In August 2025, McDonald’s Japan launched a special Happy Set campaign featuring limited-edition Pokémon cards, including an exclusive Pikachu card. However, instead of a celebration, the event quickly spiraled into chaos. Scalpers bought large numbers of Happy Sets, food waste became a public issue, and customers were left disappointed. What went wrong, and how could...

Japan is home to some of the world’s most beloved hobbies, and plastic models hold a special place among them. Shizuoka welcomed a new attraction this September: the Bandai Hobby Center Plamo Design Industrial Institute (BHC PDII) Museum.

The Saga International Balloon Fiesta is one of Asia’s largest hot-air balloon festivals. The event attracts nearly a million visitors who see colorful hot-air balloons, international competitions, and nighttime light shows.

Tokyo Banana is a sponge cake shaped like a banana filled with smooth banana custard cream. It was first launched in 1991 and was the first confection to carry “Tokyo” in its name.

Kinoko no Yama is one of Japan’s most popular chocolate snacks, loved by children and adults.

Skewered, grilled meats are one of the simplest joys of Japanese food culture. While yakitori is famous worldwide, Japan offers much more in skewered dishes. Yakiton and kushiyaki both bring variety and character to the table.