Honouring a centuries-old tradition with a modern twist. 

Every summer, people around Japan eat eel to regain energy from the tiring heat. It’s a tradition that’s been around for centuries, with people commonly consuming eel on the Midsummer Day of the Ox, or “Doyo no Ushi no Hi” as it’s known in Japanese, which this year falls on 26 July.

With so many retailers offering eel on this day, many look for ways to stand out, and one bakery in Kochi Prefecture has everyone’s attention with a new product called “Super! Eel Bread“.

At first glance, the new product looks like sushi, but look closer and you’ll see it’s actually a whole eel, wrapped in a strip of nori seaweed around a super soft bread roll.

The eel is the star of the show, grilled over charcoal in the traditional kabayaki (sweet soy-glazed) style by Kitahama Shoten, an eel specialty shop with over 85 years of history. The new bread, which uses locally-sourced eel, is said to combine the appeal of Kochi’s regional ingredients with the playful spirit unique to Komi Bakery.

According to the bakery, the Super! Eel Bread has been three years in the making, born from an idea by the store’s head of bread and sandwich production, with the aim of contributing to the culture of Doyo no Ushi no Hi as a bakery.

▼ Kazuto Nishiyama, Head of Bread and Sandwich Production and creator of bold ideas.

Nishiyama and his team have certainly succeeded in creating an eye-catching product that honours the tradition of Doyo no Ushi no Hi while adding a unique twist that appeals to modern tastes. Komi Bakery says it plans to continue developing new releases tailored to seasonal events while also supporting local industries.

The longstanding bakery is getting ahead of peak eel season by releasing the new bread in store from 21-23 May, with reservations required three days ahead thereafter, and sales on 26 July are limited to reservations only. Given that it includes a whole eel, the bread is larger than it seems, and is priced at 2,500 yen (US$15.73), or 3,500 yen for online sales, including delivery.

Related: Komi Bakery
Source, images: Press release
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Famous character plays strawberry thief in this new bedtime adventure.

Studio Ghibli’s 1988 animated feature film My Neighbour Totoro is not unlike a bedtime story. There’s the mysterious forest setting, magical character encounters and a story arc that ends with a happily-ever-after, so when you fall asleep, any dreams you have are likely to be filled with fun adventures.

▼ If that’s the kind of slumber you want for your child, then you’ll want to take a look at Studio Ghibli’s dreamy new bedding set.

This baby bedding comes in an adorable “Strawberry Picking” pattern. The name is somewhat reminiscent of William Morris’ famous “Strawberry Thief” print, but instead of a bird plucking a strawberry from the vine, it features Totoro holding the berry aloft in both hands with wide-eyed wonder as a trio of Soot Sprites look on.

The 10-piece set has everything you need to make baby comfortable, and it can be used in a crib or the living room, or even packed up for overnight stays. The comfort starts with the “shikibuton” (敷き布団”), which acts as the base futon or mattress, followed by a soft, quilted mattress pad for baby to lie on, and a waterproof sheet to protect against accidents.

▼ The futon mattress measures 120 x 70 centimetres (47.2 × 27.6 inches)

Like a regular, adult-sized futon, this baby futon is incredibly versatile as it can be set up in any room.

Next is the duvet cover, in the “Strawberry Picking” design, and two duvet inserts. This is quite common in Japanese baby bedding sets, as you use one duvet in warmer weather and both together for extra warmth during the colder seasons.

▼ The duvets measure 120×95 centimetres.

▼ Charming character details on the duvet cover add extra beauty to the central design.

▼ Next, there’s the fitted sheets – one printed and one plain.

The placement of the blue Medium Totoro at the top of the bedsheet acts like a sweet character companion for baby.

▼ And finally, the pillow and pillow cover.

Baby will snooze in a world of slumber, surrounded by strawberries, Soot Sprites, and a Small Totoro.

The only thing missing from the set is an actual plush character, but don’t worry – they can be purchased separately.

The bedding has been beautifully designed, with care taken to consider both the needs of baby and the person setting up their bedding. The inclusion of two duvets and two fitted sheets is especially useful, but it does mean the set is an investment and it’s priced accordingly, at 27,500 yen (US$171.77).

Still, for fans of Totoro who want to share the love from generation to generation it’ll be a worthwhile investment, and it can be purchased now at Donguri Kyowakoku stores and online, while stocks remain available.

Source, images: Donguri Kyowakoku
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Fans say the new creation looks surprisingly similar to the famous Gyoza Dog at DisneySea.

Competition is strong at the top of the convenience store food chain, where Lawson, 7-Eleven and Family Mart constantly compete for customers’ affections. That means we get to enjoy all the spoils of this competitive spirit, and right now there’s one product at Family Mart that has everyone’s attention.

Called “Gyoza Dog”, this chilled food item has developed a cult following, for a rather unusual reason – it’s said to taste incredibly similar to the version sold at DisneySea. The new release means fans don’t have to travel to the theme park to get a taste of the dog, but for our reporter Mr Sato, who’s yet to taste the DisneySea version, he was curious to try it purely as a lover of hot dogs, gyoza, and convenience store food in general.

▼ Family Mart’s Gyoza Dog was released exclusively in the Kanto region on 9 June, but availability may vary by region and store, so it’s not always possible to find.

Mr Sato was lucky enough to find one at the store he visited, where it was hiding out in the refrigerated foods section, near the cheese. He purchased it for 320 yen (US$2.01) and took it back to the office for a taste test.

Inspecting the pack, he found that the dog needs to be heated before eating, but unlike many microwaveable products these days, you can’t just put the whole thing in the microwave with the packaging as is. You need to make a small slit in one end before heating it, and failing to do so runs the risk of the bag bursting in the microwave so it’s important not to forget this step.

The recommended heating time is 20 seconds in a 1,600-watt microwave. For a standard household 500-watt microwave, it should be heated for 60 seconds.

▼ Since the microwave in our office is a 500-watt model, Mr Sato set the timer for 60 seconds and hit start.

A moment later, the microwave dinged and the heating was complete. The warmed Gyoza Dog had puffed up nicely and looked absolutely delicious.

▼ On the outside, it looked delectable.

On the inside was a filling made with familiar gyoza ingredients like pork, cabbage, and onions, all surrounded by a doughy encasing that was surprisingly thick.

▼ To Mr Sato, it looked like a Chinese-style steamed bun in the shape of a hot dog.

The filling was fantastic, with the crisp texture of the cabbage doing a great job of recreating that unmistakable gyoza-like taste. Juicy, moreish and delicious, it was a perfect match for the chewy dough, delivering bagfuls of flavour in every mouthful.

As for whether this Gyoza Dog tastes like the one at DisneySea, well, Mr Sato will have to book a ticket to the amusement park to get an answer to that one. Either way, it’s a great dog that Mr Sato would definitely purchase again, and while it’s currently only available in the Kanto region, he has high hopes that it will be released nationwide in future, so gyoza lovers around the nation can enjoy its delicious charms.

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At this Japanese convenience store chain, big is an understatement. 

It’s been a great few months for convenience store fans in Japan, with chains like 7-Eleven and Lawson upsizing a number of their products with special limited-time campaigns.

▼ Now, Family Mart is bringing joy to its customers with a “Giant All-Star Festival“.

With 14 items in the lineup, covering products like coffee, sweets and sandwiches, there’s something here for everyone. However, unlike 7-Eleven and Lawson, where products were upsized at no extra cost to customers, the products in Family Mart’s campaign come with higher price tags, so customers will want to be more discerning with their choices.

Here to help in that regard is our own discerning reporter P.K. Sanjun, who flatly says that the sandwiches, eclairs, and coffee jelly weren’t as impressive as he’d hoped. While they might resonate with other customers, for him the size upgrade wasn’t giant enough to make him do a double-take, which is the high bar he sets for campaigns like this one.

There were, however, two items in the range that did make P.K. do a double-take.

▼ The Big Financier…

▼ … and the Big Cookie.

These were two products P.K. didn’t mind paying extra for, as the sheer size of them made them seem like great value for money, even with the price increase. To give you an idea of how big the Big Financier is, P.K. says it’s about the size of an iPhone 16 Pro.

▼ P.K., modelling the financier phone.

Placing it next to the chain’s standard financier, P.K. had a hunch that the giant version was more than twice its size. Checking the website, he learned that the Big Financier is said to have 2.9 times the surface area of the standard version.

The official website also claims that the Big Cookie is about twice the weight of the chain’s regular chocolate macadamia cookie.

Sensing it was even larger, P.K. whipped out his scales to weigh both cookies. The regular chocolate macadamia cookie weighed in at 60 grams (2.1 ounces), while the large cookie was…

▼ …172 grams!

At almost three times the weight, the increase was way bigger than advertised, and with the price difference being 203 yen (US$1.27) for the regular version and 258 yen for the large, this was fantastic value for money.

▼ In Japan, giving customers more than they bargained for is colloquially known as gyaku sagi (“reverse fraud“).

▼ The giant financier was another good deal, with the regular being 150 yen and the large 238 yen.

Compared to everything else in the range, the financier and cookie are outstanding in terms of both size and cost-effectiveness. The upgrade didn’t affect the quality either, as both were as delicious as their smaller versions.

According to P.K., these are the two aces of the Giant All-Star Festival, but they’re only available in limited quantities so keep an eye out for them next time you pop in for a change of clothes during the rainy season.

Insert image: Family Mart Japan
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We challenge you to find a saltier ramen in Japan.

Once you start diving into the world of Japanese ramen, you’ll find that the waters are deep, with an incredibly diverse array of varieties, and new dishes being created somewhere every day.

A great example of that can be seen at Kuwabara, a ramen restaurant in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro that specialises in “shio soba“, a light, salt-based ramen. The store’s full name is “Shio Soba Specialty Shop Kuwabara” so it prides itself on salty ramen, but according to diners, a dish on the menu called “Ikebukuro White” is off the scale, with diners describing it as “shockingly salty“.

▼ A sign out the front shows customer’s views of the store, with “The soup is salty” in top place, written in red.

The saltiness of the Ikebukuro White is said to be so insane that the restaurant is now trending on social media, with some online commenters describing it as “salty delicious”, “incredibly addictive”, “one of a kind” and “the saltiest salt ramen I’ve ever eaten in my life.”

▼ Needless to say, those comments immediately piqued our interest so we headed out to the store to try the Ikebukuro White.

Ironically, the dish is marked by a black-and-white button on the ticket machine inside, where it’s priced at 1,200 yen (US$7.61). Next to it is a handwritten sign that says, “rapidly gaining popularity”, indicating that this dish really is attracting attention from diners.

After handing our ticket over to staff, we took a seat and a few minutes later our Ikebukuro White arrived. At first glance, it looked like a slightly unorthodox salt ramen, with black pepper and flat noodles, but nothing could prepare us for what we tasted when we took our first sip of the broth.

▼ SALTY!!

The saltiness is so strong it needs to be emphasised in all caps, and although it’s not extreme enough to make you stop eating, it toes the line by erring on the side of tolerable. This really was the saltiest ramen we’d ever had in our life, and in addition to the saltiness, the garlic and black pepper also pack a punch. The firm texture of the flat noodles, cooked perfectly al dente, attempts to soften the flavours, but they remain strong in every mouthful.

▼ Perhaps because of the intense saltiness, we found ourselves finishing the noodles in no time.

One unexpected side effect of the salty broth was it made the water taste incredibly delicious. And yes, we gulped down an entire glass after the meal.

Now that we’ve tried the famed ramen, we challenge anyone to find a saltier broth in Japan. It’s so salty that if you didn’t know its reputation beforehand, you might find yourself wondering if the chef made a mistake with the seasoning.

There’s no mistake here, though, and although the saltiness is incredibly overwhelming, it’s a one-of-a-kind ramen you won’t find anywhere else. So if you’re willing to dive into Japan’s ramen world, this is definitely the deep end, where the broth is delicious, but as salty as the sea.

Restaurant information
Shio Soba Specialty Shop Kuwabara / 塩そば専門店 桑ばら
Address: Tokyo-to, Toshima-ku, Higashi-Ikebukuro 1-27-5
東京都豊島区東池袋1-27-5
Open 11:00 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
Closed irregularly

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We find out if this new limited-edition Chocolixir really tastes like corn potage soup.

With summer now upon us, stores all over Japan are releasing limited-edition seasonal products to keep us feeling cool and refreshed. Over at Godiva, though, the focus is more on seasonal produce, with a new release that’s like nothing we’ve ever seen before.

Called the Sweet Corn Chocolixir, this new take on the chain’s signature chocolate-based Chocolixir drink is said to taste like sweet corn potage soup. Although corn potage is incredibly popular throughout Japan, it’s more commonly associated with the colder months, as you can buy the soup hot in cans at vending machines.

Corn is actually harvested in summer, though, so Godiva’s new Chocolixir celebrates the new harvest, and while the flavour sounds intriguing enough on its own, what’s even more surprising is the unusual topping.

▼ It’s not every day you see whole corn kernels sitting on top of a chocolate drink.

According to Godiva, the new Chocolixer combines the natural sweetness of sweet corn with white chocolate and honey butter sauce. It’s then topped with a generous swirl of whipped cream and finished with roasted corn.

▼ Released on 29 May, the drink is on the menu from 830 yen (US$5.18) for a regular size and 940 yen for a large.

It took us a long time to tear our eyes away from the corn topping when we bought the new drink to try it, but when we did, we were able to appreciate the finer details. Nibbling on the corn revealed it to be wonderfully fresh, sweet and juicy, making it a lovely entree for the drink to follow, while the rich yet light and fluffy cream accompaniment was a fun accent, easing our palate into the deeper flavour combinations. The first sip highlighted the deliciousness of the corn, and we instantly likened it to a slightly sweet chilled corn potage, where you could taste the natural sweetness and subtle saltiness of the ingredients.

Delving further, the combination of white chocolate and rich honey butter sauce was absolutely delicious. This is where the drink truly shines, as the white chocolate brings the whole drink together and elevates the flavour, showcasing the skill of Godiva and reminding us of its chocolate prowess.

Though we’d been slightly cautious about the corn drink at first, by the end we were seriously impressed. Godiva’s cold chocolate take on corn potage is bursting with sweetness, and the refreshing crunch of ice is a delightful addition, making it the perfect summer beverage.

The only problem is finding a store where you can buy it, as the drink is so popular it was sold out at every participating branch we visited when we first went on the hunt for it. As a general rule, if it’s not listed on the menu at a participating store (see link below for locations) it’s likely to be sold out, but from our experience it would be best to visit a branch as soon as it opens, and a store that’s large but still slightly out of the way, like the one we visited in Tokyo’s Hibiya, will give you a better chance of finding it.

Related: Godiva Cafe store list
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Small but mighty, meet the new bag that’s captivating customers in Japan.

Mesh bags are one of this season’s hottest fashion accessories. Lightweight, stylish, and easy to match with almost any outfit, they’ve become a must-have item for summer. Now, Starbucks Japan has joined the trend with a new collection of mesh bags, and they’re already creating a buzz online.

The bags come in three styles: Large green (2,500 yen [US$15.66]) and Small Purple (2,000 yen), which are only available online, and Small Green, which can be purchased in stores and online. We immediately fell in love with the Small Purple version and after ordering it we breathed a sigh of relief that we did, as it was marked “out of stock” soon after.

A few days after placing our order, the mesh bag arrived on our doorstep and it was even cuter than we’d expected. The soft purple colour gives it a stylish yet breezy look that’s perfect for summer, and the design feels both elegant and playful so it’s easy to see why the range has become so popular.

Measuring approximately 19 centimetres (7.5 inches) wide, 9.5 centimetres deep, and 19 centimetres high, the bag has a compact size that adds to its charm. Though it might appear small, the bag is mighty as it comes with an inner pocket and strong handles, making it surprisingly sturdy and practical.

Even with its compact design, we were able to fit all our summer essentials inside, including a wallet, handkerchief, fold-up umbrella, and sunglasses. It’s the perfect companion for quick errands, casual outings, or a day around town, and as you might expect from Starbucks, it’s also perfectly sized for drink-carrying. A reusable cup fits comfortably inside, and tumblers or water bottles fit without any problem, so the storage capacity is particularly impressive.

The look and design of each bag is an instant mood-lifter so it’s easy to understand why all three versions have become so popular. The online-exclusive bags have been selling out quickly, though, making them increasingly difficult to get. As of 1 June, Starbucks appears to be considering additional sales based on the number of customers registered for restock notifications, so if you’re interested, it may be worth registering your interest and keeping an eye out for restock notifications.

Related: Starbucks Japan online store
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Quick and easy, this is a meal that’ll have you going back for seconds.

One of our favourite hacks when it comes to making Japanese-style meals is to whip out our rice cooker and stuff it with all sorts of unconventional ingredients. These so-called “rice cooker recipes” almost always result in surprisingly delicious meals, and our latest culinary experiment turned out to be so tasty and easy to make that we wanted to share it so you can enjoy it too.

The recipe itself is adapted from one created by Marudai Foods, the makers of “Smoked House Aged Wiener” sausages, so you can rest assured that its foundations have been tried and tested for deliciousness. While the brand’s sausages are, as you might expect, on the ingredients list, the recipe also includes vegetables, making it ideal for people looking to add more nutrition to their diets, and for parents looking for a tasty way to encourage their kids to eat veggies.

So let’s get cooking, starting first with the ingredients you’ll need.

• Marudai Foods “Smoked House Aged Wiener” sausages x 1 pack
• Carrot x 1
• Canned sweetcorn x 1 can
• Uncooked rice x 2 go (“go” is a traditional rice-measuring unit that equates to about 150 grams, so you’ll need 300 grams)
• Granulated dashi soup stock x 1 tablespoon
• Soy sauce x 1.5  tablespoons
• Cooking sake x 1 tablespoon
• Chopped green onions to garnish

Method

1.  Cut the wieners diagonally in half. Peel the carrot, and drain the corn from the can.

2. Add the rice to the rice cooker, then add the dashi granules, and water to the scale of “2 go” on the side of the bowl. Place all the other  ingredients on top and press the button to start the rice-cooking cycle.

3. After it’s cooked, mix everything well and top with green onions. Then add extra soy sauce, and butter if you like, and you’re done!

The moment you open the rice cooker, the smoky aroma and the umami of the wiener emanates upwards, instantly stimulating your appetite. Though the whole carrot might seem large, it’s so soft that it can be easily cut with a shamoji rice paddle and mixed around.

When you go to serve the meal, it’ll look so colourful and appetising that even the most veggie-averse diners won’t be able to resist trying it.

Everything is so soft and moreish you’ll be going back for refills, and the mix of carbs and protein will fill you up nicely.

As the rice cooks, it absorbs all the savoury flavour from the sausages, making everything extra tasty. It’s a fun and easy way to make a nutritious meal that actually tastes good, and once you’ve mastered a recipe like this you can move on to slightly more challenging, and more carb-heavy, meals like this massive deep-dish Chicago pizza.

Related: Marudai Foods, Twitter/@marudaiwanpaku
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Why go to Starbucks when you can find hidden gems like this at a locally born chain?

Are you a Chokomintou supporter? If you are, then you will be gearing up for a very busy, and refreshing, summer in Japan, because Chokomintou means “Choco Mint Tou”, where “tou” (“political party”) humorously refers to the chocolate mint party, a faction despised by some and strongly supported by others.

Choc mint is certainly a divisive flavour combination, but here in Japan, where summers can be excruciatingly hot and brutal, it’s become immensely popular, so much so that “Chokomintou” quickly became a common term, with people proudly declaring their support for it.

This summer, those supporters are being treated to a whole slew of new treats, and one that’s currently causing a stir is the Chocolate Mint Shake from Japanese coffeehouse chain Tully’s.

This beverage is so thick it’s more like a drinkable ice cream than a shake, but what makes it even more special is the fact that you can request extra mint, making it one of the strongest mint-to-chocolate drinks on the market.

▼ The Chocolate Mint Shake retails for 790 yen (US$4.98).

The blue-green hues will immediately refresh your mind when you lay your eyes on the shake, and the pop of contrasting colour with the bright orange straw is another nice visual touch. The topping of chocolate shavings adds another accent in colour and, as it turns out, texture.

We ordered our shake with extra mint, and the resulting flavour was super minty, hitting the taste buds with an invigorating freshness. Thankfully, there was no “toothpaste-like” taste that’s sometimes evident in chocolate mint products – it was purely a fresh mint zing that paired beautifully with the chocolate, all wrapped up in a rich and creamy, ice cream-like texture. It was a delightful sensation, and the occasional crunch of the chocolate shavings added a nice surprise in between mouthfuls.

It was such an exquisite balance between mint and chocolate that we’d describe it as the golden ratio of choc mint. It’s by far the best chocolate mint product we’ve ever tasted, and so good it has the power to move a chocomintou fan to tears.

As a home-grown coffeehouse that tends to sit in the shadow of Starbucks, Tully’s is often coming out with unusual releases to stay in the competition. The Chocolate Mint Shake is a great example of that, and a good reminder that sometimes the best finds can be found in the shadows.

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“Super Happy Too Much! Challenge” campaign has all the right ingredients for happiness.

The month of June is a happy one at Lawson, or to be precise, a “Chou Happy Sugi”one, as that’s the name of the so-called “challenge” campaign currently being held at the chain for four weeks, which sees some of its most popular products getting the upsize treatment, at no extra cost to customers.

With a name that translates as “Super Happy Too Much! Challenge” or “Super Happy Overload! Challenge”, size is at the centre of the campaign, and with new lineups being released weekly, the week of 16 June saw a total of 13 new larger-than-usual products taking centre stage.

After perusing the new products in person, there were a few products that stood out, starting with the desserts, which are always a crowd pleaser.

▼ “Too Much! Large Chocolate Cream Puff” (194 yen [US$1.35])

▼ “Too Much! Rich and Fluffy Cheesecake” (329 yen)

▼ However, in true form as crowd pleasers, both these desserts had sold out when we visited.

We didn’t mind too much, though, because there are two other star players in the bento section: “Too Much! Sauce & Salt Yakisoba” (559 yen) and the “Too Much! Katsu × Frankfurter Curry” (697 yen). We managed to pick both of them up and take them back to the office for a taste test.

▼ Starting with the yakisoba, it displayed sauce yakisoba on one side and salt yakisoba on the other.

The beauty of this dish is that its size comes from combining two ordinarily separate types of yakisoba together. Being able to enjoy two meals in one dish is enough to make anyone super happy, and popping it on the scales revealed it weighed in at 645 grams (22.8 ounces), so we were getting good value for money.

Removing the lid allowed us to take in the true beauty of the two-variety yakisoba, and being able to enjoy a bite of each at varying moments throughout the meal made us want to cry out “Chou Super Happy!” Sure, it was a total carb overload, but for a special treat, it had all the right ingredients to make us super happy.

Even more satisfying than the yakisoba, however, was the “Too Much! Katsu × Frankfurter Curry”. Rather than doubling the serving of katsu (cutlet) curry, which we’ve seen in past mega-size promotions like this one, Lawson has decided to up the happiness factor by upsizing the meal with a frankfurter sausage instead.

While this might disappoint diehard fans of katsu curry, we actually loved the sausage element. It was impressive in both size and flavour, adding an extra air of decadence to the meal, and we particularly liked the way it gave us two different meaty ways to carry the curry to our taste buds.

As part of Lawson’s “Machikado Kitchen” range of instore cooked meals, the curry is relatively easy to get your hands on so you don’t have to worry too much about it selling out. If it isn’t on display, you can ask a staff member to prepare one for you, and if there’s stock available it shouldn’t be a problem, so it’s worth keeping that in mind when you visit.

Like all the other products in the Week 3 drop, it will only be available for a limited time though, so you’ll want to get in quick to join the super happy campaign. And if you have your heart set on trying one of the desserts, here’s an insider tip: the chain often restocks its products after midday, so that’s often the best time to visit.

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Plus some surprising extra requirements, like having to say “thank you” at least 10 times a day. 

Every school in Japan has its own set of rules, and while many of these guidelines are perfectly understandable, there are some that are baffling, to say the least.

This topic of nonsensical school rules was recently explored by Jukusen, one of Japan’s largest online directory and comparison platforms for cram schools, in a survey that targeted 104 high school students nationwide.

More than half (56.7 percent) of the respondents said there were rules at their school that they did not agree with, and out of these, about 70 percent said they hadn’t been given an explanation as to why those rules are necessary.

So what were the rules that made no sense to students? Let’s take a look at the top 12 responses below – totals exceed 100 percent as students were allowed to give multiple responses – starting with a brief rundown from 12 to six.

12. No stopping anywhere on the way home after school (27.9 percent)
11. Limits on the number of keychains students can carry (30.8 percent)
10. Ban on sunscreen and lip balm (31.7 percent)
9. Restrictions on winter clothing such as coats and scarves (34.6 percent)
8. Restrictions on sweaters and cardigans (34.6 percent)
7. Rules specifying the type and colour of school bags (34.6 percent)
6. Restrictions on underwear colour (36.5 percent)

▼ The question put to students for the survey was: “Which school rules honestly make no sense to you?“

Taking a closer look at the top five revealed the following results:

5. Restrictions on smartphones (36.5 percent)

Many respondents accepted bans during class but thought prohibitions during breaks or school events were unreasonable as students want to communicate and take photos at those times.

4. Restrictions on the colour, length, and design of socks (39.4 percent)

Students questioned why schools sought to regulate such a minor detail, saying it felt pointless to regulate tiny fashion issues.

3. Restrictions on how to wear the uniform (42.3 percent)

Students complained that uniform rules were excessively detailed and inconsistently enforced, with one student saying she was pulled up by teachers for folding up the waist of her skirt, even though she was only doing it as it was uncomfortably loose.

▼ Low socks and a high skirt is a no-no at schools.

2. Ban on eyebrow grooming (48.1 percent)

Students argued that not being allowed to care for your eyebrows actually makes people look less presentable. They also expressed concern for people who feel insecure about their brows, as they’re not allowed to tend to them.

1. Restrictions on hairstyles and hair colour (54.8 percent)

Students strongly questioned why schools regulate hair at all, with many saying they felt these rules weren’t in line with the times as they prioritise conformity over individuality.

The survey also revealed some unusual rules that exist at some schools:

• On graduation day, girls must wear tights of 80 denier or higher
• Students are required to say “thank you” at least 10 times a day within the school
• Bans on establishing a light music club

While “light music” originally referred to lighter orchestral pieces, it now involves popular music like punk, rock and J-Pop, and some schools fear these clubs might “increase the number of delinquent and misbehaving students”.

Though students are quick to complain about these “incomprehensible” school rules, saying they have little to do with academic performance, in the end, they mostly put up with them, with approximately 70 percent of current respondents indicating that they abide by the rules despite their dissatisfaction.

The remaining 30 percent are likely plucking an eyebrow hair every now and then, and holding out hope for their school to rethink some of its requirements. With some schools now easing up on black-only hair rules and abolishing underwear checks, change may very well be on the horizon.

Source: Press release
Featured image: Press release
Insert images: Press release, Pakutaso (1, 2, 3)
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Japanese convenience store food, like you’ve never seen it before. 

If you’re looking for value-for-money on your next convenience store run, then Lawson is the place to go right now, because the chain is holding a special “Super Happy Too Much! Challenge” campaign, where select products are being upsized for free.

This is the second week of the campaign, which brings us a new lineup of 10 larger-than-usual products, and the standouts for us turned out to be two products in the bread aisle.

▼ The 51-percent upsized Shrimp Crackers with Sweet Rice Wine got a second look from us as well.

While we ended up bypassing the crackers, we couldn’t resist purchasing the Too Much! Menchi Burger (387 yen [US$2.41])…

▼ … and the Curry Bread and Minced Meat Cutlet (192 yen).

These wildly inventive creations have been causing a buzz since they were released on 9 June, and when we saw them in person, we immediately understood why.

Firstly, the Too Much! Menchi Burger is visually stunning, as the weight of the menchi katsu (miced meat cutlet) has been increased by more than 51 percent compared to the regular version.

▼ The cutlet is now so big it juts out the sides like a meaty moustache.

While the menchi-to-bun ratio is now drastically outweighed, the taste remains outstanding. Since it’s prepared in-store, as part of Lawson’s “Machikado Kitchen” prepared food lineup, the menchi katsu comes out hot and crispy, with an irresistible, freshly fried crunch.

▼ The inside of the cutlet is plump and generous, with onion adding extra flavour to the juicy meat.

Next, we move on to the curry bread, which has a Japanese name that translates as: “Too Much Pairing! European-Style Curry Bread & Jutting-out Menchi Katsu“.

Curry bread, or “Kare Pan” as it’s known in Japanese, is usually served on its own, as a rounded morsel of battered, fried bread with a curry filling in the centre. This new product, however, changes everything we thought we knew about curry bread by using them as buns, and sandwiching a fried meat cutlet between them.

▼ A triple-fry burger, with a menchi katsu jutting out from the centre.

Despite the fry-heavy elements, this “burger” was actually less greasy than we thought it would be. Both the curry bread and the menchi katsu did have strong, distinctive flavors, though, so there were moments when we found ourselves thinking, “Wait, what exactly am I eating right now?” To be honest, the combination is so intense that it can leave your taste buds feeling a little overwhelmed as the two main ingredients compete for your attention, and it’s seriously filling so you might want to eat it in two sittings.

▼ The curry bread and cutlet were a full-on pairing, so it lived up to its name.

While Week One of the campaign went overboard with drinks that were extremely salty and extremely sweet, our choices for Week Two challenged our bellies and our preconceptions of what convenience store food can be.

We learned that too much menchi katsu can be well matched for a burger, while the too-much pairing of curry bread and menchi katsu can be too much for the taste buds. In the end, though, we were left with full bellies and a new appreciation for Lawson, who dared to take convenience store food to new realms with such bold, attention-grabbing creations.

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