Twentythree

Eight different designs for adults, 10 for kids, and a whole bunch of other fashion items too.

The Sailor Moon anime/manga franchise owes much of its look to its country of origin, what with the Sailor Senshi’s outfits taking inspiration from Japanese school uniforms. In a similar way, the Vans is a reflection of the skater styles that originated in southern California.

But even though Sailor Moon and Vans started an ocean apart from each other, their respect for one another has stretched across the Pacific, and they’re now teaming up for a brand-new line of footwear and fashion items.

Starting things off is a pair of Sk8-Hi Stacked high-tops featuring Sailor Moon’s Transformation Brooch and ribbon, plus the series’ Japanese logo and Sailor Senshi guardian planet markings wrapped the bottom edge.

Vans is best known for their canvas sneakers, though, and there are plenty of those in the collection, many with more obvious nods to the anime, like this pair with Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask on your toes, and the rest of the Senshi elsewhere.

Other designs incorporate Vans’ classic checkerboard pattern or give the evil Queen Beryl and her minions their due. There’s also a subtle pair with the guardian planet symbols set against the starry sky, if you want to broadcast your love of the series in a way that only fellow fans are likely to pick up on.

And if you’re looking for some sandals for the warm summer months ahead, Vans has you (but not your toes) covered.

In total, Vans has eight different adult-sized Sailor Moon show models ready to grace your anime-loving feet, with prices ranging from 6,600 yen (US$52) to 15,950

In addition, they’ve got 10 kids-size designs, priced between 4,950 and 7,700 yen.

▼ Yes, the fuzzy Luna sneakers are definitely the most adorable.

Of course, you need more than shoes when you’re putting together an outfit. For women, Vans is offering a crew-necked fleece top with Transformation Brooch and sailor collar graphics, as well as a character art T-shirt and Luna beanie and pouch.

Unisex-cut apparel items include a hoodie, backpack, more T-shirts, and even a button-up option.

The whole lineup goes on sale June 17 at Vans Store branches in Japan, as well as the ABC-Mart shoe shop chain and the ABC-Mart Gran DStage online shop.

Related: ABC-Mart Gran DStage
Source: Vans via Nijimen
Images: Vans
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These rotund new designs with a black polished coating pay homage to a fan-favorite Pokémon.

Just as with Psyduck, I relate more and more to the Sleeping Pokémon Snorlax the older I get. What more aspirational lifestyle is out there than sleeping, waking up to eat 900 pounds (408 kilograms) of food, then falling back asleep again in generally in-the-way places–only to repeat this cycle again and again?

▼ This sticker I just bought really sums up a decent life motto: “Just eat and sleep.”

The Normal-type is known as “Kabigon” in Japanese and it’s been a long-time favorite of Pokémon trainers ever since Generation I. On top of that, it’s about to get even more popular thanks to its latest foray into fashion.

Following the Snorlax and Munchlax rings last summer, high-end Japanese jewelry maker U-Treasure is now releasing two new pieces of jewelry that are perfect for anyone looking for an excuse to celebrate the finer things in life (i.e., eating and sleeping). While they’re not being marketed specifically as engagement or wedding items, we do think there are plenty of couples out there who wouldn’t mind something a little less traditionally sparkly to commemorate their upcoming nuptials.

▼ I mean, is there anything more romantic than pledging your eternal love to someone by promising them lots of good food and naps??

The Snorlax ring is made from silver with a black coating. Snorlax seems to be caught in mid-yawn (or snore?) and its bulky frame is basically spilling off the ring band. The ring retails for 24,200 yen (US$190.35).

Meanwhile, the Snorlax necklace is made from either silver or 950 platinum and also comes with a black coating. There’s a steep difference in price based on the material, with the silver version costing 18,700 yen and the platinum version costing 275,000 yen.

U-Treasure is now taking reservations for the Snorlax jewelry until June 21. If you’re looking for another slightly unorthodox Pokémon candidate for a ring, you may be pleasantly spooked by these Gengar rings as well.

Source: PR Times
Top image: PR Times
Insert images: SoraNews24, PR Times
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Now you’ll never need to spill crumbs all over yourself or your keyboard again while you’re storming the enemy’s base.

Unique digital gadgets retailer Shanghai Donya, previously seen here in conjunction with the DotsPen, has saved gamers everywhere from one more spill with its new light-up LED gaming chopsticks. The glowing utensils went on sale on May 26 for 580 yen (US$4.56) at computer specialty store Dospara locations throughout Japan and on its online store.

Keep a pair on your gaming desk so that you’ll never have trouble grabbing those little chips or candy pieces inside a bag in the darkness. We shudder to think how much more productive Light Yagami would have been with his Death Note had he employed these in his dark room.

▼ “Lights off” on the left and “lights on” on the right

They’re not only handy, but their sleek design is also meant to complement your gaming experience. Press a simple button to light them up and choose from nine different light colors to best suit your current on-screen visuals or current mood.

You can even set the individual colors of each stick to make different combinations. Might we add that since they’re basically mini lightsabers, you should definitely use them while playing a Star Wars game to enhance the experience?

The bulk of the chopsticks are made from transparent resin. They’re approximately 260 millimeters (10.2 inches) in length and the grip area is 10 millimeters in diameter.

When it’s time for cleaning, simply remove the detachable LED unit and wash the resin part only.

Finally, the gaming chopsticks are fully in accordance with Japan’s Food Sanitation Act and are approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Please note that they’re not intended to be used for oily dishes like stir-fried foods or to be used as cooking chopsticks.

If you thought that the humble eating utensil couldn’t get any more high-tech, you may want to take a moment to read about these electric chopsticks developed by Meiji University that can make low-salt foods taste salty.

Source, images: Value Press
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Espresso shots aren’t the only kind of shot at Starbucks now.

Can’t get enough of Starbucks collaborations in Japan? Well, here’s a drinkable one! On May 27, Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo teamed up with Japanese fashion brand Ambush to create a line of tequila- and cold brew-based drinks exclusively available at Starbucks’ Nakameguro Reserve Roastery location.

Ambush was started by Japanese designers Yoon and Verbal in 2008, and they draw inspiration from Tokyo pop art. They’ve collaborated with a number of fashion labels in the past such as Louis Vuitton, Nike, and Converse, but this is their first beverage collaboration with Starbucks Reserve Roastery.

▼ Ambush and Starbucks also released a video about the collaboration in English.

There are three drinks in the series, all of which feature a mixture of cold brew coffee and either tequila or iced tea. You could argue that they don’t come cheap, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration.

Cold Brew Margarita (2,700 yen [US$21])

The first drink is pretty self-explanatory. It’s a combination of cold brew, tequila, and a dash of lime juice for the perfect combination of caffeine and alcohol. If you really want to enjoy the flavors of both the cold brew and the tequila, this is the drink to get.

Cold Brew Tequonic (2,700 yen)

This drink mixes cold brew, tequila, and tonic water. The slight fizziness from the tonic water combined with the caffeine of the cold brew will definitely wake you up.

Cold Brew Freeee (2,000 yen)

This is the only non-alcoholic drink available in the series. It’s a mixture of Teavana tea and cold brew with hints of lavender and sage for a sophisticated mocktail experience.

▼ Don’t worry, the price tag also includes extras, like this card explained below.

By purchasing any one of the cocktails, you’ll also receive a couple of goodies: a ganache decoration and a special card designed by Yoon. The cards are limited stock, so if you really want one, it would be better to go sooner than later. And if you need to get some food in your stomach before drinking, start at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Ginza for the all-you-can-eat buffet!

Sources: Starbucks Japan, YouTube/Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo
Images: Starbucks Japan
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Going to the toilet was too much as hassle for the suspect, but hauling it across town…

An age-old dilemma that has haunted humanity for centuries is what to do with 13 liters (3.4 gallons) of urine. Conventional wisdom might advise against accumulating that much pee in the first place, but hindsight is 20-20 and doesn’t help someone dealing with this much golden liquid in the moment.

So, where does one put so much urine? A toilet comes to mind, but I suppose if that were an option this wouldn’t be a problem in the first place. We already, firsthand, ruled out drinking it. A tree or shrubbery could work, but when dealing with such large volumes it could backfire.

Perhaps some of these ideas floated through the head of a 46-year-old security guard in Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka Prefecture before he ultimately decided on a place that’s often used in the same sentence as “waste.”

▼ A pachinko parlor!

On 6 November of last year, staff at a pachinko parlor in the Nakaharacho area of Fujinomiya came across an abandoned cardboard box in the facility’s multi-story parking garage. Inside the box was a collection of 27 plastic bottles ranging from 500 milliliters (17 ounces) to two liters (68 ounces) containing a grand total of 13 liters of urine.

An either really involved or really low-priority investigation was launched and police managed to track down the producer of the pee using surveillance cameras. On 24 May of this year they finally found their man and arrested him on charges of violating the Waste Management Law.

According to police the man said: “It was a bother going to the toilet, so I saved it. But I had trouble disposing of it, so I threw it away at my favorite pachinko parlor.”

▼ He must have a love-hate thing with it

Readers of the news were naturally amused by the absurdity of it, with some comments suggesting the suspect may have been a “bottler.” This is a Japanese term for a person who gets so engrossed in an online game that they can’t tear themselves away long enough to use the toilet, and…well, the name really says it all.

“What does this guy guard?”
“I never tried to pee in a bottle before. I looks really hard.”
“Is there some kind of instinct behind this, like hoarding or marking territory?”
“Truck drivers just throw it out the window.”
“We got a bottler…”
“Even if you throw it away, why in a parking lot?!”
“So he was playing a game, right?”
“Maybe he didn’t want to waste water by flushing.”
“Just pour it into a public toilet somewhere.”
“Reduce, reuse, recycle.”
“If you’re planning to gather that much at once, it’s probably worth investing in a gas can.”

A gas can would be a good investment, or perhaps one of those old-timey hollowed out sake gourds for a touch of class. Then again, such forethought is probably a little too much to ask of someone who can’t be bothered to operate a toilet.

Probably the only way to deter this behavior is to remind everyone that police in Japan do not take waste abandonment lightly. Whether its pee in plastic bottles or poop in bento boxes, they will find you…unless they have something better to do at that time.

Source: Terebi Shizuoka, SBS News, Itai News
Top image: Pakutaso
Insert images: ©SoraNews24
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Probably the most unexpected turnaround in an already long string of unexpected turnarounds.

It’s been a pretty wild ride since the town of Abu in Yamaguchi Prefecture accidentally sent 46.3 million yen (US$364,000) in COVID-19 relief money to a single resident, who also turned out to be the kind of guy who’d immediately blow it all on online casinos in a matter of weeks.

After a month of disappearances, lawsuits, surprise revelations, and finally an arrest for fraudulent use of a computer, the biggest shock came in the morning of 24 May, Abu mayor Norihiko Hanada held a press conference announcing that approximately 43 million yen ($338,000) of that money had already been recovered by the town.

At the time how this miraculous and completely unexpected recovery was accomplished wasn’t clear, but the amount that came back was equivalent to what the recipient, 24-year-old Sho Taguchi, had transferred among three different payment companies. Since online gambling is illegal in Japan, banks and credit cards won’t authorize transfers to foreign casinos, so he had to first put the money into a Japanese company that handles online payments and then send it overseas.

Now it has come to light that this was all thanks to a renowned Yamaguchi area lawyer by the name of Osamu Nakayama. His ability to utilize several legal technicalities in unison to pull off this reversal of fortunes, has even amazed others in the law profession.

▼ Nakayama, presenting his white board notes “illustrating” how he did this and also showing that his mind works differently than most

To start, Nakayama knew that going after Taguchi for the money was a lost cause, and although conventional thinking might be to go after the bank for liability in the mishap, such a legal battle would take years, with no guarantee of success. Instead, Nakayama set his sights on the three payment companies. The exact way he approached them isn’t exactly clear, but according to reports he simply pointed out to them that Taguchi’s dealings with them was morally problematic both because of how he obtained the money and how it was used. Nakayama reportedly then mentioned that, because of anti-fraud laws passed in 2010, when third parties are involved in suspicious transactions the government can look into their books.

Considering these types of businesses are attractive platforms for some dubious businesses and operations to move money around, such an audit would potentially open a really big can of very nasty worms.

▼ We’re talking like industrial sized cans of worms here

So, the payment companies opted to simply refund the entire amount of money that Taguchi deposited instead. However, since the transaction was between the companies and Taguchi, they could only refund the money back to him, which brings us right back to square one, with him holding the money and Abu scrambling for a legal channel to get it back from him.

Luckily, Nakayama was prepared for that as well. He found that Taguchi just happened to also have been delinquent on some past taxes. Employing the National Tax Collection Act, Nakayama knew that in such cases the government has the power to seize more than the amount owed in taxes. The exact amount Taguchi owed isn’t known, but it didn’t matter anyway, because Abu had the legal authority to go in and take all 43 million yen right when the payment companies refunded him.

This creates a bit of an odd situation, because the 43 million Abu is holding isn’t technically connected to the original mistaken bank transfer, it’s a seizure of assets because of delinquent taxes. Taguchi can demand that they refund him everything except for the money owed in taxes, but by the time that process is carried out, Abu’s own slam-dunk lawsuit against him will probably have been concluded in their favor. It’s a clear-cut checkmate.

It’s certainly an impressive bit of lawyering that some say should be made into a movie. Personally, I think it’d still need a car chase or sword fight to put it in feature film territory, and considering everything that’s happened so far, neither seems totally out of the question yet.

But it’s also hard to say there’s an entirely feel-good conclusion of justice being served, since it was the payment companies that had to dole out the cash and the casinos get to keep everything that came their way. All things considered though, it could have ended in much worse ways.

Source: NHK News Web, Daily Shincho, Bunshun Online
Top image: Pakutaso
Insert images: Pakutaso (1, 2)
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In the middle of the ocean, no one can hear you scream.

There’s a whole bunch of things that Go Hatori has been invited to report on during his time as writer for SoraNews24. Previews for new movies, new food products to taste test, places to visit — you get the idea.

Go’s most recent invitation came from Aso View, a company that specialises in unique and affordable experience packages. Aso View’s invitation was certainly quite unique, and our reporter was asked if he would like to “experience being adrift in the middle of the ocean“.

It was certainly a pretty extreme sounding invitation, but as someone got willingly beaten up by a bunch of Maasai warriors from Kenya, it’s safe to say that Go Hatori is not a man to shy away from such unusual experiences, and willingly accepted the invitation.

The trip was extreme from the word ‘go’, right down to the meeting time, as Go found himself at Yamaguchi Prefecture’s Shimonoseki Station at 4 o’clock in the morning.

The sun hadn’t even fully risen as Go set off to the meeting point, Toyota Lakeside Park Campsite. As the name suggested, Go found himself standing in front of a lake. Is this where the adrift experience was going to take place? Being adrift in a lake wasn’t exactly the extreme experience that Go had been expecting…

Thankfully, no. They were there for a spot of kayaking — the traditional activity to partake in before being abandoned in the middle of the ocean.

This was Go’s first time in a kayak, but the instructor explained how to kayak very clearly, and within minutes Go was a kayaking machine, making his way around the lake at a leisurely pace.

▼ With such excellent kayaking form, you’d never guess that this was Go’s first time!

It was at this point that Go remembered the reason behind the 4 a.m. start to his adventure — the experience package he’d been invited to try had also included ‘watching the sunrise whilst kayaking’.

… unfortunately, it was a pretty cloudy day, and so the sunrise was kind of difficult to see.

But while the kayaking experience was perfectly pleasant, Go was ready for something more extreme, and the time had come to get what he had come for — to be marooned in the middle of the ocean. He headed for Tsunoshima, an island off the coast of Yamaguchi where the adrift experience was to take place. After a brief explanation of how the experience worked…

… it was time to change into wetsuits…

… and to head out into the ocean via banana boat.

▼ It was a pretty speedy banana boat.

▼ Such speed!!

Once the boat had gotten far out enough, Go leapt into the water, ready to start his drifting experience. The banana boat driver gave him a jaunty wave, sped off and left Go…

… alone …

… completely alone …

… in the middle of the ocean…!!

Everywhere Go looked, there was just an endless horizon; there were no signs of life anywhere to be seen.

What was this… overwhelming loneliness…?!

Go is not a man who is unfamiliar with spending time alone. In fact, you could almost say that out of all our SoraNews24 writers, he is the man who is most comfortable with it. After all, he’s done solo baseball and solo workout classes to name a few. But this… this was the most lonely he’d ever felt.

But while floating alone might not have been Go’s cup of tea, being adrift with people was fun! Luckily, the other people taking part in the adrift experience soon returned and joined Go in drifting in the ocean.

They’d only met for the first time that day, but there’s nothing like being adrift together in the middle of the ocean to bring strangers together. Soon, the four friends were floating together, relaxing and sharing their feelings.

▼ The way back was just as amazing — look at that view!

And just like that, the four ocean explorers were back on dry land. This experience had it all — thrills, excitement, and the feeling of extreme ‘nothingness’. And Go felt like he had really learned something through it all — while spending time by yourself is good, there are some experiences that are twice as fun when friends are there with you.

The experience package was also surprisingly affordable, coming in at 10,000 yen ($78.66), which included drone photography. The package will stop temporarily during June, but will re-open for guests in July, so anyone wanting to take part in the ultimate adrift experience, which is described as ‘thrilling or relaxing‘, can make a reservation via the website.

If you want to check out other things in Shimonoseki while you’re there, there’s plenty to see and do.

Related: Aso View
Images: ©SoraNews24
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