The latest with Japan includes Priyanka Yoshikawa, a Japanese-Indian haafu, being crowned as Miss Japan, the teamLab “DMM.Planets” finishing off in great success, a couple of typhoons going in and out of the country all while the Democratic Party candidates heat up with their campaigning for its leadership Election next week. Underneath all of these much-buzzed topics are the many exciting pop-culture embedded items and happenings that bring joy to our lives and give us a good giggle. Here are a couple that we wanted to highlight!

Do it Yourself.

Eating some odango (mochi balls) underneath a bright red traditional Japanese umbrella in a Japanese confectionary store in Kyoto that’s been up and running for over 100 years is as Japanese as it gets. There’s beauty in perfecting the Japanese experience to the t, but you’ve got to admit that it’s great when something can be done from the comforts of your own home — which brings us to this amazing cooking toy that allows you to make as many mochi balls as you wish, straight from your cozy house. Mega House, which is pretty much a company that makes all the cooking toys you wish you had (choices include donut maker, crepe maker, popsicle maker, amongst others. Click here for the whole selection) so it’s no surprise that they’re the creators behind this incredible invention.

Plus, you’ll be happy to hear that all you need is rice, potato starch, water and sugar. We assume you probably have three out of the four things you need, lying in your home. (Guess which?) Dump all of that in the machine and spin the handle, stick it in a microwave, take it out, and spin the handle again for a designated number of times and voila! An odango party sounds so appropriate for the month of September, since this is the month to dip into the Japanese tradition of Otsukimi (moon watching) and the accompanying sweet is…(drum roll, please) surprise! Odango! Available at all toy stores starting September, do Otsukimi the right way this year with this fun little DIY kit!

Details：http://www.megahouse.co.jp/megatoy/products/item/2029/ (Only in Japanese)

Strike a Pose in a Well-Protected Samurai Outfit

It was May of this year that Shibuya opened the Samurai Armor Photo Studio, where you could be a Samurai for a day by dressing in their perfect Samurai outfits and get pictures taken as proof if ever anyone questions that “one day you dabbled in Samurai-dom.” With their ever-exciting concept of dressing like a samurai (seriously though, who wouldn’t?), they’ve taken their photoshoots to the next level by allowing customers to go on a 2-hour stroll out on the streets of Shibuya, where Samurais-for-the-day can get a whopping 170 cuts taken in the best spots chosen by the photographers of the Studio, such as in front of the Hachi-ko Statue as you can tell from the picture above. If you’re looking to experience something that screams only in Japan in your face, this has got to be it. Have fun with it, just roll with it, and live your life out as a Samurai for 120 minutes.

Details: http://samurai.bz/en/index.html

Aragehonji Might Just be the Best Band You’ve Never Heard

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Japanese traditional music, Min’yō is one genre that emerged way back in the 12th century. To get a sonic idea, think matsuri — and for those of you who don’t know what that’s like, watch this. Fast forward to now, we live in a century where those digits are flipped over, and hybridizing two or more factors that you never would’ve imagined coming together is the ultimate way of keeping things fresh. In a world where everything is slowly becoming a replica of a replica of a replica, this is one of the few ways to defeat this dilemma. (Save us from being ordinary!) Example: Wagakki Band creates sounds that are a crossover of Japanese traditional instruments as well as Western instruments (guitar, drums, etc.) Example: the entire 80s comeback. Etc. Although this sounds a lot like recycling, recycling is quite the beauty — and we’re truly coming to realize this now!

With that said, Aragehonji is a band that’s achieved a sound unlike any other, combining Min’yō with elements of Black music. Now that we’ve got your attention, click play on the video above to get a taste. Who knew our traditional instruments would sound so well when combined with brass instruments? (Because it does!) This 8-piece group hails from Akita masters traditional Japanese rhythms and melodies that were big in Akita back in the day and pulls off Min’yō references from across the whole nation. 2010 gave them an opportunity to perform at Fujirock’s Fujirock Rookie A-Go-Go stage, and they’ve quickly become an unmissable act that know how to get a crowd dancing at festivals ever since.

You’re just in time for their latest album “Hanaotsuto” that just got released on the 7th of September, and the above-posted “Detarame Kagura” is straight off of this super festive record. Though summer is coming to an end, rest assured you can drag it a little longer with this album in hand.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

I’ll Warm You Up, Dear.

Huggable pillows are great. They keep you snuggly in bed, and though they’re not real, the imitated cuddling action may just help in releasing those oxytocin hormones. But how would you like it when they’ve blown up into a size of height: 190cm and weight: 10kg (that’s about the same as a Japanese macaque)?  That, my dear friends, is comedian Naomi Watanabe in pillow form, and sure, this model beside her might be slightly below average weight, but that pillow looks humongous despite.

With all the insane size issue aside, what’s worth taking note of here is that anyone is eligible to win this pillow (note: there will only be one winner) by feasting on a number of Cup Noodle Light Plus’. Easy, right? Yes, this is a campaign run by NISSIN, creator of the amazing Cup Noodle, and they’re telling you to apply for this pillow because all the air conditioning here, there, everywhere during the summer makes your body grow cold, and that’s a no-no to the body. So here’s a gigantic pillow that’ll keep you warm! Turn down the AC all you want!

The application website has given us a polite reminder to check whether something of such size will fit our apartments to be sure that the big cutie can indeed be delivered to our houses. Well, thanks for the reminder! So guys, make sure you’re eligible in that sense and apply by the 30th of this month to have this big one accompany your life.

Details：http://www.cupnoodle.jp/lightplus/summer (only in Japanese)

Writer: Miku