Twentythree

Learn the scientifically proven technique for blowing your nose efficiently.

Science has tackled many a mystery for the advancement of human knowledge and understanding, from black holes to gene editing, but there are some researchers out there who turn their focus to the more mundane and humorous things in life and ask themselves, “What is going on here?” To laud the value of the efforts of those people, the Ig Nobel Prizes came into being, celebrating achievements that first make you laugh, and then make you think.

This year, in the 36th installment, and the first time being held in Switzerland, the Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine went to the late Dr. Tokuji Unno, Professor Emeritus at Asahikawa Medical University, and Dr. Hiroshi Yajima for their 1977 study: How to Blow the Nose. This marks the 20th consecutive year that a Japanese researcher has won one of the Ig Nobel Prizes.

▼ Here Dr. Miki Takahara of Asahikawa Medical University accepts the award on behalf of Dr. Unno who passed away in 2022, but you can also enjoy the entire award ceremony itself.

While nose blowing seems like an everyday occurrence, Unno and Yajima wondered whether people were actually blowing their noses properly. So, with pneumotachometers (airflow meters) and eardrum pressure transducers, they hooked up 15 volunteers to dissect the aerodynamics of the common honk.

Their mechanical breakdown of the human nose blow revealed crucial data for nasal hygiene enthusiasts everywhere:

● The One-Side Policy
Nasal passages are rarely created equal, and blowing both barrels at once causes airflow to take the path of least resistance. To clear the clogged side, you must block the clear side to build up a high-velocity airstream.

● The Power Blow
A commonly held thought was that blowing hard is bad for the ears, but the airflow inside the nose and middle ear infections are separate issues. Higher flow velocity increases the discharge efficiency of built-up mucus.

● The Long Blow
The average blow lasts 1.23 seconds and ejects 1.34 liters of air, which is about a third of your vital lung capacity. To maximize clearance right down into the bronchia, take a moderate breath in and execute a sustained, steady blow rather than a short, hyper-pressurized burst.

▼ Modest blows are not going to clear those sinuses efficiently.

The Ig Nobels are a humorous reminder that even the most mundane of daily habits are governed by fascinating physics. The next time you reach for a tissue, you can press one nostril, and blow long and proud with scientific confidence.

Sources: Asahikawa Medical University, YouTube/Nitere News, YouTube/Niconico News, J-Stage
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Tourists’ dance video at Kyoto shrine prompts angry response from Marty Friedman.

There are times in life when agreeing to disagree is the most sensible thing to do, but so too are there times when someone has to be willing to stand up and say “What you’re doing is wrong, so stop.” Sometimes that voice comes from political or spiritual leaders…and sometimes it comes from the former lead guitarist of thrash metal band Megadeth.

At this point, it’s probably safe to say that just about anyone who’s looked into traveling to Japan has seen photos of Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Shrine. Founded in the year 711, Fushimi Inari is the head shrine of all those dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice, commerce, and foxes, among other dominions. The shrine is also famous for its thousands of torii gates along the walking paths that connect its lower buildings with other structures higher up the mountain behind them, and this picturesque element has made Fushimi Inari one of the most popular destinations in all of Japan for foreign tourists.

With modern tourism being what it is, though, a place can no longer be a top travel destination without also being seen as a prime social media backdrop, and any place that’s seen as a prime social media backdrop is, unfortunately, also going to attract people who’re so excited about trying to look cool that they might not take the time to consider whether or not they’re being respectful. That brings us to a Twitter post by former Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman regarding a dance video recorded by some foreign tourists at Fushimi Inari.

Dear tourists: PLEASE STOP DOING THIS. Japan is known for gracefully welcoming foreigners, but those days will end if you continue this disrespect. You are leaving an extremely shameful impression of your entire country. Who raised you to act this way? Just stop. Thank you. https://t.co/zV7OBXlI50

— Marty Friedman (@marty_friedman) September 6, 2026

Now, those who haven’t checked in on what Friedman’s been up to since leaving Megadeth might look at his stern message of “PLEASE STOP DOING THIS. Japan is known for gracefully welcoming foreigners, but those days will end if you continue this disrespect,” and assume that his opinions on Japanese culture carry no more weight than a random Tokyo sushi chef’s pontifications on guitar technique. However, Friedman has actually been living in Japan for more than 20 years, and it’s not like he’s spent all that time in an expat-enclave bubble, as he speaks the local language well enough to be a contributor to Japanese TV talk shows and music magazines. The guy’s been here long enough to know what he’s talking about when he says that Japanese society isn’t cool with tourists using shrine grounds in this way, and that behavior like this carries the risk of souring locals’ perceptions of international visitors in general.

Friedman’s post is a reply to another tweet criticizing the video, saying that the shrine is “sacred ground” and “not a backdrop for social media content,” which itself warrants some discussion about something that can be hard for foreign tourists in Japan to grasp.

Many of Japan’s religious sites do not have or cultivate a heavily solemn atmosphere. The streets leading to major shrines and temples are often lined with restaurants and souvenir shops, and a mood of levity isn’t seen, in and of itself, as sinful or inappropriate, even on shrine/temple grounds. The sprawling layout of sites such as Fushimi Inari can also contribute to a casual atmosphere, as moving about the spaces between structures can feel like a walk in the woods or stroll in a garden. As such, while shrines and temples are religious sites, they might not necessarily feel like “sacred ground,” in that they don’t impose the same sets of strict regulations and restrictions that term might imply in other cultures. However, just because visitors aren’t expected to be somber at Japan’s shrines and temples doesn’t mean it’s OK for them to be flippant.

The original post’s admonishment that Fushimi Inari is “not a backdrop for social media” might be going a bit far, if one were take that to mean that shrines in Japan frown on any photos being taken on their grounds and then posted on social media. Many shrines and temples in Japan are famous for their seasonal flowers or foliage, and when the colors are at their prettiest, even many Japanese people will come for a visit and take photos. Generally speaking, things like snapping a quick photo with a friend in front of a cherry blossom tree or traditional architectural feature are fine. However, there’s a big difference between that and the sort of thing shown in the tweeted video, where a half-dozen or more people have tramped off the allowed footpath into the surrounding natural environment, then hop back in and block the entire walkway while they make that part of the shrine their group’s personal dancefloor, most likely with a tripod set up to record themselves and claim even more space as theirs.

Getting back to Friedman’s warning, it is true that for most of the modern travel era, Japan has been pretty understanding of foreigners’ faux pas. Even Japanese people are aware that there are a lot of subtle nuances to their culture’s etiquette systems, and that some of the finer points might not be readily apparent to people from other parts of the world. It becomes harder to forgive such impoliteness, though, when it’s done with self-satisfied exuberance.

But again, maybe some tourists just don’t have any warning bells go off in their heads before they film videos like the one shown in the tweet. It’s possible that they think “Well, I don’t see anyone praying right here, so it’s probably not a serious religious place, so I can do whatever I want, right?” Really, though, the rule of thumb when visiting cultural sites is that if there’s something that you don’t see any of the locals doing, such as filming a dance video on shrine grounds, then you shouldn’t do it either.

Source: Twitter/@marty_friedman
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New designs give us an insight into Japan’s prefectural flowers and regional gems.

Travel in Japan is always an exciting journey of discovery, especially when there are 47 prefectures, each with their own regional specialties to explore.

Now there’s even more to discover, as Japanese convenience store chain Family Mart has just revealed a massive new range of 47 socks and stickers, with designs that capture the charms of each prefecture. Each design can only be found at Family Mart stores within the prefecture it represents, making the products very sought after, and worth travelling for.

▼ The 47 socks, arranged according to the prefecture in which they can be found, creating the shape of Japan.

There’s a lot to get through here, so let’s start by taking a look at the socks, which are based on Family Mart’s iconic Line Socks, known for their stripe designs. In the new collection, the colour of the stripes varies by prefecture, as a nod to its prefectural flower.

The first 14 prefectures, and their flowers, are: Hokkaido (Japanese Rose), Aomori (Apple Blossom), Iwate (Paulownia), Miyagi (Thunberg’s Bush Clover), Akita (Butterbur Sprout), Yamagata (Safflower), Fukushima (Nemoto Rhododendron), Ibaraki (Rose), Tochigi (Yashio Azalea), Gunma (Japanese Azalea), Saitama (Japanese Primrose), Chiba (Rapeseed Flower), Tokyo (Yoshino Cherry), Kanagawa (Goldband Lily).

One of the highlights in this lot of socks has to be the Tokyo version, which uses brown, green, and various shades of pink to capture the look of Somei Yoshino, Japan’s most widespread variety of cherry blossom.

▼ The back of each pack comes with a sweet illustration and some details about what the design represents.

The next nine in the series are: Niigata (Tulip), Toyama (Tulip), Ishikawa (Fritillaria), Fukui (Narcissus), Yamanashi (Pigmy Cherry), Nagano (Japanese Gentian), Gifu (Chinese Milk Vetch), Shizuoka (Azalea), Aichi (Rabbit-ear Iris).

Next up, we have 12 that include big cities like Osaka and Kyoto: Mie (Japanese Iris), Shiga (Rhododendron), Kyoto (Weeping Cherry), Osaka (Japanese Primrose), Hyogo (Wild Chrysanthemum), Nara (Double Cherry Blossom), Wakayama (Japanese Apricot), Tottori (Nijisseiki Pear Blossom), Shimane (Tree Peony), Okayama (Peach Blossom), Hiroshima (Japanese Maple), Yamaguchi (Summer Orange Blossom).

Though Tokyo and Kyoto both pay tribute to the beauty of Japanese cherry blossoms, the types of sakura are slightly different, giving us two unique looks.

▼ Osaka’s prefectural flower brings beautiful purple hues to this design.

Finally, we travel further south, to prefectures on the islands of Shikoku, Kagoshima, and Okinawa.

Tokushima (Sudachi Citrus Blossom), Kagawa (Olive Blossom), Ehime (Orange Blossom), Kochi (Red Bayberry Blossom), Fukuoka (Japanese Apricot), Saga (Camphor Flower), Nagasaki (Unzen Azalea), Kumamoto (Japanese Gentian), Oita (Bungo Plum Blossom), Miyazaki (Grand Crinum Lily), Kagoshima (Kyushu Azalea), Okinawa (Coral Tree).

Moving on to the exclusive stickers, we travel the breadth of the country again, from Hokkaido to Okinawa, but this time we’re being introduced to some of the gems in each prefecture.

Hokkaido (Melons), Aomori (Apples), Iwate (Wanko Soba), Miyagi (Zunda Mochi), Akita (Namahage), Yamagata (Cherries), Fukushima (Kokeshi), Ibaraki (Natto ), Tochigi (Gyoza), Gunma (Daruma), Saitama (Soka Rice Crackers), Chiba (Peanuts), Tokyo (Business District), Kanagawa (Steamed Dumplings).

A closer look at the stickers reveals that the star portion adds a little something extra to each design. For the Tokyo sticker, an image of an arty manhole cover acts as a hat-tip to the many creative designs that exist around the city.

Namahage are demons that feature in Oga no Namahage, an annual event in Akita that’s been designated as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. The star beside the demon in this regional sticker symbolises the blade carried by the demons during the event.

Natto, Japan’s famously divisive fermented food, is featured in the sticker for Ibaraki, with a side of mustard in the star as a nod to the mustard that commonly comes with it.

Moving down the mainland, there’s plenty more to discover as we make our way into central Japan.

Niigata (Rice), Toyama (Medicine), Ishikawa (Wajima Lacquerware ), Fukui (Sauce Katsudon), Yamanashi (Peaches), Nagano (Oyaki), Gifu (Gohei Mochi), Shizuoka (Deep-Steamed Green Tea), Aichi (Fried Prawn).

Niigata is famous for rice, and the star here is said to resemble a pickled plum. Together, these two ingredients make up Hinomaru Bento, a boxed meal that replicates the Japanese flag (“hinomaru”), and is said to be best made with Niigata rice, given its excellent quality.

The sticker for Toyama might seem a little puzzling at first, but the prefecture has a long history of pharmaceutical production that can be traced back to 1690. You can even try some of the ancient machines used for pill-making in the prefecture today.

Next, we venture into Western Japan, which includes Osaka and Kyoto.

Mie (Spiny Lobster), Shiga (Shiga-ware Raccoon Dog), Kyoto (Maiko), Osaka (Takoyaki), Hyogo (Kobe Beef), Nara (Persimmon Leaf Sushi), Wakayama (Nanko Plum), Tottori (Nijisseiki Pear), Shimane (Magatama [comma-shaped beads]), Okayama (Momotaro [Peach Boy]), Hiroshima (Okonomiyaki), Yamaguchi (Fugu [blowfish]).

When you’re in Kyoto, you’ll want to keep an eye out for this homage to the apprentice geisha who call the city home. The star is designed to resemble a sanjufuda (votive slip), which can be seen on some of the shrines and temples around Kyoto.

Osaka is synonymous with takoyaki octopus balls, and the star here symbolises the red ginger that’s commonly eaten with them.

Finally, we make our way to Shikoku, Kyushu and Okinawa.

Tokushima (Awa Odori), Kagawa (Sanuki Udon), Ehime (Mikan), Kochi (Seared Bonito), Fukuoka (Tonkotsu Ramen), Saga (Hot Air Balloons), Nagasaki (Stained Glass), Kumamoto (Mustard Lotus Root), Oita (Onsen), Miyazaki (Mangoes), Kagoshima (Black Pork), Okinawa (Shisa).

Shisa are guardian lion-dogs, and they’re an important part of Okinawan culture that can be seen in many guises throughout the island chain.

So next time you’re travelling around Japan and stopping by Family Mart for a rice ball and an umbrella, be sure to keep an eye out for the exclusive socks and stickers. They’ll make for an ideal convenience store souvenir, and a great memento of your travels.

Source, images: Press release
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Nintendo shows off its Switch 2 remake of the 1998 classic and plays songs three different ways.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda series, but for the biggest part of the celebration the company is actually looking back to 28 years ago. That’s when the franchise made the jump to 3-D polygonal graphics for the first time with 1998’s The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which is getting a remake for the Switch 2.

Nintendo teased the project with a single preview still back in June, but released further details late Tuesday night Japan-time as part of a Zelda Nintendo Direct. The video presentation included Eiji Aonuma, producer for the Ocarina of Time, playing through a portion of the game while providing commentary and highlighting what parts of the original it carries over and what additions players can look forward to.

The remake updates the controls and camera to fit with more modern preferences. Protagonist Link can now jump wherever and whenever he wants to with the push of a button, and the original game’s fixed camera angles have been replaced with the ability to freely position the virtual lens using the right analog stick. In terms of art design, Ocarina of Time looks to be following a similar course to Nintendo’s Switch 2 remake of Starfox 64 which came out earlier this year, aiming for a much more photorealistic look to its environments, and far more detail and less abstraction in its character designs, especially when compared to the cel-shaded style of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, the two most recent mainline Zelda games.

It’s probably going to be a divisive aesthetic choice, quite possibly the most so since 2002’s The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. However, Aonuma also showed off something that’s likely to put a smile on any and all Zelda fans.

It’s not really a spoiler that Ocarina of Time features a magical ocarina that Link can play to activate certain powers. Within the original version of the game, you play different songs by hitting different buttons, and that holds true for the remake too.

But after playing a song the conventional way, Aonuma revealed that, since the Switch 2 controller has a built-in microphone, you can skip the button presses and instead hum the song you want to play, and Link will “hear” you and copy the notes on his in-game instrument.

▼ Note the “inputting audio” message.

Or, if you want to get really immersive, you can whip out an actual ocarina of your own and play that!

Assuming that the controller’s mic can pick up the sound of wind instruments as effectively as it can human humming, it would seem that, theoretically, you could play any ocarina. However, the one that Aonuma is seen using in the video is an official Ocarina of Time ocarina from video game peripheral maker Hori that’ll be going on sale through the Nintendo Store online shop.

▼ Aonuma demonstrating the three ways to play the Ocarina of Time in Ocaring of Time

No release date has been mentioned for the ocarina, but the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake comes out November 5.

Source, images: YouTube/Nintendo of America
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Exclusive lineup breathes new life into the Pumpkin Spice Latte, and serves up other designer beverages too. 

There’s been a lot of talk recently about the death of Pumpkin Spice, with experts saying online data indicates the hype for it is over, as many young people turn to other drinks like matcha.

Here in Japan, though, Pumpkin Spice is still alive and kicking, at least at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo, where it’s just been unveiled as part of the new autumn lineup.

Created around the theme of “Crafting a Playful Fall“, the five beverages in the range are born from the spirit of “craft exploration” that’s said to be deeply rooted in the Roastery Tokyo. While many will be interested in the new take on Pumpkin Spice, there’ll also be a lot of interest in the Espresso Rosso Tonic, as it was devised by Starbucks’ 19th Coffee Ambassador, Asumi Yamaguchi.

▼ Asumi Yamaguchi, the 19th Coffee Ambassador

▼ Espresso Rosso Tonic (1,178 yen [US$7.55] takeout, 1,200 yen dine-in)

Available at the Main Bar on the first floor, this drink is inspired by the espresso tonic, which Yamaguchi says was her gateway into black coffee, which she now loves. Created when she was competing in the Ambassador Cup, this new beverage combines coffee with brown sugar syrup, cinnamon, and passionfruit tea with a hint of cranberry for layers of unique flavour.

▼ Barrel-aged Pumpkin Spice Latte (1,400 yen, dine-in only)

While we await news of whether Pumpkin Spice will be gracing the menu at Starbucks branches around Japan this autumn, Reserve Roastery Tokyo is showcasing it in a beautiful latte, made with domestically grown pumpkin powder, and the Roastery’s “Whiskey Barrel-Aged Coffee” blend. Topped with iyokan peel, (iyokan is a tangerine-like Japanese citrus fruit), and a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg, this is a very unique drink that breathes new life into pumpkin spice.

Rounding out the autumn lineup are three other intriguing creations, with two tea-based specials up at the Teavana Bar on the second floor.

▼ Kaga Bo Hojicha Gelato & Tea (1,374 yen takeout, 1,400 yen dine-in)

Developed in collaboration with Teavana Bar baristas, this carefully designed beverage features Kaga Bo Hojicha gelato, made in-store. Paired with a fragrant and refreshing Kaga Bo Hojicha tea, a roasted green tea from Ishikawa Prefecture, this drink evolves as the gelato slowly melts, allowing you to enjoy the different dimensions of the roasted tea.

▼ Earl Grey Autumn Tea (Hot/Iced) – 1,080 yen takeout, 1,100 yen dine-in

This tea beverage combines the refreshing, autumnal taste of grapes with Earl Grey tea and spices like cardamom and ginger. The juiciness of the fruit and the elegant aroma of the tea are said to harmonise perfectly, creating a deep and complex flavour with every sip.

The collection is complete with a unique cocktail up at the third floor Arriviamo Bar.

▼ Honey Pear Brew (2,500 yen, dine-in only)

This coffee cocktail, also available in a non-alcoholic version, combines pear, mead (honey wine), and cold brew coffee. The fruity flavour of the pear, the richness of the honey, and the aroma of the cold brew create a delicious blend, ideal for long autumn evenings.

So if you’re looking to keep Pumpkin Spice alive this autumn, the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo is the place to go. If you prefer to treat your taste buds to different autumnal flavours, the other seasonal drinks in the multi-storey building will take them to new heights, and they’ll all be on the menu for a limited time from 4 September.

Cafe information
Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo / スターバックス リザーブ ロースタリー東京
Address: Tokyo-to, Meguro-ku, Aobadai 2-19-23
東京都目黒区青葉台2丁目19-23
Open 7 a.m.-11 p.m.
Website

Source, images: Press release
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