Jonelle Patrick's Only In Japan
Every day, stuff you'd never see anywhere else.
Don’t laugh! The humble haramaki is making a comeback, because nothing—and I mean nothing—keeps you warmer while sitting at your desk fielding endless zoom calls than this legwarmer for your … Continue Reading The best winter gift of 2020? A Japanese stomach warmer!
By now you probably thought you’d seen it all when it comes to Japanese facial sheet masks – from the squicky & scary to skin treatments that turn you into … Continue Reading Intellectual Animal Beauty Masks
In for the gold by a mile: the Electric Sweet Potato Roaster In the steamy competition for Most Japanese Appliance Ever, I think you’ll have to agree that the electric sweet … Continue Reading And This Year’s Winners In The Tournament Of Weird Japanese Appliances Are…
These days, everyone wants “experiences,” not “stuff,” so how about digging into your Santa sack for presents that deliver #youllneverguesswhatwedids that could only come from (where else?)…Japan! This year, give … Continue Reading Top Ten Crazy Holiday Gifts From Japan 2018
Aww, a pillow that looks like a cat, just sitting there all furry and begging to be petted. What the…! Yes, the entire purpose of this robot pillow is to … Continue Reading The Wagging Cat Tail Pillow
It’s that time of year, when everyone who’s easy to buy presents for already has a big satisfying check mark next to their name, but the ones who don’t are … Continue Reading Top Ten Crazy Holiday Gifts from Japan 2017!
I don’t usually crave a quarter pounder of rice and seaweed in the middle of my day, but if I knew one of these was in my brown bag, I’d be counting … Continue Reading Shiba Inu Rice Balls
Okay, when I spotted this page of stickers at Tokyu Hands featuring smokin’ hot hostboys, I thought they were kinda fun. Even considered buying a bunch of them to give to my … Continue Reading Thanks For Destroying My Fantasies, Little Host Stickers
Yes, it’s that time of year again, when you comb your list of friends & family for those who truly deserve that rare and awe-inspiring gift from Japan… 10. If there’s nobody on your … Continue Reading Top Ten Crazy Holiday Gifts From Japan 2016
Saw the red camo shoes at a shoe store in Skytree, and the samurai b-ball hats at Tokyu Hands in Ikebukuro • Read a novel set in Tokyo…
It’s time for Only In Japan’s yearly holiday gift round-up, and it looks like 2015 is holding its own! I can pretty much guarantee you’ll be the only one to bestow one of these awesome gifts … Continue Reading 2015 Top Ten Crazy Gifts From Japan!
If you’re a little short on live octopus tentacles the next time you need a beauty treatment, Tokyu Hands will happily sell you this pink plastic Vacu & Lift Roller. I’m not … Continue Reading The Octopus Treatment…For Your Face
10. SUSHI SOCKS 9. DIY CROSS STITCH PHONE CASE 8. ANIMAL SKELETONS 7. DEVIL WAX 6. EYELID EXERCISER 5. EMOJI EYE MASK 4. DEODORANT CANDY 3. NINJA SNACK PICKS 2. THE STATUE OF TOO MUCH … Continue Reading Ten Best Stocking Stuffers From Japan!
From the Tokyu Hands buyers who brought you the original Christmas Hats From Hell, behold the latest ways to say “Ho ho ho, suckers!” Available at Tokyu Hands in Shibuya, of course! If you’d like … Continue Reading More Christmas Hats From Hell
10. What do you give the person who has everything? They’ve already got a one-shot coffee maker. And a one-shot tea machine. But I bet they don’t have a ONE-SHOT … Continue Reading Top Ten Only In Japan Holiday Gifts 2014!
The newest pet craze to hit Tokyo: hedgehogs. For full enjoyment of your new pet, it would be best to adopt a schedule that includes all-night video gaming, as they are primarily nocturnal and … Continue Reading Wonder If They’ll All Be Named ‘Sonic’?
Ewww! Eyedrops! Get those things away from me no no no no no no you’re not putting something in my eye blink blink blink blink! Okay, I admit it, I’m … Continue Reading Mother’s Little Eyedrop Helper
In the Solution Looking For A Problem sweepstakes, this has gotta be a contender. If your piercings are in desperate need of a roto-rootering, you can stock on up ear floss at … Continue Reading Ear Floss
Somehow, Kabuki Villain Face never really whispered “adorable” in my ear, but it could be pretty entertaining to scare the bejeezus out of unsuspecting visitors while also attaining new levels of softer, smoother skin. And … Continue Reading Scary Kabuki Facial Mask
It’s tsuyu season in Japan right now, which pretty much means all rain, all the time. (Not to be confused with typhoon season, which is all rain, RIGHT NOW.) Both seasons … Continue Reading Monsoon Season, Lock ‘n Load
Behold the latest pet craze to sweep Tokyo! Now you can have your very own jellyfish aquarium, complete with disco lights! You can pick up everything you need at (where … Continue Reading But Will They Come When You Call?
But what I want to know is, how do they KNOW the dragons only ate pesticide-free virgins? Is the blood harvested from organically-certified, knight-armor-free, farm-grown dragons? You can get your very own Toothpaste … Continue Reading Salty Dragonblood Toothpaste
When it comes to selling miniature replicas of burning logs, nobody can beat Tokyu Hands. Yes, this patented FireWood(TM) product will have you on the edge of your seat as … Continue Reading Your Very Own Tiny Glowing Pile Of Plastic Firewood
For this week’s Wat-I-Don’t-Even Award, nothing beats this spectacularly useless figure of Her Royal Elizabeth-ness, which harnesses the mighty sun to power her royal wave. You may stock up on … Continue Reading You May Call Me ‘Your Solar-Powered Highness’
…get thee to the closest Tokyu Hands and get your paws on some Natamame toothpaste! It claims to smite your bad breath in four different flavors: Rose, Aloe (does aloe … Continue Reading For Charcoal-Fresh Breath…
Craving a cherry crane or a pine penguin? Or maybe you’ve always wanted to fold a walnut helmet! Yep, this origami is actually made from paper-thin slices of wood! You … Continue Reading Wooden Origami
Although digging into this adorable bunny-shaped rice might be a bit like steeling yourself to whack the head off a Bambi piñata, who can resist making boring old curry into … Continue Reading Rice Of Unbearable Cuteness
More than meets the eye! For hours of happy crime spree play, nothing can beat the thug rangers! Your platinum-haired chinpira will pinch Barbie’s car before she can squeal “math is … Continue Reading Street Fightin’ Yakuza Action Figures
10. I bet the person on your list who has everything doesn’t have a THOUSAND DOLLAR RICE COOKER! 9. Surely you know someone whose garden wouldn’t be complete without a … Continue Reading Top Ten Only In Japan Holiday Gifts 2013
Yes, when it comes to taking license with the jolly old elf, nobody can beat Tokyu Hands! If you’d like to visit Tokyu Hands the next time you’re in Tokyo, directions … Continue Reading More Acts Of Santa Blasphemy
Get yer red hot snoods right here at Tokyu Hands! I always thought a snood was a sort of hairnet thingie, but apparently here in Japan, it’s an electric fake … Continue Reading Hot Snood
Now anyone can be All-Master-All-The-Time with these maid-themed chopsticks from Tokyu Hands! While they may not be too ace at drawing cat whiskers on your ome-rice, you can probably beat … Continue Reading “What May I Pick Up For You, Master Of The House?”
Forget having a Miracle Body. All I gotta do to snag me a man is hop into one of these kickass bubble baths from Tokyu Hands. I saw these at … Continue Reading Mankiller Bubble Bath
Are the kids at school making fun of your progeny because the Pikachu rice ball you tried to make looked more like Godzilla? Did the teacher send home a note … Continue Reading Lunchboxing Power Tools
I laughed when I saw that there was a special tool you could plunge into a tub of miso, twirl it around to get exactly one bowl’s worth of fermented … Continue Reading The Miso Muddler And Other Obscure Kitchen Tools
Now a guy no longer has to waste hours in front of the mirror, practicing lying to the cashier at Tokyu Hands that he’s buying that sparkly pink Power Ranger … Continue Reading For All Your Crossdressing Costume Needs
10. For the film maven on your list who camped overnight in line at the movie theatre to see the new Evangelion…ANIME EYES SLEEP MASKS (seen at Village Vanguard) 9. For … Continue Reading Top Ten Only In Japan Holiday Gifts 2012!
Wow, which one do I dread trying the most? It’s so hard to choose! As much as having my face covered in the kind of pond scum I remember eww-ing … Continue Reading Nightmare Or Skin Treatment? You Decide!
Nothing says Career Killer like a shot of your grinning face leering at the camera from inside a beer mask, two-fisting some brewskies! Tokyu Hands once again comes through with a … Continue Reading Costumes I Would Regret, Part Deux
Tired of petitioning the Powers That Be every day for world peace, a winning lottery ticket, and for them to still have your size when those purple Fluevog boots you … Continue Reading Your Very Own Electronic Monk!
At first glance, it’s hard to imagine that bonking yourself on the head would make you feel better. I found “Mr. Energetic,” the quaint wooden hammer, in the self-massage section … Continue Reading Because It Feels So Good When You Stop?
The do-it-yourself massage section at Tokyu Hands is just bursting with frightening inventions dedicated to helping you reach the kinks in every part of your body, but I had to … Continue Reading Eyeball Massage
You know that guy who always leaves a quarter cup of coffee in the pot so someone else has to scrub out the burned-on sludge and start a new one? … Continue Reading Nothing Says It Quite Like a Pie in the Face
You’ll burn off at least 8 calories hiking up the Svelteness Stairs at Tokyu Hands to get your paws on this pan that turns out muffins that look like little pig … Continue Reading Piggy Muffins
Plain pink gloss? So last millennium! Now you can sport lips with stars and more – I’ve seen this on more than one model in Japanese magazines! I thought I’d … Continue Reading Starry Starry Lips
Forget that zumba class – I’m going shopping instead! Every step on the way to the floor where they sell the Infrared Pants Of Titanium at Tokyu Hands now informs … Continue Reading Stairway to Svelteness Heaven
Q: What do foreign countries smell like? A: They all smell like…MINT! You never know what unpleasant odors you’ll encounter when traveling abroad, so it’s best to be prepared with … Continue Reading Nose Mint
Got a hankering for a corn dog, but walking further than the microwave seems like just too much trouble? Make your own with this handy “American Dog” kit from, yes, … Continue Reading Microwave American Dog
Surely you know someone who would want a two-foot tall, anatomically correct, rubber cockroach staring at them while they watch TV? Apparently, the buyer at Tokyu Hands believes that not … Continue Reading Giant Rubber Bugs
I saw this poster in the window of a esthé salon in Shin Okubo, advertising a facial treatment that supposedly delivers that holy grail of Japanese pulchritude, the “small face.” … Continue Reading Head Shrinking, Japanese Style
