Once dismissed overseas as resembling 'black paper,' nori is now riding the global onigiri boom into kitchens worldwide. A 3-Michelin-star Italian chef uses nori pesto on cuttlefish, and the global market is projected to grow from $3.8B in 2025 to $6.4B by 2034. From the famous 2010 Nature paper behind the 'only the Japanese can digest nori' claim, to Japan being overtaken by Korea in production volume, here's how Japanese seaweed conquered the world.
Uber Japan has launched flight-linked pre-booking at six major airports, Haneda, Itami, Chubu, New Chitose, Naha, and Kobe, with automatic adjustment for delays and early arrivals. The new feature dramatically simplifies airport transfers for inbound travelers, though the surprising omission of Narita raises questions.
Oriental Land Company, operator of Tokyo Disney Resort, posted record revenue of 704.5 billion yen ($4.4 billion) for fiscal 2026, yet operating profit fell, and the stock has been cut nearly in half since 2023, hitting a fresh year-low days before the earnings release. Here is what is making investors nervous about the 'house of mouse' in Japan, from shrinking margins and demographic headwinds to a 330 billion yen cruise gamble.
Yoshitaka Amano, the legendary illustrator behind Final Fantasy's iconic art, has donated fusuma (sliding door) paintings to Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Shrine. From April 25 to May 10, 2026, visitors can see these never-before-shown works themed around 'Light and Darkness.' Admission about $6.30. A rare opportunity for fans and art lovers alike.
On April 22, 2026, the world's first global matcha industry body launched in Tokyo. Led by 28-year-old tea master Ryo Iwamoto, the International Matcha Association (IMA) brings together the CEO of the Specialty Coffee Association, UC Davis tea scholars, and Future Food Institute to tackle counterfeiting and the absence of international standards in a $4.4 billion global market.
Ainoshima, a tiny island off Fukuoka, is home to roughly 200 cats that outnumber its 270 human residents. Named one of CNN's top 6 cat spots worldwide, this heart-shaped island is going viral again on TikTok and Instagram in spring 2026. Discover the fishing village coexistence, TNR efforts, and how to visit.
Kunio Okawara, the legendary mechanical designer who created Gundam's Mobile Suits, will design Seibu Railway's new tourist limited express debuting in 2028. Running from Shinjuku to Kawagoe, aka 'Little Edo', the train pairs Japanese anime heritage with access to Edo-period streetscapes and the scenic Chichibu region.
Studio Ghibli's first-ever original short made specifically for Ghibli Park, A Night in the Valley of Witches, premieres July 8, 2026 at Cinema Orion in Aichi. Complete guide for international fans: director backgrounds, ticket strategy, and overseas screening prospects.
Otafuku Holdings subsidiary Nakagawa has completed a new tenkasu (tempura crumb) factory in Omura, Nagasaki, boosting output from 4,200 to 6,300 tons annually, a 1.5x jump aimed at Europe and beyond. A deep dive into what tenkasu is, how it powers okonomiyaki and udon culture, the rise of tempura crumbs in sushi rolls overseas, and how it compares to Britain's beloved chip-shop 'scraps'.
Japan welcomed a record 42.68 million visitors in 2025 with tourism spending hitting 9.5 trillion yen. Yet many ultra-wealthy foreigners bypass Japan's celebrated ryokan and pick global brands like Aman, Bulgari, and Marriott. Here's why the gap between Japanese hospitality and global luxury standards matters — and why the rest of us travel differently.
JR Central reveals 'Doctor S', the successor to the beloved Doctor Yellow inspection train. Based on the N700S Shinkansen, it will start service in October 2026 and take over track-testing duties from January 2027. Here's why Japan runs dedicated inspection trains and how you might still spot the new yellow logo.
Kyoto hotels report a 10% drop in Japanese guests for the 3rd straight year while foreign visitors rose 14.6%. Himeji Castle's new $16 dual pricing doubled revenue in month one. Data-driven analysis of Japan's tourism polarization crisis.
Japan's new Blue Ticket system fines cyclists on the spot, and yes, tourists on rental bikes are included. Here's a complete breakdown of 14 violations, fine amounts from $19 to $75, and essential tips for riding safely in Japan.
A 1,740m zipline across Japan's Kanmon Strait stalled for 2 years over funding, but Shimonoseki has restarted with a new feasibility study. The mayor declared he won't give up on this $9.4M project to fly riders at 110 km/h over samurai battlegrounds.
JR East, Japan's largest railway group, opened onigiri shop TOKYO ONIGIRI in London's Leicester Square in December 2025. Behind this unusual move, a railway company entering overseas food retail, lies the government's GOHAN Project strategy to boost Japanese rice exports. From Onigiri Summit 2026 to convenience store packaging innovations, we explore how the humble rice ball could become Japan's next global food hit after sushi and ramen.
Japan's green tea exports doubled to ¥72.1 billion in 2025, yet domestic matcha production can't keep up. As tea plantations shrink 29% in a decade and low-grade powdered tea floods global markets, the industry warns of 'matcha laundering.' Is the matcha in your latte the real thing?
In Itoigawa, Niigata, a hamlet with just 2 year-round residents has launched a 'whole-village rental' stay experience. Guests sleep in a 200-year-old farmhouse and experience the entire village, rice paddies, spring water, snow, as their accommodation. A new model for reviving Japan's vanishing communities.
Japan's food exports hit a record $11.3 billion, but what systems make that possible? From 20 miso makers uniting at FOODEX to a $13 billion inbound food tourism pipeline, from onigiri startups promoting rice in Vietnam to a Toyosu-based platform targeting 100 cities worldwide, this is the story of the infrastructure behind Japan's food globalization.
Ippudo ramen now spans 400+ locations across 15 countries. Onigiri shops draw lines in Paris. Green tea exports hit a record $480 million. Natto exports surged 60x for some producers. Japan's 2025 food exports reached a record $11.3 billion. This is how Japanese food, far beyond sushi, is fundamentally reshaping dining tables worldwide.
As global matcha demand explodes, Kagoshima is building a $17M mega-factory, Ibaraki is subsidizing new entrants, and Shizuoka is pivoting from sencha. Inside Japan's matcha production arms race.
