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Japan Exports Hello Kitty, Cars, And Now Fuel-Efficient Planes

We know that Japan is great at making robots and creating Hello Kitty hype, but now this technologically-advanced, sushi-loving nation is ready to make airplanes too.

Government-backed company Mitsubishi Regional Jet (known to the cool people simply as MRJ), which also has financial support from Toyota, started off last year when Japanese carrier (and anti-pee squad) ANA ordered 25 jets for delivery from 2014. But MRJ just got a much bigger boost, with a large order being placed by US carrier Trans States (which usually flies as United Express). They want 50 jets and an option for 50 more.

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New McDonald's Campaign In Japan Imagines Americans As Nerdy, From Ohio

McDonald's is launching a new ad campaign in Japan, this time revolving around four new burgers they're making available exclusively on the island nation. To spearhead the effort, they're rolling out their local mascot Mr. James, a kind of stereotypical American nerd who speaks broken Japanese but is very, very exuberantly bubbly about it. The only problem is that the actual Americans who live in Japan loathe the character, who is roughly the reverse equivalent of when Americans put on fake Japanese accents by turning 'l's into 'r's.

Except on top of having pronunciation problems, Mr. James is an incoherent and painfully annoying simpleton. He stars in a number of spots in this campaign, going to McDonald's locations all over Japan and musing about his favorite burgers. He even has a blog, on which he goes into deep background about his Ohio birthplace and about how he loves to shower foreigners with cash. That last bit isn't part of the stereotype; it has something to do with a cash prize McDonald's is giving out, but the rest of the ensemble has Japan's small foreign community less than pleased:

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Andy Warhol Grins In His Grave Over $2,500 Luggage Bearing His Name

Between this Globe Trotter Warhol-branded luggage set and the Flight 001 chichi rent-a-luggage we covered a few months ago, we're starting to think that manufacturers are just trying to bait us. Are people really dropping thousands of dollars for something they check through at the front of the airport, only to pick up hours later when they're bleary eyed and jet lagged? Here's the deal on these pricey, limited-edition bags:

In association with the week-long Andy Warhol x Hysteric Glamour pop-up shop at the ISETAN store in Tokyo’s Shinjuku precinct, a marquee item... with three different sizes, each feature an all-black exterior while the inside features a Warholian skull motif with signature. The Andy Warhol x Hysteric Glamour pop-up shop on the 4th floor of ISETAN runs from the 16th till the 23rd of September.

True story: we have a writer at Jaunted HQ whose very first non-airport experience in Japan was at the world's busiest train station in Shinjuku. During rush hour. Dragging all his international luggage. Because our writer is not very smart. That's a whole other story howeve, and this post is about Warholian skulls on the inside of overpriced luggage sets. Just how overpriced, you ask?

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Groping Epidemic On Tokyo Trains Has Us Watching Our Butt

On the whole, Japan is a dream for travelers; it's full of polite people who go out of their way to help tourists. But that can all come to an abrupt stop when you get on a train in Tokyo (or, to be fair, probably any big city). That's when the gropers appear, and we don't mean the fish.

Authorities are warning travelers—especially females—to watch out for subway passengers who feel the need to grope them. They say they're particularly concerned at the moment because many of the recently-nabbed gropers say they have been inspired by websites on groping. One recent offender said in his defense: "He had viewed a website that detailed how and when to grope people and wanted to confirm if the hints worked..." And he'd even traveled 60 miles out of his way to ride a train line the website listed as being "easy" for groping.

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Today The World Remembers The Bombing Of Hiroshima

Sixty-four years ago today was the date that a little Japanese city by the name of Hiroshima entered the world's consciousness forever. It was on August 6, 1945 that the plane Enola Gay dropped the atomic bomb, resulting in the first use of a nuclear weapon in warfare and over 140,000 deaths almost immediate deaths.

It also happens to be the 119th anniversary of the first death penalty executed by electric chair, so today isn't exactly the brightest of days.

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Giant Jellyfish Are Totally Crashing Sea of Japan's Party

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water ... giant jellyfish! Actually, to be more specific, they're named "Nomura's jellyfish" and this season, ocean currents are pushing them from Chinese waters into the Sea of Japan, where they prove fatal for expensive fishing nets.

Although the creatures can be up to 6' long and weigh up to 450 pounds (of jelly?), they aren't the malicious, stinging sort. No, they're simply the ruining-a-Japanese-town's-livelihood sort, which is what occurs when the beasts rip through pricey nets and ruin major catches, sending villages that rely on the fishing trade into an economical depression.

Past invasions of the Nomura's jellyfish have occurred in 2005 and 2007, so it looks like it's becoming a regular thing, especially since researchers posit that "overfishing, pollution or rising ocean temperatures may have depleted the kinds of fish that prey on Nomura's jellyfish in the polyp stage." So, who wants to do some scuba diving in the Sea of Japan with us?

Related Stories:
· Japanese fishermen brace for giant jellyfish [CNN]
· Killer Beaches: Jellyfish Hung Out To Dry, For Now [Jaunted]
· Killer Beaches Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: AFP/Getty]

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Re-Enacting History: Swordfighting And Samurais In Mt. Fuji's Shadow

Along with the tasty barbeques and popping fireworks of the middle of summer come the re-enactments of historical battles. To help you plan fun excursions to watch guns go off, we're listing our favorite battle re-enactment sites all this week. Any suggestions or questions? Let us know.

Back in the 16th century when warlords Shingen and Kenshin were fighting for territory around the area which is currently Nagano prefecture near Tokyo, a series of deadly battles took place at Kawanakajima, killing over 7,000 samurai by both sword and gun—or seppuku ritual suicide for the wounded.

These days, a battle is re-enacted every April with over 900 volunteer warriors dressed in armor and costumes of the period, but the battle grounds have moved further inland to Yamanashi prefecture. It's actually an area of popular natural spas, so bring your swimsuit and prepare for a weekend of relaxation and watching fake disembowelment.

To reach Yamanashi, take the JR Chuo Line train for 90 minutes from Shinjuku Station to Isawa Onsen Station. If you love historical re-enactments, sushi and long plane flights, this would be the battle for you.

Related Stories:
· Isawa Onsen [att-Japan]
· Historical Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Japan Today]

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Creepy Travel: Japan's Abandoned Hashima Island Now Open for Tourists

Abandoned towns are always fun to visit, and they're even more enticing if they've been off-limits for decades. Such is the case with Japan's Hashima Island, more commonly known as Battleship Island. This speck of an island about 15 kilometers from Nagasaki was once home to the densest population in the world, housing thousands of workers between 1887 and 1974 who harvested coal from the sea floor for the massive Mitsubishi company.

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The New Robotic Cooks From Japan Will Give You Haunting Nightmares

We've been pretty good about welcoming our new robotic overlords, up to and including thanking them for making travel-related customer service less of a nightmare. But there's something disquieting about a robot that can verbally take our order, independently interpret our request, and then cut up sushi rolls and serve them to us. Without getting into too many details, that something has to do with the words "fish" and "poison" and the phrase "robot revolution."

In any case, several cutting-edge lines of cooking robots debuted last week at the Tokyo International Food Machinery and Technology Expo last week. The one in the picture, a product of Japanese company Toyo Riki, can prepare and flip pancakes. Really neat! This next one, more of a serving robot, can pick up fruit without bruising it and serve delicate pastries. Insanely creepy!

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In Japan, Come For The Baseball Game, Stay For The Toilets

Baseball is one of the best spectator sports in the world. The cheer of the crowd, the crack of the bat, the hot dogs, and even the public restrooms make the whole experience that much better. Well, maybe not the restroom part, unless you are lucky enough to take in a game at the Seibu Dome just outside of Tokyo.

It all started a couple of years ago when the Boston Red Sox seduced star pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka away from the Seibu Lions. Through MLB’s agreement with the professional league in Japan, US teams had a precious few days to make an offer on Matsuzaka through something known as the posting system. Basically, the Red Sox won this type of auction, and paid about $50 million through the nose for the rights to the popular pitcher. As a result, the Lions were swimming in an udon soup of hot new cash.

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Pretty Seat Doilies Decorate the Limousine Airport Buses in Japan

Airport transfers can be a bit of a nightmare, and if you're heading off to a first class flight you really should be in a limousine, right? Japan has a good compromise that even those without first class tickets can afford: the Airport Limousine Bus service.

Running at both the major Japanese airports--Tokyo's Narita airport and Osaka's Kansai hub--as well as at regional spots, the Japanese seem to have got this transport thing figured out well. Limousine buses are, as you'd expect, pretty comfortable buses, and they pick you up from major train stations around town to transport you relatively hassle-free to the airport.

The bonus is that by Japanese standards they're definitely not too pricey. For example, a typical fare from central Tokyo all the way out to Narita is 3,000 yen ($30). Compared to battling the subway crush or negotiating an expensive taxi ride, the Limousine Bus idea seems like a good choice. Plus you get to see these pretty crocheted seat covers close up (we never said the décor was great).

Related Stories:
· Airport Limousine Bus Japan [Official Site]
· Narita International Airport Is In The Future [Jaunted]
· Japan Travel Guide [Jaunted]

[Photo: s.yume]

Tags: Train Travel / Japan Travel / JR / WiFi / Train WiFi / → All Tags

WiFi Coming To Japanese Bullet Trains

Americans may have WiFi-equipped buses and planes, but the Japanese are still leading the way when it comes to futuristic train travel: Soon you'll be able to log on at broadband speed while screaming between Tokyo and Osaka at 168 mph.

Starting in March, telecom giant NTT Communications will provide its HotSpot service--already in effect at Japanese airports, restaurants and hotels--on certain Shinkansen by stringing wires alongside the tracks. Those coax cables will then beam the internet inside 700-series bullet trains. WiFi will also be added to 17 stations along the Tokaido line.

Day passes will cost $6 while a monthly subscription to HotSpot is $19 at current exchange rates.

Related Stories:
· Wi-Fi Coming to Japan's Bullet Trains Next Year [PC World]
· NTT HotSpot [Official Site]
· WiFi coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Wikimedia]