Twentythree

First increase to visa fees in nearly 50 years will affect some arriving foreigners more than others.

The Japanese government has announced a proportionally huge increase in visa fees for foreign nationals entering the country, and it’s going into effect almost immediately.

Right now, the cost for a single-entry visa is 3,000 yen (US$19). Under the new pricing structure, set by the Cabinet of Japan, that fee will be raised to 15,000 yen, five times its current price. The fee for a multiple-entry visa, which allows the holder to enter and leave Japan multiple times during its period of effectiveness, will be undergoing the same 500-percent increase, rising from 6,000 to 30,000 yen. This will be the first time for Japan to raise its entry visa fees in 48 years, as the current prices were put in place in 1978.

In announcing the price increases, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi justified them on the grounds of reflecting “inflation and current exchange rates.” While this explanation isn’t complete nonsense, there’s an argument to made that it makes only half-sense. Yes, Japan is experiencing inflation pretty much across the board right now, and so the Japanese government’s Immigration Services Agency is likely seeing increase to its operating costs. However, “current exchange rates,” referring to the weakened value of the yen versus foreign currencies, don’t seem like they should be putting any kind of extreme pressure on the Japanese government in terms of visa application processing, since the review and issuing of visas is something the Japanese government is doing within itself, not through the use of foreign materials or overseas labor.

As such, it seems like the price hikes aren’t a single-minded initiative to cope with rising costs, but also an attempt to grab some extra cash from foreigners coming into Japan at a time when the increase will seem combatively palatable to people whose home-country currency is currently strong versus the yen. Speaking about the price increases, Motegi specifically mentioned that “We are not expecting this to have a near-future influence on the number of inbound foreign visitors to Japan.”

Part of any lack of immediate impact, though, is going to be thanks to the suddenness with which the fees are going to be raised. The new prices were announced on July 19, and will go into effect on July 1, leaving little time for upcoming visa applicants to hit the brakes on their travel plans.

So who exactly is going to be affected by this? The answer is a little complicated. For tourists visiting Japan, citizens of many countries, including the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, European Union members, South Korea, and Singapore coming to Japan as tourists are automatically given a 90-day visa exemption, so they won’t be paying the higher fees unless they’re planning a very long trip to Japan. Not on the visa-exempt list are Russia, much of the Middle East and Africa, and, most notably China. Chinese travelers represent a very large portion of Japan’s inbound foreign tourist numbers, and the Japanese government predicts that the higher visa fees will produce a total revenue increase of 116.1 billion yen (US$19.72 million) in the 2026 fiscal year.

However, even citizens of countries on the visa-exempt list for tourists still need to apply for a visa if they’re arriving in Japan for non-tourist reasons. So, for example, if you’re a U.S. citizen moving to Japan for a study abroad program, or a Canadian coming to work as an English teacher, you’ll need to apply for a visa and pay the new, higher fees as of July 1.

It should be noted that the announced increases are for entry visas, which are a separate permission from the periodic status of residence renewals that foreign nationals who’re already living in Japan have to apply and pay for, though those too may be getting price increases soon.

Source: Asahi Shimbun, Jiji
Top image: Pakutaso
Insert image: Pakutaso
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Eat big and eat light at the same time.

As the temperature continues to rise in Japan, people’s appetites tend to diminish. So, in the summer, we sometimes turn to classic dishes like somen chilled noodles as a light and refreshing way to get some energy when we just can’t stomach a heavy meal.

We aren’t quite at that level of heat yet, so our reporter Takashi Harada has been trying to sneak in as many bowls of Iekei ramen as possible. Iekei is a popular style of ramen that originated in Yokohama and has a few notable features. The first is its incredibly rich broth, made with pork, chicken, and soy sauce all together. This soup is often balanced by some leafy greens like spinach, and is commonly eaten with a side of rice. It also comes with several sheets of seaweed that you can dip in the soup and eat with the rice.

▼ Some Iekei ramen from Korakuen Iekei Ramen Truck Yaro

It’s an addictively decadent dish, but might be hard to stomach when the heatwaves hit, so Takashi was hoping to get a bowl while the getting was good. However, as he approached one of his favorite chains, Yokohama Iekei Ramen Ichikakuya, he spotted something even more compelling.

Hiyashi Ichiro appeared to be a chilled version of Iekei ramen for 960 yen, and unlike other chilled noodle dishes, this was fully loaded with toppings. There wasn’t really a choice for our reporter anymore, and he pressed the Hiyashi Ichiro button on the ticket machine before heading to the counter. 

The staff asked if he wanted a side of rice, and it gave him pause. Normally, he would always get rice with his Iekei ramen, but would it work with this new style?

Takashi decided to keep an open mind and go with the flow by choosing the rice. At Ichikakuya, the rice was complementary during certain times anyway, so it was no skin off his back.

The transparent bowl the ramen came in gave it a very refreshing vibe, but the pile of toppings completely obscuring the noodles kept it in a true Iekei style.

And like other Iekei ramen, this had a beef-based soup. It wasn’t quite as dense but still full of flavor. The plentiful vegetables like cabbage, bean sprouts, and mustard greens helped to tighten the flavor in a very crisp package that never felt too heavy.

It was a very nice bowl of chilled ramen, and Takashi would have been satisfied with that alone. However, there was another stage to this meal to place it firmly in the Iekei realm of decadence. Though optional, Ichikakuya recommends adding chili oil and mayonnaise for extra zing.

Not one to turn down a recommendation, Takashi put a dab of each on his noodles. He had a fair idea of what to expect from this, but was still completely blown away by how well it blended with the original flavor of the ramen.

He felt a little guilty pushing his meal firmly into junk food territory, but it was an amazing taste experience in the end. Up until this point, he wasn’t quite sure what to do with his rice since this ramen didn’t come with squares of seaweed, but the chili-mayo-soaked noodles solved that mystery.

It was a taste made in heaven, and our writer left feeling not only satisfied by the portions but also the various dining experiences he felt in a single meal for under 1,000 yen. His only complaint was that after eating all that, he felt really sleepy in the afternoon, so be careful if you try it during a lunch break.

Otherwise, Hiyashi Ichiro will be on sale at the Ichikakuya until 30 September, making for an excellent alternative to hot ramen during the extremely hot weather of summer in Japan.

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If you’re going to play with your food, make it competitive.

Spinning tops have been around for a very long time, and even the concept of having battles where opponents try to knock each other’s tops out of commission isn’t new. I have to think it was the name “Beyblade” that really helped to propel tops to the upper echelon of popular toys in recent years.

Though simple in concept, the game has elements of engineering and physics that arguably make the parts educational toys. Perhaps that’s why the makers of educational candy at Kracie took an interest in it. You may not know Kracie by name, but you’ve likely seen some of their products that often involve turning packets of powder into snacks that are surprisingly authentic in looks and taste.

Their latest creation, set to go on sale in stores nationwide on 6 July, is Custom Koma King, where “koma” is the Japanese word for “top,” and I suspect there is an intentionally sneaky pun of “making” in there too. Much like Kracie’s hit candy brand Nerunerunerune, you’re given various packets of powder and plastic trays to mix them with water and create candy. Different powders have different colors and flavors, which can then be modified further by mixing powders together.

In Custom Koma King, you’ll get cola, lemon, and soda flavored powders, which can be combined into flavors such as Super Cola, Super Soda, and Lemon Cola. The primary colors of each can be blended into new colors or made into a rainbow design if done carefully enough. Grape-flavored candy sticks are also included for the spinners, resulting in a top that is entirely edible when you’re done spinning it around.

The kit also comes with three types of molds, so you can make tops of different shapes that give them different attributes. Flower-shaped Bloom tops are able to spin the longest if left to their own devices and can often triumph in low-impact matches. Wing tops have a slight feathered shape that helps them to withstand impacts better than other designs. Finally, the Edge mold creates tops with jagged sides that give more aggressive players an attacking advantage.

These are just the molds that come with Custom Koma King, however, and no one can stop you from creating a completely original top as well. The kits also come with a small tray to spin single tops on for testing, but for full on battles, you should use something like a large dinner plate or a wok. Just keep in mind that you’re probably going to eat the tops afterward, so it should be something clean.

Also, Beyblade parts are carefully made with an inherent balance to them for the best performance, but these candies are completely handmade from powder, which means there’s an added element of how well you can forge your own top with the correct symmetry to outlast opponents. And even if you fail, you can just eat it and start again. When tasting defeat comes with the pleasant tanginess of soda and grape, it’s always a win-win situation.

Source, image: PR Times
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In-house expert Mr. TKG gives us his top three egg recommendations.

When people in Japan with niche interests hone in and get serious about something, they get really serious. Case in point is a new store that recently opened in Komagome in Tokyo’s Bunkyo Ward, which specialises in Japanese eggs. These aren’t just any eggs, but rare varieties you won’t find in regular supermarkets, and the hard-to-encounter nature of them is reflected in the store name: Gen no Tamagoya San, which translates as “Phantom Egg Shop”.

Our reporter Mr Sato stumbled upon the store by chance on 13 June, which happened to be the day it opened, and when he stepped inside, staff told him he was their very first customer. Feeling a sense of joy at this unexpected achievement, Mr Sato decided right then and there that he would seek to find an egg that would elevate his love of tamago kake gohan, a popular raw-egg-cracked-over-rice dish that goes by the colloquial name of “TKG”.

Luckily for him, the place is run by a man known as “Mr TKG”, and he was on hand to answer all of Mr Sato’s burning egg questions.

▼ Mr TKG, or Mr Ueno, is also the representative director of the Japan TKG Research Institute.

Mr Sato first asked if this was Mr TKG’s first permanent retail store, to which he answered: “Yes. We’ve been involved with shops as a wholesaler, but this is our first directly operated permanent store.”

Mr Sato: Why did you decide to open a directly operated permanent store?

Mr TKG: “These eggs aren’t widely available so online sales have been our main focus, but this store also acts as a base for our online shop. Of course, customers can also come in and purchase items in person.”

Mr Sato: After taking a quick look around, I noticed that all the eggs on display are varieties I’ve never seen before. You wouldn’t even find them in a department store food hall, let alone a supermarket.

Mr TKG: “Farmers are generally focused on production, and tend to sell locally. For example, they might supply ryokans or high-end restaurants in their region. Brand eggs are often distributed within this type of closed system.

However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of ryokans and similar businesses had to close so sales rapidly declined, and we started hearing cries of concern from farmers all over the country. That’s when we thought we should try to help bring high-quality eggs to a wider audience, and that’s how the ‘Phantom Egg Shop’ began. At present, around 130 different brand eggs are registered, with between 70 and 100 available at any one time.”

Mr Sato: Wow, that’s a lot! Is there a screening process involved?

Mr TKG: “Yes. We do turn applications down quite often, and we’re quite strict about the screening process. The eggs that make it into our store lineup are all carefully chosen.”

Mr Sato definitely got the impression that all the eggs here weren’t just rare varieties, but top-quality ones too. When he visited, there were 12 different types of eggs to choose from, with many being brand eggs that are usually hard to come across.

▼ There were a lot of eggs to see here, including one from Okinawa, which had a bluish tinge to its shell.

▼ The store also has a selection of merchandise, making it a must-visit for egg lovers.

▼ Mr Sato received a pamphlet to help him make his choices, and although the store didn’t stock all these eggs at one time, he couldn’t believe how many special brand eggs exist in Japan.

When Mr Sato asked Mr TKG for recommendations, he said that the most expensive egg currently available is Tamango, a premium egg from Kumamoto where the chickens are fed mango and coconut. Priced at 880 yen (US$5.46) per egg, this was even more expensive than the silkie chicken egg Mr Sato tried recently, which he thought was expensive at 756 yen per egg.

▼ Tamango on the left.

Mr TKG also recommended the “ultimate white egg”, Akita’s Kimi no Yoin, which is said to have been presented to the Imperial Household.

Mr TKG’s third recommendation was Yumeou, an egg that won the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th iterations of the “Japan TKG Festival”, earning it a place in the Hall of Fame. There were also plenty of others deserving of praise, such as Kochi’s Yuzutama, said to be popular among women for its citrusy yuzu aroma, and Kochi’s Tosa Jiro, highly praised by foodies as being perfect for TKG.

▼ Yuzutama in the middle basket.

While these eggs would normally go for a high price per piece, the store has a fantastic deal that lets you purchase a carton of six of your favourites for just 1,000 yen.

▼ Simply fill out the ones you like on a card, then put them in the pack according to that order so you don’t mix them up at home, and then pay at the register.

▼ Mr Sato went home with (clockwise from top left): Tamango, Hougyokuran (from Saitama), Yumeou, Hakkou (from Okinawa), Kimi no Yoin, and Jurokudai Makka Tamago (“16th Generation Deep Red Egg” from Aomori).

This was a fantastic deal for just 1,000 yen, and as soon as he got home Mr Sato cracked into Mr TKG’s top three recommendations to see just how good they were.

▼ Tamango, the mango-coconut egg

▼ Kimi no Yoin, with links to the Imperial Family

▼ Yumeou, the award-winning Hall of Fame recipient.

Tasting them side by side revealed some surprises, with the main difference being the texture after they had been mixed. The Tamango was rich and slightly thick, while Kimi no Yoin and Yumeou were much lighter and more fluid.

This difference also came through in the tamago kake gohan, affecting the overall mouthfeel. As someone who particularly loves the rich, mellow flavour of egg yolk, Mr Sato found the Kimi no Yoin to be especially delicious, with its pronounced depth of richness.

What surprised him most, however, was the consistency in quality. Though personal preferences may differ, for Mr Sato all these eggs were eclipsing a state of perfection, if such a thing exists, and he says you can’t go wrong with any of Mr TKG’s top three recommendations. While you can have your eggs any way you like, Mr Sato does recommend trying them raw over rice, and if you need tips on how to make the best TKG, then this guide will help you out.

Store information
Gen no Tamagoya Honkomagome Main Store / 幻の卵屋さん 本駒込本店
Address: Tokyo-to, Bunkyo-ku, Honkomagome 5-72-1
東京都文京区本駒込5-72-1
Open 2:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays

Photos ©SoraNews24
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The amusement park may have been demolished, but this ride lives on.

“This might be the most enjoyable merry-go-round I’ve ever ridden.”

That was the honest reaction from our reporter Natsuno Futon after she stepped off a carousel recently, and there were a couple of major reasons that made her feel this way. First was the fact that she could ride it as many times as she liked for free, and secondly, and most importantly, was the unique nature of it, as it kept the history of a long-forgotten theme park alive in a unique and heartwarming way.

Located in Oyama City, Tochigi Prefecture, the merry-go-round has pride of place in Oyama Yuen Harvest Walk, a shopping centre built on the site of the former Oyama Amusement Park (known as “Oyama Yuenchi” in Japanese). The amusement park was beloved by generations of visitors throughout its 55 years of operation, from 1960 until its closure in 2005, and while it was eventually razed to create the sprawling new shopping complex, one thing remained: the merry-go-round.

▼ In honour of the fact that it now lives on in a section called “Merry Go-Round Town”, we’ll refer to the carousel as a “merry-go-round” from here on out.

▼ Standing proud in one corner of the complex, the merry-go-round serves as a touching reminder of the former amusement park.

The fact that this original ride from the park is still running more than 20 years after the closure is a testament to its makers, and when Natsuno first laid eyes on it, she gasped at its beauty as it looked like no other merry-go-round she’d ever seen in person.

▼ It was much larger than she’d imagined, and much more beautiful as well.

It was also an astonishingly good deal, because this carousel is completely free to ride as many times as you like on weekdays. It operates four times an hour from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with an hour’s break from 12 p.m. for scheduled maintenance.

If you visit on weekends and public holidays, the price is still surprisingly reasonable, as rides cost just 300 yen (US$2) for adults 200 yen for children aged three and over.

As Natsuno was here on a weekday, the ride would cost her absolutely nothing, and with her two children in tow, they were all excited to give it a try. First call of order, though, was choosing a seat, and unlike a lot of regular merry-go-rounds, which consist mostly of horses, this one had many more creative options.

▼ The first two seats to catch her eye were the lion…

▼ …and the donkey.

▼ The donkey was especially cute, as its head jiggled back and forth, making it look like it could be alive.

▼ There was also a carriage that gently rocked back and forth.

▼ For Natsuno and her two children, though, it was the teacup-shaped seat that was the winner.

Stepping into the teacup, Natsuno was impressed to find that although the merry-go-round looked old, the seats looked surprisingly new. It quickly became clear to her that the people running the show must have a strong affection for the ride and were doing a great job of looking after it.

As the ride began to whir into action there was another surprise – the teacup they were in actually spins.

Within moments, retro theme park-esque music began to play and the merry-go-round slowly began to turn. At first, Natsuno felt slightly self-conscious with shoppers walking by, but as the ride picked up she soon found herself throwing these concerns to the wind as a giddy sense of childlike glee took over and a wide grin began to form on her face.

It was fun, thrilling, and joyous, but before she knew it, the ride slowly came to a standstill, and Natsuno felt it just wasn’t enough. So she moved over to a classic horse for another go on the merry-go-round.

Once again, the music began to play, the ride began to turn, and Natsuno’s grin quickly returned. From the high vantage point of the horse she was able to enjoy a different view of her surroundings, and with her hands clasped around the pole, she felt more a part of the experience.

As she rode her steed, she made sure to look up and enjoy the decorative artwork above her, which was breathtakingly beautiful in its details.

▼ There was even a bucolic scene featuring a donkey.

▼ Peering even closer, she spotted a dragonfly charm hanging from the roof.

With every go on the ride, Natsuno seemed to discover new details that totally endeared her to the merry-go-round.

▼ On her third ride, she found herself appreciating the beauty of the horses’ tails, which had a real sense of history about them.

▼ Then, on her fourth and final round, she found herself admiring the details of the fairytale-like carriage.

After four rides, and an hour spent on the merry-go-round, Natsuno resisted the urge to spend the rest of the day there, and bid a fond farewell to its permanent residents.

▼ As she stepped off the ride, she made a mental note to revisit, so she could explore the second storey as well.

The two-storey merry-go-round was such a treat to ride on, and Natsuno couldn’t help but thnk how lucky she and her children were to have it all to themselves. If a ride like this existed in a big city like Tokyo, she imagines there would be long wait times and crowds that would totally detract from the true joy of the experience. So although it might be a bit of a trek to get to, we’re glad the merry-go-round is where it is.

▼ Plus, at night, the carousel is lit up, transforming into a magical, dreamlike sight.

We’re also glad that the new site has paid homage to the memory of the amusement park in such a fitting way. As the star of Merry Go-Round Town, this ride deserves to live on for future generations, so that children, and adults like Natsuno, can enjoy all the wonder it brings.

Site information
Oyama Yuen Harvest Walk Merry-Go-Round / おやまゆうえんハーヴェストウォーク メリーゴーランド
Address: Tochigi-ken, Oyama-shi, Kizawa 1475
栃木県小山市喜沢1475
Open: 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m./ 1:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. (weekdays); 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. (weekends & public holidays)
Website

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