Catbus Bento Friday

Happy Friday!

Now this naughty catbus has its whiskers out of the bento box, it makes me not want to put a lid over!

I really like the dustbunnies made out of cheese and seaweed too. 

Imagine having these cheese slices at a party, to go with crackers or bread... it'd be so much fun!

 

For all totoro items, check here.

Bento Source

Never Lose Your Data Again! Shock-resistant HDD with Built-in Accelerometer

I-O Data's new line of portable hard drive, HDPD-AUT series could save your important data from being destroyed. 

A unique characteristic of this drive is that it's equipped with accelerometer to detect a drop, and shuts its power off automatically before it hits the ground. Shock-absorbing material used for its outer case adds durability to the drive. 

The drive passed the durability test of a drop from 1.22 meter (4 feet) high, as well as US military quality standard MIL-STD-810F.

Also, another interesting feature of the drive utilizing accelerometer is that, depending on its position (which side is on the top/bottom), it changes modes of operations. 

When side-A (the side with G-SENSOR logo on) is faced up, the drive runs as a rewrittable, virtual DVD-RW. 

When side-B is up, it works as a virtual support software CD-ROM. A pre-installed backup application can be accessed in this mode too, so you can boot from CD and recover your computer from backup, both from side-B.

HDPD-AUT drives can be connected via USB. They come in black and silver colorings, and data capacities of 500GB and 1TB. Compatible with Windows 8/7/Vista/XP, Mac OS X 10.6-10.8. 

Now you don't have to worry about cats knocking over hard drives from your desks or several potential disasters that could damage your files!

Check HDPD-AUT on YJ auction!

Source: Akiba PC Hotline

Pineapple ramen restaurant sells Coffee Ramen

There are a lot of ramen restaurants with all assortments in Japan, but this particular ramen shop in Ogikubo area of Tokyo, called Pa Pa Pa Pa Pine, is specialized in pinapple ramen, and now they also sell coffee ramen for limited-time only.

Now they sound awfully weird, but let's take a look at their staple menu: pineapple ramen.

Pa Pa Pa Pa Pine's original pineapple ramen was created because of its owner's love for pineapples.

A quarter of broth is made of pineapple juice, and it contains no meat in it at all, except for some fish base. Thus, it is a very healthy, low-calorie alternative to generally fatty, greasy ramen dishes.

That's pretty impressive already, but they won't stop there. 

Great ramen has to come with great ajitsuke-tamago (seasoned boiled eggs) to be called perfect.

Pa Pa Pa Pa Pine's boiled eggs are, as you might guess, also pineapple-flavored!

Boiled eggs, usually soaked in soy-based sauce, are instead infused with pineapple juice, leaving dessert-like freshness in your mouth when you take a bite.

As if pineapple ramen is not strange enough, the restaurant occasionally sells special dishes with special weird ingredients for limited time too.

Coffee ramen is one of their latest special menu. It is a ramen dish consisting of rich, fish-base broth topped with powdered coffee, nori seaweed, onions, and chashu pork.

Now this ramen is, according to a review by RocketNews writer, really, really strong and bitter.

While fish-base broth and coffee topping create shocking bitterness to the dish, onions and chashu pork add hints of sweetness to balance it out.

The owner of the shop suggests that if you don't like black coffee, you can add creamer and sugar to ramen. It is weird to think about mixing dairy and sweetener to ramen, but it doesn't wreck the flavors and actually adds richness to the soup.

Ramen is topped with powdered coffee

In the past, Pa Pa Pa Pa Pine has sold Chocolate Ramen for Valentine's Day, Strawberry Ramen, Papaya Ramen, Mixed Fruit Ramen, Cilantro Ramen, Pumpkin Ramen for Halloween... the list goes on. If you ever get bored with normal ramen, you know where to go!

Check out ramen you can get from Yahoo Japan Auctions.

You can check Pa Pa Pa Pa Pine's latest ramen announcements on official Twitter account.

Pa Pa Pa Pa Pine is located at:

1F Nisshin Plaza

3-12-1 Nishi-ogikubo-minami

Suginami-ku, Tokyo

Official Website 

Source: RocketNews24

Mayonnaise Gourmet, Avocado Shrimp, and more from Pizza Hut's Seasonal Menu

2013 is Pizza Hut's 55th anniversary!

To celebrate the occasion, Pizza Hut Japan introduced its new menu items staring March 4th to June 9th, available limited time only.

There are 6 new items added to Pizza Hut:

1) Avocado Shrimp

Although Domino's Japan has been selling pizzas with avocados and shrimp toppings as its regular menu item, Pizza Hut's got its own version too now.

These avocados are spiced up with herbs and pureed into special sauce, adding creamy richness to juicy shrimps. 

2) Rich Formaggio

For serious cheese lovers! 

On each piece of this pizza is topped with a big chunk of camembert cheese. It is covered with fresh mozzerella, cheddar, parmesan, and tomatoes for extra refreshing flavors. 

3) Wild Garlic

If you don't mind stinking up the room with the smell, here's a pizza to scare off any vampires. Wild Garlic pizza is topped with tons of cloves of garlic. Accompanied by pepperoni, bacon, italian sausage, and hint of black peppers, it'll for sure satisfy your taste buds.

4) Thick Cut Teriyaki Chicken

Each piece of this pizza has a thick-cut teriyaki chicken. And of course, mayonnaise. Japanese people love to put mayonnaise on everything. It is also topped with corns.

5) Pizza Hut Mayo Gourmet

Speaking of mayonnaise, this one has name mayo in its name even. Pizza Hut Mayo Gourmet pizza comes with sliced sausage, bacon, green asparagus, onions, mushrooms, fresh sliced tomatoes, italian tomatoes, and lots of garlics. Take in lots of veggies to make up for eating mayonnaise-covrered meal!

6) Spring Party 4

Can't decide which one to choose from?

Spring Party 4 is a pizza that has 4 separate sections of different toppings: Avocado Shrimp, Thick Cut Teriyaki Chicken, Pizza Hut Mayo Gourmet, and Pizza Hut's staple Idaho Special (which is topped with diced Idaho potatoes) 

For anyone who bought above item, you get complimentary Hut PON, rolled pizza doughs filled with either cheese or chocolate. 

Also, as part of Pizza Hut's spring campaigns, they'll be giving away either Rilakkuma pizza cutter, or a Rilakkuma pizza tray, when you order Rilakkuma Original 4 Pizza (pizza with 4 different flavors - Tuna Mild, Idaho Special, Bacon & Asparagus, and Meat Trio.) Pizzas come in Rilakkuma boxes too!

Hmmm... some of them I'm not sure if they'd be actually tasty or not... but if you are one of the adventurous sorts, you know where to go for interesting pizza selections!

Sources: KFC Group Japan, GIGAZINE

Smartpants: the World's First Panties for Smartphones

Bandai will release its unique new gashapon (capsule toy) lineup - introducing world's first Smartpants.

What are Smartpants?

They are undergarments specially made for smartphones, to protect the most important/sensitive parts of your phones: the Home buttons. 

Not only are they practical, Smartpants also come in a variety of designs to satisfy fashion-conscious crowds!

They come in 8 distinctive designs: White briefs, blue stripes, pink boomerang, leopard pring thongs, boxer briefs, bright red thongs, strawberry print, and a surprise "secret" design.

Each capsule of Smartpants costs 200 yen. It will be on sale some time in March, but the exact data has not been announced. Sometimes most unexpected, fascinating items come out of gashapon machines, and that is why we love them!

While waiting for Smartpants release, see all capsule toys on YJ auction.

Source: Narinari

Hina Matsuri Bento Friday!

It's bento Friday!

This Sunday, March 3rd, is Hina-matsuri (Girls' Day) in Japan.

While it is a Japanese tradition for little girls to display beautiful dolls of Heian court-style emperor, empress, and their attendants on this day, we've gathered some Hina-matsuri-themed bentos to celebrate.

See the list of bento supplies on Yahoo auctions.
Hina Matsuri on Yahoo Japan Auctions

Ohinasama (empress) Kitty-chan

Hello Kitty Hinamatsuri bento 

Rilakkuma and Korilakkuma Hinamatsuri Pair

Romantic sushi dinner for grownups! Paired with a glass of sake ;)

Have a nice weekend!

Metal Gear Rising Exclusive Japanese Editions

Hello gamers!

Did you play the hottest Japanese game of the week, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance yet?

The latest title of the acclaimed Metal Gear series featuring Raiden has already sold 336,000 copies in a week since its release on February 21st, ranking as the best-selling game of the week! (*the number includes sales in Japan only) 

This game differs from previous Metal Gear titles in its more action-focused, dynamic gameplay, instead of classic Metal Gear-style stealth actions.

You can get Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance worldwide,

but Japanese versions have their own exclusive items to come with limited editions.

There are several different types of packages though, which, if you don't know, you could easily buy the wrong editions.

So I thought I could do a simple overview of different packages to help you get the right thing!

1. Metal Gear Rising - Premium Package

What's in this package:

- Metal Gear Rising Revengeance game software

- Metal Gear Rising Revengeance Original Soundtrack with a steel case

- Metal Gear Rising Revengeance Art Book by Yoji Shinkawa

- Two magnetic Dwarf Gekko Figures that you can split and attach (so to simulate a  Gekko sliced in half by Raiden's zandatsu action!)

- DLC code for Raiden's custom costume "Cyborg Ninja"

Get Metal Gear Rising Premium Package on Yahoo Japan auction.

2. Metal Gear Rising Premium Package Konami Style Edition

What's in this package:

- Everything in the above Premium Package

- Full-body Raiden Play-Arts figurine (White Armor version, which is different coloring from regular Play-Arts Raiden figurine)

Get Metal Gear Rising Premium Package Konami Style on Yahoo Japan auction.

3. Metal Gear Rising Zandatsu Package (PS3)

What's in this package:

- Custom model PlayStation3 console with original Metal Gear Rising design (HDD: 250GB)

- Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance game software

- DLC code for Raiden's custom costume "Cyborg Nninja"

Get Metal Gear Rising Zandatsu Package on Yahoo Japan auction.

Now, those are the three main special editions you can get.

There are also Amazon editions, GEO editions, Tsutaya editions, etc. with DLC codes for different custom costumes and cards for Social Ops mode. 

Also, this is not an actual game package, but I thought it looks pretty neat... 

Seiko's WIRED x Metal Gear Rising Limited Edition Watch

What comes with this product:

- A WIRED (part of SEIKO) brand watch with original Raiden design (Only 1,000 watches were made!). 

- A metal plate with an illustration by Yosuke Shinkawa.

*The character actually wears this watch in the game!

Get WIRED x Metal Gear Rising Watch on Yahoo Japan auction.

If you have any questions about the packages, we can help you figure it out. 

Otherwise, have fun with the game!

Robot AutoMee S Cleans Your Smartphone!

If you are like me, who's too lazy to carry around smartphone cleaner, why don't you get AutoMee S so we can have more fun cleaning our phones?

Takara Tomy's new gadget AutoMee S is a handy little robot that helps you clean smartphone/tablet surfaces you wish.

This palm-sized little buddy, ran by a single AA battery, automatically slides and moves around on dirty displays and cleans it as it goes. And it's smart enough to find edges so you don't have to worry about it falling off. It's essentially a mini-Roomba for smartphones and tablets.

Now you can just sit back and relax, while the robot is doing its job!

Buy AutoMee S from Rinkya Store.

Buy AutoMee S (orange) from Yahoo Auction.

For other color options (pink, white, blue), see here.

Japanese Curry Rice Championship 2013 Kick-off!

Hungry for hearty, delicious Japanese-style curry rice? 

Curry rice is one of the most popular food among Japanese people. 

Let's see how hungry you really are with Go Go Curry's eating contest! 

From February 25th, popular Kanazawa-style curry chain restaurants Go Go Curry kicked off its annual curry eating contest. The rule is simple, whoever finishes two plates of curry rice and yelled "Go Go Curry!" at the end in shortest time  will be the winner. Four selected winners from Japan will be invited to New York, where Go Go Curry US branches are located, to compete in its world championship. 

For people who just want to enjoy the taste of curry without rushing, check out Yahoo Japan Auction to try some authentic Japanese-style curry and related products. 

Here's a video of a couple of contestants who finished their challenges in 2:43 and 4:29.  

Japanese can eat when they are committed!

Source: Rocket News 24

Need a Nap? Try the Sleeping Cafe in Japan!

For the low price of 150 yen per ten minutes, you can get a nap at the sleeping cafe and free food, drinks, wifi charge and a beauty refresher- that is a lot to do in ten minutes!
The cafe is WOMAN only! We need our beauty rest!

Qusca Cafe opened in Tokyo just this January and they recommend making reservations for the nap room as it gets booked up!

The nap area looks heavenly- especially to me, a Mom of a toddler... I will take 30 minutes please!

If you do not want a nap, try the cuddle cafe in Japan- pay to get some hugs!

via

Hello Kitty Bento Friday!

Happy Friday!! Japan's favorite cat, Hello Kitty, is this week's bento!!

For all Hello Kitty Items on Yahoo Japan Auctions!

Bento Source

Ewww Centipede USB is Wrong

Ewww, this gadget gives me the creeps!! So, I thought I would share it with you and get it out of my head!

It is a remote controlled USB charger centipede from Japan- make it crawl and creep out everybody...

If you want one, go for it on Rinkya Stores!

Want another creepy Japanese gadget? Check out the flying cockroach!

Creamy Mami 30th Anniversary!

The Creamy Mami anniversary page has opened and it just has a small tease so far, but they did announce cute little Creamy Mami macaroons you can find in Shinjuku.  

Anyone excited about the 30 year anniversary?  How has it been 30 years!? 

What do you want from Creamy Mami?

Creamy Mami items on Yahoo Japan Auctions

New DragonBall Z Sodas Hit Japan!

Two weeks ago, we saw the Kentucky Fried Chicken & DragonBall Z collab for the upcoming movie, DBZ: Battle of the Gods, and now they are getting new soda designs!

It is a zero calorie cola, packed with vitamins and the designs are pretty sweet!!

Check out our Rinkya staff's taste review on the Dragonball Z orange soda
For all Dragonball Z items on a Yahoo Japan Auction check here!

News via Nari Nari

Gundam Bento Friday!

Happy Friday everyone, I do not think we have shared a Gundam bento before and this one is pretty awesome!

Check out all Gundam Items on Yahoo Japan Auctions

Be sure to check out our Valentine's Day Bentos if you like bentos!

Source

Valentine's Day Bento Collection!

Happy Valentine's Day to the best customers and readers EVER!!  And here is a Valentine's Day bento collection for you!

Check out all the Bento Supplies on Yahoo Japan Auction

Bunny Hearts Bento

Pokemon Heart Smooches

Naruto heart bentos

Love Bear Bento

Baby Milo from BAPE even gets romantic!

Happy Valentine's Day From Japan! Toilet Fondue Set

Fondue is such a romantic gesture and meal around Valentine's Day.  And I found this little fondue set in Japan- how romantic...

Mmmm... Chocolate

Great gag gift for your loved one! Order via Rinkya Stores!