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SoraNews24
a day ago
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Bicycle gang terrorize Shibuya Scramble with lame and annoying wheelies
Godspeed you beige emperors. Although it's often associated with illegal activity, there's still something romantic about casting off the shackles of society and feeling the wind through your hair as you tear across the country on two wheels… and riding a bicycle is kind of neat too, I guess. Earlier this week a gang of… Hmm, I can't call them bikers. That's already taken… Earlier this week a gang of bike-a-doodles took to the famous Shibuya Scramble intersection to show off their rad bicycles and sick tricks like wheelies and more wheelies. About 10 riders in total went in circles around the intersection and interfered with both pedestrian and car traffic as they aimlessly weaved around everyone trying to go about their lives. ▼ A news report on the kids. As if in defiance of the bicycle's very definition of a two-wheeled vehicle, they continuously did wheelies as they ran red lights and took videos of each other doing even more wheelies. This followed a similar video posted on social media a few days earlier, showing a group of bike-a-doodles riding along Yasukuni-dori. You're probably not going to believe this, but they were doing wheelies at the time too. I haven't checked the online comments about this story yet, but I'm sure it's full of support for them and a bunch of people saying how cool they all are. 'They must be from out of town… way out of town.' 'They got all their friends together for a bike ride. How cute!' 'They're a regular Team Rocket, those guys.' 'At least it's not as noisy as motorcycles.' 'It's funny because they can't even afford motorbikes.' 'Modern depression-era bikers.' 'They couldn't even get hand-me-down motorbikes from the older kids.' 'At least they're giving us all something to laugh at.' 'This kind of thing should be out of your system by junior high.' 'Are they environmentally conscious bikers?' 'I wonder if they twist their hands on the handlebars and make 'brrrrrrrrr' sounds with their mouths.' 'Those poor kids. That's so sad.' Those people must not have seen the wheelies, because if they did I think they'd be singing a different tune. Meanwhile, lawyer Koji Mizogami told media that actions on bicycles are also covered by the Road Traffic Act and points out that their reckless and disruptive behavior could result in fines as high as 500,000 yen ($3,500) or up to three months in prison, and all the wheelies in the world won't get them out of that. Oh well, at least they didn't do anything stupid like record their illegal activities and post them publicly on the Internet. Source: FNN Prime Online, Hachima Kiko Feature image: Pakutaso ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
SoraNews24
23-05-2025
- SoraNews24
Nagasaki police get into high speed chase with Nagasaki police
It's a police chase in the truest sense of the term. One day in February of this year, a patrol car belonging to the Nagasaki Prefectural Police was working a national highway with a speed limit of 50 kilometers per hour (31 miles per hour) when a car tore past them at speeds well beyond the limit. The patrol car quickly went in pursuit but the other vehicle showed no signs of slowing down with a speed clocked at 102 kilometers per hour (63 miles per hour). Eventually, the car managed to shake off the police but not before the officers could take note of its license plate number. Much to their surprise, the license number led them to another member of the same police force. Not only that, but surveillance camera video showed that the off-duty officer in her 20s had committed 13 violations of the Road Traffic Act, such as running a red light, on that same day. Following the full investigation, the officer in question was handed down a six-month, 10-percent pay cut by the Nagasaki Prefectural Police on 1 May and her case was submitted to the prosecutor's office to determine if the criminal charges she's facing will be pursued. The police officer told police that she was going home from visiting her parents during the holiday, and that: 'I didn't notice the patrol car chasing me. I just wanted to get home and get some sleep.' She also admitted to the charges and resigned on 1 May. ▼ Police cars are notoriously easy to miss, aren't they? Perhaps I'm reading too much into this, but the 'I didn't notice the patrol car chasing me,' felt like a subtle dig at her former colleagues. After all, if she really didn't notice the sirens, lights, and person shouting over a megaphone behind her for an extended period of time, she must have been severely impaired in some way, but the fact that no accidents occurred from it would suggest either an incredible stroke of luck or that she's fibbing. Whatever the case may be, readers of the news online were mostly impressed by her driving skills and unimpressed by the police department's response to them. 'She's probably better off as a race car driver.' 'They've got to be joking with that 10 percent pay cut.' 'I don't buy it. She clearly had something to hide that day.' 'Don't the police have 3.5L V6 Crowns? What was she driving?' 'I think in cases like this she should be investigated by police from a different prefecture.' 'She got away from a police car while doing twice the limit…' 'I would never want to be pulled over by her.' 'What a waste of a good driver.' 'And she didn't get into an accident doing all that. She must have trained on Mario Kart.' It wasn't mentioned in the reports, but that ought to be more than enough simultaneous violations to warrant her license being suspended, in which case she'll have lots of time for Mario Kart from now on. So, let's all show our appreciation to the police in Japan who work tirelessly to keep us safe from other police in Japan. Source: NBC, Hachima Kiko Featured image: Pakutaso Insert image: Pakutaso ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
SoraNews24
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Musings on Okinawa's canned enthusiasm for all things Spam
Net users reflect on the island prefecture's status as a top world consumer of Spam. Spam, the American brand of canned pork and ham, has been around since 1937. Once a staple of the World War II-era American military diet, the product subsequently made inroads in occupied areas of the Pacific, where it became integrated into local cuisines as well. Love it or hate it, there's no denying that Spam continues to have a big presence–and is even considered a delicacy–in many regions today, including the Okinawa islands. ▼ Okinawa is known for evoking romantic images of blue skies, crystal-clear waters, and canned pork products. We've often covered Okinawa's love of Spam, especially in the wide variety of Spam-based rice balls found ubiquitously throughout the islands. Curiously, this past week, a post on Twitter detailing the popularity of the product in Japan's southernmost prefecture served to reignite the flames of Spam passion: ▼ 'I can only laugh that Okinawa's Spam consumption is third in the world. It's crazy that it's not even the country of Japan but Okinawa Prefecture. First place is the U.S., second place is the UK, and third place is Okinawa Prefecture. I want to be prouder moving forward.' スパム消費量の世界ランキング、沖縄県が3位なのめっちゃ笑う日本としてランクインじゃなくて沖縄なのがやばい1位アメリカ2位イギリス3位沖縄県 もっと誇っていきたい — 島袋全優🦋🌸腸鼻完結！全10巻発売中 (@shimazenyu) May 15, 2025 Unfortunately, the post references data shared on an episode of Japan's Uwasa no! Tokyo Magazine talk show from May 2004, so the world rankings have likely shifted in the past 21 years. For instance, Spam's official website currently shares that 'Hawaii eats seven million cans of Spam products every year' and 'Guam residents consume an annual average of 16 cans per person.' Plus, South Korea is a huge consumer, with Spam added as a staple ingredient to many types of jjigae stews. Regardless of exact world rankings, net user comments on the Twitter post took the opportunity to reflect on the ongoing popularity of Spam in Okinawa: 'On the Japanese mainland you can usually only find it in Family Mart's best-selling onigiri, but it's everywhere in Okinawan convenience stores.' 'Let's sell more sata andagi (an Okinawan specialty of deep-fried balls of dough) with Spam inside and overtake the world rankings!' 'I kind of remember that Spam and other pork products are less expensive in Okinawa.' 'I wonder how much of its sales can be attributed to visitors buying it as souvenirs or to people affiliated with the U.S. military bases. Consumption doesn't necessarily mean that the locals are eating it.' 'Seriously though, the Spam musubi they sell in Okinawa are delicious.' Okinawa in general is home to a wide variety of local dishes that aren't always easily found on the mainland, so we encourage you to sample as many of them as possible during your next trip to the islands–even if that means you have to Spam yourself with reminders of all of the possibilities. Source: Rakuten Blog via Hachima Kiko, SPAM All images © SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
SoraNews24
19-05-2025
- Business
- SoraNews24
Nintendo is opening a new specialty store this year, its first at the west end of Japan
Big news for gamers and travelers in Kyushu's biggest city, who might be getting the most convenient Nintendo specialty store yet. Nintendo's first-ever dedicated shop in Japan, called Nintendo Tokyo, opened in the fall of 2019 and immediately became a must-visit destination for game fans and travelers both domestic and international. The pandemic obviously meant pumping the brakes on any potential quick expansion, but in 2022 came the opening of Nintendo Osaka, and in 2023 Nintendo got around to putting a specialty shop in its hometown with Nintendo Kyoto. Now Nintendo is getting ready to open its fourth specialty shop in Japan, and the very first on the far-west side of Japan. Sticking with the established naming convention, the new shop will be called Nintendo Fukuoka, and will be located in Fukuoka City, the capital of Fukuoka Prefecture and the largest city on Japan's southwest island of Kyushu. In addition to its large local population and regional draw, Fukuoka's international airport also makes it a major entry point to Japan for foreign tourists, especially those coming from other Asian countries. Like its brethren in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, Nintendo Fukuoka will carry a wide variety of Nintendo game and character merchandise, including, but not limited to, plushies, fashion, housewares, stationery, and snacks, in addition to Nintendo hardware and software. And while all Nintendo's specialty stores are in convenient, centrally located parts of their cities, Nintendo Fukuoka's might be the most convenient of all, since the store will be in the Amu Plaza section of the JR Hakata City entertainment complex. JR Hakata City is attached to JR Hakata Station, where the Shinkansen comes into Fukuoka, making Nintendo Fukuoka the only Nintendo store right on the bullet train line, making it easier for travelers to squeeze in a shopping run (or another shopping run), even if they've only got a short time to spare. Nintendo has yet to announce an exact date for the grand opening, but says that Nintendo Fukuoka will be welcoming fans 'at the end of 2025.' Source: Nintendo via Denfamico Gamer via Hachima Kiko Top image ©SoraNews24 Mario ©Nintendo Insert image: Nintendo ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Japan Today
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Nintendo might record what you say and show friends in Switch 2 GameChat
By Casey Baseel, SoraNews24 We're less than a month away from the launch of Nintendo's Switch 2, and to say gamers are excited is an understatement. Sure, you could argue it's pretty much just a more powerful Switch, but that's exactly what many Nintendo fans have spent the past several years wishing for. Image: Nintendo And it's not like there's nothing new with the Switch 2. One of the most intriguing additions for the new console is GameChat, an integrated voice and video chat function with the creative twist of being able to place images of you and your friends within the gameplay field. It looks like it could be a fun way to make it feel like you and your friends you're playing with are all hanging out together in the same actual room…but with Nintendo itself peeking in and listening through a crack in the door. On May 7, Nintendo announced that it's updated its privacy policy for users of its video game hardware and related apps. As is often the case, there's a lot of technical terminology and legalese involved, but Nintendo itself helpfully summarized some of the most important changes, and the first one listed is 'we may collect, monitor and record audio and video of your chat sessions with other users.' Nintendo says it will be doing this 'to provide a safe and secure environment,' ostensibly as a means to prevent language, imagery, and behavior that it considers harassing, offensive, or otherwise inappropriate. In that sense, it's really not so different in intent from the many variations of the 'this call may be monitored for better customer service' disclaimer that businesses have been informing users of for decades, but since this is Nintendo, it comes with some potential extra wrinkles. ▼ GameChat preview video Video game chat functions have a not undeserved reputation as the Wild West of online communication, a largely lawless area where the combination of competitive juices and remote anonymity often produces a swiftly flowing stream of profanity, slurs, and other words that people wouldn't be so quick to toss around in face-to-face, and thus potentially fist-to-face interactions. The question of how to create a welcoming game chat environment without stifling expression or intruding on privacy is a tricky balancing act that Nintendo has been able to sidestep until now by simply not following the industry trend of including chat functions. With GameChat's debut less than a month away, though, it's an issue that Nintendo now has to deal with, and the way the company has embraced its family/kid-friendly image raises the question of whether or not it'll be stricter than other companies have been regarding what it allows users to do and say. Source: Nintendo via Hachima Kiko via Nintendo Soup Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- Switch 2 release date announced, Nintendo to sell both 'Japan-only' and 'multi-language' versions -- Nintendo's newest Switch game will teach you how to make games of your own【Video】 -- Nintendo makes a huge crowd-pleasing announcement about the Switch successor External Link © SoraNews24
