Twentythree

The Robot Soldier and Fox Squirrel join Sheeta and Pazu in this beautiful Laputa: Castle in the Sky figurine collection.

Just last month, Studio Ghibli wowed fans by releasing a huge collection of finger puppets, featuring characters from My Neighbour Totoro. Now, the studio is giving us another chance to wear our love for Ghibli on our fingertips, this time with some of the cast from Laputa: Castle in the Sky.

▼ The puppets are made from soft vinyl, and while they’re designed to sit on your fingers, they also work well as beautiful figurines.

▼ The first finger puppet in the collection is Sheeta, the star of the movie who falls from the sky at the start of the film. 

This is a beautiful recreation of the main character, and it even features the mysterious blue crystal that she wears around her neck.

The pendant wields many powers, and it also helps to slow her descent when she falls from the sky, so she’s able to float gently into the arms of Pazu.

Pazu also joins Sheeta for this special release, with every detail of his working-class miner’s outfit faithfully recreated in miniature form.

His hat, vest, boots, gloves and aviator-style goggles make him instantly recognisable, while his wide-eyed expression captures the earnest, can-do attitude of his character.

The expression on Pazu’s face appears to change slightly depending on the angle, allowing you to bring extra emotional range to impromptu puppet scenes.

Rounding out the collection are two other essential members of the cast.

▼ The Robot Soldier

▼ And the Fox Squirrel.

The Robot Soldier does a remarkable job of expressing emotion throughout the movie, despite remaining silent the whole time. That combination of strength and sensitivity is beautifully reflected in this finger puppet.

▼ We can now give the robot all the love and attention it deserves.

▼ The Fox Squirrel also retains its mystique, while looking like it might spring to life at any time.

Together, the two characters have the power to save the world with love and cuteness, and they look so sweet together we don’t even mind how large the Fox Squirrel looks beside the Robot Soldier.

▼ The Fox Squirrel runs around the shoulders of the robot in the movie, looking much smaller than this puppet, but who are we to question what’s right or wrong in the Ghibli universe?

These puppets are a beautiful way to keep the magical world of Ghibli at your fingertips, and they can be purchased at Donguri Kyowakoku stores and online (links below) from 10 a.m. on 5 September, priced at 770 yen (US$4.93) each.

Source: Donguri Kyowakoku
Top image: Donguri Kyowakoku
Insert images: Donguri Kyowakoku (1, 2, 3, 4)
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The Kobekatsu program could end up being better for kids than the options they had before.

Extracurricular activities are a big deal at schools in Japan, widely considered an important way for adolescents to develop a sense of responsibility and diligence while forging friendships, developing healthy fitness habits, and deepening their appreciation for the arts. In some schools all students are actually required to join one of the school’s clubs or sports teams, and even at ones without such a rule, kids who don’t participate in any extracurricular activities, facetiously called members of the “going straight home” club, are decidedly in the minority.

However, as of September 1, many middle schools in Kobe have no extracurricular activities at all.

Extracurricular activities haven’t been temporarily suspendered at those schools due to damaged athletic fields, instructor sicknesses, or other temporary conditions. A total of 82 public middle schools have completely abolished their extracurricular programs, permanently disbanding their sports teams, marching bands, art clubs, and all other such groups.

▼ This could be a photo of one of the schools’ drama clubs.

The decision, recommended by the Kobe Board of Education, was prompted by two factors. Japanese public school teachers often find themselves stretched thin trying to prepare and teach lessons for their classes while also handling duties as instructors/coaches for extracurricular activities. With overwork being something that Japanese employers have become more sympathetic toward in recent years, if something has to give in a teacher’s schedule, it makes sense that the board would want them to prioritize their lessons.

Even if teachers have enough time to serve as advisors and coaches, though, with Japan’ s dwindlig birthrates, the clubs and teams don’t always have enough members. Even before abolishing their extracurricular programs entirely, some of the schools had already had to indefinitely disband certain teams and clubs as the number of students joining them was too small to keep them viable.

The good news is that the closing down of the schools’ extracurricular programs is also opening up new opportunities for the affected students. September 1 was also the start of a new program called Kobekatsu, katsu being a shortened form of bukatsu (“extracurricular activities”). Under the Kobekatsu program, the Kobe board of education has partnered with 1,051 local community sports teams, clubs, workshops, and universities that offer programs in athletics, the arts, and technology. Students at the schools which no longer offer extracurricular activities may join any of the Kobekatsu partner programs, and they receive a stipend of between 1,500 and 3,000 yen (US$9.50-US$19) a month to help cover participation costs, which average 3,200 yen per month. There’s also a fund being set up to help with the costs of procuring necessary equipment, such as sports supplies and musical instruments.

The shift to community and privately-run programs has the potential to diminish students’ sense of school pride, as even if students have classmates in their Kobekatsu club, the club is no longer representing the school. However, there are several potential upsides, with the increased choice provided to students being the most obvious. With over 1,000 partner organizations, students will have access to activities far beyond the range that their school could offer on its own.

Sure, there’s bound to be some overlap within the available activities, but even that’s something that could work out in students’ favor. It’s not unusual for kids to have an interest snuffed out by a short-tempered coach or unfriendly teammates, causing them to resent and even hate something they might have otherwise developed a lifelong passion for. With school-run clubs, you’re stuck with those personalities; if you’re playing baseball, and the coach is a jerk, then you’re going to be playing baseball with a jerk. On the other hand, Kobekatsu definitely has more than one baseball team among its 1,051 partners, and having more than one such group to choose from gives kids more options in finding a program with the atmosphere and culture that best nurtures their interest and talents.

In addition, since Kobekatsu activity choices aren’t restricted by address in the way that public middle school enrollment is, the new program will give participants an opportunity they wouldn’t otherwise have to interact with students from other schools, hopefully helping them become more open-minded, well-rounded individuals. So while it will be sad to see the schools’ clubs come to an end, this could be the start of something very good in its own right.

Source: NewsJP/Kyodo via Itai News, Yahoo! Japan News/ABC News, Kobe Shimbun Next
Top image: Pakutaso
Insert image: Pakutaso
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Japanese convenience store chain brings the moon and rabbits to a new range of food for a limited time. 

If you’re in Japan this month, you’re in for an absolute treat as 7-Eleven is releasing a limited-edition range of treats to celebrate the upcoming Moon-Viewing festival, known as “Otsukimi” or “Tsukimi” in Japanese. With Tsukimi being celebrated on 25 September this year, 7-Eleven is giving us plenty of time to celebrate, as the new collection is being released across the country from 1 September.

The products will be easy to spot in stores, as they’re beautifully adorned with bunnies pounding rice, a nod to the Japanese belief that the markings on the moon resemble a rabbit pounding rice, and round, moon-esque ingredients like dumplings and egg feature heavily in the range.

▼ Let’s take a closer look at everything in the collection, starting with the Otsukimi Pudding Crepe (270 yen [US$1.69]), which is available from 1 September.

This soft, chewy crepe is wrapped around a smooth, custardy pudding made with egg and vanilla, and accompanied by a layer of creamy milk filling for an extra-soft mouthfeel and rich flavour.

▼ Otsukimi Roll Cake (270 yen), available from 1 September.

The classic Swiss roll gets a full-moon makeover with a generous swirl of smooth custard whipped cream inside a fluffy sponge. The presentation is simple yet striking, as the round shape is a delicious representation of the moon.

▼ Otsukimi Zenzai (346 yen), available from 15 September

As a traditional dessert, zenzai commonly contains sweetened adzuki beans, served with mochi or small, round shiratama rice dumplings. At 7-Eleven, the dessert has been transformed into a little moonlit scene, with sweet red bean paste representing the night sky, white whipped cream representing clouds and yellow shiratama rice dumplings resembling the moon.

▼ Big Moon Daifuku Custard Whip (300 yen), available from 15 September

Daifuku is a popular Japanese sweet made from soft, chewy mochi rice dough wrapped around a sweet filling. This moon-viewing version takes things to the next level in terms of size, as it’s around 8 centimetres (3.15 inches) in diameter, making it much bigger than traditional daifuku. Inside is a combination of rich custard and soft whipped cream, creating a great contrast between soft and chewy textures.

▼ Otsukimi Teriyaki Burger (378 yen), available from 9 September

Finally, we have the one savoury item in the range, which also looks set to become one of the most sought-after. Tsukimi Burgers have become popular limited-time menu items at fast food joints like McDonald’s and KFC in Japan, but they’re not a common sight at convenience stores, making this a very unique offering. The 7-Eleven Tsukimi Burger contains the salty sweet flavour of teriyaki sauce, and a fried egg designed to look like the full moon.

With careful thought given to the look and taste of each item in the collection, we can’t wait to try the entire range when all the products are in stores from 15 September. Until then, we’ll be munching on the chain’s viral flat criossants, which, when you think about it, also kind of look like the moon.

Source, images: Press release
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Workshops offer English instruction in making custom gold leaf bags, weaving bamboo baskets, and crafting samurai armor.

Many tourists descend upon the historical capital of Japan each day to appreciate its architectural beauty and cultural charm, but there are fewer who come away from their trip with a tangible traditional souvenir crafted by their own hand. Creative digital arts company Naked is launching interactive cultural workshops starting September 8, held every Tuesday and Thursday at Kyoto Station, that will give you a hands-on experience of a traditional craft.

Naked is a renowned Tokyo-based creative studio famous for blending projection mapping and digital art with historical spaces, like their previous exhibitions at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Nijo Castle, also located in Kyoto. Through their project Naked Garden One Kyoto, they aim to connect the city’s living heritage with global travelers. As part of this initiative Niwa was created in 2025 on the seventh floor of the East Square in Kyoto Station, featuring dynamic bamboo installations, a tranquil rock garden, and a light-filled modern tearoom named Kiwa.

The new rotating workshops showcase Kyoto’s traditional crafts with practical, artistic activities. You can learn the philosophy of bringing out the natural beauty of flowers through ikebana under the guidance of an instructor from Ikenobo, the founding school of Japanese flower arranging. Textile enthusiasts can try yuzen dyeing by hand-painting handkerchiefs or applying surihaku, which involves stenciling elegant gold and silver leaf onto a tote bag using provided patterns or custom images. Alternatively, you can craft a traditional shikai nami (four-seas wave) bamboo basket to take home, or tackle odoshi, the intricate samurai technique of lacing armor plates together using colorful silk cords.

Joining a session is without challenge for any prospective traveler exploring the city, being located at the city’s gateway and main transportation hub. Workshops are held every Tuesday and Thursday between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., lasting roughly 40 to 60 minutes per experience. At 4,500 yen (US$28) per person, each ticket includes a complimentary matcha latte or coffee from the Niwa cafe.

Classes hold up to six people (participation is available from just one person), require zero preparation, and offer clear English text guides alongside instruction in Japanese. It is possible to reserve spots online via KKday or Asoview, or simply walk in for same-day booking up until 4:00 p.m.. Whether you have a spare hour before catching the train to your next destination or want to kick off your Kyoto stay with some real artisan crafts, Niwa offers an easily accessible opportunity to learn a skill and walk away with a unique Japanese souvenir.

Related: Niwa Website, KKday, Asoview
Source, images: PR Times
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Name could have used some more time in the kitchen, but we still want these in our stomach ASAP.

Today we’re talking about some hearty fare, and it comes with an extra-large portion of linguistics to chew on, so let’s dig in.

One-hand Bento by Hokkahokka-tei is a relatively new spinoff from Japan’s chain of Hokkahokka-tei takeout shops that specialize in bento, or boxed lunches. Hokkahokka-tei is a national chain, but they’re headquartered in Osaka, so they had a presence at the Expo 2025 world’s fair that took place in the city, where they offered something they called the “one-hand bento,” a heaping helping of rice, vegetables, and meat, folded over so that you can hold the contents of a bento in one hand.

The one-hand bento proved to be a hit at Expo 2025, so after the event ended, the decision was made to open a permanent One-hand Bento by Hokkahokka-tei　shop inside Osaka entertainment complex Abeno Harukas. That happened back in April of this year, meaning the shop is heading into its first autumn, and so also its first tsukimi (moon-viewing) season.

In its culinary sense, tsukimi got its start with noodles, with the term referring to cracking a raw egg into the broth. From there, we’ve seen tsukimi applied to burgers featuring a fried egg, plus pizzas and sandwiches with soft-boiled eggs. That brings us to One-hand Bento by Hokkahokka-tei’s debut tsukimi creations, the debatably named One-hand Bento Tsukimi Wagyu and One-hand Bento Tsukimi Chicken.

The Tsukimi Wagyu One-hand Bento makes use of Naniwa kurogyu, a type of wagyu beef raised in Osaka Prefecture, prepared by simmering in a sweet and savory sukiyaki broth. As you can see, it also has a boiled egg. Well, half a boiled egg, technically, but the linguistic issue is that it doesn’t really look much like a moon.

With the original tsukimi noodles, fried-egg tsukimi burgers, or soft-boiled egg pizzas and sandwiches, the eggs all have a circular shape resembling the full moon, and since Japanese moon-viewing parties are traditionally held on full-moon nights, that’s why the “tsukimi” name started being given to foods. On the other hand, the moon never really looks like a half-sliced boiled egg, and even if it did, those wouldn’t be the nights on which moon-viewing is going on.

There’s a similar situation with the One-hand Bento Tsukimi Chicken (which, like the wagyu version, is priced at 756 yen [US$4.75]). Instead of wagyu beef you get teriyaki chicken, accented with a touch of spicy mayo, and sliced grilled eggplant. Once again, though, the supposed “tsukimi” qualification comes from half a boiled egg.

While we’re on the subject on linguistics, let’s take a look at the other parts of the Tsukimi One-hand Bento name. Yes, it’s true that bento contain both rice and other items, but so too do rice balls, called either onigiri or musubi in Japanese. Sure, these are some very big rice balls, with a much greater variety of fillings than the one or maybe two items you’ll find in most typical onigiri, but since they’re completely lacking a container, it’s hard to argue that they should be called bento, i.e. boxed lunches.

And as for being “one-hand,” sure, they may be big enough that you’ll need to be careful balancing them, but size-wise, you can fit them on your palm…but take a second and think about what would happen if you tried to eat them with just one hand.

Close your fingers around it, and you’re going to be squeezing directly into the topping. Even with a non-tsukimi One-hand Bento, like the one pictured above, you’re going to be digging your digits into something meaty, and with the new tsukimi versions, you’ll be squishing down into the yolk of the egg. So odds are you’re going to need to use two hands to eat these things, either so that you can pluck the topping off and eat it by itself first before you move on to the rest of it, or to stabilize the stack as you peck like a bird to get the topping items in your mouth.

With all of that said, though, you can’t literally eat words, and while their names may be wonky, that doesn’t at all change the fact that the Tsukimi One-hand Bento look delicious, and would make for infinitely better meal choices than something with air-tight naming but questionable flavor. So while they may not really be tsukimi, bento, or one-hand, they’re sure to be popular and are on sale now.

Related: One-hand Bento by Hokkahokka-tei website
Source, images: PR Times
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Photo book takes you on a journey through some of the most iconic Starbucks stores in Japan.

Japan is home to some of the most beautiful and distinctive Starbucks stores in the world, and now there’s an easy way to explore their unique design features, through a special photo book called Starbucks Coffee Japan Store Design Works 002.

This new book follows on from the success of the 001 volume, released in 2025, which features 17 stores that opened or underwent renovations between 2023 and 2024. The 002 issue expands on this concept, shining a spotlight on 18 stores that opened or were renovated between autumn 2024 and spring 2026.

Designed as a coffee table book, the 002 version dives deeper into the store designs and the local stories behind the cafes, creating a substantial volume that has more pages than the first.

Some of the stores featured in the new book include:

The Cafe & Art Gallery Yanaka Gotenzaka branch in Tokyo, which recently opened as a space that combines coffee with contemporary art by emerging local artists.

The Yoshinogari Historical Park store in Saga, which is located inside an important archaeological site that encompasses a large ancient settlement from the Yayoi Period (300 BC to 300 AD), and the Miyakonojo Kirishima Greenship store in Miyazaki, which was created through a joint project with Kirishima Shuzo, a local distillery founded in 1916.

▼ The Miyakonojo Kirishima store, as it looked during the design phase.

Other Starbucks locations include Ginza House, Cafe & Art Gallery Kyoto BAL, Hokkaido Ballpark F Village, Tokyo Skytree Town, Kyoto Maruyama Park and several stores in Okinawa. Starbucks Reserve cafes and locations inside shopping centres and service areas also feature in the book.

▼ The recently opened Shibuya Tsutaya branch appears in the book as well.

The beautiful photos help to capture the unique feel of each store, while also giving us a sense of the wider culture that exists in the local environment around them.

▼ The 144-page book comes in a beautiful craft paper envelope for gift-giving.

The stores that appear in the book are just a drop in the ocean for the green mermaid’s approximately 2,100 Starbucks stores across Japan, giving us a tantalising taste of what’s out there beyond our local store.

It makes for a great souvenir and keepsake from your time in Japan, and it can be purchased at Starbucks Japan’s online store for 4,800 yen (US$30).

Source, images: Press release
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