Taste-testing the Joyful Medley Tea Frappuccino and its companion latte. With last Friday being October 31, the time came to say goodbye to Starbucks Japan’s Halloween black cat Frappuccino. But the coffeehouse chain wasted no time bringing out a new seasonal dessert drink, as the Strawberry and Joyful Medley Tea Frappuccino went on sale the very next day, November 1. Joyful Medley is Starbucks’ special winter tea, a mixture of black, oolong, and jasmine teas flavored with apricot and, in this year’s version, mirabelle plum. Though we’re still in late autumn, the Christmas mood starts getting stirred up early in Japan, and so this is technically the kickoff for Starbucks Japan’s holiday season Frappuccinos, with the new drink’s red-and-white color scheme evoking thoughts of Christmas decorations. The blended ice base is a mixture of Joyful Medley and milk, and sitting at the bottom of the cup are large strawberry slices. Up top you get a swirl of whipped cream dusted with freeze-dried strawberries, and for an extra 55 yen (US$0.35) on top of the 700-yen base price you also get a cute holiday-themed cookie, either a ribbon, snowman, teddy bear, or doll. Obviously we splurged for the cookie, and the randomly granted design we got was the ribbon, making this drink feel even more like a present we were buying for ourselves. Taste-testing duties fell to our resident Frappuccino expert K. Masami, who quickly learned that all that fruit at the base of the glass provides a foundation of sweet and tart juicy flavor. The flavors of the Joyful Medley are all still given room to shine too, from the sophisticated mix of the three varieties of tea to their two fruit enhancements. Masami wondered if mixing everything together with a spoon might upset the flavor balance, but it did nothing of the sort. Whether sipped as-is or after stirring, all of the components really do come together in a “joyful medley” in which they all work wonderfully with one another, leading to a clean finish of tea notes. When Starbucks releases a new Frappuccino, they often bring out a new latte with similar flavors. That’s happened once again here, as on the same day as the Strawberry and Joyful Medley Tea Frappuccino went on sale they also began offering the Strawberry Mousse and Joyful Medley Tea Latte. This 580-yen latte can be ordered either hot or cold, and with a chill in the air finally appearing in Japan, Masami opted for a hot. Like with the Frappuccino, the drink’s base is a mix of Joyful Medley tea and milk, but the latte allows you to make milk substitutions if you’d like, so Masami asked for hers with soy milk (which is a free substitution). The extra-special ingredient here is the strawberry mousse topping, which is enhanced with a sprinkling of freeze-dried strawberries. The balance is tipped a little more towards sweetness here, but that’s not a complaint, as the gentle tart sensation comes across as an especially cozy and comforting accent, especially when it’s part of a warm, creamy package. Masami thinks the new Frappuccino and Latte are tasty enough to be deserving of permanent-menu status, but also realizes that, given their connection to the seasonal Joyful Medley Tea, that’s not going to happen. But while Christmas comes but once a year, thankfully she’ll have time to go back for seconds on these before their limited-but-unspecified availability ends. Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Six balls and they’re out. There’s certainly been a lot going on to keep Japanese baseball fans on their toes, with the Nippon Professional Baseball’s Japan Series going on and the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki appearing in the MLB’s World Series. So, there’s perhaps no better time to bring the takoyaki served at Dodger Stadium by Japanese chain Gindaco back to Japan. They’ve been here before, but only for painfully limited times, making it really hard to get one’s hands on them. First, they were sold at Gindaco locations in Japan, and then at 7-Eleven stores in a microwaveable version. But even the pre-cooked ones sold out fast, leaving our reporter Takashi Harada without his official Dodger’s octopus balls. But with baseball fever in full effect, it looks like they’re making another fleeting appearance at 7-Elevens, where you can pounce on a pack for 646 yen (US$4.20) and finally try them out. They’re called “Umami Takoyaki” because they have the rich umami taste of various kinds of seafood, which sets them apart from other takoyaki. Despite these battered balls’ core ingredient being octopus, they tend not to have much of a seafood flavor to them, so Takashi was intrigued. He opened the package and found a tray of the takoyaki balls, some sauce, seasoned squid tempura flakes, and green onions. All he had to do was heat the balls up in a microwave and then throw all the toppings on. It only took about five minutes in total. During the initial microwaving, Takashi thought he smelled something burning, but after he put on all the toppings, it had a pleasant seafood scent. Taking his first bite, he experienced the same taste of seafood waft in his mouth, but at the same time, he was taken aback by the texture. Gindaco takoyaki tends to have contrasting textures, with a gooey center and an outer surface that’s gently crisped, but these were very soft all over. He could barely even pick one up with a toothpick, which they are usually eaten with. The medley of seafood flavors, like squid, flying fish, and bonito, really brought the flavor to another level and showed Takashi that seafood and takoyaki really do go well together. There was also a touch of chili pepper that was a nice accent and made our writer’s tongue tingle just a bit. The flavors seemed to gently sway like the tides of the ocean, and he felt it would go really well with beer, which makes sense for ballpark food. The balls were also nicely-sized, with plentiful green onion and generous cuts of octopus inside. The pack of six turned out to be very satisfying overall. Takashi would put it among the best packs of pre-cooked takoyaki he ever had, and felt that this take on takoyaki could easily be a big hit in Japan as well as Dodger Stadium. If you want to try some too, you’d better act fast, because they tend not to stay in stores for too long. Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Director, writer, and visual effects director of Academy Award-winning Godzilla Minus One returns for next step in Toho kaiju franchise. The Godzilla movie franchise seems to have figured out an effective split between its two branches. On the one hand, the Hollywood-produced entries from Legendary Entertainment are unabashed bombastic action spectacles which have now fused with the King Kong series. Meanwhile, Toho’s Japanese-made Godzilla movies depict Godzilla as a terrifying force of destruction that presents humanity with painful decisions to make in order to survive. Both have their not-necessarily mutually exclusive fans, but many cinephiles will argue that the Japanese entries are the more emotionally resonant, and also closer in spirit to the original 1954 Godzilla film that started the series. So for those who like their kaiju stories to be not only heart-pounding but thought-provoking too, there’s good news as the newest Japanese Godzilla movie has just been announced, and it looks to be a continuation of its critically acclaimed predecessor. The teaser video doesn’t provide many details, but what it does give us is plenty to be excited about. Takashi Yamazaki, director, screenwriter, and visual effects director for 2023’s Godzilla Minus One, will be returning to those roles for the new movie. Then there’s the title, which the teaser video reveals by first showing the Godzilla Minus One logo… …and then, accompanied by the sounds of some thundering kaiju footsteps, updates it to… …Godzilla Minus Zero. Between the next-step title and identical font, it seems clear that Godzilla Minus Zero is being positioned as a sequel to Godzilla Minus One. This is a big deal, since despite there being dozens of films in the franchise, it’s been a long time since there was a direct sequel for a live-action Japanese-made Godzilla movie. 2016’s Shin Godzilla was a stand-alone reboot, so for the last link of narrative continuity in the Japanese live-action movies you have to go all the way back to Godzilla: Final Wars in 2004, a follow-up to Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. from the year prior. Godzilla Minus Zero will also be the first time for the same director to helm back-to-back live-action Japanese Godzilla movies since Takao Okawara directed Godzilla vs. Destoroyah and Godzilla 2000: Millennium in 1995 and 1999. The title of Godzilla Minus One was meant as a reference to its setting, with the story taking place soon after the end of World War II and Japan, already feeling like it had been reduced to nothing/zero, now had to face the devastation of attacks from Godzilla. Godzilla Minus Zero is a title that makes it clear that things still aren’t going to be in the plus category, so it’s probably going to have a similarly gritty tone. No release date is mentioned in the trailer, but the gap between Godzilla Minus One’s announcement and theatrical release was short (only about three months). Toho and Legendary have also, so far, avoided releasing Godzilla films in the same year as each other, and with Legendary’s upcoming Godzilla Minus One slated for 2027, a 2026 release for Godzilla Minus Zero seems like the most likely bet, and would also coincide with the King of the Monster’s takeover of Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. Source: YouTube/東宝MOVIEチャンネル、Godzilla Channel ゴジラ（東宝特撮）チャンネル, Godzilla Minus Zero official website Top image: Godzilla Minus Zero official website Insert images: YouTube/東宝MOVIEチャンネル、Godzilla Channel ゴジラ（東宝特撮）チャンネル ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Starbucks gets a jump on Japan’s fukubukuro New Year’s tradition. With Halloween over, many companies in Japan are now getting ready to kick off their Christmas promotions. Always-prepared Starbucks Japan, though, is thinking even one step farther ahead, as they’re already in the lucky bag mood. Lucky bags, or fukubukuro, as they’re called in Japanese, are a New Year’s tradition in Japan, in which stores and brands sell mystery grab bags of their popular items at discounted prices on the first few days of the new year in January. But because Starbucks Japan’s lucky bags are in such high demand, they’re offered as pre-orders, which are set to open at 10 a.m. on November 4. As is the norm, Starbucks isn’t revealing everything that’ll be in the bag, but they are already showing off the bag itself. While most fukubukuro are just simple disposable paper bags, the 2026 Starbucks Japan lucky bag is a stylish cloth tote bag that deftly straddles the line between casual coziness and relaxed stylishness, essentially the same atmosphere Starbucks creates for its coffeehouses. Inside the bag is a lucky bag limited-edition stainless steel drink bottle and a 250-gram (8.8-ounce) pack of Pike Place Roast ground coffee. You also get an assortment of gift certificates to be used in Starbucks branches, one for a pack of Starbucks coffee beans up to 2,000 yen (US$13.30) in value, seven drink gift certificates, and six “food trial” certificates, presumably for sample-sized food items. Each lucky bag also contains three other pieces of Starbucks merch, randomly selected from lucky bag-limited and previously sold items, but the exact mix seems to vary from bag to bag, as Starbucks says that 1,000 lucky bags will include its new gray rhinestone stainless steel tumbler. As for the design of the drink bottle, that’s still under wraps, though judging from Starbucks’ impressive track record in producing snazzy drinkware, it’s hard to imagine it being anything less than charming-looking. The 2026 Starbucks lucky bag is priced at 8,800 yen, and not only do you not need to go to a physical Starbucks location to buy the lucky bag, you won’t need to pick it up in-person either, as home delivery in the first week of January is included in the price. Rather than a first-virtually-come first-served basis, the bundle is being offered through a lottery system, with purchase privileges being awarded randomly to applicants who put in their entry between November 4 and 14, with full entry details available here. Source, images: Starbucks Japan ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

No Face, Haku, and a few other cast creatures from the Studio Ghibli classic are always welcome at tea time, right? For a lot of anime enthusiasts, their shopping habits evolve over time. In the beginning, before becoming fans of the medium, they obviously aren’t buying anything, but then they discover a series or character that captivates them, and before they realize it. they’ve amassed a treasure trove of figures, posters, plushies, and more. As fun as it can be to fill your dorm room or first studio apartment with anime merch, though, a lot of fans eventually find they have to slow down. Maybe you start living with someone who’s preferred interior decorating style looks a little less like an anime convention dealer’s room. Maybe you just run out of shelf space. Whatever the reason, it becomes harder to rationalize purchasing big, impractical pieces of anime memorabilia. And when that happens, the proper thing to do is to start looking for small, functional pieces of anime memorabilia. Fitting that bill quite nicely is this cloth coaster set from Studio Ghibli specialty store Donguri Kyowakoku, featuring members of the creature cast of Spirited Away. As 10-centimeter (3.9-inch) Gobelin-stitch squares, they’re a charming mix of cute and classy that serve a necessary purpose, protecting your furniture from scrapes and water damage, and are lightweight and compact enough that it’s hard to imagine them taking up too much space in anyone’s home, no matter how cozy its dimensions. You can’t have a tea time session for the spirits of Spirited Away and not put No Face on the guest list, so naturally he’s here, with a couple of bathhouse entry tokens. Haku, in his dragon form, is also ready to provide serene company as you sip your tea or coffee. Bathhouse of the gods regular customer Otori-sama looks to have just gotten out of the tub after a nice long soak, judging from the steam coming off him and the bath/hot spring mark in the upper right corner of his coaster. And finally, the transformed Boh and Yu-Bird are ready to once again relax with a cozy beverage, just like they did when they visited Zeniba during the anime film. At 2,200 yen (US$14.70), the four-coaster set is admittedly more expensive than a pack of plain plastic ones from the 100 yen store, but they look to be quality needlework pieces, and by anime merch standards, 2,200 yen is a pretty modest outlay. The bundle has just been restocked and can be ordered through the Donguri Kyowakoku online store here, and if you’re thinking “Yeah, those will come in handy when I’m thirsty, but what about when I’m hungry?”, Totoro has got you covered. Source, images: Donguri Kyowakoku ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Something a little more action-packed than the typical kimono stroll photo shoot. Kyoto’s connection to Japan’s history and traditional culture is the main thing that draws travelers to the city, and so there are a number of photo studios and services that can arrange for you to have your picture taken while wearing classical attire. Shogun Studio Japan is one of them, but what sets it apart from others is that they’ll not only photograph you as you pose in serene surroundings, but also as you fight a samurai battle in full armor. Starting with the more orthodox part of the package, the Samurai Battle Movie Experience begins with a choice of armor and fitting at the company’s studio, after which you’ll head to your choice of one of three locations in Kyoto’s historical Arashiyama district, either the Togetsukyo Bridge, the iconic bamboo forest paths, or a traditional teahouse. ▼ The teahouse might not be as famous as the other two options, but it does include matcha for you to sip during the photo shoot. For the second half of the package, though, you’ll head up into the mountains, and to battle. Following safety explanations, you’ll be given access to an arsenal of swords, spears, and bows with which to stage a dramatic samurai cinema-style fight scene in a secluded venue. To add to the immersion, Shogun Studio Japan’s staff can play the roles of your fated opponents, falling against your onslaught. Alternatively, they can take up arms as your faithful companions, and if you’ve already got a crew of friends with which to make you own samurai clan, that’s doable too, as the package can accommodate groups of up to six participants. In addition to still photos, you’ll also get a slickly edited short movie, two to three minutes in length, of the battle that includes drone footage of you in action. The whole experience lasts around two hours, split roughly equally between Arashiyama and the mountain battlefield. Reservations can be made through the Shogun Studio Japan website here. Source, images: PR Times ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Sleep capsule pods on the night bus are an overlooked option for travelling in Japan.  Many people, both within Japan and from overseas, have been known to make the journey from Tokyo to Osaka by plane or train, but there is another way to travel — by bus. Before you pooh-pooh the notion of travelling roughly nine hours by bus as opposed to 2.5 hours on the bullet train, it can present a sizeable saving for your back pocket, with variable prices from around the 7,000-yen (US$45.98) mark, and there are ways to do it that can make the long journey bearable, and some might say, even enjoyable. Our own reporter Marie Morimoto has firsthand experience with the wonders of bus travel, having relied on it quite frequently when travelling back to her hometown of Osaka from Tokyo during her younger years. As she got older, though, and didn’t have to pinch pennies as much, she began to travel by train instead, and there was a time she thought she’d never go back to bus travel…until she went to cover a story in Kyoto recently and decided to try an overnight bus as part of the experience. As she found out, the world of overnight buses has changed quite dramatically over the years, and she learnt a few things during the journey that’ll help you keep your sanity if you choose to go this route. Her first tip is to choose a good bus company, and her top recommendation is Willer Express, which gets great reviews for convenience, comfort and affordability. Then you’ll need to choose the right type of bus, and Marie says the “Dome” vehicle is a great option, as each seat is fitted with a domed hood for privacy. Marie’s trip was on the three-seat-per-row “Dome“, which has a row of single seats on one side of the bus and a row of two seats on the other. The interior is super clean and brightly lit, making it feel warm and inviting. Another perk of this design is the fact that the seats are contained within their own capsules, so you can recline inside the pod without any fear of disturbing the person behind you. Usually, passengers who fully recline on the bus tend to make the space feel cramped, so it’s always been the biggest source of stress for Marie. This pod-like setup was like a dream come true for her, and it also works to provide a greater sense of privacy, with comforts like a drink holder, power outlet, and smartphone holder inside the hood making it feel like a private cinema room. Compared to seats she’s used in the past, the “Dome” setup is much more comfortable, with a headrest, a small pillow, and both a footrest and leg rest for her to relax on. ▼ However, there was one drawback as the seat didn’t recline as far as expected. One other thing you should be aware of is that the vibration of the bus can make you shift about a bit, and you may find yourself, like Marie, sliding off the seat on occasion. This could’ve been due to her 153-centimetre (five-foot) stature, and the fact that she was wearing a dress made from smooth fabric, so it’s best to wear some less-slippy clothes during the ride. There are appropriate rest breaks throughout, but essentially, announcements are only made at the beginning of the trip. During the late-night hours, the bus will stop at service areas without announcements to respect sleeping passengers. It’s a nice, considerate gesture, but Marie found that the movement of the vehicle and the vibration and noise were quite significant, so she woke up every time the driver changed or when they stopped at service areas. By her estimate, she probably slept a total of about three to four hours by the time she arrived in Kyoto at the end of her nine-hour journey, and it was a very broken sleep. If you’re a light sleeper, that might concern you but if you’re a heavy sleeper, it shouldn’t be a problem. Now that we’ve covered the fundamentals of the journey, it’s time to discuss the essentials you should bring with you to save your sanity when riding the overnight bus. Firstly, you’ll need something warm to wear, no matter what the season. Even in early September, when Marie travelled, it was still hot outside, but the air conditioning felt very cold. Although there’s one blanket provided in every seat, you’re likely to still feel the chill unless you’ve got something warm on, even if it’s just a light jacket or shawl to drape over your shoulders. Next up, you’ll want to wear an eye mask. While there are times when the blue guiding lights at foot level are completely off, there are times when the glare might annoy you as the hood doesn’t shield you from them. Any eye mask will help to keep the lights out of your eyes, but for extra comfort, one of these disposable heating varieties will do the trick. Just as you’ll want to shield your eyes, you’ll want to plug up your ears, so earplugs are a must for blocking out the noise. Then, finally, if you can bring a neck pillow you won’t regret it, as the headrest on the seat won’t always help when your body shifts about during the journey. When Marie arrived in Kyoto, she felt refreshed, despite her lack of sleep, which was something she wasn’t expecting. She was also able to power-up her energy levels by taking a short nap on the train afterwards as she travelled to her final destination, which is another bonus tip worth keeping in mind. She was then able to enjoy her day in Kyoto without any trouble — there was no drowsiness or pain in her legs or back, and she was able to get all her jobs done, without feeling any sense of irritation. Marie used to avoid night buses because she thought they’d be tiring as she wouldn’t be able to sleep, but now that she understands what to prepare for, she says she’s definitely okay with using them again. So next time you’re strapped for cash but not so strapped for time, a night bus in Japan might be an option worth looking into. With so many unique design features, buses here tend to provide you with a lot more comfort than you’d expect, and there’s even a model that comes with beds for you to lie on. Related: Willer Travel Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Take a stroll through neon-lit cities and ancient legends. Converse Japan often shakes up the iconic style of the original Converse shoes by incorporating traditional Japanese designs or collaborations with popular franchises. This season is no different with another Japan-exclusive lineup that shows off three different aspects of Japan: geography, fish, and legendary gods. First are the All Star Localize Hi models, which are only available in select stores in two of Japan’s greatest cities: Tokyo and Osaka. Each design proudly displays the city name, printed across the shoe in kanji, hiragana, and English. The Tokyo edition dazzles with a vivid orange echoing the color of the city’s iconic Tokyo Tower, while the Osaka edition shines in a cool blue inspired by the neon lights of the famous downtown Dotonbori canal district. Both feature city-exclusive labeling inside, and are perfect for people who love the cities as their own. A pair of one of these models can be purchased for 9,900 yen (US$64.25), and are not available on the online shop, so you’ll have to make your way to one of the two cities if you want to pick some up. Next, the All Star Yunomi Hi feature a print packed with kanji characters for names of different types of fish, and even includes the kanji for “All Star” hidden among them (“全星” read as “o-ru suta-”). The design is inspired by one traditionally used on yunomi teacups, and will look especially familiar to seafood lovers, as the pattern is traditionally used at sushi restaurants in Japan. The hand-drawn style stars and navy-coloring brings a modern and refined look to the design. These shoes are available online and are sold for 9,900 yen, and are ideal for anyone who wants to show the world their love for sushi and fish. For the people who want to make a statement about their passion for classical Japanese culture, the All Star Fujinraijin Hi are what you want to get your hands on and feet in. The two deities of the wind god, Fujin, and the thunder god, Raijin, are among the most iconic figures in Japanese mythology, often used as protective guardians at temple gates and the thresholds of other sacred spaces. The pair have long been portrayed in Japanese art, and with Fujin on the right shoe and Raijin on the left shoe, they combine together to create an impressive work of wearable art. These shoes come in either black or off-white and are available on the online store for 10,450 yen. All of these models were launched on October 17, and are available for purchase now. So, whether you’re an avid shoe collector who wants to add some Japanese flair to your collection, or someone who simply loves Japan, these models are not to be missed. Related: Converse Japan online store Source and images: PR Times via Japaaan ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Annual survey finds the most popular names and kanji characters for new babies. A lot of thought goes into picking baby names in Japan. Not only do parents have to pick how the name will sound, but also how it’ll be written, since the Japanese language’s system of kanji characters means that there are often multiple ways to write the same-pronounced name. Benesse, which publishes magazines for expectant and new parents and also runs the Tamahiyo online parenting portal, conducts an annual study of Tamahiyo users who have recently welcomed a new child into their family, to determine the most popular baby names in Japan. This year’s study looked at the names of 166,011 babies born between January 1 and September 15 of this year, so let’s take a look at the top five for boys and girls, starting with the boys. 5. Ren / 蓮 Meaning: lotus Ren has slipped a bit since its second-place finish in 2024, but it still remains one of the most popular boys’ names of the last 10 years. Combining a quick, strong-sounding pronunciation with a meaning that’s cultured and elegant, but without feeling old-fashioned, it’s a name with a broad appeal that doesn’t feel like it’s trying to pigeonhole the child into a single personality path. 4. Asahi / 朝陽 Meaning: morning sun Outside Japan, “Asahi” might conjure up images of Japan’s best-selling beer, but the name itself means “morning sun,” a popular symbol of hopeful auspiciousness in Japan. For an extra dash of stylishness, this Asahi, which rose up from sixth place in last year’s ranking, is written with the fancier kanji 陽 for sun, instead of the standard 日, and 陽 also carries the connotation bright, energetic, and optimistic. 3. Haruto / 陽翔 Meaning: bright flight The second kanji here, 翔, is a poetic-sounding way of saying “fly” or “take wing.” Combined with the 陽 we saw in Asahi, the name radiates an atmosphere of soaring, cheerful freedom, and it’s risen one rank higher than it was last year. 2. Minato / 湊 Meaning: harbor Minato has also enjoyed a lot of popularity in recent years, finishing fifth in 2025. Similar to the alternative kanji for sun seen in Asahi and Haruto, this Minato doesn’t use the mundane 港 kanji used to mark ports on maps and shipping documents, but instead the cooler-looking 湊, to help establish that it’s a name meant to convey a sense of reliable protection and sociable connections more so than distribution logistics. 1. Ao / 碧 Meaning: blue In first place, and for the second year in a row, is Ao. Once again, we’ve got a fancy alternate kanji here, as the basic “blue” kanji is 青. Since this 碧 is more elaborate, you’ll sometimes see it translated into English as “azure,” but 碧 is traditionally used to describe a shade closer to blue-green than the lapis-like hue of “azure.” ▼ The top Google image search results for 碧 as a color But while graphic designers and art historians might thing of 碧 as a very specific shade, among laymen it’s often taken simply as a fancy way of writing “blue.” There’s actually a bit of a figuratively gray area between the colors blue and green in Japanese culture, and so ao often carries the connotation of the fresh green leaves of spring, imparting a sense of youthful, innocent vitality, which explains its continuing popularity as a name for baby boys. Now let’s take a look at the top girls’ names. 5. Hina / 陽菜 Meaning: good vegetables Up seven spots from 12th place last year, Hina’s meaning might have you thinking it’d be more appropriate as a name for a grocery store than a baby girl. However, we’ve seen that frequent contributor 陽 creates a feeling of positive, happy energy, and while 菜 is indeed the kanji for edible non-fruit plants, it also evokes thought of new sprouts popping up from the soil, healthy and cute, and the “-na” gives the name a charming ring to it too. 4. Mei / 芽衣 Meaning: buds and clothing We’ve got more fresh and healthy plant life imagery with Mei, which finished fourth for the second year in a row. The addition of 衣, meaning “clothing,” doesn’t do much to deepen the name’s significance, but the second kanji’s “i” sound helps elongate the name’s pronunciation and make it cuter than the more abrupt “Me” it would be if it were written with 芽 alone. 3. Rin / 凜 Meaning: dignified/ringing clearly Rin, which was the most popular girls’ name in 2024, has a number of meanings, but the two that most parents are probably thinking of are “dignified” and “ringing clearly,” with the latter usable to describe both the voice of someone who speaks with confident annunciation or the refined tone of a bell or chime. The high-class meaning being coupled with a pronunciation that still sounds cute is probably a key factor to its popularity, sort of like what we say with Ren. 2. Himari / 陽葵 Meaning: good hollyhock Flora once again inspires one of the top girls’ names with Himari. Hollyhocks might not rank up there with cherry blossoms, azaleas, and wisteria among the flowers that Japanese people are most likely to go out to parks and gardens to see while they’re in bloom, but their beauty has been appreciated for centuries (hollyhocks appeared in the create of the Tokugawa shogunate). The kanji 葵 used by itself, pronounced Aoi, is a classical, elegant-sounding women’s name, so Himari borrows some of that traditional quality while also giving it a warm, modern update. 1. Sui / 翠 Meaning: green Just like with the boys’ list, the top-ranking girls’ name for 2025 is a color, and one written with a more elaborate kanji than the standard one. Ordinarily, the Japanese word for “green,” midori. is written as 緑. 翠 can also be read as midori, but among the study’s parents it was the Sui pronunciation that made it the most popular. Also like top boy’s name Ao, Sui isn’t just any green, either. It’s the blue-green seen in the feathers of kingfisher, a unique shade that Benesse’s analysts say works as a metaphor for parents’ hopes that they daughter will soar in a way true to herself in life. 翠 is also the second kanji in hisui (翡翠), the Japanese word for “jade,” which probably gave it a boost as well. If you’re having trouble remembering the last time you met a Japanese person named Sui, it’s a name that only recently started racing up the chart. As recently as 2020, it was still down in 95th place, before climbing to 16th in 2022 and hanging out in third for 2023 and 2024 before taking the top spot for the first time this year. Speaking of names seeing big jumps in popularity, in the boys list Zen, written 善 and meaning “goodness” or “virtue,” moved up all the way from 153rd to 52nd. For girls, Koto (心都, roughly translating to “city of the heart”) made an even bigger gain, rising 156 slots to 56th place, while Sakura (桜, “cherry blossom”) mounted a comeback and also moved up 100-plus spots, from 146th to 45th, so we might be seeing them in the top five soon. Source: PR Times, Benesse Top image: Pakutaso Insert images: Pakutaso (1, 2), Google, Pakutaso (3, 4), Wikipedia/JMK ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? 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Golden snow globe is one of the stars of this limited-edition showtime collection.  Starbucks is really feeling the festive spirit this year, releasing limited-edition beverages through regular branches of its chain, chilled cups in stores across the nation, and an exclusive range at the Reserve Roastery Tokyo. This new collection is based around the theme of “Holiday Show for One’s Joy“, with rich hues in blue, red, gold, and silver to evoke a “dazzling holiday showtime” that reflects the elevated feel of the Roastery. Unlike the holiday collection at Japan’s regular Starbucks branches, which was sorely lacking in drinkware items this year, the Reserve Roastery range is filled to the brim with mugs, cups and tumblers, so let’s take a closer look at them all below. ▼ Blue & Silver Stainless Steel Bottle — 591 millilitres (20 ounces), 5,300 yen (US$34.45) This bottle features a glittering blue-to-silver gradient with an elegant design that’s said to be “reminiscent of the end of showtime”. The double-walled vacuum-sealed stainless steel construction provides excellent heat and cold retention. ▼ Silver Stainless Steel Bottle (4,800 yen) Embedded with silver glitter, the dot design is reminiscent of Christmas ornaments and stage spotlights. ▼ Red Stainless Steel Cold Cup Tumbler (with lid) — 473 millilitres, 5,300 yen This tumbler features a glittery red-to-champagne gold gradient and striped body, perfect for adding a touch of holiday glamour. The lid with straw is ideal for cold drinks, while the additional lid that comes with it is perfect for hot drinks, allowing you to use the tumbler to your liking. ▼ Striped Mug Blue/White — 355 millilitres, 3,600 yen This striking mug with a gold bottom and striped design will add a touch of elegance to your holiday table. The matte finish, reminiscent of velvet stage curtains, creates a luxurious feel, and though the mugs can be purchased separately, a matching pair makes a gorgeous gift. ▼ Navy Draped Mug — 355 millilitres, 3,300 yen This porcelain mug is designed to resemble the swaying of a velvet stage curtain. Its deep navy hue exudes both elegance and tranquility, adding a touch of colour to your holiday coffee moments. ▼ Stem Glass Metallic Blue/Silver — 355 millilitres, 3,100 yen each These original stemware designs are inspired by the shape of the silo where coffee beans are stored behind the bar counter at the Roastery. They’re available in two colours, metallic blue and silver, which will add a touch of elegance to parties and table settings. ▼ Starbucks Reserve Draped Mug Navy Ornament (2,300 yen) This porcelain ornament has the same design as the navy draped mug in the holiday collection. It can be used as a tree ornament or as interior decor to add a dash of holiday cheer to your home. ▼ Starbucks Reserve Silo Glass Ornament (2,300 yen) This synthetic resin ornament features a glass design inspired by the shape of the silo at the Roastery. The realistic design evokes the aroma and flavour of coffee while adding colour to your tree. ▼ Starbucks Reserve Coffee Bag ’25 Ornament (2,300 yen) This porcelain ornament features the Starbucks Reserve Christmas 2025 coffee bean packaging, faithfully reproducing the packaging design that changes every year. ▼ Starbucks Reserve Roastery Snow Globe (3,800 yen) This snow globe features the Starbucks Reserve Christmas 2025 coffee bean packaging with a classic Starbucks Reserve Roastery mug. The gold base and gold and silver flakes add a touch of sparkle to your holidays. ▼ Navy Drawstring Pouch — Small (980 yen), Large (1,200 yen) Finally, we have a luxurious drawstring pouch, with gold ropes and embroidery reminiscent of a gorgeous stage curtain. The small size is perfect for everyday use and also fits a single mug, making it a great gift bag. The large size can fit a single tumbler and a 250-gram (8-8 ounce) pack of coffee beans, making it ideal for holiday gift-giving. The entire collection will be available through online pre-sales from 8 p.m. on 31 October, and at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo from 1 November. The Blue & Silver Stainless Steel Bottle and the Blue/White Striped Mug will have a wider release, available at Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo, the official Starbucks online store, and Starbucks Reserve retailers. As always, supplies are limited so you’ll want to act fast if you’d like to add a little showtime your daily brew. Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!