Wakaba Oto, Author at Tokyo Weekender

The New Face of Donki is… Bruno Mars?

Wakaba Oto — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 06:19:32 +0000

Celebrity endorsements are a dime a dozen, but Japan’s Don Quixote chain, known affectionately as Donki, has taken things up a notch by partnering with global superstar Bruno Mars. The campaign, launched on August 20, features Mars dancing alongside Donki’s iconic blue penguin mascot to an infectious house beat. The ad opens with Mars strolling […]

The post The New Face of Donki is… Bruno Mars? appeared first on Tokyo Weekender.

Barefoot Gen: The Unflinching Atomic Bomb Film From Japan’s Perspective

Wakaba Oto — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 07:10:24 +0000

Seventy-nine years ago this week, the world changed forever. The United States unleashed the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 — the first time that nuclear warfare had ever been used. Just three days later, on August 9, Nagasaki suffered the same fate. Japan surrendered on August 15, with the formal agreement […]

The post Barefoot Gen: The Unflinching Atomic Bomb Film From Japan’s Perspective appeared first on Tokyo Weekender.

The Secret to Getting Expensive Japanese Fruit for Cheap

Wakaba Oto — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 09:12:41 +0000

Hidden in plain sight lies the key to snagging top-notch fruit and vegetables without emptying your wallet in Japan. Mercari, the Japanese e-commerce conglomerate, is quietly upending how we buy produce. From Flea Market to Fresh Market Mercari, Japan’s largest community-powered marketplace app, holds a well-kept secret. Its full potential remains largely under the radar. […]

The post The Secret to Getting Expensive Japanese Fruit for Cheap appeared first on Tokyo Weekender.

Don’t Call It Sake — It’s Probably Not

Wakaba Oto — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 10:31:12 +0000

It’s time to get your terminology straight. The global fascination with Japanese sake is undeniable, but clarity is essential: not all that glitters is gold, and not all that’s labeled as “sake” is truly sake. Seishu: The Legal Definition Seishu, which literally translates to “clear sake,” is a legal term defined by Japan’s National Tax […]

The post Don’t Call It Sake — It’s Probably Not appeared first on Tokyo Weekender.

The Best Things To Do in Tokyo This Month: August 2024

Wakaba Oto — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 03:28:25 +0000

Tokyo is alive every day of the week. There’s always something to see or do, whether it’s an exhibition, a live music gig, a pop-up shop or a seasonal limited edition item to try. We’ve rounded up some recommendations for the best things to do in Tokyo this August. Tokyo Festivals and Outdoor Events Tokyo […]

The post The Best Things To Do in Tokyo This Month: August 2024 appeared first on Tokyo Weekender.

Meet the Gen Z Founder of BeMatch, Japan’s Newest (Not-Just-A-Dating-App) Dating App

Wakaba Oto — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 08:49:35 +0000

Dating apps have long been burdened with a reputation for superficial and fleeting encounters, especially in Japan. They’re often dismissed as digital hook-up joints rather than genuine platforms for connection. However, a new player in the field, BeMatch, is working to shift these perceptions and redefine the landscape of Japanese online social interactions. The Genesis […]

The post Meet the Gen Z Founder of BeMatch, Japan’s Newest (Not-Just-A-Dating-App) Dating App appeared first on Tokyo Weekender.

Coco Yoshizawa and Liz Akama Clinch Gold and Silver in Women’s Street Skateboarding at Paris Olympics

Wakaba Oto — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 08:26:53 +0000

Japan’s young female skaters stole the spotlight at Place de la Concorde in Paris on July 28. Coco Yoshizawa, 14, dominated both the qualifiers and the final, with 15-year-old Liz Akama coming in second. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Funa Nakayama, an Olympic bronze medalist three years ago, placed fifth in the qualifiers and finished seventh in the […]

The post Coco Yoshizawa and Liz Akama Clinch Gold and Silver in Women’s Street Skateboarding at Paris Olympics appeared first on Tokyo Weekender.

Does the Future of Japan’s Relationships Lie in AI?

Wakaba Oto — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 09:03:02 +0000

Japan’s heart beats for fiction. In a land where anime reigns supreme, Japan has long faced a peculiar yet telling trend: people falling head over heels for fictional characters, from crushing on VTubers to acquiring anime waifu. This inability to form real-life relationships highlights a deeper societal issue — the plummeting rates of dating and […]

The post Does the Future of Japan’s Relationships Lie in AI? appeared first on Tokyo Weekender.

70-Year-Old Woman Arrested for Murdering Her 102-Year-Old Mother

Wakaba Oto — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 11:25:27 +0000

A 70-year-old woman in Kunitachi, Tokyo, made a chilling 110 emergency call on the morning of July 22, confessing that she had killed her 102-year-old mother. Police arrived at the scene to find Fuku Komine lying on her bed with strangulation marks and stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after. The […]

The post 70-Year-Old Woman Arrested for Murdering Her 102-Year-Old Mother appeared first on Tokyo Weekender.

Military Scandals Plague Japan’s Ministry of Defense

Wakaba Oto — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 09:13:16 +0000

A barrage of military scandals involving financial corruption, the mishandling of state secrets and workplace harassment have recently come to light, prompting Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MOD) to announce disciplinary action against 218 personnel on July 12. This includes 11 dismissals and 83 suspensions. The Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) saw the highest number of personnel […]

The post Military Scandals Plague Japan’s Ministry of Defense appeared first on Tokyo Weekender.