extracurricular activity where members can develop their skills as performers. The school hopes for it to become a point of pride on the level of its athletic teams, and similar to such systems for gifted athletes, special entrance-exam waivers may be granted to incoming idol club members with prior musical or dance performance experience. Even those without experience, though, are welcome to join the club. The idea for the idol club comes from 49-year-old principal Yoshihisa Soeya, and the logic isn’t simply that having an idol club would be neat. Though it’s the prefectural capital, Nagano City sits in the center of some very wide rural zones, and doesn’t have nearly the same level of performing arts opportunities that more urbanized cities can offer. The gap gets even bigger for the Higashi Wada neighborhood where Nichidai High School is located, as it’s not even in the Nagano City center. By establishing an idol club, Soeya wants to provide students who are passionate about dance and music with a way to pursue those interests without having to move away to the big/a bigger city, while also deepening connections within the community. Nichidai High School appears to be the first high school in Nagano to start a dedicated idol club, and may also be the first in the country to do so, and the news has quickly drawn comparisons from online commenters to the Love Live! anime franchise, in which the protagonists are members of their fictitious schools’ idol clubs. While some might scoff at the idea of idol music being given academic recognition, an argument can be made that it’s not really all that different from a school’s extracurricular activities including a jazz band or keiongaku/light music club, which focuses on pop/rock music. Those were also once seen more as “entertainment” than culture, but have now earned a level of respect and recognition where they’re seen as worthwhile as subjects of study and instruction. The same goes for jazz and hip-hop dance, so accepting idol music/dance as a viable genre for an extracurricular club might not really be so crazy. Nichidai High School plans to hold an idol club orientation and sample lesson this coming weekend, and will be officially opening the club to first-year female students in the spring. Source: Shinshu Mainichi Shimbun Digital via Yahoo! Japan News via Hachima Kiko Top image: Pakutaso ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Tourist-friendly Shibuya shopping center hosts senbei newcomer-friendly event, and it’s completely free! “All you can eat” is one of those deals that sounds great in theory, but usually also comes with a few catches that make the reality maybe not so appealing as it initially seems. All-you-can-eat offers are just about always priced higher than a regular, single portion of the food in question would be, so you’re going to have to eat a whole lot of it to get your money’s worth, and even if you’ve got the stomach capacity to do so, you might get tired of the taste of something if you’re eating it nonstop for a a full 60 minutes, the length of a lot of all-you-can-eat promotions. In other words, while unlimited sashimi or yakiniku are undeniably tempting, you’re going to already know you’re a serious fan of them before taking the plunge on those all-you-can-eat deals. It turns out, though, that there’s an all-you-can-eat event going on right now in Tokyo that’s super friendly to absolute newbies and their wallets, and it’s even in one of the most popular tourism neighborhoods in the city. Based in Niigata Prefecture, Iwatsuka Seika is one of the most popular makers of senbei, Japanese rice crackers, producing dozens of different types of flavors. Variety may be the spice of life, but that much of it can overwhelming if you’re a newcomer to the world of senbei, but Iwatsuka has opened a popup called Osenbei Taste Test Land inside the Shibuya branch of department store Parco in downtown Tokyo, the same building that houses the Nintendo Tokyo specialty shop and the Shibuya Pokémon Center superstore. At Osenbei Taste Test Land, you’re given 10 minutes to enjoy as much as you like of the 40 different types of senbei on offer, so getting bored with a single taste isn’t something you’ll need to worry about. What’s more, it’s completely free! ▼ The sign for Osenbei Taste Test Land with its nonchalant mention of “admission free” (入場無料) All-you-can-eat sessions are held every 20 minutes between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. We showed up just a little early, which gave us time to look at the displays chronicling the history of Iwatsuka, which was founded in 1947, and some of the snack subsidiaries it’s started since. But we were here to eat, not to read, and our hearts raced and stomachs growled as we were ushered into the room where the senbei were waiting for us. Participants are asked to take just one of each type at a time, then go back for seconds after they’ve eaten it. Obviously, we wanted to try them all, so we sampled one of each kind first, using the suppled tongs to pick up the senbei that don’t come individually wrapped.. With 40 different types to try, doing a complete sweep took us about eight and a half minutes. The across-the-board-quality was excellent, and we still had some time left over for repeats of our favorites. Though senbei are a one or two-bite-sized snack food, 10 minutes eating them is plenty of time to fill you up but not so much as to make you feel uncomfortably bloated. So while we weren’t hungry after our all-you-can-eat session was done, we knew we’d be craving senbei again soon. Thankfully, Osenbei Taste Test Land also sells the senbei that are part of its all-you-can-eat offer, and while there’s no obligation to buy anything, we picked up three packs to take home: the outstanding shrimp-flavored Zuika (476 yen [US$3.15]), the excellent edamame-flavored The Hitotsumami (232 yen), and Zarameaji, crisp and spinkled with granulated sugar for a lightly sweet flavor that we’re absolutely going to pair with a cup of nice green tea. ▼ Left to right: Zarameaji, The Hitotsumami, and Zuika Osenbei Taste Test Land will be ending its run in Shibuya Parco’s 8th-floor Hobo Michiyoubi event space soon, though. Its last day is scheduled for November 9, and while walk-ins are welcome on the 7th, reservations will be required on the 8th and 9th, and can be made online here and here, respectively. Related: Shibuya Parco Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Sloping elevator transports you to a magical world in the sky.  Elevators are known for moving vertically, but sometimes you can come across rare “inclined” varieties, known as “shakou elevators” in Japanese. However, in a nature-filled area in a quiet pocket of Yamanashi Prefecture, you’ll find an even rarer “chou kyodai na shakou” elevator, which translates as “super huge inclined elevator“. Why is there such a large contraption in the middle of nowhere in Japan? And where does it even connect to? In order to find the answers to these questions, we made the roughly one-hour journey on the Chuo Line from Shinjuku to Shiotsu Station in Uenohara City to find out. Stepping out at the station, we could immediately see the modern construction making a neat path up the nearby slope, giving it a slightly overgrown, dystopian look. ▼ From up close, the sight is quite breathtaking. The station building connects directly to the elevator, so as soon as you climb the stairs from the platform and cross the overhead walkway… …you’ll find yourself inside the so-called “Commore Bridge“, which houses a massive escalator, a massive set of stairs, and the special elevator. Marked by blue doors, the elevator looks like any other you might see around Japan. The diagonal arrows, however, suggest a different style of movement, and that sensation heightens when the doors open to reveal… ▼ …there are no floors, only metre markings, presented in a sloping display above the doors. The display lights up to show your upward progress, but chances are your eyes will be drawn towards the views out the window instead, which are mesmerising. The ride is surprisingly smooth, with almost no vibration, making it feel like you’re gliding up the mountain. At 200 metres (656 feet) in length, this is one of Japan’s biggest inclined elevators, with the ride to the top taking roughly four minutes. When you arrive at the top, the doors open to reveal something remarkable. Here, at a place of elevation around 100 metres higher than Shiotsu Station, is a residential area, split into four neighbourhoods. ▼ This map view shows how the location sits above the main areas of town, tucked away like a hidden city in a magical forest. The location is so unusual that it’s said to have been the inspiration for the opening scenes in Studio Ghibli’s animated feature film Spirited Away. The opening scenes depict a family of three — main character Chihiro and her parents — driving up a steep slope to an elevated residential community, on a road that mysteriously narrows and takes them into a densely forested area, where the magic begins. Stepping out to explore the real-world residential district that inspired the scenes in the animated film is a captivating experience. This town, built high in the sky, is dubbed the “sky township” or “Japan’s Machu Picchu”, and it really does feel worlds away from the busy streets below, with an air that smells crisp and clean. Walking the outer perimeter, which is around three kilometres (1.9 miles), takes about 30 minutes, and the site area is about 80 hectares (198 hectares), which is about 17 times the size of Tokyo Dome. ▼ The vibe is lovely and calm, and the views make you feel like you really are living in the sky. It’s amazing to think that the entire purpose of the super-long inclined elevator is to act as a linking passage that connects this mountaintop residential area, known as Commore Shiotsu, with the ground level. While exploring the unusual location, we found some interesting sites that we’d like to recommend. Firstly, right in front of the elevator boarding area is Commore Plaza, a shopping centre with a local supermarket and a 100-yen (US$0.65) shop. Unfortunately, photography wasn’t allowed inside, but it was quite lively when we visited. Here, we picked up a bottle of local Yamanashi sauce called “Bimisan“, which is said to be a household staple in the area. It cost 200 yen, which was surprisingly cheap. Next, in the northeastern part of town is Ayame Farm, a direct sales site where you can buy fresh local vegetables at cheap prices. Among our top finds here were Yamanashi’s Shine Muscat grapes, sold at the bargain price of 1,500 yen for two kilograms (4.4 pounds). The store caters to local shoppers and, judging by the number plates in the parking lot, visitors from other prefectures as well. If you visit in autumn, you might be able to stuff a bag with as many persimmons as you can for just 500 yen. ▼ We also came across a delicious-looking bakery nearby, but unfortunately it wasn’t open on the day we were there. On the west side of town is a stylish cafe called LiLy’s Taiwan Shop. We ordered a Taiwanese tofu pudding for 300 yen and daikon mochi for 350 yen. The fluffy texture of the mochi was addictive and the Taiwanese tofu pudding was insanely good, with a gentle sweetness that melted in the mouth. Everything was so tasty that we decided to order a Taiwanese sticky rice dumpling for 600 yen, which turned out to be equally delicious. The dumpling contained plenty of boiled peanuts and tender kakuni (braised pork), with a seasoning that was sweet, salty and incredibly moreish. It was a pleasure to stumble upon such a high quality cafe, and we found ourselves vowing to return one day as we made our way back to the elevator entrance. ▼ The downhill journey on the elevator was remarkably thrilling, like a theme park ride. After returning to ground level, we realised what a vital role the elevator plays in the local community. The super-long elevator may be enjoyable to ride but it’s more than just a fun attraction. As an indispensable means of transportation for local residents, the elevator acts as a bridge between the town in the sky and the world beneath it, which, if you think about it, is similar to the way the tunnel serves to connect the protagonist between the mundane and the fantastical in Spirited Away. Commore Shiotsu is a magical real-world anime setting that few people know about, and a hidden gem of a residential area where anything can happen. Site information Commore Bridge / コモアブリッジ Address: Yamanashi-ken, Uenohara-shi, Shiotsu 1912 山梨県上野原市四方津1912 Open: 5:15 a.m. – 1:15 a.m. Website Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Military is only there to provide logistic support and not take part in any hunting. With all the problems facing the world today, it’s easy to overlook the fact that parts of Japan are experiencing bear attacks at unprecedented levels. There have been nine deaths from bear attacks this year as of October, which already makes the total for 2025 an all-time high, and while attacks and sightings are difficult to quantify accurately, it is clear they are both on a sharp rise. Bear encounters are also getting bolder as the year goes on. Just this week, a bear slammed into the side of a moving patrol car in Fukushima Prefecture, though it’s unclear if that was an attack or just an accidental collision. Also, a young bear walked right into the Town Hall of Nishimeya in Aomori Prefecture during working hours, but luckily ran away without anyone getting injured. ▼ Security footage of the bear in the town hall. It’s becoming one of the top issues facing Japan, and whenever you read about a top issue facing Japan, know that politician Shinjiro Koizumi won’t be far behind. Having already largely cut the use of plastic bags at stores and tackled the skyrocketing price of rice, he now appears to be taking on the bear problem in his latest position as Minister of Defense. On 4 November, Koizumi announced that the Ground Self-Defense Force (SDF) would be called in to help support population control of the bears. This is in response to a request for help from Governor Kenta Suzuki of Akita Prefecture in northern Japan. According to Suzuki, the prefecture’s resources are stretched too thin to be able to deal with the bears effectively. ▼ News report showing Koizumi’s announcement and some of the traps to be used. The SDF do have experience with animal capturing after helping to contain deer populations in Hokkaido. However, the SDF will not use its weapons against the bears. Instead, they will assist local hunters with logistic support and by providing traps. According to the Ministry of Defense, SDF soldiers have no experience in bear hunting, but they are also legally restricted from directly engaging with the bears under the constitution of Japan. Readers of the news online largely supported the move of bringing in the military to help the underfunded and undermanned parts of Japan, but some felt the SDF was being handicapped too much in handling the situation. “At this point, it’s practically a natural disaster, so this makes sense.” “If all they can do is provide logistical support, why not just use the police?” “It seems like a waste for them to just help with logistics.” “Hey, look. It’s Shinjiro again.” “I hope this puts an end to the deaths.” “It’s frustrating they can only be used for support. I think we should amend the laws.” “Calling in the military just to do odd jobs?” “I’m glad they’re being used to help rural areas, but why can’t they carry firearms? Diplomacy doesn’t work on bears. I hope they have a way to protect themselves.” The SDF are prohibited from “use of force” by the constitution unless three conditions are met, the first being that a military force is attacking Japan or a close ally. Bears are not a military force, and thus the SDF can’t launch an assault on them. However, the soldiers would legally be able to carry firearms for the purpose of protecting themselves and the population, so that last commenter needn’t worry about that. Luckily, there is a bit of a legal precedent for this kind of situation, albeit a fictional one, in the form of Godzilla. Shortly after the release of Shin Godzilla, the government ran a hypothetical thought exercise in how the military could legally be used against wildlife (in this case, a kaiju) if it posed a significant enough threat. They concluded that it could be done by classifying the weapons as “tools” used to prevent disasters. This would also theoretically give the SDF the green light to go directly after the bears in the same way, but it would seem the Ministry of Defense feels the current situation doesn’t warrant the risk of doing such a thing. ▼ Most people would consider a tank a weapon, but it could be a tool when, say, using it to open a stubborn jar of pickles. Constitutional law can be kind of confusing, so let me try to sum it up in layman’s terms: The Self-Defense Forces have the right to bear arms even if the bears aren’t armed aside from their bare bear arms, because the Self-Defense Forces could use armed force in self-defense. Also, unarmed bears could bear the brunt of armed force if the arms the armed forces bear bear the label of “tools”, much like our own bare, unarmed arms do, but bearing in mind the SDF would bear the blame if something went wrong. So, in the end, this seems like a prudent first step in tackling this pressing issue. While minimizing injuries and deaths from bear attacks is the top priority, doing it in a way to preserve as much of the prefectures’ autonomy as possible while also minimizing bear deaths would be ideal. Source: 47 News, Hachima Kiko, TUF, ATV Top image: Pakutaso Insert image: Pakutaso ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Miyako Soba may not be what we’d expected for the oldest standing soba chain in country, but maybe it should have been. Our Japanese-language reporter Seiji Nakazawa is a serious soba noodle fan. In particular, he’s made it a goal in life to eat at as many different stand-and-eat soba restaurants as he can, keeping thorough records of his impressions of them. So imagine his surprise when he recently found out that, while growing up, he walked right past branches of the oldest standing soba chain in all of Japan. Miyako Soba was founded in 1962, earlier than any other chain in its class. It’s an Osaka-based chain, and while Seiji was growing up in the city he got so used to seeing branches here and there that he never suspected they had such historical significance. In Seiji’s defense, his lack of awareness is a testament to how great a job Miyako Soba has done becoming a part of the fabric of daily life in Osaka. But now that he did know about the chain’s place in history, Seiji felt that it was time for another visit on his next trip back to his hometown, and so he stopped by the chain’s Tsuruhashi branch. Miyako Soba hasn’t used its pedigree as leverage with which to charge ultra-premium prices. Bowls of basic soba or udon noodles still start at 400 yen (US$2.70), and the sign out front showed plenty of things you can get for less than 1,000 yen, Japan’s smallest denomination of bill. However, there was something that seemed strange to Seiji. One of the items on the sign was the Jo-tendon (上天丼), or “Deluxe Tempura Bowl,” but it sure didn’t look very “deluxe” to Seiji. With only a single shrimp and one kakiage (a disc of sliced vegetables and tiny shrimp), this might not be the most basic tempura bowl he could imagine, but it was pretty close. The sign did boast that the shrimp is “3L” size, but Seiji wasn’t exactly sure what that meant, since it’s not a term that people use in ordinary, everyday conversations in Japan. On the other hand, at just 550 yen, Miyako Soba’s Deluxe Tempura Bowl is lower priced than a lot of other restaurants’ standard tempura bowls, so Seiji decided to give it a shot and see if maybe the real deal would look more impressive than the photo. It did not. The lack of any sauce for the tempura also felt odd for a “deluxe” offering. For many tempura bowl fans, the rice at the bottom of the bowl that soaks up all the sauce drippings is a finale they look forward to after finishing off the pieces of tempura themselves, but that wouldn’t be happening here. However, we have to admit that while the name might seem like a mismatch, Miyako Soba’s photo is completely upfront about what its Deluxe Tempura Bowl is and isn’t. Moreover, just because it’s basic doesn’t mean it’s bad, as the tempura was nicely cooked and plenty tasty, especially considering its affordable price point. And it’s not like Miyako Soba doesn’t have other, more special-feeling items on its menu, like their curry soba (780 yen). Curry soba is something you can find at soba joints across Japan, but Miyako Soba’s take on it is a little different from the norm, since it adds strips of beef and egg to cook in the broth. This makes it especially hearty and fortifying, and the broth itself has plenty of character too. Soba curry is made by mixing curry roux into soba broth, which is itself a mix of soy sauce and dashi (bonito or kombu [kelp] stock). Miyako’s broth puts the balance a little more on the kombu dashi side to begin with, so there’s an appealing amount of complexity to its curry soba broth. Also worth remembering when visiting Miyako Soba is their Gyufuwattamadon (680 yen), or “Beef and Fluffy Egg Bowl.” In Japan, beef and egg bowls are often called itokodon, or “cousin bowls” (as opposed to chicken and egg bowls which are called oyakodon, “parent and child bowls”). Miayko Soba’s version of the dish is of the fluffy-egg philosophy, as opposed to some other restaurants that go with a runnier egg and soupier texture, and with some sliced green onion sprinkled across the top, it’s very satisfying, and also feels more “deluxe” than their Deluxe Tempura Bowl. Oh, and as a side note, while Miyako Soba started out as, and primarily still is, a standing soba restaurant, some branches do have stools too, which can come in handy if, for instance, there’s a mikoshi (portable shrine) procession going by, like there was while Seiji was eating. When talking about restaurants that have been in business for a long time, some people might imagine beacons for deep-pocketed gourmands, or maybe tourist traps that thrive by drawing in out-of-towners for a meal that’s fun to have once in a lifetime, but not something you’d want to make a regular part of your diet. Miyako Soba, though, is the exact opposite, a place that’s utterly devoid of glitz or glamor, but which has stayed in business by staying true to its original goal of offering good food at reasonable prices. It’s a plan that’s kept loyal locals coming back again and again, and so even if one of their “deluxe” items doesn’t quite feel worthy of the description, we’ll give the place a pass when it does basic food this well. Restaurant information Miyako Soba (Tsuruhashi branch) / 都そば（鶴橋店） Address: Osaka-fu, Osaka-shi, Higashinari-ku, Higashiobase 3-16-5 大阪府大阪市東成区東小橋３丁目１６−５ Open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Tokyo Dome Hotel fills rooms with all the My Melody and Kuromi adorableness they can hold. We’ve been checking out some of Tokyo’s coolest themed hotel rooms recently. Just the other day, we paid a visit to the Hotel Gracery in the Shinjuku neighborhood, which gives you an in-room kaiju fight between Godzilla and nemesis King Ghidorah, and back in the summer we checked out the Gundam mecha room at the Tokyo Bay Ariake Washington Hotel. Today, though, we’re taking a break from monster rampages and robot wars with a pair of hotel rooms with much more relaxed, and infinitely cuter, themes: Sanrio characters My Melody and Kuromi. 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of My Melody’s debut, and the 20th of Kuromi’s. As part of the celebration, the Tokyo Dome Hotel has created one themed room for each of them, and you’ll know you’re in the right place when you see the special room marker. Once we were standing there, we weren’t about to waste any time before opening up the door… …and stepping inside to be instantly surrounded by all sorts of adorable pink interior accents. Everywhere we looked we could see My Melody smiling back at us, from the window… …to the walls… …to the closets… …and even the bathroom. My Melody wasn’t the only one welcoming us, either, as she’s joined by her friends My Sweet Piano the sheep, Flat the mouse, and Risu the squirrel. The decorations are sure to make any Sanrio fan squeal with glee, but the most impressive is the artwork on the wall that’s not just decals or wallpapering, but actual wooden carvings of the characters and their fancy fairytale-style carriage. The illustration next to the tub is pretty clever too. The room was obviously designed with big-time My Melody fans in mind, the sort of travelers who aren’t going to suddenly become indifferent to the character when it’s time to go back home. Thankfully, waiting on the chairs in the room are My Melody plushies, which guests can take with them when they check out. Those aren’t the only souvenirs that come with the room either. The terrycloth bath headband that My Melody is wearing? You get one too, as well as a My Melody pouch. Ah, but we said there’s also a Kuromi room, right? So while we were at the hotel, we had to take a peek at it too. The dominant color might have switched from pink to pastel purple, but Kuromi’s room is no less charming, and her sidekick/minion Baku the tapir also makes an appearance. Reservations for the Sanrio rooms must be made through the Tokyo Dome Hotel website here. Prices vary by date, but start at 55,000 yen (US$365) for two people, which also includes breakfast. As for which room is better to stay in, that’s a matter of personal preference, but some serious Sanrio fans have booked two nights in a row at the hotel, staying in the My Melody room one night and the Kuromi one the other, which also means getting twice the plushies and other goodies. Related: Tokyo Dome Hotel Photos ©SoraNews24 Sanrio characters © 2025 SANRIO CO., LTD. APPROVAL NO. L660731 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

A beautiful blend of modern and traditional Japan.  Studio Ghibli loves to showcase Japanese culture in its movies… and its merchandise. Here to prove that fact is a new duo of lacquered trays that look like they belong in a traditional geisha teahouse, but look closely and you’ll find some beloved characters incorporated in the designs. ▼ The first tray features the three Totoros from the 1988 classic, My Neighbour Totoro. All three characters look as surprised as we are at their traditional surroundings and the accompanying blossoms. With the grey “Large Totoro” standing amongst blooms of wisteria and plum, we can see this is a seasonal display, with plum being a harbinger of spring and wisteria being associated with summer. The Medium and Small Totoro are pictured alongside maple leaves and camellia blossoms, motifs strongly associated with autumn and winter. ▼ The second tray in the lineup features No Face, from the 2001 film Spirited Away. This design features motifs from the movie that conjure up images of the magical bathhouse where a lot of the action takes place. Surrounding No Face are the Soot Sprites, carrying their beloved colourful star-shaped komeito candies, just as they do in the film. Both trays measure 27 × 19.8 × 2 centimetres (10.63 × 7.80 × 0.79 inches), making them perfect for serving tea and light snacks, or simply for holding precious items and small accessories. Made from melanin, the trays are light, easy to use and scratch-resistant, so you won’t have to worry about damaging the character designs. The only problem is choosing which one to purchase, but at 3,080 yen (US$20.04) each you could purchase both without breaking the bank. If you do have funds to spare, though, your foray into the world of lacquered Ghibli items is just beginning as Donguri Kyowakoku has a wider range of matching  goods in its merchandise collection. ▼ The new Totoro tray is a beautiful addition to the existing range of Totoro lacquerware. ▼ The new No Face tray adds an extra dash of red to the Spirited Away collection. The new trays can be purchased at Donguri Kyowakoku stores online (Totoro here and No Face here), and the wider range of lacquerware including the recently restocked Totoro bento box, can be found here. Source: Donguri Kyowakoku Top image: Donguri Kyowakoku Insert images: Donguri Kyowakoku (1, 2) ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

There’s even a place to sit while you eat that resembles the Spanish Steps in the famous film scene. Even if you’ve never seen the 1953 classic film Roman Holiday starring Audrey Hepburn, you may be familiar with the scene of Audrey’s character Princess Ann eating gelato on Rome’s Spanish Steps. ▼ The Spanish Steps in Italy, where it’s actually prohibited to eat gelato today While that scene was filmed almost 75 years ago, you can still eat the same gelato that was featured in the movie…all while being half a world apart! Italian cafe and pastry shop Giolitti was founded way back in 1890. It currently operates three locations in Japan, thanks in part to cooperation from the Italian Embassy in Japan. The branch in Tokyo’s trendy Harajuku neighborhood is located inside of the Tokyu Plaza Harakado “Harajuku Corner” shopping complex that opened last year. ▼ Harakado Specifically, you can find it in the food court area on the sixth floor. Here’s a peek at the menu. It has the standard gelato flavors, plus some slightly more expensive premium ones. You can also mix and match different flavors–including regular with premium–and the price will change accordingly. When we visited, we opted for one scoop each of blackberry, coconut, and gianduja (chocolate with hazelnut paste), the premium flavor exclusive to the Harakado location. It came to 1,038 yen (US$6.73). There’s a spacious dining area on the same floor, but there’s an even more fitting place for eating Giolitti’s gelato. Standing with your back to the store, find the door on the far right and go outside into the terrace area. Almost magically, you’ll see the Harajuku version of Rome’s Spanish Steps right before your eyes! This spot was perfect for replicating the feeling of Princess Ann eating gelato on the Steps. Despite being October, it was a hot day and the gelato was melting very quickly. It tasted absolutely delicious, though. In particular, the premium gianduja flavor was super rich. It was almost as if high-grade chocolate had been directly transformed into gelato. The other flavors also had a delightful depth without a heavy aftertaste. We never thought that we’d recreate a gelato-eating scene from a beloved movie with the same exact gelato over half a century later. Then again, perhaps it’s more believable than some of the other things that we’ve tried to recreate recently. Store information Giolitti Tokyu Plaza Harajuku Harakado / ジョリッティ 東急プラザ原宿ハラカド Address: Tokyo-to, Shibuya-ku, Jingu-mae 6-31-21, 6th floor 東京都渋谷区神宮前 6-31-21 6F Open: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. (last order at 10 p.m.) Website All images © SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Tomica dreams of sushi now too. Since 1970, Japanese toymaker Takara Tomy’s Tomica line of diecast cars has been bringing compact but detailed replicas of the world’s coolest cars into fans’ homes. But recently, Tomica’s designers have started dreaming of things beyond the real-life automotive world with their Dream Tomica project. We’ve seen those dreams materialize in the form of Tomica cars inspired by the films of Studio Ghibli and the Dragon Ball franchise, and now comes something else just as representative of Japan as those beloved anime with the reveal of Sushi Tomica. Six cars are in the lineup, each an automotive reimagining of a piece of nigiri-style sushi. The car’s body is imagined as a block of pressed rice, but still has ricey representations of head and taillights, plus a rear license plate panel, if you look closely. Each sushi car has a different “neta,” as sushi toppings are called in Japanese. There’s sushi mainstay maguro (tuna)… …its upscale variant otoro (extra-fatty tuna)… …tamago (egg) and ebi (shrimp), friends to sushi neophytes… …and ika (squid) and anago (conger eel), for those with more adventurous palates. Adding to the sense of immersion, the Sushi Tomica cars are sized the same as an actual sushi piece… …and the display stands they’re bundled with are inspired by the plates used at sushi restaurants too. The lineup goes on sale in late December, priced at 1,100 yen (US$7.35) each. However, in an omakase-order parallel, you don’t get to directly choose what kind of sushi you want, as individual purchases will be done in a blind buy/gacha format. Completionists, though, can opt for a complete box set that guarantees one of each Sushi Tomica car for 6,600 yen, and which can be preordered through the Takara Tomy Mall online store here. Source: Takara Tomy via Japaaan Top image: Takara Tomy Insert images: Takara Tomy (1, 2) ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Plus, we share more lore on the Kita Kanto Brothers’ origin story. Our Japanese-language reporters Masanuki Sunakoma and Takamichi Furusawa both live in the northern part of the Kanto region of Japan. While not related by blood, they’ve decided to use this commonality to dub themselves the Kita Kanto Brothers (kita means “north”) to showcase the many charms of the off-the-beaten-path areas of the region while using their singular warping powers that bend time and space. As you may recall in the last installment, the Brothers meant to visit Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture but ended up in Ota, Gunma Prefecture, by a fluke instead. However, when they were finally ready to move on to their intended destination, Masanuki was the only one who warped correctly to the front of Ashikaga Station. We left him in a bit of a bind, not knowing where his brother had been stranded in the vacuum of space and time…or if he were even still alive. ▼ [Cue dramatic music] “TAAAKAAAMIIICHIII!!!” This scenario had never yet occurred in the Kita Kanto Brothers’ warping journeys, so Masanuki was beside himself with worry. Clutching Takamichi’s treasured Kita Kanto notebook, he began to do the only sane thing he could think of in such a situation–to run around like crazy while screeching for his lost companion. His desperate running took him to the edge of the Watarase River, where dormant memories began to be revived in the glow of the setting sun. He stopped next to the Watarase Bridge Monument, dedicated to Japanese singer-songwriter Chisato Moritaka’s 1993 song of the same name. ▼ The monument even has a speaker that starts playing the song when you press a button. FLASHBCK to many years ago… ▼ “You loved watching the sunset from Watarase Bridge. ‘You grew up in such a beautiful place. I want to live here,’ you said.” Takamichi: “The song ‘Watarase Bridge’ is really nice, isn’t it?” Masanuki: “I know what you mean.” Takamichi: “The sunset in Ashikaga is also amazing.” Masanuki: “I know what you mean.” Takamichi: “I’ve been wanting to give back to the Kita Kanto area where I was born and raised someday.” Masanuki: “I know what you mean.” It was approximately two seconds after that exchange that the notion for the Kita Kanto Brothers was born. They sat there on the river bank, tears streaming down their faces, while singing “Watarase Bridge.” Yet, back in the present, Fate was playing cruel tricks by stranding Takamichi somewhere while he was finally achieving his dream. Masanuki was trying to think logically at this point. Perhaps it was that Takamichi, who lives in Gunma, had been unable to cross the invisible “Gunma Wall” in his jump from Ota to Ashikaga. Either way, Masanuki felt like he was now responsible for carrying the destiny of the Kita Kanto Brothers moving forward. He would never let Takamichi’s sacrifice go unforgotten. MEANWHILE, in another part of town… ▼ Warp …he lives!! ▼ Takamichi: “Huh? Where is this place?!” ▼ Glancing around ▼ “Wait a minute…” ▼ “This is Kameyama OB-GYN in Ashikaga–where I was born!” It turns out that this clinic was the anchor that had saved him from being sucked in to the Gunma Wall for all of eternity. It was almost poetic in how much it all felt like being reborn again. Clearly, Fate still had some kind of purpose for him. With this newfound determination, Takamichi turned on his heel and started sprinting towards Bannaji Temple, located within the National Historic Site of the Ashikaga Clan Residence. It’s nicknamed Dainichisama after the Dainichi Nyorai Buddha that it enshrines. It was almost as if the main temple gate was pulling him inside the grounds. At the same time, Masanuki also found himself being pulled by some mysterious force towards the east gate of Bannaji Temple. He couldn’t explain it, but a sixth sense told him that he might be able to see Takamichi again if he went there. As the setting sun cast long shadows on the cobblestones, Masanuki stepped foot into the silent temple grounds. He spotted a shadowy figure drawing closer from the main gate area, almost as if it were emerging from beyond another dimension. Compelled by the mysterious force, he called out. Masanuki: “Excuse me! Haven’t we…have I…met you somewhere?” Shadowy figure: “I thought so, too!” The world stilled for a moment as both of their voices overlapped, transcending time and space. Both: “Could I ask you…your name?” This cosmic moment that somehow felt familiar in a strange, anime-like way was punctuated in both of their minds by a cut scene set to the song “Sparkle” by Radwimps, one of the featured songs of the 2016 film Your Name. ▼ “It seems like this world still wants to tame me…I’ll do as it wishes and will struggle beautifully…” They also made a pact to wish to be reborn in their next lives as cool Tokyo guys. However, for now, they’re still…Kita Kanto Brothers!! With the miraculous reunion now complete, it was time for the Brothers to get back to their reason for existing: to showcase sightseeing-worthy spots in Kita Kanto. Posing in front of this statue of Ashikaga Takauji, the founder and first shogun of the Ashikaga/Muromachi Shogunate, seemed like a brilliant way to kick off their mission. Unfortunately, the nearby reconstruction of Ashikaga Gakko, the oldest school in Japan, had already closed for the day. While the school’s origins are a bit murky, the Jesuit missionary to Japan Francis Xavier (1506-1552) had once called it “the greatest and most famous university in Japan.” With their historical tour now complete, it was time to dine like the locals at a favorite spot: yakitori specialty restaurant Torikatsu. The atmosphere felt so nostalgic when the Brothers stepped inside that they almost wanted to call out “We’re home.” They decided to kick things off with an appetizer of oden, which seemed like it would be an especially comforting dish for visitors who had traveled through time and space. ▼ Cheers to the reunited siblings! All of the skewers they ordered were also delicious. From the umami-packed first bite to crispy chicken gristle, everything paired well with a glass of refreshing draft beer. Neither of the Brothers had any complaints. One standout dish was the deep-fried squid rings on top of onion salad. The crispy batter and crunchy vegetables were a match made in heaven. They left the restaurant satisfied and went to seek out a post-dinner digestive. They soon found an unusual outdoor coffee stand that seemed to beckon them over. Named Cafe Aragin, it had opened in 1971 and gave off wonderful retro vibes in the night atmosphere. The menu was exceedingly simple, with only one option: hot coffee for 500 yen (US$3.25). Their drinks were carefully prepared using a cloth filter. The coffee itself had a depth of flavor with a clean aftertaste. Sipping their cups silently, they took a moment to simply exist in the gentle breeze and the glow of lanterns. It was the perfect closing note for the evening. And so, the Kita Kanto Brothers’ time in Ashikaga came to a happy conclusion. Thanks to Takamichi’s harrowing ordeal, however, this trip had felt like it had taken longer than usual. They prepared to warp, crossing their fingers and toes that this jump would go smoothly for both of them. Will the jump go as planned, or will the Kita Kanto Brothers face an even greater danger next time? We can’t spill the beans quite yet, but in the meantime, perhaps you’d like to read more about the special shumai sold on the grounds of Bannaji Temple. All images © SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!