Gachapon Obsession: Japan’s Ever-Popular Capsule Toys

The satisfying cranking of the dial. That’s followed by the surprising ‘pop’ sound when the capsule rolls into the collection tray. And then comes the heightened anticipation as you wait with bated breath for your mystery prize to be revealed. We are, of course, talking about gachapon, Japan’s vending machine-dispensed capsule toys. The simple and affordable thrills still hold a special place in our hearts. If you’re visiting Tokyo or any other big Japanese city, we recommend treating yourself to at least one gacha. Though you’ll certainly want to leave with more.

Photo by Ned Snowman via Shutterstock

What Are Gachapon?

Derived from the onomatopoeia “gasha gasha,” which refers to the sound of the machine, the history of gachapon actually dates back to the 1960s. While the concept has gained worldwide popularity, Japan is one of the few countries where gachapon culture has been flourishing for some time. These

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Buttigieg warns airlines that a summer mess ‘can’t happen again’: Travel Weekly

With the upcoming Memorial Day weekend kicking off the summer travel season, DOT secretary Pete Buttigieg says the Department of Transportation is ready to hold airlines’ feet to the fire if necessary.

But Buttigieg also acknowledged the shortcomings in air traffic controller staffing and said the FAA is making progress toward alleviating that issue.

“Cancellations and delay rates were at unacceptable proportions last year. And it’s important that that doesn’t happen again,” Buttigieg said during a Tuesday press conference.

Thus so far this year, US carriers have canceled 1.4% of flights, FlightAware data shows. That’s better than the 10-year average. It’s also a substantial improvement from the 2.4% cancellation rate US carriers recorded for all of last year.

Buttigieg noted that improvement but also said that this weekend will be a test of the system. He said the department would take a two-pronged approach to dealing with airlines, working collaboratively

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Ron DeSantis outlines a travel campaign

CONCORD, N.H. –

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday sought to push past an embarrassing beginning to his presidential campaign, outlining an aggressive travel schedule as his allies insisted they remain well funded and well positioned for a long Republican primary fight ahead.

While DeSantis supporters privately acknowledged the bungled announcement was an unwelcome distraction, there was a broad sense — even among some Republican critics — that it would likely have limited long-term political consequences, if any at all.

“Do they wish they could do it over again? Probably,” said David Oman, who managed two top-tier presidential campaigns in Iowa. “Will we be talking about it in 10 days? Probably not.”

DeSantis formally launched his campaign Wednesday night during an online conversation with Twitter CEO Elon Musk. But the audio stream crashed repeatedly, making it difficult for most users to hear the announcement in real time.

On Thursday, the

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Living, the British Remake of Akira Kurosawa’s Ikiru, Is Dead on Arrival

Widely considered one of Akira Kurosawa’s greatest movies, Ikiru (To Live), released in 1952, tells the story of a civil servant with terminal cancer who tries to make up for lost time and lead a life worth living in the final months of his life. The 2022 British remake of the film, living, which only premiered in Japan on March 31, 2023, tries to do the same but stumbles right out of the starting gate. Here are some of the low points of the film’s 102-minute-long journey of stylistic baffling and plot decisions.

Living in the Worst Possible Time Period

Directed by Oliver Hermanus and starring Bill Nighy, living takes place in London in 1953, so at almost the exact same time as Kurosawa’s story. It’s the worst possible setting the movie could have chosen. By taking place 70 years ago, living becomes a period piece, which Ikiru definitely was

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Tokyo Islands: Bringing Together the Islands of Tokyo

When most people think about Tokyo, they envision the hustle and bustle of the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, the neon lights of Akihabara, or the towering skyscrapers of Shinjuku. But Tokyo is so much more than the mainland metropolis that first springs to mind, and its reach stretches to incorporate far more than you might think, surprising even long-term residents of the capital.

Some of these lesser-known locations that fall within the bounds of Tokyo are the Izu and Ogasawara Islands. This archipelago, often collectively referred to as the Tokyo Islands, incredibly consists of over 200 individual islands of varying sizes, many of which feature scenery that rivals even the more famous tropical locations of southern prefectures such as Okinawa.

Being completely disconnected from mainland Japan, the Tokyo Islands are home to their own range of nature, wildlife and even weather that is unique to each location. This includes Miyakejima, an

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After chaotic 2022, how is Canada’s air travel sector shaping up for summer? -National

Canadian airports and airlines are bracing for a hot summer travel season ahead as they attempt to bounce back from the chaos of long lines and delays that have been seen across the country last year.

Travelers might have a smoother ride this time around as the air travel sector rolls out a series of measures, from hiring more staff to technological advancements.

There’s also increased pressure on accountability as strengthened air passenger rights measures proposed by the federal government loom.

With COVID-19 restrictions completely lifted, improvements at airports and better staffing, “we’re in far better shape than we were before,” said one travel insurance broker in Toronto.

“If there’s any bright light that’s come out of COVID, it’s that we have changed a lot of things right from passports to air travel and compensation,” said Martin Firestone, president of Travel Secure Inc.

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“The bottom line

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A 22-Year-Old Texas Man Fatally Shot His Partner for Traveling to Get an Abortion

Photo: Ajax9 (Getty Images)

Photo: Ajax9 (Getty Images)

A Texas man, 22, was arrested on Wednesday evening for fatally shooting his 26-year-old girlfriend for traveling to Colorado to get an abortion, the Dallas Morning News reported on Friday. The man, Harold Thompson, shot his partner, Gabriella Gonzalez, in a parking lot in the West Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas the day after she returned from traveling for her abortion, the police said.

Per an arrest-warrant affidavit obtained by the Dallas Morning News, the Dallas Police Department reviewed surveillance footage that shows Thompson and Gonzalez walking together and having an argument shortly before the shooting. In the horrifying footage, Thompson assaults and attempts to put Gonzalez in a chokehold, but she pushes him off and they continue to walk together. Then Thompson takes out a gun, shoots Gonzalez in the head, and shoots him several more times after he falls to the ground.

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8 Cool Bars in Tokyo You Need To Check Out

With Japan finally open to tourists from around the globe and the weather warming up, now is the perfect time for a night out in the metropolis. Here is a list of cool bars in Tokyo we wholeheartedly recommend.

Photo courtesy of Gold Bar at Edition

1.
Gold Bar at Edition

Located next to the entrance of The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon, Gold Bar at Edition is like a throwback to the Golden Age of Cocktails, when people loved to mix drinks. It’s not just a bar but a high-class social spot. Of course, you have the classic cocktails, but Gold Bar at Edition also takes traditional flavors and elevates them to new heights with a modern twist and local Japanese tastes.

It has a gorgeous interior with black tones and extravagant gold decorations. Plus, there’s also comfortable sofas, so it’s a great place to either socialize or enjoy some private

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