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Jagariko Maji Calpas FamilyMart limited Japanese snack
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Japan Now! Jagariko x Calpas? Japan’s Beloved Potato Snack Just Went “Seriously” Meaty (FamilyMart Only) (7/31)

japanup_akane 07/31/2026

For American snack fans, the cruelest phrase in the Japanese language might be “convenience store exclusive.” However, Japan keeps producing reasons to learn it. Starting Tuesday, August 4, FamilyMart stores nationwide will carry a new limited Jagariko flavor: “Maji Calpas Aji bits,” a short-stick version of Japan’s iconic potato snack seasoned like calpas, the peppery mini salami that generations of Japanese kids grew up buying for pocket change. And the name contains a joke worth unpacking. Quick Answer: Jagariko Maji Calpas Aji bits launches August 4, 2026, exclusively at FamilyMart in Japan. It combines Jagariko’s famous “crisp at first, then…

View More Japan Now! Jagariko x Calpas? Japan’s Beloved Potato Snack Just Went “Seriously” Meaty (FamilyMart Only) (7/31)
Jiro-style ramen with thick noodles and rich broth at Garlic High inside Tokyo Central
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Jiro-Style Ramen, a NorCal Sensation, Has Landed in LA

japanup_akane 07/30/2026

Jiro-style ramen, the bowl taking Northern California by storm, has arrived in the LA area. Known for a rich broth simmered for 15 hours and thick, seriously satisfying noodles, this is the real-deal flavor that earned an overwhelming following up north. You can find it at Garlic High, operating inside the food courts at Tokyo Central Yorba Linda and Tokyo Central PCH in Torrance. Whether it is a treat on the way home from work or a weekend indulgence, come take on the one-of-a-kind volume and satisfaction. What Makes This Jiro-Style Ramen Special The broth is simmered for a full…

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puroresu Japan pro wrestling day Rikidozan history
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Japan Now! Happy Puroresu Day! Why Japan Treats Pro Wrestling as a National Art Form (7/30)

japanup_akane 07/30/2026

For Americans, pro wrestling means WWE: pyro, promos, and sports entertainment. However, Japan took the same raw material and built something closer to a martial religion, and today is its official birthday. July 30 is Pro Wrestling Day (Puroresu Kinenbi) in Japan, marking the day in 1953 when a former sumo wrestler named Rikidozan founded the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance and accidentally created modern Japanese television, a national mythology, and the puroresu fighting style your favorite WWE and AEW stars grew up on. Quick Answer: Pro Wrestling Day commemorates July 30, 1953, when Rikidozan, the “father of Japanese pro wrestling,”…

View More Japan Now! Happy Puroresu Day! Why Japan Treats Pro Wrestling as a National Art Form (7/30)
EVENT EVENT IN LOS ANGELES POPULAR

[GIVEAWAY] Win a Pair of Tickets to Yuki Saori’s Concert! 🎁 Saturday, August 22

japanup_akane 07/30/2026

YUKI SAORI in LOS ANGELES ~From 1969 to the Future~8/22(sat) in Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center YUKI SAORI in LOS ANGELES ~From 1969 to the Future~ Concert tickets are now on sale and receiving great attention 🎙️‼️ After achieving a worldwide hit through her collaboration with Pink Martini, Saori Yuki has captivated audiences around the globe with her timeless and enchanting voice. This will be her first U.S. performance in approximately nine years — a special opportunity you won’t want to miss. 🗓 Saturday, August 22, 2026　3:00 PM — Doors Open　4:00 PM — Concert Begins 📍 Redondo Beach Performing Arts…

View More [GIVEAWAY] Win a Pair of Tickets to Yuki Saori’s Concert! 🎁 Saturday, August 22
Exterior of the Square Enix Cafe Los Angeles in Little Tokyo
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Square Enix Cafe Los Angeles Is Now Open in Little Tokyo

japanup_akane 07/29/2026

The Square Enix Cafe Los Angeles is open in Little Tokyo, the first permanent, officially licensed Square Enix cafe with a full menu in the United States. Inside, you will find official menu dishes, drinks, and desserts themed around popular games, along with official merchandise and cafe-exclusive novelty items. It is a destination where fans can soak in the worlds of Dragon Quest and other beloved titles while enjoying a special outing. What to Expect at the Square Enix Cafe Los Angeles The menu draws on franchises like Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and NieR:Automata, with themed food, drinks, and desserts…

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mizukake gohan water over rice Yamagata Japan summer dish
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Japan Now! Mizukake Gohan? Japan’s 1,000-Year-Old “Water Over Rice” Hack Is Back, Thanks to Record Heat (and an Idol Radio Show) (7/29)

japanup_akane 07/29/2026

For Americans, “rice with cold water poured over it” sounds less like a recipe and more like a kitchen accident. However, in Japan’s record-breaking summer of 2026, it is suddenly the most talked-about dish on late-night radio. It is called mizukake gohan, a nearly forgotten regional tradition from Yamagata Prefecture, and it is having a viral moment after members of idol group Nogizaka46 championed it on their All Night Nippon show, with member Nagi Inoue taste-testing it live on this week’s broadcast. Quick Answer: Mizukake gohan (literally “water-poured rice”), known in Yamagata as mizu mama, is chilled cooked rice rinsed…

View More Japan Now! Mizukake Gohan? Japan’s 1,000-Year-Old “Water Over Rice” Hack Is Back, Thanks to Record Heat (and an Idol Radio Show) (7/29)
JINS Golden Ratio™
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A Face-Balancing Effect Created by JINS Golden Ratio™｜JINS

Hiratsuka 07/28/2026

. 　Bring Harmony and Beauty to Your Look Just by Wearing Them. Born from JINS’ proprietary technology, the “JINS COMBINATION TITANIUM” features a Golden Ratio design. Delicate, neutral lines highlight the natural beauty of your features, bringing balance to your overall look simply by putting them on. 3 Reasons to Choose JINS Golden Ratio™ ◆LOOKS | Enhance Your Features for a Beautiful Impression Delicate frame lines and softly blending colors naturally emphasize the charm of your bare face. ◆COMFORT | Premium β-Titanium for a Flexible, Perfect Fit Made with ultra-lightweight β-titanium, they provide a supreme fit without any feeling of…

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One's Rent-A-Car special plan for Dodgers games in Los Angeles, with car, tickets, and parking
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One’s Rent-A-Car Brings Japanese-Quality Service to Dodgers Game Days

japanup_akane 07/28/2026

One’s Rent-A-Car is now offering a special plan for fans heading to a Dodgers game, and it comes with something the big American rental chains do not: the attentive, Japanese-style service you would expect back home. The plan bundles a rental car with game tickets and stadium parking in one deal, and every location is staffed by Japanese-speaking team members, so booking, pickup, and any questions along the way all happen in your language. Why Rent from One’s Rent-A-Car For anyone who misses the reliability and thoughtful touches of renting a car in Japan, this is the closest thing in…

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Koshien 2026 Japan high school baseball championship stadium
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Japan Now! Koshien Is Coming. Japan’s Legendary High School Baseball Tournament Starts August 5 (7/28)

japanup_akane 07/28/2026

For Americans, the gold standard of sports drama is March Madness. However, Japan runs a tournament every August that makes March Madness look forgiving, and if you have ever watched a sports anime, you already know its name. It is Koshien, the national high school baseball championship, and as of today all 49 teams for the 108th edition are set. Thousands of schools entered regional qualifiers this summer. Forty-nine survived. Starting August 5, one loss sends anyone home. Quick Answer: Koshien, officially the National High School Baseball Championship, runs August 5 to 22 at Hanshin Koshien Stadium near Osaka. The…

View More Japan Now! Koshien Is Coming. Japan’s Legendary High School Baseball Tournament Starts August 5 (7/28)
Kumamoto earthquake 2026 magnitude 7.1 Kyushu Japan safety information
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Japan Now! Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake Strikes Kumamoto. What Travelers in Kyushu Need to Know Now (7/28)

japanup_akane 07/28/2026

For anyone following Japan today, the news is serious. A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in southern Japan at 4:27 PM local time on July 28, registering the maximum intensity of 7 on Japan’s seismic scale, the first quake to hit that level since the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake. Rescue operations are underway tonight, including at a shopping mall where an explosion followed the quake. This article covers what is confirmed so far, the essential context, and, most importantly, what to do if you or someone you know is traveling in Kyushu right now. The Kumamoto earthquake 2026 is…

View More Japan Now! Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake Strikes Kumamoto. What Travelers in Kyushu Need to Know Now (7/28)
Daikokuya spicy chili mazemen topped with ground pork, corn, jalapeno, and a poached egg
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Daikokuya’s Limited-Time Spicy Chili Mazemen Has Arrived

japanup_akane 07/27/2026

A new spicy chili mazemen has landed at Daikokuya for a limited time, made in collaboration with the Japanese noodle brand Myojo. Mazemen is a soupless, sauce-tossed style of ramen, and this one comes loaded with ground pork, corn, jalapeño, and a poached egg for a spicy, appetite-stirring bowl. Be sure to try the “oikameshi” finish too: add white rice to the leftover sauce and toppings for a second round of flavor. What’s in the Spicy Chili Mazemen The bowl piles on ground pork, fried onions, green onions, corn, seaweed, jalapeño, and a poached egg, all brought together by Daikokuya’s…

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