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July 16, 2024
 

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Patrick St. Michel
Patrick St. Michel is a Tokyo-based writer with a focus on Japanese music. He runs the blog Make Believe Melodies, which has focused on Japanese independent music since 2009. Besides The Japan Times, he also contributes to MTV 81 and The Atlantic.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH
Sep 23, 2017
'Koara no Machi Yaki': A cream-filled tribute to the well-known koala cookie
Attached to the Lotteria fast-food restaurant in Nakano's Sun Road shopping street is a special stall selling a special bear-shaped treat. They make a taiyaki variant shaped like Lotte's famous Koara no Machi ("Koala's March") cookie snack, called "Koara no Machi Yaki." The regular flavors on offer err...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Sep 19, 2017
Ultra stakes a claim on Japan's music festival throne with help from Chainsmokers, Tiesto and more
Security tugs a woozy-looking man toward the exit of Odaiba Ultra Park after he got in a scuffle with another festivalgoer. His opponent, only steps behind, has bright red bumps on his face. He approaches a guard and, with a smile, snaps a selfie.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Sep 16, 2017
Beverage giant looks to spread the intricacies of washoku abroad
Seventeen students from the United States stare at a garden of eggplant. "You can take pictures, just don't touch anything," the group's translator informs them, most of whom are in their early 20s. A minute of silence passes as they gaze at the circular vegetables. Then they pull out their smartphones...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Sep 16, 2017
Natural Lawson's Pizza Roll tastes almost as good as the real thing
We've all been there — you're hungry, but don't want to cook. The idea of ordering a pizza is initially tempting, but what about all those calories? These are the dilemmas that haunt one's laziest nights.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Sep 14, 2017
AKB48 sets a chart record, but Daoko and Kenshi Yonezu are playing the long game
Call it the end of an era. Last week, AKB48's 49th single "#Sukinanda" sold over 1 million copies to take the top spot on the Oricon singles chart. Besides being the first song in the No. 1 position to feature a hashtag in its title, it also propelled the idol group over J-pop singer Ayumi Hamasaki to...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH
Sep 9, 2017
Bear's Sugar Shack: Bite-sized pancakes that melt in your mouth
Tokyo's love affair with pancakes appears to be waning and lines outside trendy stores for the decadent dessert have thinned significantly in 2017. Enter Bear's Sugar Shack in Shinjuku, which looks to buck this trend with one simple change: Instead of a offering a couple of regular-sized pancakes on...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Sep 2, 2017
7-Eleven's coffee cream treat: Leveraging the success of 'konbini' coffee
Convenience stores in Japan hit on a winner a few years back when they introduced fresh-brewed coffee machines. These chains realized folks want cheap and drinkable caffeine fixes before they begin their day. The next jackpot, however, has proved elusive.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH
Aug 26, 2017
Ringo Dome cake: Tart dreams of autumn
Don't look now, but here comes the fall. Seasons always arrive early in the Japanese food scene, with store shelves already displaying seasonally flavored goods and drinks boasting fitting designs. The weather might betray it, but at least your shopping cart can feel like autumn.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Aug 24, 2017
Animated pop star Hatsune Miku is only 10, but she has had a huge impact on music
People rarely geek out over the 10-year anniversary of a specific instrument, but Hatsune Miku isn't your usual music store purchase.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Aug 22, 2017
Babymetal, Foo Fighters and Rick Astley make Summer Sonic a fun weekend
This year's Summer Sonic had its craziest moment on Sunday night when 1980s singer Rick Astley joined the Foo Fighters for the latter's headlining performance.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Aug 19, 2017
Citrus KitKat: Latest twist is flavor home run
Japan's array of quirky KitKat flavors has become a cliche, to the point where your aunt can probably tell you about the dozens of unique varieties. But the candy's latest variant offers something new: kindness. Sales of their new citrus-flavored offering will go to support youth baseball and softball...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Aug 12, 2017
Long a hit in Kyoto, hearty 'hamo' eel finds home in Tokyo restaurant
The Gion Matsuri came to a close at the end of July, but there's still time to enjoy one of the dishes most closely associated with that famous festival. Hamo, called dagger-tooth pike eel in English, has long been one of the Kansai region's summer specialities, especially in Kyoto, where the city's...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH
Aug 12, 2017
Sesame seed-flavored soft cream: Designed with Instagram in mind
Harajuku has gone gaga over food designed for Instagram. Walk down Takeshita Street and you'll probably see people snapping shots of giant, rainbow-colored cotton candy and the like.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Aug 10, 2017
Fuji Rock's closing act was a load of trash
By all accounts, this year's Fuji Rock Festival was a success. Punters of all ages and demographics enjoyed the laid-back vibe at the three-day music spectacular — give or take the constant rain — and most social media posts about the event focused on good times. Not everyone was happy, though.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Aug 8, 2017
Parkgolf and other netlabel acts are seeing more success offline
Tokyo's first netlabel parties were filled with nods to internet culture. You'd see customers ordering their drinks via Twitter, robotic hands clapping in time to DJ sets, and people live-streaming themselves from the dancefloor.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Aug 5, 2017
Black Seafood Cup Noodle: A cosmetic change at best
Japanese netizens have noticed something strange about Nissin's latest special edition of it's venerable Cup Noodle brand.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH
Jul 29, 2017
Pikachu Choco Banana McFlurry: Celebrating 'Pokemon Go' with a sugar infusion
This weekend marks the one-year anniversary of the arrival of "Pokemon Go" in Japan. There is no shortage of ways to celebrate this milestone, ranging from visiting one of the city's Pokemon Centers to pick up some merch to trying out the smartphone app's latest features ... assuming the network doesn't...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jul 26, 2017
Figuring out who to watch at this year's Fuji Rock Festival
The 2017 edition of Fuji Rock Festival boasts one of the more eclectic lineups the long-running gathering has had in recent years. The headliners tell the tale: Cartoon rockers Gorillaz share the same font size as electronic pop star Bjork and dance music weirdo Aphex Twin. Dig deeper and you'll find...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Jul 22, 2017
Lemon No Baumkuchen: Not all that glitters is snack gold
Family Mart is putting forward some sophisticated sweets for the next few months. The chain recently debuted its new "Jewelry Sweets" line, which are premium items accented by shiny but edible flourishes. The line gets its own special area in the store (at least the one I went to) and an increased price,...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH
Jul 15, 2017
Mango Grapefruit Snowflakes Sherbet: Sweet, tart and perfect for summer
One of the most popular desserts to take off in Tokyo over the last two years has been shaved ice from outside Japan. Taiwanese baobing, via the chain Ice Monster, kick-started the trend, and a few others have appeared as of late. Korean chain Sulbing, which creates bingsu (Korea's take on the treat),...
Who needs AI when you have Hatsune Miku?
Over the first six months of 2024, a handful of songs using Vocaloid singer Hatsune Miku’s voice have enjoyed widespread attention, underlining a global interest in the character and the technology she represents.
Bloodied Trump survives assassination attempt at political rally
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is surrounded and evacuated by Secret Service agents at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Trump was rushed off stage at the rally after shots rang out.
Shooter came within inches of killing Trump, but left few clues as to why
An aerial view shows the stage where Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump had been standing during an assassination attempt the day before, and the roof of a nearby building where a gunman was shot dead by law enforcement, in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Sunday.
Yen’s woes seem too big for even a BOJ hike this month to solve
The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
After Trump shooting, U.S. presidential race might take a violent turn
United States Secret Service Counter Snipers stand guard on a rooftop during a campaign rally for U.S. President Donald Trump in Avoca, Pennsylvania, in 2020.
No AC this summer? No problem (for me).
Think air conditioning is a requirement for a Tokyo summer? Think again.
She’s paying ¥1 million to help behind the scenes at the Paris Olympics
Mai Tarumi, who previously volunteered at the postponed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, has a travel budget of ¥1 million for her trip to volunteer at the Paris Games.

Podcast

You can often see generations of families enjoying performances together at Fuji Rock Festival.
Japan’s summer music festivals are feeling the heat in more ways than one

Longform

Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
By Tomoko Otake

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