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SoraNews24
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Pokémon theme park area announced for Kanto region, opens in less than a year【Video】
First-ever permanent Pokémon amusement park attractions look like they're going to be international traveler-friendly too. With each new generation the Pokémon franchise moves to a new region, but as fans fondly remember, the adventures all started in the Kanto region, so it's only fitting that the first-ever permanent Pokémon theme park area is going to be in Kanto too. And no, you won't need to find a way to isekai yourself into the Pokémon anime or video games in order to visit. That's because Pokémon's Kanto region shares its name with the real-world Kanto region of Japan, which makes up the eastern part of the country. Poképark Kanto will be located in Tama Hills, which straddles the border of Tokyo and its neighbor to the south, Kanagawa Prefecture. The park, with an area of around 2.6 hectares (nearly 280,000 square feet), will have more than 600 Pokémon, the designers say, split between two habitats: the Pokémon Forest and Sedge Town. In the Pokémon Forest area, fans can amble along a nature trail surrounded by Pokémon great and small. Some will be out in the open, but others will require a keener eye to spot. Meanwhile, Sedge Town promises to be like stepping into a settlement from the games/anime that Pokémon Trainers pass through on their journeys to become full-fledged Pokémon Masters, with amenities such as a Pokémon Center, Poké Mart, and Pokémon Gym. This is also the part of Poképark Kanto Pokémon where Pokémon parades and meet-and-greet events will be held, and the designers say that the Primarina Fountain in the town square will be a place where you can 'connect with Pokémon Trainers and Pokémon alike' for an 'unforgettable experience,' suggesting that there could be some sort of interactive element to what goes on there. ▼ Oh, and apparently there's also going to be an adorable Pikachu flying merry-go-round too, according to this preview illustration. ▼ Poképark Kanto preview video Poképark Kanto will be situated at the edge of the Yomiuri Land amusement park, which previously hosted the limited-time Pokémon Wonder event. Poképark Kanto, though, looks to be a project on a much larger scale, and also it's going to be a permanent facility that's open year-round. The fact that the park's official website also has an English version indicates that the designers are planning to make its activities and events accessible for foreign travelers to Japan as well. It's not currently clear whether admission to Poképark Kanto will be entirely separate from Yomiurui Land or if some sort of combination pass will be offered. Ticket prices/purchase procedures will be revealed this fall, with Poképark Kanto's grand opening currently slated for spring of 2026. Source: PR Times, Poképark Kanto official website Top image: PR Times Insert images: YouTube/ポケモン公式YouTubeチャンネル, PR Times ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Japan Today
3 days ago
- Health
- Japan Today
Toto to release next-gen toilet tech that scans and keeps track of your poop
By SoraNews24 Japanese toilets have long been the envy of the world, thanks in no small part to the efforts of Toto and their groundbreaking washlets that use water to clean your nether regions after use, heat up in the winter, and play sounds to cover up any embarrassing sounds that may emerge. ▼ Godspeed, washlet. Image: PR Times They're not ones to rest on their laurels either and have been hard at work, creating the next evolution in toilet technology. This time, they're switching their focus from comfort to health and wellness, and what better window into our physical condition is there than our butts? The new Neorest line of toilets will include a system to monitor fecal matter as it is expelled and record it in a dedicated smartphone app. The scanner is installed next to the washlet water nozzle and works just like a barcode scanner to analyze turds as they move past. The consistency of movements will be classified into seven categories: Clumps (1), Lumpy (2), Cracked (3), Normal (4), Semi-Solid (5), Muddy (6), and Liquid (7). The shade of brown is also measured and given one of three categories. This data is logged for each time on the toilet and can be viewed on a smartphone app, which also offers lifestyle advice on how to have more consistently normal BMs. ▼ Blue lines show quantity, the color of the dot represents the color of the poop, and the position of the dot corresponds to the consistency category on the left. Image: PR Times Reaction to the news online was largely optimistic but also apprehensive. It's understandable since butt scanning and cataloging isn't something one jumps into easily. 'This is amazing. Sure, the technology is easy to copy, but it's good to be the first.' 'I don't like it. I don't want to be scanned.' 'I think it's good to monitor poop, but that will be too rigid. Every time blood is found, it will think there's colon cancer, and it will just give the same advice all the time.' 'The future is here. Imagine if you could get both a urine and stool test every day.' 'I'd be afraid if it scanned me and told me I stink.' 'I think this is great. Sometimes the toilet design makes it hard to check my poops.' 'To think, only decades ago we had toilets that were just holes in the ground. Look how far we've come.' 'What if a superhacker uncovers the color of my poops?' 'I think mine would break the system.' 'They're expensive, but I think it's worth it.' It's true that Neorest toilets do not come cheap. The two models' recommended retail prices are 493,900 yen and 542,300 yen. But many people will consider that an investment in improving their overall health and possibly saving money on medical costs, or even their lives, down the road. One problem is that you'd have to use the same kind of toilet every time for the best results. Neorest toilets may become more widespread in the future, but there's sure to be an awkward phase where you'd have to ask waiters if their restrooms have poop scanners. Hopefully, restaurants will have the decency to put up signs. Source: PR Times, Mainichi Shimbun, Hachima Kiko Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- We explore the evolution of the toilet at Kitakyushu's newly opened TOTO Museum -- Just how clean are Japan's high-tech public restroom bidet-equipped toilets? -- Everything you think you know about your washlet toilet is wrong External Link © SoraNews24
Japan Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
KFC's new Japanese-Style Summer Burgers source refreshing ingredients from Setouchi and Wakayama
By Casey Baseel, SoraNews24 Japan's summer is feeling a little lacking in its Japanese-ness in some ways this year, but it's set to get a little boost in that regard from the unexpected source of KFC. The Kentucky-born, big-in-Japan chain has released a pair of new Japanese-Style Summer Burgers, or, if you're really getting into the Japanese-style spirit, the Natsu no Wafu Burgers. First up is the brand-new Negishio Lemon Chicken Filet Burger. The 'chicken fillet' part is something you can probably already envision, but negishio refers to a kind of traditional Japanese sauce/dressing made from diced green onion (negi), salt (shio), and sesame oil. The lemon sauce here has a Japanese aspect to it too, as KFC sources the fruit it uses from West Japan's inland sea-adjacent Setouchi region, which produces some of the finest citrus fruit in the country. The other Japanese-Style Summer Burger, the Chicken Nanban Fillet Burger, is making a return to KFC's menu after its debut last summer. Chicken nanban is a dish that originated on Japan's southwestern island of Kyushu, taking inspiration from the cooking styles brought over by Portuguese traders during Japan's feudal era. The key ingredient is a creamy tartar sauce-like condiment with sour accents from vinegar and, in the case of KFC's Chicken Nanban Fillet Burger, a citrus infusion. Even the sides and drinks are getting a shot of Japanese citrus flavor, with a new Salty Setouchi Lemon powder to shake onto KFC's French fries… …and a natsumikan mandarin orange lemonade soda that gets its oranges from Wakayama Prefecture, among Japan's best mandarin growers. The Japanese-Style Summer Burgers are priced at 540 yen each, the fries with Setouchi lemon powder at 320 yen, and the Wakayama mikan soda at 300 yen. They are available for a limited time. Source, images: PR Times Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- KFC puts its own spin on Japanese flavours with the new Katsu and Fillet Burger -- KFC Japan cooking up new yuzu Japanese citrus katsu sandwiches for summer -- KFC adds a Katsu and Fillet Burger to its menu in Japan for a limited time External Link © SoraNews24
Japan Today
4 days ago
- General
- Japan Today
Japanese can maker says it's OK to microwave cans with their new invention
By SoraNews24 Daiwa Can, whose latest product, called the Range de Can, claims to let us microwave metal cans with impunity. It's quite simply just a plastic cap, or rather an anti-cap, as it goes on the bottom of the can rather than the top. According to Daiwa Can, the hazard of microwaving cans is that the bombardment of microwaves can cause free electrons in the can's metal to come loose and ionize the air around it. This is most likely to occur near the bottom of the can, where the space is tight and microwaves/ionized air can become more dense, creating little lightning storms. ▼ On the left side, a normal can in a microwave lights up like the Fourth of July, but on the right Range de Can provides enough clearance so electricity is less likely to arc. Range de Can fixes this simply by putting more space between the can and the bottom of the microwave. This reduces the chances of ionized air condensing and triggering sparks. According to Daiwa Can's testing, the chances of sparking drop from 28.3 percent to 0 percent when Range de Can is used. There are some very important things to note before using this item though. First, you have to open the can. Keeping it closed could cause pressure to build up inside until it explodes and creates a much bigger problem than a few sparks. Secondly, it's very important to note that metal reflects microwaves, so the food inside might not cook so well. On the other hand, the metal can could also transfer the heat of the food throughout it more easily than other materials, so depending on the size and shape, it could all balance out. Thirdly, neither microwaves nor cans are all created equally. Some ovens might have certain layouts or wattages that Range de Can isn't prepared to handle. Also, some cans use certain plastic or chemical linings that aren't meant to be heated in a microwave and could affect the quality of the food inside, so make sure you know what you're working with. ▼ Thermal imaging of a can of Pacific saury in miso sauce heated with Range de Can. In all of Range de Can's promotional images, a can of fish is shown. This would make sense since these cans are shallow enough for the food to heat up more thoroughly than taller cans. This kind of fish is also cooked while inside the can during manufacturing, meaning the material of the can is designed to safely withstand high temperatures. This item is not quite at the mass production stage yet, though, so more detailed information about what can and cannot be used by Range de Can may come out by the time it goes on sale. For now, however, it appears more suited to a nice can of mackerel than some Chef Boyardee, but good luck finding Chef Boyardee in Japan anyway. Source: Daiwa Can, PR Times, Images: PR Times Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- Sony Warns Not to Put Your Gaming Console in the Microwave, Leaves Online Community Dumbfounded -- Canned fish rings now on sale at capsule machines across Japan! -- Fact: CDs and Candles Produce Stunning Effects When Microwaved (Don't Try This at Home) External Link © SoraNews24
Japan Today
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
TeamLab opening amazing outdoor art exhibit at one of Japan's more uniquely beautiful gardens
By Casey Baseel, SoraNews24 Mifuneyama Rakuen is a fascinating place. 180 years ago, the local samurai lord commissioned a garden to be created near the foot of Mt Mifuneyama in the town of Takeo, Saga Prefecture, but rather than being a closed-off green space, the garden's borders blend seamlessly into the surrounding forest and mountain trails, resulting in the natural and man-made beauty mixing and complementing each other. As such, it's hard to think of a more fitting venue for the artists of TeamLab, who use digital techniques and colorful illumination to craft installations that speak to visitors on a primordial, emotional level. Opening later this month is A Forest Where Gods Live, TeamLab's annual nighttime exhibition held at Mifuneyama Rakuen. Now in its 11th year, the event invites visitors to stroll though the grounds after sundown and experience a number of innovative and breathtaking works of art. Drawing on the Water Surface Created by the Dance of Koi and Boats, for example, turns the surface of Mifuneyama Rakuen Pond into an interactive canvas, projecting koi made of light onto the water. These digital fish have no predetermined paths, but instead react to each other and the boats the skim across the lake, leaving trails of color behind them to create an ever-changing design. Mifuneyama Rakuen's azalea field dates back to the garden's opening in 1845. For the Life is Continuous Light installation, each bush has its own source of light that shines and fades, as though the plants are taking deep breaths. As visitors walk by, their colors change and spread out to other azaleas in the array. The light from the azaleas also resonates with Mt Mifuneyama itself, which stands beyond them and responds visually to what's happening in Life is Continuous Light. The forest's cherry and maple groves will also have reactive illuminations, which are sure to be enchanting whether you're walking beneath the branches or viewing the woods from above. And while this might look like a waterfall… …it's actually a digital projection of light doing an amazing job of recreating the flow of cascading liquid. This is just a portion of what TeamLab has planned for A Forest Where Gods Live, and it's sure to be an unforgettable way to spend a night. Tickets are priced at 1,800 yen for adults and can be reserved online through the TeamLab website here. The event opens on July 18 and runs until November 3, so even if you can't make it this summer, you can double up with two TeamLab events this fall. Source: TeamLab, PR Times Insert images: TeamLab, PR Times Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- Japan's beautiful TeamLab art group opening its first permanent immersive museum in Kyoto【Video】 -- Japanese hotel's amazingly beautiful lobby is interactive art that changes with the seasons【Pics】 -- Amazing new exhibits from Japanese art team TeamLab coming to life in the U.S.A. External Link © SoraNews24
