We all love interacting with our favorite idols on social media. Following their feeds is a way to feel closer to their lives; it tricks us into thinking that we actually "know" them or could actually meet them one day.
After all, the whole original selling point of AKB48 -- other than the vast number of idols in the various levels of the group -- was that these were idols you could meet at "handshaking events" and vote for by at "elections".
And so we get to see the drinks idols ordered at a cafe, or their latest meal or lovely view they are enjoying somewhere.
The selfie has become ...
We spotted this nice article over on Global Voices about the "strangest" love hotel names in Japan.
It compiles the results of a survey ranking the most unusual names for love hotels.
As we know there are some strange-looking love hotels (both inside, with themed rooms, and outside, with gaudy castle exteriors), especially in the countryside.
But now we know the strangest name. And it's Banana & Donut. Indeed, this is not a diner or cafe, but a love hotel in Saga Prefecture, southern Japan.
Like similar establishments outside of Japan's big cities, Banana & Donut is located ...
Once again we have an alarming announcement from Japan's health ministry that the number of syphilis patients in Japan has gone up.
This has become a regular news item of late, prompting the ministry to launch a special team to investigate ways to combat the spread of sexually transmitted infections and diseases.
Hospital data from across Japan reports that the number of syphilis patients totaled 4,259 in early December, which is an big increase of 77% from 2,412 in the corresponding period in 2015, and more than seven-fold from a decade ago.
It seems that current efforts to ...
Asian men don't get a good deal in Hollywood. When was the last time that you saw an Asian leading man in a Western movie treated as a sex symbol in the same way as a white actor?
Leela Rose set out to challenge this.
We sympathise. Many foreign female residents in Japan face problems: sexism and harassment by both Japanese and foreigners as well as romantic issues (foreigners may not be interested because there are so many Japanese ladies to pursue while local men may be too intimidated by a confident Westerner).
She did it by going around Roppongi and essentially forcing ...
We want to introduce the work of Masaki C Matsumoto, a queer activist, feminist, and YouTuber working hard to challenge stereotypes about sexual minorities in Japan.
As he (perhaps provocatively) says:
"Hate crime is nonexistent in Japan," "Japan only recently started having pride marches," "homosexuality is accepted in Japan because of the traditional male-male shudo sexual/romantic culture," "Japanese media are LGBT-friendly," and "Taiga Ishikawa is the first openly gay politician in Japan" are all false!
In general, Matsumoto's main point -- and it's a good one -- is that ...
Condoms in Japan are an underused breed, judging by the rampant venereal disease and unplanned pregnancies.
As such, condom brands try all kinds of wacky campaigns to get young men and women interested in using their products.
This also includes free giveaways. Earlier this year, Tenga gave away complimentary condoms to newly enfranchised voters at the House of Councillors election.
You might be forgiven for thinking that otaku are the demographic with the least need for contraception in their lives, but you would be wrong. That is, if Comiket is to be believed.
A booth at the ...
We reported earlier this year about the AV debut of actress and model Anri Sakaguchi.
To appear in "What a day!!" the 25-year-old Sakaguchi (now going by just "Anri") is reportedly getting paid ¥120 million -- a suspiciously high figure considering she is a B-list celebrity.
She made her JAV debut on the Muteki label, which specializes in these kinds of career switchovers from gravure, music idol or mainstream entertainment. Past successes include with Yua Mikami/Momona Kito and Shoko Takahashi/Takasaki.
Most of these stars, though, do one or just a small number AV releases before ...
Tenga has produced a new commercial for its Iroha vibrator series.
DJ and model Culumi Nakada (Kurumi Nakata) stars in the ad, which specifically features the sleek black Yorukujira ("night whale") vibe from the Iroha Plus line.
It shows a "typical" Sunday for a Japanese girl, relaxing at home with a long bath and then enjoying a solo session with her personal Tenga Iroha.
It claims that using a vibrator like the Iroha will release "brain waves" and help make you think better after your tension is released. Tenga actually teamed up with a neuroscientist to measure brain activity after ...
Remember Hikaru Toda?
She's the filmmaker who produced a documentary about love hotels we featured in 2014.
Now the Osaka- and London-based Toda (who has lived abroad for over 20 years) and her production studio, Little Stranger Films, is working on a documentary, Of Love & Law, about Japan's first LGBT law firm.
She has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter to raise $30,000 to finish the project.
This is a documentary for anyone that has ever found themselves challenging or being challenged by the status quo.
Of Love & Law tells the hidden stories of people who ...
The immensely successful "Futomomo" girls' thighs fetish photography series is back.
After its previous incarnations in Tokyo attracted over 20,000 visitors, "World of Thighs" returns to Todays Gallery Studio in Asakusabashi from December 16th to January 22nd (closed December 31st to January 4th).
This time there is a "hot spring" (onsen) theme. (Springs are traditionally very erotic in Japan.)
It's not hard to see why this exhibition has pulled in the punters.
As always, all the photographs by Yuria feature Japanese girls' slender legs. ...
