University in Japan develops AI system to detect students dozing off in class, public wants it used in the National Diet
News of an AI system developed to detect when student doze off during class has been causing waves among the Japanese public, as people question its ethicality. On the other hand, people want the system in the National Diet of Japan.
Anime-driven campers in Japan slowly lose their enthusiasm for the outdoors, “real” campers rejoice
Japanese campers are excited about the end of the camping boom. Anime fans that were once crazy for camping are putting up their tent and quitting the outdoor activity.
Japanese robot cat waiter smiles proudly as he makes a huge mess, people love him all the more
A beloved Japanese cat-themed food delivery robot called BellaBot has been gaining attention for how cute it is even when failing at its tasks and making a mess. The robot can be seen in over 2000 restaurants in Japan.
#NoBarbenheimer trends as Japanese users speak out on tasteless Barbenheimer memes
#NoBarbenheimer trends on Japanese Twitter as users condemn the series of tasteless memes regarding nuclear bombings created within the Barbenheimer trend. The official US Barbie Movie account responding to such content sparked the public outrage.
Japanese Twitter users debate – Is it actually more work being a NEET?
Japanese Twitter users decide if overtime, stress, and the loss of one's free time is worth the money. Maybe NEETs have found the perfect work-life balance. No work.
Japanese company uses underselling voice-actors from their agency as card-packers in their card game business, but it’s a good thing
Japanese company Bushiroad has recently been gathering attention for their policy of having voice-actors signed under their agency work part-time at their card game production sites in periods when they don’t have enough work coming in.
Manga author has their manga scrapped last minute by Japan’s “most explicit” magazine after working on it for 3 years
Japanese manga writer has their upcoming serialization for Kodansha’s Weekly Young Magazine suddenly cancelled after it had been in the works for three years. It was cancelled for containing "inappropriate expressions."
Japanese Twitter user has their username “stolen” by Elon Musk’s new AI business
A Japanese Twitter user recently had their username changed by Twitter without their knowledge. Their original username is now being used by Twitter CEO Elon Musk’s new AI-related startup company.
This major Japanese noodle brand actually manages to use memes to promote without being cringe
Nissin Foods, the leading manufacturer of instant cup noodles in Japan, has recently grabbed the spotlight with a commercial that makes clever use of a viral meme song.
Japanese McDonald’s forbids entry to entire middle school’s student body
The story of a Japanese McDonald's restaurant banning all students from a certain Kanagawa middle school for their "disruptive behavior" has recently gone viral.
Bocchi the Rock: surplus of used Les Paul guitars in Japan as fans give up on their fleeting dreams
Used guitar stores in Japan seem to be having a surplus in a certain Les Paul Custom model as fans of Bocchi the Rock lose their enthusiasm to learn the guitar.
This Japanese VR dating app let’s people meet through avatars and go on virtual dates
Memoria is a Japanese VR dating application that allows users to look for partners behind avatars and go on virtual dates.
Everyone hates inaccurate depictions of Japan, right? Wrong – a lot of Japanese people want more
A recent viral tweet by a Japanese user suggests that many Japanese people are actually fascinated, or at least amused, with some of the faulty representations of Japan in western media.
Fire Emblem Engage artist Mika Pikazo apologizes for tweets about piracy from nine years ago
Illustrator Mika Pikazo posted an apology on her official Twitter account for past tweets in which she talks positively about piracy and admits to doing it herself.
Japanese publishers ban “insanity” and similar sensitive words, but is the censorship going too far?
A series of tweets by a Japanese manga author on the topic of words they are not allowed to use under their publisher has triggered discussion among users regarding the censorship of words referring to “insanity” in fiction, with many…
Japanese users notice that same-sex marriage in Gundam: The Witch from Mercury is made clear in North America but vague in Japan
Japanese fans of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury are expressing dissatisfaction over the fact that Japanese sources have yet to confirm the marriage between Suletta and Miorine.
5channel, origin of 4chan, in danger of extinction after being backstabbed by its dedicated browser
In what users are calling the "Jane coup," JaneStyle, the largest dedicated browser for viewing the anonymous bulletin board 5channel cut ties with 5channel, turning into a dedicated browser for a new clone-like anonymous bulletin board called Talk.
“Have your parents cover your living expenses” users share their dark experiences of Japan’s anime industry
Japanese users share insights on the unsustainable nature of Japan’s anime industry and harsh working and living conditions of animators.
Controversial note triggers intense washing machine discourse on Japanese Twitter
A heated debate about none other than doing the laundry started off on Japanese Twitter when one user shared a note that was put up in their apartment building to warn neighbors not to do their laundry at night.
After reading Initial D, two Japanese men try to drift but fail and get arrested
Two Japanese men (20, 21 y/o) have been arrested for attempting to drift on a public road. The offenders told the police that reading Initial D made them want to try drifting in real life.
Japanese otaku-targeted dating app startles users with nightmarish AI-generated ads
Otakoi, a dating app targeted towards otaku men and women, has been gathering attention for the jarring AI-generated images used for advertising the app.
What do Japanese mangaka think of the Korean webtoon model? Told by the author of ReLIFE
This year is the 10-year anniversary of webtoons in Japan, and the author of ReLIFE Yayoiso has shared some insights about webtoons as a Japanese mangaka.