Latest news with #SeijiNakazawa
SoraNews24
02-06-2025
- Health
- SoraNews24
Plant extract that may grow hair discovered by Japan's Rohto Pharmaceutical
Plants, you gotta love 'em. My whole life has felt like a race between medical science and my hair's desire to flee my head. Every few years there seems to be a 'breakthrough,' but so far nothing Earth-shattering, and on the Bruce Willis filmography scale of hair loss, I'm currently around Armageddon , which means there's not much time left. So, a recent discovery announced by Japan's Rohto Pharmaceutical may be my last chance until I hit the Moonrise Kingdom point of no return. According to Rohto, their research has confirmed that extracts from the Amur cork tree and chenpi (sun-dried orange peel) doubled the amount of placental growth factor (PlGF) in human hair papilla cells. PlGF is a protein that plays an important role in hair growth by making hairs grow longer, faster, and remain in the active growth period for a longer time. This is a somewhat unique approach that works on the cellular level rather than targeting hormones, blood vessels, or other levels that many popular treatments do. In other words, PlGF can be generated by a person's own body and more universally utilized by women as well as men and even be used to promote eyelash growth. ▼ It might even help our own Seiji Nakazawa get out of the top Google Search result for 'baldie.' Online comments show that not everyone is convinced, however, and seem to resemble the seven stages of grief, possibly indicating each poster's level of experience with hair growth treatments. 'The time has come.' 'Here we go with the hair again.' 'Is there any hope for people who are already bald?' 'How many times have we done this? Kinako… Kelp… It just keeps going on.' 'It's too late for me…' 'This is a victory not only for science but for humanity.' 'I wonder what would happen if someone who isn't bald used it.' 'It's a lie! It's a lie! It's a lie! I will not be fooled again.' 'Please hurry! I was going well into my 50s until my thyroid was removed and it all fell out.' Rohto's announcement marks the end of the testing phase and the company is currently working on developing hair growth products that utilize these extracts. As some of the comments pondered, although PlGF clearly promotes hair growth, it's not certain to reactivate dormant hair follicles. This means Rohto's upcoming products could be a good preventative treatment for those still in the Die Hard With a Vengeance realm but possibly not the savior of those who have already crossed over into A Good Day to Die Hard . Oh, well. If I can hang on to The Kid hair, that'll do. Source: Nikkei, PR Times, My Game News Flash Featured image: Pakutaso Insert image ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
SoraNews24
27-05-2025
- SoraNews24
Japan's second-most-beautiful day-use hot spring might be underrated【Photos】
Shizuoka seaside town offers an amazing experience even if you're not staying overnight. Living in Tokyo, you tend to get in a pattern of thinking in terms of train lines for cool places to go in your free time. Doing too much of that, though, means you'll miss out on some awesome outside-the-train-line-defined box, as our Japanese-language reporter Seiji Nakazawa was recently reminded. The other day, Seiji was talking with a buddy who's really into motorcycles, and the subject of onsen (hot springs) came up. Seiji's friend says that there's one place in particular he and his fellow two-wheeled enthusiasts like to ride to and take a nice long soak. Though it's affiliated with a hotel, the Akazawa Higaeri Onsenkan, as the place is called, is open to day-trip users too, and Seiji's friend highly recommended it. The problem, though, is that Seiji doesn't have a motorcycle, or a car, and with the Akazawa Higaeri Onsenkan being located out in Shizuoka Prefecture, and not within walking distance of any train station, Seiji figured he was out of luck. After doing some checking, though, Seiji found out that there is a free shuttle bus from the nearest station, and you can get to that station from Tokyo in just about two hours. That's how Seiji ended up on the Izu Kuyko Line, heading towards Izu-Kogen Station after riding the Shinkansen from Tokyo's Shinagawa Station to Atami. It's also possible to make the trip without having to transfer by taking the Odoriko express train from Shinagawa straight to Izu-Kogen, but the total point-to-point time and price is about the same either way you go. Stepping out of the train and onto the platform, Seiji was already feeling invigorated by the clean countryside air. Near the station's Yamamo Exit he found the place to wait for the Akazawa Higaeri Onsenkan shuttle bus, with the posted timetable showing one to three buses per hour between 9:50 a.m. and 8:15 p.m. From the station, the bus heads up a mountain road, and arrives at the hot spring about 15 minutes later. It wasn't just Seiji's friend's recommendation that had drawn us to this place, though. According to the rankings on Japanese travel site Jalan, the Akazawa Higaeri Onsenkan has the second-most beautiful view in all of Japan for a day-use hot spring. So what kind of view does it offer? Well, while you have to take a mountain road to get to this place, the backside of the building offers… ……an absolutely stunning ocean view. It's especially awesome when you're sitting submerged in the outdoor bath, since the tub has an infinity pool-type design, where the edge visually blends into the ocean. The view from the indoor bath is no slouch either… …nor is the one from the sauna… …but it's the outdoor baths that really earn this place it's second-most-beautiful day-use hot spring in Japan honors. The view is so incredible that Seiji describes it as something you don't just see, but as something you feel. With the wind, sky, and sea all simultaneously seeming to calling out to him, he felt all of his accumulated big city stress melt away. The Akazawa Higaeri Onsenkan charges an admission fee of 1,600 yen (US$11) ordinarily, or 2,000 yen during peak seasons, so it's not the cheapest day-use hot spring around, but it's definitely one of the most beautiful. For those looking to splurge a little more, they also have private family/couple baths with attached changing areas, which cost an additional 3,500 yen per hour on weekdays or 4,500 yen on weekends and holidays. We've been talking about the day-use baths so far, but right across the street from the Akazawa Higaeri Onsenkan is the Akazawa Onsen Hotel, which has its own baths. The hotel wastes no time giving you a glimpse of its views, with windows that look out over the bay from the lobby. The restaurant's dining area has a great view too… …and, of course, so do the guestrooms. Guests staying at the hotel also have access to the Akazawa Higaeri Onsenkan's baths, but the hotel's own are stunning too, if more modestly sized. But even if an overnight stay isn't in the cards, the day-use hot spring baths are an experience you'll never forget. Location information Akazawa Higaeri Onsenkan / 赤沢日帰り温泉館 Address: Shizuoka-ken, Ito-sho, Akazawa 170-2 静岡県伊東市赤沢１７０−２ Website Akazawa Onsen Hotel / 赤沢温泉ホテル Address: Shizuoka-ken, Ito-shi, Akazawa Ukiyama 163-1 静岡県伊東市赤沢字浮山１６３−１ Website Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
SoraNews24
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Randy's Donuts vs. Krispy Kreme — Who is Japan's king of glazed donuts?
Can the new kid's donuts topple a fan-favorite? We put both to the test in a head-to-head comparison. Just the other day, we reported that Los Angeles-founded donut chain Randy's Donuts has opened its first ever store in Japan in Daikanyama, Tokyo. We were so excited to try the new contender to Japan's donut scene, we rushed out to try a selection of what they have to offer. However, it got us thinking about the other donut chains in the country and how these donuts fare against each other. Doing what any good reporter does (that is if all good reporters use any excuse to eat more delicious food) we went to Krispy Kreme to pick up some donuts to compare to the Randy's donuts we received for a press preview. Our donut of choice for this experiment was the humble glazed donut, because if you can't do a basic donut right, then why bother with the rest of them? Plus, it's easier to get an idea of the true value of a donut when the flavors are kept simple. For example, Randy's Apple Fritter is coated in an amount of sugar that feels like it has reached dangerous (if delicious) proportions, so much so that it doesn't really lend itself to comparison with anything else. One thing we can be certain of is that Randy's has not attempted to adapt their donuts to fit in line with Japanese tastes. Let's find out how that has turned out for them in our little taste test. But first, a closer look at today's competitors. In the challenger corner, we have Randy's Glazed Raised (360 yen [US$2.50]), a traditional yeast donut, with a light, fluffy texture, coated in a sugary glaze. It is both their flagship item and their most popular. On the other side, we have the local defender of glazed donuts, Krispy Kreme's Original Glazed (216 yen for takeout). Similarly, it's a yeast donut with a glaze coating. The Original Glazed is such a well-known and established donut that many Japanese people, even fans of other donut brands, would say that when they're craving glazed donuts specifically they head to Krispy Kreme. Like the Glazed Raised, the Original Glazed is also Krispy Kreme's best-selling and signature item. To make this showdown fair, we rounded up three donut connoisseurs from our office —also known as whomever happened to be nearby and was feeling slightly peckish— and put the two donuts side-by-side. Looking at both of them together, Randy's Glazed Raised is significantly larger, makin the higher price feel like not as significant a factor as it could have been. At least for size, you get what you pay for, so at this stage they're roughly equal. What really matters, though, is the taste, and this is where the differences shone through. Despite being similar donuts on paper, the flavors were quite distinct from each other. Seiji Nakazawa: I prefer Randy's. It's bigger, so you can really taste the wheat. The dough of Krispy's donut feels like it loses out to the glaze. Not that it isn't tasty. Ikuna Kamezawa: I also like Randy's. How should I put it? It's more… bread-like, I guess you could say? I love how filling it is. But it's just a matter of taste, isn't it? P.K. Sanjun: I'm team Krispy. The dough is finer and smoother. Plus, its chewiness is something Randy's lacks. Randy's donut is good, but the lighter Krispy gets my vote. With the taste completed, the results are in: Randy's wins the challenge at 2–1, but it's just like what Ikuna was saying: deliciousness is on the tongue of the taster. Both are quite fluffy, but Krispy Kreme's is lighter, while Randy's offers more thickness and a satisfying bite. A result like this is a great sign for the newcomer to Japan, going to show that, despite not having altered their popular recipe for the Japanese palate, they more than match up to Krispy Kreme's Original Glazed in taste. Our ultimate conclusion, though, is that both signature donuts are delicious and we'd be happy to eat either one of them. While Randy's Donuts has many visually impactful donuts, don't forget about the Glazed Raised if you swing by. Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
SoraNews24
13-05-2025
- SoraNews24
We visited a 'terrible' Japanese hot spring hotel near Narita Airport
With negative reviews flying about, we took it upon ourselves to discover the truth about this much maligned bathhouse. Japan is well known for its hot springs and, if you were hoping to get a last minute soak in before your flight, or simply can't wait to take the plunge the moment you land, you'll be pleased to know that there are some hot spring facilities within easy access from both Narita and Haneda airports. However, as our regular hot spring-going, sauna-loving Japanese-language reporter Seiji Nakazawa was searching for a new place to try out, he discovered reviews of a hot spring facility near Narita Airport calling it 'awful' and 'shockingly bad'. There was even a suggestion that the place would be closing down. Intrigued to find out for himself, he hopped on the next train to Narita Airport. Despite all the negativity surrounding the facility, he tried his best to withhold the desire to read further into those reviews, worrying that they would influence his own impression of the hot spring before he had a chance to experience it for himself. There's a free shuttle bus from Narita Airport to Tokyo Yurakujo, so if you happen to be at Terminal 1, get on at Bus Stop 16, which seems to be the location for many of the hotel buses in the surrounding area. Seiji checked the time: 3:21 p.m. Not too late nor too early, so the next bus shouldn't be long. He found the timetable and looked up the next bus to find it was at… 4:35 p.m. ▼ Wait… Why are there so few buses?! There's less than one bus per hour to a hotel that's near one of the biggest airports in Japan. It is a free shuttle bus, though, so it goes to stand that it might be difficult to cover costs if they send out too many buses. With the next bus over an hour away, Seiji walked over to the taxi stand to ask about the fare, only to learn that it would take about 5,000 yen (US$34.92) to get to Tokyo Yurakujo. There's also apparently a bus from Keisei Narita Station, but it runs even less frequently than the airport bus, so that seemed to be a no-go too. With little other choice, Seiji hunkered down for a wait lasting little over an hour until he could finally board the shuttle. He arrived at the hotel at 4:59 p.m., so even though the ride was just 25 minutes or so from the airport, it felt like it took 1.5 hours. The grounds of the International Resort Hotel were massive. The bus passed through the front gate and went up a slope before finally arriving at the front of the hotel. With the infrequent access and large grounds, when Seiji stepped off the bus he felt like he had arrived on some sort of remote island, completely isolated from the outside world. Walking through the garden was quite a surreal experience: everyone Seiji seemed to pass was a foreigner, which only compounded the feeling that he was somewhere other than Japan. Passing by a charming pavilion, a huge building came into view, which could easily have been mistaken for a wall or a factory. However, when he walked around to the front he discovered that this monolith was in fact his destination on his trip: Tokyo Yurakujo. Much like its name suggests (jo means 'castle'), the facility was massive. Directly in front of the entrance was what seemed to be a never-ending fountain, which as he walked along he soon discovered to be next to a bridge that led into the main entrance of the building. The whole atmosphere of the place was different from a normal hot spring. Walking through the entrance, Seiji came face-to-face with what everyone expects from a hot spring: a… chandelier? Someone on the interior design team obviously got their plans mixed up and converted the reception area into a ballroom, because that's exactly what it looks like. Heading up to the counter, he paid the fee and received his towel and lounge wear, which is great for people who don't carry towels around with them. The entrance fee is 1,800 yen on weekdays, and 2,200 yen on weekends and holidays. At the back of the locker room is a relaxation area, and beyond that is the bathing area. Another thing that was pretty unusual was that the path that runs from the locker room to the relaxation area was a footbath, which also happened to be completely in darkness. It's unclear why the hotel considers blind footbath corridors to be an essential feature, but for those unwilling to risk breaking their necks wading through the water, it is possible to get to the relaxation area from the opposite side of the locker room, although that does require you having to go via the ballroom again. However, it is a good opportunity to brush up on your waltz or tango. Is the relaxation room equally stately? Well.. not quite. Gigantic, yes. The Edo-style design of the dining area, game corner, stage, and various attractions combined with the cyber-colored lighting to give the area an eerie vibe, which could be described as being Neo-Edo. ▼ With regular events being held.. ▼ … there was even a shrine… ▼ … and a horse-drawn carriage! The whole street of amusements seemed to be on another level when compared to your typical hot spring or public bath, but there was still a commonly seen lounge area with manga to read. After getting to the end of the amusement street, Seiji finally reached the bathing area. Inside, there were about three indoor tubs of varying sizes, a cold bath, and a sauna. Outside, there was a main open-air bath and three small, round bathtubs for individual bathers. For Seiji, the sauna experience is everything and, while he enjoyed it, he wasn't blown away by it. However, he was impressed by the availability of reclining chairs for his post-sauna relaxation. Both baths and saunas were average by Seiji's standards, so not really bad enough to warrant the negative reviews. Was there something he was missing? Seiji continued to explore the facility after his bath and learned from a staff member that there was a balcony out the back that could be accessed from the manga lounge area. ▼ The sign on the left indicates a fountain-viewing area. The balcony was amazing. There were luxurious chairs with curtains, creating small, private rooms. Sitting in one of the chairs while watching the fountain change color and listening to the classical music felt incredibly elegant. ▼ Seiji has never felt so refined. Despite the average bathing experience when compared to the facility's overall ambiance, the refined atmosphere of the post-bath balcony is something that is truly unique. In conclusion, Seiji felt that it wasn't bad or terrible or at all, so he began to wonder why people had been rating it that way. Having satisfied his desire to have a completely unbiased experience of the facility, he settled back in his chair and checked out what people online were complaining about. The main points were: Empty Bad accessibility Unpleasant route through a dark footbath Sauna but no cold bath Disappointing baths Not a hot spring—just a regular bath Dirty baths and facility Guests were bad Customer service was bad There were even some reviews that were just downright angry. If he had read these before he went, he might have ended up not going. With his own experience under his belt, he decided to incorporate his honest opinions on these points. Wouldn't go so far as to call it 'empty,' but rather pleasantly available. The accessibility was definitely bad. If you don't have a car, then it's a challenge to get there. There are no doubt some people who care about the footbath, but it's not a necessary route. There was a cold bath. Rather than say the baths were disappointing, it was the exterior that was so amazing that the gap between that and the regular baths was too shocking. For those who care about natural hot springs, then not having one would be an issue, but personally it wasn't a problem. Didn't really notice any cleanliness issues. Didn't notice any problems with the guests. Didn't notice any bad customer service. For experiences with guests and customer service, Seiji believes that everyone will have their own opinions and expectations, but when he went the staff explained everything politely. In the case of the cold bath, it might be an instance where it was fixed by the facility in the time between the review and Seiji's visit. Comparing the baths, with the overwhelming quality of the nearby Sora no Yu, it's not difficult to be in an unfavorable position. Looking at the facility overall, the unique atmosphere gives it a distinct charm that makes for an interesting visit. While there is concern that it might go out of business, that's most likely due to the lack of customers. However, losing a place with such a distinctive vibe would be a shame, so Seiji hopes that the business will work hard to welcome more customers. If you want to experience a hot spring hotel full of unique charm, then Tokyo Yurakujo is waiting for you… as long as you don't mind waiting for the bus. Location information Tokyo Yurakujo / 東京湯楽城 Address: Chiba-ken, Tomisato-shi, Nanae 650-35 International Resort Hotel-nai 千葉県富里市七栄650−35 インターナショナルリゾートホテル内 Open 1:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Closed Mondays Website Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
SoraNews24
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Japanese restaurant chain serves up super thick soba noodles in Tokyo
One of the best places to try a very unusual type of buckwheat noodle. Soba noodles are usually known for being thin and slippery, but sometimes you can find variations on the theme, with one joint serving up an extra wide version that stopped our reporter Seiji Nakazawa in his tracks. He stumbled across the find at Yoshi Soba, a standing soba chain with 10 stores in Tokyo. Not many people know it, but Yoshi Soba is actually run by the popular rental music studio Noah, a fact that's always attracted Seiji, as a band member, to its doors. On a recent visit to the branch in Shibuya, Seiji noticed something unfamiliar when checking out the options on the ticket vending machine. It wasn't actually an item with its own button, but a small card posted next to the top row of buttons, suggesting it might be more of a special service than a standard dish. Stepping closer to read the details, Seiji discovered that the card outlined three different noodle options — flat soba, thin udon, and a mysterious 'Gokuhaba Soba'. Yoshi Soba's noodles are already on the thick, rustic side, but this 'Gokuhaba Soba' boasts a noodle width of one centimetre (0.4 inches), which, to Seiji, seemed staggering. These extra-wide noodles are only available at select locations, though, so he decided to seize the opportunity to try it as Zaru Soba (490 yen [US3.44]), along with a 'Tokumori' (extra-large portion) upgrade for an additional 100 yen. He placed his meal ticket on the counter and when staff came to collect it, he said the words 'Gokuhaba Soba'. The staff member smiled and confirmed his order with a cheery, 'Gokuhaba!', leaving Seiji breathing a sigh of relief that he'd followed the instructions correctly and could now look forward to receiving his unusual meal. Peering into the kitchen, he could see the noodles on the boil, and even from a distance they looked to be much wider than usual. However, when his meal was placed before him, the noodles looked even more incredible — they barely even looked like soba. At first, he wondered if the extra weight of the noodles would make them prone to breaking, but when he lifted them up with chopsticks, they held together and slid easily from the mound. However, after dipping them into the sauce as you would with a regular zaru soba, he found that the noodles were so thick only a couple would fit, raising the sauce level to the brim. Tasting them, he found they had a firm bite, with Yoshi Soba's signature chewiness still evident, giving them a distinct texture with lots of buckwheat flavour. As for the soba aroma, it too was similar to the chain's regular-sized noodles. The main difference was the sheer volume, which made the chewiness more noticeable and although it was simple, it was also extremely filling. Seiji doesn't usually seek out super-wide soba as he prefers the original kind, but that being said, he didn't mind these as they helped him to learn something about himself. Eating these made him realise exactly what he wants from soba. Going to the extreme end of the spectrum with extra width made him understand that it creates a fuller mouthfeel that'll appeal to some, but for Seiji, he prefers the lighter texture of thin noodles. Trying something so different worked to deepen his appreciation for his preferred style of noodle, so in the end it was an eye-opening experience, and not just figuratively, as the look of these definitely widened his eyes with their unusual presence. According to the chain, Gokuhaba Soba began as a trial at five locations — Ginza, Nihonbashi, Shibuya, Fudomae, and Ikejiri Ohashi — from 12 April, with plans to roll the option out at all stores by the end of the month. So next time you're looking for a new type of soba experience, you might want to keep Yoshi Soba in mind. Otherwise, you can take things further by trying udon that's more like a sheet of paper than a noodle, which you have to fold to eat. Related: Yoshi Soba locations Photos©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
