We test out Daiso’s new sleeping bag to see if it can provide the ultimate comfort

Who needs high-end gear when you can go to a 100 yen store?

If you’re an avid reader of SoraNews24, you already know how much we love Daiso. Whether it’s potato chip makers or spoons for eating curry, Daiso knows how to make quality products affordable. So when our Japanese language reporter Go Hatori heard that Daiso released a new sleeping bag ahead of camping season in Japan, he had to try it out on his rooftop balcony.

▼ At first glance, it’s definitely a decent-looking size.

As you can tell by the price tag, though, it doesn’t come at the usual price of 100 yen – it’s priced at 1,000 yen (US$9.18) instead. Considering its decent dimensions of 75 centimetres by 180 centimetres (2.46 by 5.9 feet) and the fact that it comes with its own storage bag, we’d say that’s pretty reasonable.

▼ It doesn’t take up that much space when it’s properly stored, too.

The catch is that it’s only recommended for use in temperatures of at least 15 degrees Celcius (59 degrees Fahrenheit), so you might want to save this for summer or bring another blanket if the temperature dips below that.

▼ But just imagine the nights spent in the great outdoors inside this steal!

Go thought it looked pretty warm, and he discovered something even better when he unzipped the sleeping bag.

▼ The zipper is secured at the top with an extra Velcro buckle, by the way.

When you spread it out, it suddenly has so much more space! You could use it for so much more than just a sleeping bag.

▼ It could be great as just a blanket or even a layer of padding for your whole tent.

It was finally time for Go to give it a go on his rooftop balcony. He bundled himself into the envelope and closed it up.

▼ He already looks snuggled in.

Then he moved around a bit like a worm to see how comfortable it would be in different positions.

▼ A little adjusting here…

▼ A little thrashing there…

Final verdict: Go thinks it’s pretty warm and comfortable!

▼ He’s snug as a bug in a rug (or a caterpillar in a sleeping bag).

Go also thought that with all of the great things 100 yen shops are releasing now – tents, hammocks, grills, and even chairs – you could have a complete camping experience just by shopping there!

▼ This could be Go’s next staycation.

So if you’re considering a camping trip in Japan but you don’t want to shell out a ton of cash for the event, try stopping by your local Daiso first. You’ll find everything you need plus a few things you didn’t know you needed.

Photos ©SoraNews24
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Traveling Ghibli Expo announces it’s ending soon, but there might be a silver lining

Expo is making one last stop before shutting down.

For the last six years, the Ghibli Expo has been traveling around Japan, delighting fans (including us) in nearly a dozen venues that have hosted the artistic celebration of the studio’s anime films. The next stop on the tour is Aichi Prefecture, but bittersweetly it’s also the last stop on the tour.

The Ghibli Expo will be coming to a close when it finishes its upcoming run at the Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art in the city of Nagakute. Still, that knowledge can only put so much of a damper on the excitement and wonder visitors will feel as they gaze upon the exhibits, such as a gigantic recreation of My Neighbor Totoro’s Catbus.

Moving to non-feline-based modes of transportation, Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki’s lifelong love of aviation is reflected in the inventive lineup of aircraft that soar through the skies of his films. Several of the most famous will be on display as large-scale models in the exhibition’s Flying Machines of Studio Ghibli installation, with the crown jewel being the airship from the opening scene of Castle in the Sky, complete with rotating propellers.

▼ Aircraft from Porco Rosso and The Wind Rises will also be on display.

The Poster Room portion of the expo is a practice in understatement. Yes, it’s where you’ll see theatrical posters for the various Ghibli films, but there’s also a wealth of production sketches and illustrations collected from the past 35 years of Ghibli history, some of which were never displayed to the public prior to the expo.

Totoro himself will also be on-site to greet guests at the Totoro Bar. While no drinks are served, the countertop lounge is a recreation of the one inside the Studio Ghibli office in suburban Tokyo, where staff hold casual, intimate meetings.

And last, the Ghibli Warehouse is a collection of memorable merchandise and published books related to the studio’s animated works.

The Ghibli Expo at the Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art starts on July 17, with tickets only available by pre-purchase (online reservations start here on June 1). It’s scheduled to run until September 23, but the good news is that once it finishes that still might not mean goodbye forever. The expo’s “Ghibli Warehouse” portion sounds similar to the “Ghibli’s Giant Warehouse” section that will be part of the Ghibli Park theme park set to open in Aichi in 2022, so there’s a good chance that once the expo winds down the items on display will be headed to a permanent home inside the park.

Related: Ghibli Expo official website
Source, images PR Times
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Japanese netizen moves into new apartment, gets greeted by shriveled surprise in the oven【Pics】

Ummm…thanks?

Moving to another place is a cocktail of complicated emotions: excitement, stress, worry, and perhaps relief at the end of the process. From finding the right city to preparing the logistics, there’s a lot that can go right and a lot that can go wrong. But for one Japanese netizen, who was checking out their new abode before the big move, an unexpected offering was awaiting in the kitchen oven.

Things were going as usual for the netizen, Legend Tamura (@onani_shun), when inspecting their new home until they reached the kitchen. Of course, one of the natural things to do when examining any kitchen is to check the state of its appliances, but when the netizen cracked open the oven, instead of finding an empty grate and maybe some leftover residue from the previous occupant’s baking adventures, what greeted them was an already baked sweet potato.

▼ This feels like the punchline to some joke, but what’s the joke?

Baked sweet potatoes, known as yaki imo in Japanese, can be enjoyed year-round, though their toasty yellow insides and sweet but mild fragrance are especially popular on chilly autumn days.

Upon closer inspection of this sweet potato, one can see a few welts of brown along its dry skin, no doubt not the nicest thing to witness on a busy day. Whether it’s just mold or the potato’s baked skin mummified over time, we’ll never know, but it’s highly possible the previous occupant of Legend Tamura’s new place baked the potato and simply forgot about it, which happens to the best of us.

▼ Or this could just be a very drawn out prank, though I’d be a little sore someone wasted a sweet potato like that.

新居確認しにきたら前の人が焼いた芋が残ってたんだがwwwwwwwwwww pic.twitter.com/z97r5m1Elh

— レジェンドたむら (@onani_shun) April 20, 2021

Japanese netizens reacted in delight, amusement, and speculation:

“Now that you’ve posted a pic of this potato, the person who formerly lived there knows who’s taking over after them.”
“So how’s the taste?”
“I think the only right thing to do here is to return the potato to its rightful owner.”
“Maybe this is a housewarming gift from your landlord?”
“That sweet potato looks pretty well-baked.”
“Take care of the potato. It’s probably tuber important to the previous occupant.”

Shriveled and possibly forgotten sweet potatoes aside, at least this situation seems a lot easier to clean up versus an actual bamboo stalk growing through your kitchen floor.

Source, images: Twitter/@onani_shun via Hachima Kiko
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New system in Japan lets you pay for shopping with anime character keychains【Photos】

It’s not just e-money, it’s ani-money.

If you’re an anime fan, at some point your love of Japanese animation is going to have you reaching for your wallet. You could be treating yourself to something splashy, like a limited-edition figure or Blu-ray box set, or maybe it’s just a fun little impulse buy, like a keychain of your favorite character.

But what if that keychain itself was your wallet?

That’s the idea behind the new Oshiharai Keyholder, which combines the Japanese words oshi, otaku slang for “favorite character,” and harai/”payment.” Developed by Sony, the Oshiharai Keyholder uses the company’s FeliCa IC card technology to combine an anime keychain with a prepaid e-money card.

Despite the embedded technology, the Oshiharai Keyholder is still just three millimeters (1.12 inches) thick, roughly the same as a normal character keychain.

The keychain works with Rakuten’s Edy e-money system, which is widely accepted in Japan at retailers and vending machines and allows you to pay simply by tapping a receptor pad.

▼ Homura helping to buy some Pocari Sweat, hot green tea, or other delicious Japanese vending machine soft drink

The initial batch of Oshiharai Keyholders features two characters from dark magical girl franchise Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Madoka Kaname and Homura Akemi. Preorders open May 1 here through the Aniplex Plus online store, priced at 2,980 yen (US$29), and with delivery scheduled for June. Quantities are limited, but since Sony is billing these as the “first round,” it’s probably only a matter of time before Oshiharai Keyholders for other franchises start showing up too.

Source: Sony (1, 2)
Images: Sony
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Power up like Godzilla with new limited-edition Godzilla Energy Drink

King of the Monsters sets out to become King of the Energy Drinks too.

Godzilla vs. Kong has been out in theaters and on HBO MAX in the U.S. for a few weeks now, and its Japanese premiere is right around the corner. So in celebration of the latest Hollywood Monsterverse film, Japanese vending machine company and drink vender Cheerio Japan is selling a limited-edition Godzilla energy drink!

Godzilla Energy is a rich, full-bodied energy drink that allows you to feel the raw, unfiltered power of Godzilla. This drink is packed with fueling ingredients like guarana seed and maca root extract, and it has 630 milligrams of arginine and 210 milligrams of caffeine, putting it in the top tier of energy drinks being sold in Japan right now.

“During these difficult times, we want to supply lots of people with the vigorous power of Godzilla,” says Cheerio.

And just like Godzilla, this can is huge! It contains a full 500 milliliters (nearly 17 fluid ounces) of energy drink, so be sure to have one on hand for when you’re about to face a powerful foe or a great challenge. The liquid inside is a deep purple, reminiscent of Godzilla’s power, but it also has an iridescence to it that makes it change color depending on the light and the angle.

The can design is also awesome. It features a single illustration of Godzilla blasting the nutritional information label with his atomic breath, destroying it as if it were just another building in Tokyo. The neon coloring has a great impact that will look cool sitting on your desk at work even after you’ve finished drinking it.

Godzilla Energy is on sale now in Cheerio vending machines in the Chubu, Kansai, and Okinawa regions of Japan; at some mass marketers around the country; and on Cheerio’s online shop. Prices will vary based on the retailer, but Cheerio sells one case of 24 cans online for 4,800 yen (US$44.08). Why not bring a can with you to Nijigen no Mori theme park in Hyogo, to give you the courage to zipline into Godzilla’s mouth?

Source, images: PR Times
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Resident Evil’s vampire lady is now adorable puppet, promises new game isn’t scary at all【Video】

Domito-onee-san just wants us all to sing and paint very, very red pictures together.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard was a return to form for the franchise, distancing itself from the generic action-movie-style set pieces of Resident Evil 6 and bringing the focus back to the dark, suspenseful atmosphere that made the series unique among its rivals. Well, at least that’s what people who actually played Resident Evil 7 will tell you.

But not everyone plated it, and developer Capcom wanted to know why. So they held a survey asking people who didn’t buy the game why they passed on it, and the number-one response was “It looked too scary.” So to address this flaw, Capcom has put together a video to reassure us that the upcoming Resident Evil Village is absolutely not scary, starring a puppet cast of the game’s characters.

Titled Let’s Play together in Bio Village (“Bio” coming from Biohazard, the Resident Evil franchise’s name in Japan), the star of the show, naturally, is Village’s Internet-famous giant vampire lady Alcina Dimitrescu, except here everyone calls her Domito-onee-san, or “Big Sister Dimit.”

Domito-onee-san is joined by her best friends Moreau-kun (Salvatore Moreau), Heisen-san (Karl Heisenberg), and Angie. For their opening act, they all sing a song, and if you want to join in the lyrics are:

Baio no mura ni oide yo
(“Come on over to Resident Evil Village”)
Minna yukai na kazoku da yo
(“We’re all one big happy family”)
Domito-one-san! Moreau-kun! Heisen-san! Angie!
Kowa kowa kowakunai!
(“It’s not, not, not scary at all!”)

Domi-onee-san then sweetly tells everyone to grab their art supplies, because it’s time to paint pictures! She’s even been thoughtful enough to prepare buckets of…”red pigment.”

▼ If Domito-onee-san’s voice sounds familiar, it’s because she’s voiced by “eternally 17-year-old” anime voice actress Kikuko Inoue, who’s made a career out of portraying gently angelic characters.

But oh no! Moreau-kun is worried they might not have quite enough ”pigment.” Luckily, though, the assembled art supplies include a chainsaw that Heisen-san brought, and the problem is quickly solved when Moreau-kun stumbles into the razor-sharp apparatus and the group discovers that there was more “pigment” inside of him all along!

Then it’s time to start painting, accompanied by another song from Domito-onee-san:

Makka makka makkakka nan no iro?
(“What is this red, red, red, red color?”)
Wakai otoko no taieki yo
(“It’s liquid made from a young man”

Things hit a teensy little snag, though, when Domito-onee-san starts sipping the pigment, though, The sipping turns to guzzling, and before long she’s declaring “I want to drink more!”, dropping her paint brush, and swinging an axe around instead.

After a brief pause to address these technical difficulties, though, the puppets are back to remind us one more time, in song, that “Resident Evil isn’t scary!”

Obviously, there’s nothing at all suspicious going on here, but if you have so much darkness that you can’t trust the video, Resident Evil Village comes out on May 7 so you can check for yourself then. But really, would Domito-onee-san lie to us?

Source, images: YouTube/biohazard
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Chinese Embassy tweets controversial comic about U.S. democracy

China starts another Twitter war, this time fanning the flames between Japan and American relations.

In December last year, China’s foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian caused an uproar in Australia when he tweeted a doctored image of an Australian soldier holding a knife to the throat of an Afghan child, which came with the message, “Don’t be afraid, we are coming to bring you peace!”

Shocked by murder of Afghan civilians & prisoners by Australian soldiers. We strongly condemn such acts, &call for holding them accountable. pic.twitter.com/GYOaucoL5D

— Lijian Zhao 赵立坚 (@zlj517) November 30, 2020

The tweet, which came amidst an investigation into war crimes by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan, and accusations against China for the imprisonment of Uighur Muslims in concentration camps, created a rift between China and Australia relations that’s yet to be mended to this day.

Now it appears the Chinese Embassy in Japan is out to cause another diplomatic spat between nations, this time tweeting a comic criticising U.S. democracy.

▼ “When the United States brings ‘democracy’, it ends up like this.”

米国が「民主」を持って来たら、こうなります。 pic.twitter.com/ZpL4Cn8QsV

— 中華人民共和国駐日本国大使館 (@ChnEmbassy_jp) April 29, 2021

The tweet, shared less than a day ago, contains a variation on the widely shared “Death Knocking on Doors” image, which dates back to August 2013. This version shows the grim reaper, shrouded in the flag of the United States, knocking on the door of Egypt after having left the bloodied doors of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Libya, and Syria

Back in 2013, when the image first appeared as a meme criticising America’s military involvement in other countries, Egypt was facing continued political unrest following a military coup against newly elected leader Mohamed Morsy.

The exact reason why the Chinese Embassy in Japan chose to share this image now to make a statement against the U.S. remains unclear, but the image has been used recently to make a statement against China’s own foreign policies.

▼ Kenneth Roth, the Executive Director of human rights organisation Human Rights Watch, shared this tweet in January last year.

We shouldn't fool ourselves to think it will stay only in China. pic.twitter.com/e70KyzRDcJ

— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) January 1, 2020

People in Japan were shocked to see the tweet posted on the official account of the Chinese Embassy, saying:

“I thought they were trying to improve relations?”
“Is this what an embassy does?”
“They sent this out on an official embassy account??? Unbelievable.”
“Is this the official view of China, then?”
“Is it okay for diplomats in a foreign country to disseminate propaganda like this on social media?”

With the message on the tweet written in Japanese, it appears this was a message intended for the Japanese-speaking public. However, following the Twitter row between China and Australia, it was revealed that the inflammatory tweet in that situation may have been part of an orchestrated disinformation campaign, with over half of the Twitter accounts that shared and liked the tweet found to be fake.

While it’s unclear whether this latest tweet is part of a similar campaign, or if it aims to cause a diplomatic spat between Japan and the U.S., it’s certainly done nothing to improve China’s standing in the eyes of the world.

The U.S. Embassy in Japan and government officials from the U.S. and Japan are yet to comment on the tweet, and it’s unknown if they will make a statement, after the China-Australia dispute only worked to further amplify the message put out by China.

The U.S. Embassy in Japan did, however, retweet this tweet from Yokota Air Base, a United States Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force base, in Western Tokyo early this morning.

▼ “Good morning from Yokota Air Base in the sea of clouds.”

雲海の横田基地からおはようございます。 pic.twitter.com/y5qga44kQB

— Yokota Air Base 横田基地 (公式) (@374AirliftWing) April 29, 2021

All eyes are now on Twitter to see if they will take any action against the tweet and the account that tweeted it, especially as the official account for the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. has been locked by Twitter since 9 January, after a tweet referring to Uighur women as “baby-making machines” was found to have violated the company’s policy against dehumanisation.

Twitter removed that tweet, but because account owners are required to manually delete tweets that violate its rules before the account can be unlocked, this suggests that the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. is refusing to delete the tweet. It’s yet to be seen whether the Chinese Embassy in Japan will now find themselves in a similar situation.

Sources: Twitter/@ChnEmbassy_jp via Hachima Kikou 
Featured image: Twitter/@ChnEmbassy_jp
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Japanese cat enjoys walks in the rain with his adorable tiny umbrella【Photos】

Not that long ago Miru was a stray, but now he’s living the good life.

A little over two years ago, Japanese Twitter user @yukamilboy was taking his dog for a walk when he came across a stray kitten. Noticing its frail condition, he took it to a vet for an examination, then brought it home to nurse it back to health.

今日のおはようミルちゃん！朝のゴミ出し後。前後の確認も忘れません。 pic.twitter.com/dAERjIJuc3

— ゆかみるぼー (@yukamilboy) April 19, 2021

Fast forward to today and the cat, who @yukamilboy named Miru, is still part of the household. But @yukamilboy didn’t just acquire a new pet, he acquired a new pet to walk too. Ever since he was a kitten, Miru has enjoyed being carried around in a sling on strolls through the neighborhood, resting his paws on top of @yukamilboy’s hands as he’s cozily cradled.

少しだけ時間があったので朝散歩。今日も透明感があふれています。 pic.twitter.com/O9DRDCTvqH

— ゆかみるぼー (@yukamilboy) March 18, 2021

It’s a surprising hobby for a cat, seeing as how going for walks with your owner is typically more of a dog thing. However, Miru’s break with standard feline psychology doesn’t extend so far as to enjoy getting wet, so when it rains does that mean the day’s walk is cancelled?

No, it just means Miru needs an umbrella, which @yukamilboy is happy to provide.

今日は雨が降ったり止んだり。それでも散歩に行きたいらしい。 pic.twitter.com/cbs7uQCw8v

— ゆかみるぼー (@yukamilboy) April 14, 2021

With Miru sitting in the sling near his owner’s waistline, if @yukamilboy only held a for-humans umbrella above his own head the kitty would still get rained on. So instead, Miru gets a cover of his own, large enough to keep him dry, but compact enough that @yukamilboy can grip it between the fingertips of the hand on the arm he’s bracing his pet with, leaving his other hand free, ostensibly, to hold a full-sized umbrella for himself.

The clear material even keeps Miru’s view unobstructed, since @yukamilboy says he’s full of curiosity and enjoys watching the birds in the trees and the way leaves and other things rustle in the wind.

今日のおはようミルちゃん！ちょっとだけ朝散歩。だんだんと暖かくなってきたので、ミルちゃんも玄関で散歩アピールすることが多くなりました pic.twitter.com/qCIfUVwIap

— ゆかみるぼー (@yukamilboy) March 25, 2021

This isn’t to say that Miru can’t have fun when he’s indoors, though. Recently he’s into crawling into hiding under blankets, and he also enjoys just lazing about.

最近はシーツの中に入るのが好きみたい。布団の入り方、間違えてるみたいでかわいいです pic.twitter.com/EsF7xTw8ra

— ゆかみるぼー (@yukamilboy) April 25, 2021

今日もゴロン遊び(男の戦い)をしています。ちょっと離れたところでお腹を見せて寝転ぶのが可愛いです。 pic.twitter.com/JwkkVw4veh

— ゆかみるぼー (@yukamilboy) April 16, 2021

Basically, he and @yukamilboy can be happy together rain or shine, which sounds like the perfect owner/pet relationship.

Source: Twitter/@yukamilboy via IT Media
Images: Twitter/@yukamilboy
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Culinary cosplayer shows how to make a Super Mario Yoshi egg sandwich

A super-easy trick lets you make Nintendo magic happen in your kitchen.

When you boil it down, cosplay is all about using real-world materials to recreate cool stuff from a fictional universe. So if you’re a cosplayer who’s also a patissier, like Japanese Twitter user @sucurepan, it’s probably not too long until you go beyond doing that with just clothing and start doing it with food too.

So when @sucurepan recently made lunch, it wasn’t just a way to satisfy a craving for an egg sandwich, but also an opportunity to recreate some charming classic art from Nintendo’s Super Mario video game franchise.

ヨッシーの卵の作り方を最近学んだので、お昼にヨッシーの卵サンドプレートを作りました pic.twitter.com/SdNaVb3BOx

— パン (@sucurepan) April 25, 2021

This salute is to Mario’s trusty dino mount Yoshi, and specifically the adorable Yoshi eggs that he lays. Obviously, unless you happen to live in the Mushroom Kingdom you can’t just go pick these up at your neighborhood grocery store, but it turns out they’re actually quick and easy to make, as long as you’ve got a circular icing/piping tip.

Start by using the tip to remove a shallow circle from the surface of a boiled egg. Next, use the same tip to cut out round pieces of ham or brightly colored vegetables, like the carrot and pepper @sucurepan used. Apply them to the eggs, and presto, now you’ve got Yoshi eggs!

▼ Don’t have an icing tip handy? @sucurepan says a straw will do in a pinch.

うずらの卵の表面を口金で丸く抜き、そこに野菜やハムを丸く抜いた物を詰めてヨッシーの卵を作りました
考えた人すごいしキャラ弁作ってる人もすごい笑 pic.twitter.com/Ud7UtImQJn

— パン (@sucurepan) April 25, 2021

If you’re wondering about the compact size of the eggs, @sucurepan used uzura, or quail eggs, which are commonly available in Japanese supermarkets. If you don’t have access to them where you shop, though, the technique should work just as well with full-sized chicken eggs, as long as you have a similarly larger-diameter icing tip.

As for the rest of what’s on the plate, Yoshi himself is some cleverly sculpted avocado on top of potato salad. The super mushrooms are once again eggs, wearing cherry tomato slices as hats, but @sucurepan says red radish will work too.

▼ A sample of @sucurepan’s cosplay

そういえば今月でコスプレを初めてした日から３年だ！と思いコス写真まとめ直しました(キャラも増えたので)
ポージングとかまだまだですが色んなカメラマンさんに撮って頂いてありがたやです pic.twitter.com/Ef0ZazHZ2L

— パン (@sucurepan) August 27, 2020

With Universal Studios currently closed to visitors, there are no doubt a lot of Mario fans who’re bummed about having to wait for their chance to visit the Super Nintendo World expansion and eat at Toad’s Cafe. But with @sucurepan showing us how to make our own Super Mario-themed food, that wait is now a little easier.

Source, images: Twitter/@sucurepan
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