Former Morning Musume Ai Kago Suicide Attempt

Many Japanese news media outlets are reporting that Ai Kago (age 23), formerly of Morning Musume attempted to commit suicide on September 11th. She was found in her apartment in Roppongi in Tokyo by a member of her talent agency. The agency member then immediately called 119 (the equivalent in Japan to 911) for an […]

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How to Enjoy a Public Bath (Sento) or Hot Spring in Japan

One of the greatest things about traveling to Japan is the way baths are enjoyed. Aside from the awesomeness that is the bath in a person’s home, sometimes people enjoy a trip out to a public bath, or if they are lucky enough to live within a few hours of an onsen or hot spring,

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Koyuki and Kenichi Matsuyama Marriage Update – Koyuki is Pregnant

We reported back in April that model/actress Koyuki, who is also well-known in the United States had married uber-popular actor Kenichi Matsuyama who may be best known abroad for his work in the Death Note live action movie series. (Koyuki and Kenichi Matsuyama Get Married) On September 3rd, they announced that Koyuki is pregnant. She

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Strange Video From Fukushima Nuclear Plant Live Camera

I’m going to embed the video right here so you can watch and try to figure out what’s going on here… Looks like something out of a science fiction movie. The person in the video seems to be a worker at the plant, based on his official clothing, but I’m not sure why he is

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Aqua Timez Rock Vocalist Futoshi Shreds Japanese National Anthem – Kimi Ga Yo

The internet is alive with comments about how bad the Aqua Timez rock band’s lead vocalist Futoshi’s rendering of Kimi Ga Yo. Now, in defense of Futoshi, that is a hard song to do well and is definitely out of his genre. Aqua Timez is a fine band, especially as Japanese rock bands go, so

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New Google Streetview 360 Degree View of the Inside of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial

One of the greatesst places to visit in Japan is Hiroshima. There are beautiful sites, natural places to hike, historical monuments and museums, and great regional foods. One of Hiroshima’s greatest attractions is the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, called the “Genbaku Dome” in Japanese. Beginning August 6th, 2011 in Japan which is the evening of August

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The Obon Holiday 2011 – Traveling in Japan in the Summer

The O-bon or Bon Festival in Japan is definitely something summer travelers to Japan want to have marked on their calendars. There are both good things about being in Japan, but also some things to be aware of if traveling around this time of year. Some things to be aware of: Many people in Japan

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Japanese High School Baseball – Team Has an Awesome JPop School Song

Although many schools make an effort to keep a school song at least somewhat timely and fun to sing, and there are a lot of good school songs around Japan with the inevitable charismatic brass band to play it as well as they can… Shigakukan High School in Nagoya city, Aichi Prefecture has a great JPop

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Tsukiji Fish Market (Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market) Open to Tourists Again

After the Tohoku Earthquake, the Tsukiji Fish Market, a great place to see where your sushi and other foods get their start, and to gain a great appreciation for the way a fish auction works in Japan, was closed to tourists out of concerns for their safety. The market has banned visits from tourists in

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Saki Kumagai and Japan Women’s Soccer Team in a Small Scandal

Saki Kumagai, the Japan defender most World Cup fans will remember as being just a moment late on Alex Morgan’s goal in the World Cup final game this year, has been warned by the Japan Football Association. All of her pending media appearances have also been put on hold. The player attended a celebration party

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