Yakuza vending machines coming to real-world Tokyo neighborhood that inspired Like a Dragon games

Do you love Kamurocho?

One of the best parts of Sega’s Like a Dragon video game franchise, until recently known as Yakuza in the west, is the sense of place it creates for its in-game environments. In particular, Kamurocho, the fictional downtown Tokyo neighborhood in which the majority of the games take place, is a dense mix of elegant private clubs and dive bars, glittering skyscrapers and dank alleys, making it the perfect setting for Like a Dragon’s tales of ruthless ambition, tearful revenge, and business-savvy chickens.

However, Sega did get a pretty big head start on designing Kamurocho, because it’s heavily modeled after the real-world Kabukicho, an entertainment district located in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward. Now the cycle of art imitating life and life imitating art is starting another round as official Like a Dragon vending machines are going to be installed in Kabukicho, stocked with official tourist souvenir-style “I love Kamurocho” T-shirts and other merch.

Each of the machines will feature a member of the games’ cast, with original protagonist Kazama Kiryu represented, naturally. Other machines will be graced by new leading man Ichiban Kasuga, serial scene-stealer Goro Majima, periodic prison inmate Taiga Saejima, and organized crime scion Daigo Dojima.

The machines will be stocked with “I love Kamurocho” T-shirts (3,900 yen [US$26]), which feature the Kamurocho gate motif on the back…

…character key chains (1,100 yen)…

…and acrylic art blocks (1,500 yen).

Note that the T-shirt is available only in large and extra-large sizes, so you’ll have to take Like a Dragon’s bombastic tone to heart and live large for the best fit, it seems.

The machines will be installed on December 8, with their locations to be revealed soon through the official Ryu ga Gotoku Twitter account.

The collection is also scheduled to be available for purchase online starting January 8, but there’s an added incentive to make the rounds of the vending machines. On the front of each of them will be a QR code which you can scan with your phone’s camera, and scanning all five will let you enter a drawing for a special, as-yet undisclosed prize.

Oh, and if you’ve got your heart set on one of the acrylic art blocks but don’t manage to snag one before they’re gone? We can show you how to make one yourself with just a few items from the 100 yen store.

Source: PR Times via Hachima Kiko
Top image: Twitter/@ryugagotoku
Insert images: PR Times
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Forbidden area at Japanese mountaintop shrine opens to the public for first time in 400 years

Be one of the first outsiders in centuries to enter this secret sacred area.

Japan has an abundance of beautiful shrines, but if you’re looking to visit one that’s among the most sacred and revered, you’ll want to make a trip to Kunozan Toshogu Shrine in Shizuoka Prefecture.

This shrine recently received a boom in popularity after it was featured in the year-long historical taiga drama Dousuru Ieyasu (“What Will You Do, Ieyasu?“) which was broadcast on national television in 2023. The drama followed the story of Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616), the first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled Japan from 1603-1868. His rule brought an end to civil wars in Japan, ushering in a peaceful period where culture and society was able to flourish, making him an incredibly important figure in Japanese history.

The shogun’s story lives on at Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, as this is where where Tokugawa Ieyasu is enshrined, according to his wishes for a mausoleum atop Mount Kunozan. This connection to Japan’s first shogun has made the shrine popular with tourists over the centuries, but during the 400-plus years it’s existed, there’s been one area that’s always been off limits to the  public.

That’s about to change soon, though, as the shrine is opening the area to a limited number of people for three days only, and we were invited to view the secret site as part of a press tour prior to its special opening.

▼ Our guide was Yo Saito, who works at Kunozan Toshogu Shrine.

The forbidden area, previously only seen by priests at the shrine, is being opened to the public as part of a tie-up with Central Japan Railway (JR Tokai) to promote Mt Fuji and the Tokai region in and around Shizuoka Prefecture. On clear days you can enjoy spectacular views of Mt Fuji from Mount Kunozan, where the shrine is located, and the area being opened to the public covers the trail from the precincts to the summit. This lets you view Atago Shrine at the top of the mountain, and gives you tantalising glimpses of the remains of Kuno Castle, which predates the building of the shrine some 400 years ago. 

The approximately three-hour tour starts at the shrine, which is a national treasure, where participants will stop for private worship.

The shrine is a masterpiece of architecture from the Edo period (1603-1868) which everyone should see at least once in their lifetimes. The story behind the building itself is also incredibly interesting, with some parts of the interior purposely left as they were in a specific era so you can see how repairs were made over time.

Surprisingly, the stories told here by the priests are filled with information that isn’t available online. For example, the tatami mats with red edges (ungenberi) that are laid between these stones have a different structure from modern tatami mats, and because there are no longer any craftsmen who specialise in the craft, it’s impossible to ever recreate them.

Another interesting story involves the lacquering and repainting of the shrine, which takes place every 50 years. The last repaint was completed in 2006, which means it shouldn’t take place again until 2056, but Mr Saito revealed that the restoration work has already begun…30 years in advance.

▼ At this point, Mr Saito pulled out a wooden board to demonstrate why.

This board shows how the lacquer used in the shrine building is split up into over 30 layers, with the paint needing to be stripped back before the layers are applied to give the final result.

It’s an incredibly time-consuming task, and you can see the effects in some sections already, with the darker area below representing the new work and the lighter area being the part that needs redoing.

After praying and receiving spiritual training at the shrine, tour participants head towards the forbidden area from behind the building.

▼ This is the first time in 400 years for the forest area to be viewed by members of the public.

The trees on the mountain had remained untouched for 400 years, but some recently reached a point where they could pose a danger to buildings, so they were cut down as a safety measure.

Heading deeper into the forbidden area takes you into parts that are more overgrown, and we we were shown three valuable sites previously unknown to the public.

▼ One is this staircase, which was used by military commanders when the site was a castle.

▼ The second site of interest is this moat, which also belonged to Kuno Castle.

Most of the remains of Kuno Castle were lost due to construction of the Nihondaira Ropeway, so it’s thought that not much remains. However, the area on the west side from around the main shrine of Toshogu Shrine to the summit is untouched, so for this reason, the remains of the castle are still intact in some places. This gives you exciting glimpses into the past as you make your way up the mountain, with stone walls and trenches being irresistible sites of interest for castle enthusiasts.

This site has never been excavated, and with a history dating back to the 7th century, the chances of unearthed gems existing below ground are incredibly high.

▼ The third site of interest is the small torii gate at the top of these stairs, with an equally small shrine beyond it.

This shrine is said to be dedicated to Kuno Tadahito, who built Kunoji Temple during the reign of Emperor Suiko, before Kuno Castle was built. This mountain gets its name from Kuno Tadahito, and no member of the public will have ever seen this special shrine before now.

Another amazing discovery is the existence of so-called “Izu stones” used during the building of Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, which are difficult to obtain as they can no longer be mined. 

The history of the past, where the site changed from a castle to a shrine, is also evident in the trees, with some of them being completely wild, and others appearing to have been planted with regularity. The entire mountain is like an ancient ruin from the past, with interesting terrain and artefacts waiting to be discovered, but the final destination is the one that will really take your breath away.

▼ Atago Shrine, at the top of the mountain, is definitely one of the least visited shrines in all of Japan.

With the area being concealed from the public for roughly 400 years, nobody other than shrine priests were ever able to confirm its existence. It’s a breathtaking experience to view something so rare in Japan, and making it even more special is the fact that Kunozan Toshogu Shrine and Nikko Toshogu Shrine, which make up the two most famous shrines connected to the Tokugawa clan, sit in a straight line with Mt Fuji in the middle. 

Although you can’t view Mt Fuji directly from Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, the straight-line location connects it to the myth and legend of the mountain and the Tokugawa shogunate.

▼ Participants also receive a special Goshuin shrine stamp as a memento of the unique tour.

▼ The goshuin is beautifully made, and given to you before entering the forbidden area so you can imbue it with sacred energy.

The tour looks set to be an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but you’ll have to be quick to take part, as it’s limited to only 20 people each day, at a cost of 7,000 yen (US$45.29) per person, and is only available on three dates: 14 December, 2024; 25 January, 2025; 2 March, 2025. For more information, check out the special campaign page, where you can make your bookings. If temples are more your thing, though, then you’ll love this hidden gem in Nara Prefecture.

Site information
Kunozan Toshogu Shrine / 会津さざえ堂
Address: Shizuoka-ken, Shizuoka-shi, Suruga-ku, Negoya 390
静岡市駿河区根古屋390
Hours: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Website

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Domino’s erupts with a 1kg Cheese Volcano in Japan

We find out if this monstrosity tastes as cheesy as it looks.  

On 18 November, Domino’s started selling a 1kg Cheese Volcano, which is the chain’s third-ever volcano pizza, following on from its original debut in January, and the Halloween-themed edition released last month.

▼ A key feature of the volcano is the “crater” of cheesy lava which you can dip your slices into

▼ Now, the volcano is bigger than ever, with a whole kilo (2.2 pounds) of cheese used in this latest release.

Image: Press release

We were fortunate enough to try this cheesy monstrosity at a press event prior to its official release, where representatives for the chain told us the reason behind its creation, saying, “Cheese sells!

Cheese certainly does sell, and this one contains 720 grams of mozzarella cheese and 280 grams of cheddar cheese sauce for a rich flavour. Receiving a box of our own to try, we opened the lid to reveal…

▼ …the cheesy volcano!

Though we knew this would be cheesy, the topping here was crazy. It was as if the pizza had disappeared beneath the lava after a massive cheese eruption, and after picking up a slice, we felt the heaviness of the cheese.

We hadn’t felt a slice quite this heavy before, and when we dipped it in the crater and took a bite, it felt totally immoral. You wouldn’t want to eat one of these on your own, as you may never recover from the sense of guilt after eating a kilo of cheese, but for sharing with friends, this would be a fun and tasty treat.

The dipping process gives this pizza a uniqueness that makes it extra fun to eat, but it’ll only be around for a limited time until 22 December, priced from 3,690 yen (US$23.83) for take-out and 4,430 yen for delivery.

Related: Domino’s Pizza Japan
Images ©SoraNews24
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Starbucks Japan unveils second Holiday Frappuccino for 2024

A “thrilling beverage” to get you in the holiday mood.

With the festive season fast approaching, things are heating up at Starbucks, with the chain announcing its second holiday Frappuccino of the year: the Merry Berry Strawberry Frappuccino.

Designed to deliver a taste that’s full of strawberries, this beverage has a mound of pulp at the bottom of the cup, so you can enjoy the intense flavour of the fruit from the very first sip. The body of the drink contains a mellow strawberry milk, with a generous strawberry sauce slathered around the sides, so you can alter the intensity of the flavour as you make your way through the drink.

Up top is the chain’s special “Merry Cream”, made with mascarpone and white chocolate, with sparkling silver sugar creating a holiday feel.

Joining the Frappuccino, which will be on the menu priced from 687 yen (US$4.46), is the Merry Berry Strawberry Milk, which will be available in Short through to Venti sizes, priced from 550-690 yen. This strawberry milk-flavoured beverage combines strawberry sauce and white mocha-flavoured syrup with steamed milk to create a good balance of sweetness and sourness, as the rich sweetness of the syrup mellows out the tartness of the fruity sauce. Like the Frappuccino, it too contains a Merry Cream topping, for extra richness and holiday cheer.

The Merry Cream is so good it’ll be offered as a limited-time customisation, with the Merry Cream Latte leading the way as a shining example of how well the topping can enhance any beverage on the menu. The customisation on its own costs 55 yen, while the Merry Cream Latte will be available in Short through to Venti sizes, from 501-640 yen.

Another recommended beverage is the Merry Cream Joyful Medley Tea Latte, which will be on the menu for a limited time. Starbucks Rewards members will want to pick this one up next time they visit, as they’ll be able to enjoy it at the discounted, customisation-free price of 540 yen.

The Merry Cream Joyful Medley Tea Latte will only be discounted for members from 4-10 December, but the latte, customisation, Frappuccino, and Milk will all be on the menu from 22 November to 25 December.

Source, images: Press release
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Looking for cinnamon rolls on “Japan’s closest street to America”【Taste test】

Nothing, But Sugar’s name doesn’t really check out, but do their desserts pass the test?

As a team of dedicated wordsmiths and vocabu-liers, we here at SoraNews24 believe that the proper use of language is an important responsibility. So ordinarily we might cluck our tongues, gnash our teeth, and shoryuken the ceiling at the name of Nothing, But Sugar, a shop we visited in the town of Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. Not only does that comma have no business being there, Nothing, But Sugar actually has more than just sugar on offer.

However, we’re not only sticklers when it comes to language, but also sweets fans with a ravenous hunger for desserts, and so we’ll give Nothing, But Sugar a pass on its linguistic oddities, since its store is filled with cinnamon rolls.

A little geographic background: Yokosuka was one of east Japan’s first major ports, and is also the site of a large U.S. Navy base. That makes the town a bit of a cultural melting pot, especially on Dobuitadori, or Dobuita Street, which is lined with shops selling Americana and vintage U.S. fashions, as well as Yokosuka’s representative apparel, the sukajan (a style of embroidered silk baseball/bomber jacket), as well as hamburger joints and bars with a classic American aesthetic. Because of that, Dobuita is sometimes called “Japan’s closest street to America,” and as of 2021, it’s also home to Nothing But Sugar, a shop specializing in American sweets.

Originally, Nothing But Sugar sold muffins, pudding, and cinnamon rolls. These days, though, they’re strictly a cinnamon roll specialty shop, though they plan on brining the pudding back soon, which is perhaps why they haven’t just changed their name to Nothing But Cinnamon Rolls. With cinnamon rolls being much harder to find in Japan than pudding, though, we weren’t complaining about the current focused specialization, especially since there were a few different cinnamon roll variations in the display case when we walked in.

Rather than waste any time pretending we were going to limit ourselves to just one, we quickly settled on a three-pack of regular-size cinnamon rolls for 2,660 yen (US$17/50). We should note that Nothing But Sugar seems to be using the American standard of what “regular-size” is, which makes them quite big for desserts in Japan (again, this is not a complaint). They also have small-size muffins for 480 yen, in case your appetite isn’t quite as big as ours.

Back at the SoraNews24 taste-testing center, we could have just started scarfing down, but we managed to control those urges just long enough to pop the cinnamon roll in the microwave for a minute, and as mouthwatering as it looked before being warmed up…

…it looked 10 times more so afterwards!

As enticing as this melty cascade of cream cheese frosting was to look at, though, we couldn’t help but notice our cinnamon roll didn’t have much of a cinnamon-y aroma, either before or after its stint in the microwave. However, when we sliced off a piece to get some cross-section photos and keep our fingers from getting covered in frosting, it was like we’d cracked open a safe filled with olfactory treasures, as amazing cinnamon smells swiftly emanated from the roll’s interior layers.

Taking a bite, we found the texture pretty much perfect, softer and fluffier than a sice of bread or muffin, yet firmer and more satisfying than flimsy sponge cake. The flavor was excellent as well, unabashedly sweet, with the whole grain flour and cane sugar making the dough delicious and the generous sprinkling of cinnamon sugar on top only adding to the appeal.

We’d also picked out a blueberry cinnamon roll, which feels especially unique in Japan, where blueberries don’t pop up as often in cereals, pastries, and the like as they do in the U.S.

▼ Made with blueberry compote, the flavor is sweet and fruity with a gentle touch of tartness.

Finally, our third selection was a walnut cinnamon roll.

Not only are there walnuts mixed in with the frosting, there are chunks of them inside the cinnamon roll too, giving it some extra crunchy complexity as you chew.

So in the end, Nothing, But Sugar went three for three in our taste test, so they can call themselves whatever they like, and we’ll still love them.

Shop information
Nothing, But Sugar / ナッシングバットシュガー
Address: Kanagawa-ken, Yokosuka-shi, Honcho 2-1
神奈川県横須賀市本町2丁目1
Open 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
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