Tokyo Disneyland’s attention to detail really ‘leafs’ an impression!

The Magic Kingdom leaves no stone unturned when it comes to customer service!

Disneyland is a place well-known for its staff members, or ‘cast’, going above and beyond when it comes to excellent customer service. It is, after all, the Magic Kingdom. From the grandiose character themed rooms to the shape of the hand soap, no detail is too small; everything is done to bring a touch of magic to its customers’ day.

And when we say no detail too small, we really mean it. Small Mickey Mouse symbols (or ‘Hidden Mickeys’) are hidden all over the park; on walls, in windows, on the backs of chairs, everywhere! For die-hard Disney fans, finding the Hidden Mickeys is a fun side quest to do as you make your way round the park. Some of them are obvious, some of them less so.

Twitter user @_he_art managed to find one in a most unexpected place when they visited Tokyo Disneyland recently – on a single leaf.

ディズニーやばい。 キャストさんに「カバンに何かついてますよ」って言われて見たらこれ。 https://t.co/NWmHpegEtH

—
ロボット (@_he_art) January 27, 2020

“Disney’s awesome. A cast member told me ‘Something’s on your bag’ and when I looked this is what I saw.”

The silhouette of Mickey Mouse, carved into a single leaf, had Japanese netizens saying:

“This is something only Disney would do. I love Disney so much!!”
“If they do stuff like this… I’ll just have to go back and visit again and again! Disney’s so impressive!!”
“The cast really are wonderful!”
“That’s so Disney… always going above and beyond expectations!”

And @_he_art is not alone in their discovery. Fellow Twitter user @stsn0426 shared their lucky leaf discovery.

@_he_art 自分も同じ経験あります。 トムソーヤ島あるあるなんですかね https://t.co/t6kE8Y5hdf

—
さとしん 【琉】 (@stsn0426) January 28, 2020

It appears that in order to get one of these magical Mickey leaves, you need to make your way to the Tom Sawyer Island. But it’s not only Mickey that gets the leaf treatment; you can also get Stitch imprinted on a leaf, like this Twitter user did.

@_he_art 失礼します！嬉しいですよね！うちの子はスティッチを見つけまして宝物にしています😊 https://t.co/xVQVmbZByt

—
くどう まりも (@kudomarimo) January 29, 2020

Another Twitter user was reminded of a similar incident from their childhood –

@_he_art @sumika___yoruno FF外失礼します！素敵ですね！ 僕も、小さい頃に行った時、貰ったことあります！ 船を漕いでるキャストさんがいて、自分も乗りたいなーと思ってじっと見ていたらこちらに来てくれて、ちょ… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

—
ろんた(龍太)@絵を描くいくらとまと (@1013oekakisuki) January 28, 2020

“I got one of these too, when I was a kid. There was a raft with a cast member rowing it. I was staring at the raft because I really wanted to ride it. The cast member saw me staring, came over to me and made a Mickey Mouse silhouette leaf they’d made by tearing the edges! I wasn’t even six at the time, so my memories are pretty hazy but I remember being impressed with how good they were with their hands! I was so lucky. The other customers on the raft were even saying ‘Wow!’ and ‘Good for you!’ 

Next time you pay a visit to the Magic Kingdom, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for some unbe-leaf-able Hidden Mickeys! And for those unable to make it to Tokyo Disneyland, you can always try to make your own Hidden Mickeys at home with this boiled egg recipe! 

Source: Twitter/@_he_art via Jin
Featured image: Twitter/@_he_art
Top image: Pakutaso
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You can help Australia’s koalas by eating some of Japan’s favorite chocolate treats!

Lotte, makers of the popular Koalas’s March snack, have been helping out koalas for over two decades now. 

We’ve all been heartbroken by the wildfires that have brought so much devastation to the wildlife in Australia, especially by the pictures of countless koalas that have been killed, injured or burned out of their homes by the fires. Naturally, there has been support from around the world for efforts to provide aid for the people and animals affected, and in Japan, the fund-raising activity by snack maker Lotte has become the subject of some attention recently.

Lotte is the maker of the long-selling Koala’s March (Koala no Māchi) snack, and for those of you not familiar with the snack, they’re basically chocolate-stuffed crackers with adorable images of koalas printed on them. They can be found in basically any convenience store or super market in Japan and are often offered in limited edition or seasonal flavors as well.

▼ The Koala’s March snack from Lotte — simple yet tasty, and cute to look at too!

The Koala’s March website provides a link from which you can directly make a donation to the Australian Koala Fund, but that’s not all. Whenever you buy any Lotte snack, not just Koala’s March, a portion of the sales also goes to the Fund. Yup, we think it’s awesome that you can help koalas while enjoying yummy treats, not to mention that “But it’s to help koalas,” has to be just about the best excuse you can give for buying anything.

▼ Each cracker has a different koala image printed on it, and if you’re lucky, you might find a rare version.

While the recent bushfires have brought much global attention to the unique and rich wildlife of Australia, Lotte have actually been contributing to the preservation of koalas against dangers such as poaching, fires and loss off habitat from land development by supporting the Australian Koala Fund since 1994, which marked the 10th anniversary of Koala’s March’s release. According to the information on Lotte’s Koala’s March website, the koala population in the 20th century has dwindled from approximately three million to under 100,000, and understandably, funding is necessary for research to protect these lovable animals.

Let’s pray that the fires in Australia are brought under control soon and that we’ll be seeing many happy koalas in the near future.

Source: Lotte Koala’s March website
Related: Australain Koala Foundation
Top image: Lotte Koala’s March website
Insert images: Lotte online shop 
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A pack of natto (fermented Japanese soybeans) a day keeps the death away according to study

Terrible news for picky eaters.

In the wide world of Japanese cuisine, there are few dishes as divisive as natto, which is basically a wad of fermented soy beans. It was once notorious for its foul smell, but recently technological advances have enabled some producers to reduce its odor considerably.

Even still, Natto’s texture, which to me is comparable to old lumpy vomit, continues to make it a bane of those with sensitive palates and overactive gag reflexes. However, for those who can stomach it (it’s a breakfast staple in many homes in east Japan), natto is said to be a highly nutritious food for all ages.

Natto’s rep as a health food has just gotten another boost from the National Cancer Center, who conducted a 25-year study on the diets and mortality rates of 90,000 men and women in Japan. Based on a follow-up survey they determined that men and women who consumed about 50 grams (1.8 ounces) of fermented soy enjoyed a 10-percent lower mortality rate than those with other dietary habits.

▼ If that’s the case then competitive eater Yuka Kinoshita may achieve immortality

The good news is that “fermented soy” can also include the infinitely more delicious miso. However, because natto usually undergoes less processing and is conveniently served in 50-gram containers, even I have to begrudgingly admit it’s probably the better choice if you’re looking to stave off death for as long as you can.

▼ As long as a chunky viscous strand of natto

The National Cancer Center said that these foods retained more minerals and nutrients which are believed to help prevent cardiovascular diseases like strokes. This was all previously known, but with the empirical evidence of significantly fewer deaths among those who eat a lot of natto is very compelling.

Normally, I’d jump right on something purported to have such a positive effect on my health…but, ehhhh…

I mean, you have to ask yourself: Is a life where you have to choke down cold, slimy beans day in and day out, really living?

I’ll have to think about that, but in the meantime, those ready to adopt a natto lifestyle might want to try one of the many suggested serving methods such as: in a crepe, on ice cream, on fired chicken (to simulate girls’ feet apparently), in instant noodles, with pudding, in tacos, in a snow cone, or on toast.

None of those really make natto any more tolerable, but can help liven up the daily suffering, because it’s probably going to last a long time.

Source: Asahi Shimbun
Photos ©SoraNews24
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Starbucks Japan releases special sakura gift packs for cherry blossom season 2020

Enjoy the taste of sakura Starbucks at home or in the office this spring.

With the cherry blossoms already blooming, we’re well on our way to spring in Japan, and Starbucks is heralding in the season with a new lineup of Spring Blend coffee packs, and a special gift pack that looks set to become a best seller.

Let’s take a look at what’s on offer, starting with the Spring Blend ground coffee, which retails for 665 yen (US$6.11) plus tax.

This blend uses a mix of Latin American and East African coffee beans, featuring a well-balanced depth of flavours on the chocolate-and-sweet-orange spectrum to capture the essence of spring.

▼ The seasonal blend will also be available as whole coffee beans (998 yen)…

▼ And in “Starbucks Origami” Personal Drip Coffee Bags (475 yen for a bag of four)

What’s really got everyone excited is the sakura-adorned reusable cup, which will be available to purchase as part of a set with two drip coffee bags for 598 yen.

The cup is perfectly designed to fit the drip coffee bags so you can enjoy a fresh cup of Joe at home or at the office…or underneath the cherry blossoms.

Those really wanting to spoil themselves can splurge on this Spring Cheer gift set, which includes a four-pack of drip coffee bags, with a reusable cup and an original cup holder for 3,000 yen.

All of the above products except the gift set will go on sale online and at supermarkets and stores around the country from 14 February, with preorders available online from 31 January. The gift set will be sold online from 28 February, shortly after Starbucks’ Sakura White Chocolate Cheesecake with Milk Pudding goes on sale at convenience stores around the country.

Source, images: PR Times
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Out-of-business Tokyo McDonald’s gets brutal but kind sendoff from rival Burger King branch

Akihabara competitor’s goodbye is as sweet and salty as French fries dipped in chocolate sauce.

Business is a competitive endeavor. If you and a another company are offering similar products or services, every sale they make is one you don’t.

But that doesn’t mean there’s never room for respect between rivals. Case in point: At the end of January, the McDonald’s Showadori branch in Tokyo’s Akihabara neighborhood permanently closed down, and it broke the news to passersby by putting up a sign that read:

“Thank you for your 22 years of patronage.

The Akihabara Showadori branch McDonald’s will be permanently closing at 6 p.m. on January 31. Thank you for the past 22 years. We deeply appreciate the customers who supported this branch, and hope you will continue to dine at other McDonald’s locations.”

▼ The goodbye sign

That sort of gesture is pretty common in Japan. But what’s unusual is the sign that went up just a few doors down on the same block…

…where there’s a Burger King.

Burger King’s message reads:

Thank you for 22 happy years.

Our neighbor two buildings over, McDonald’s, will be closing today.
Esteemed rival, and fellow friend who loved Akihabara,
because you were close by, we also could do our best.
Without you here, McDonald’s, thinking of the future fills us with sadness.
Selfish though it is for us to say this, everyone, please go to McDonald’s today.
Challenging ourselves to be as good as McDonald’s has been our goal, so with a smile, we say thank you.

That’s really sweet of Burger King, isn’t it? Sure, the phrasing might be a little stiff, but the sentiment is pure, right?

Not so fast. As pointed out in a reply to @sato322’s tweet, if you take another look at Burger King’s poster, there’s what seems to be a hidden message.

Let’s examine look at the start of each line:

● Our: 私たち
● Esteemed: たかいに良き
● because you were close by: ちかくにいたから
● Without: のいない
● Selfish: 勝手な
● Challenging ourselves:チャレンジャーの私たち

Take the first character of each of those, and you get:

Watashitachi no kachi, which means:

“Victory is ours.”

Granted, it’s possible that Burger King isn’t intentionally trying to rub salt in the McDonald’s branches fatal wounds with a salty sendoff, but if this is all just a coincidence, it’s a massive one.

At the very least, the Burger King poster’s offer to give anyone with a McDonald’s Akihabara Showadori customer receipt a free cup of coffee between not and February 6 seems to be OK to take at face value. And while a bit of patting themselves on the back is understandable, McDonald’s would probably like Burger King, and burger fans, to remember that there are still three other McDonald’s branches in the Akihabara vicinity.

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Akihabara in the ’80s looked very different to Tokyo’s otaku mecca today【Video】

Stroll the streets of Electric Town at a time when computers and video games were just beginning to appear on the scene. 

With towering billboards covered in anime characters, rows of gacha toy dispensers and maids on the street in uniform, Akihabara is a must-visit destination for anyone with a love for anime, manga, video games…and weird and wonderful vending machines.

Today’s bustling otaku mecca wasn’t always like this, though, as the area was once a market city that grew to specialise in radio components. This gradually evolved to include stores selling all things electrical, from whitegoods to cassette players and CD Walkmans, earning it the nickname “Electric Town”.

Back in the ’80s, Electric Town really began to evolve into the tech-obsessed otaku haven it is today, as computers and video games began to appear on the scene, attracting tech-heads and consumers during Japan’s booming bubble era. It was a time when emerging technologies and competition between stores put Akihabara in the spotlight as the ideal destination for consumers, and now we get to take a glimpse into what life was really like there, thanks to a video posted online by Twitter user @kuroakaii.

Filmed in 1986, the video shows a simpler, less-in-your-face Akihabara than the one we know and love today. While some of the streets and stores are unrecognisable, there are a few familiar buildings waiting to be spotted, all washed over with a distinctive ’80s glean.

Travel back in time with a look at the clip below:

昭和６１年の秋葉原 https://t.co/J2wrmJLK8I

—
処女ブレーカー (@kuroakaii) January 27, 2020

▼ Fast forward some 30-plus years, and here’s what the same area looks like now.

@kuroakaii 変わり果てたな・・・(夜景だから比較としてはおかしいけども) https://t.co/MUIYQVk2Pg

—
片翼のサボテン (@Natchos_Black) January 28, 2020

The video of Akihabara in the ’80s quickly went viral on Twitter, with over 35,000 likes, 13,000 retweets and comments like:

“Wow, it really was an “Electric Town” back then!”
“It’s so weird to see Akihabara without any maids or anime shops!”
“I remember going to Akihabara for the first time with my dad when it was like this – such fond memories.”
“Check out the Radio Kaikan building at 0:54 – it’s still in the same spot!”
“Those little covered alleyways still look the same today.”
“Ramen Isuzu at 1:15 – truly nostalgic, one of Akihabara’s most famous ramen shops back in the day.”
“Akihabara has seen so many changes – in the Showa period (1926-1989) there was a fruit and vegetable market in front of the station, then there was a basketball court, and now the UDX building.”

It’s true that Akihabara was once home to a large basketball court right outside the station up until 2004. And that’s not all that’s changed over the years, as the iconic Onoden neon sign brought people to tears when it was taken down in 2017.

With the Tokyo Olympics coming up, more and more buildings are popping up all over the city, which makes this video — and these photos of Akihabara then and now — even more of a treasure to cherish.

Source: Twitter/@kuroakaii via Hachima Kikou
Featured image: Flickr/Junya Ogura (edited by SoraNews24)
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