Reviews

With their very own “Hidden Place” recording studio buried deep within the ancient temple grounds in Osaka, you could say there’s something magical about alternative rock band TAMIW. A definite...

It’s hard to believe that TsuShiMaMiRe celebrated their 25th anniversary last year, but as the band formed in Chiba in 1999, it is undoubtedly so. That the years have passed...

The thing that first appealed to me about Japanese band Seventeen Years Old And Berlin Wall was their name. It’s a moniker that gives no indication about what style of...

Originally formed in Tokyo in 2017 by guitarist Takuma and vocalist Chihiro, FATHOMLESS SKYWALKER released their debut EP the following year. After that promising start, the band seemed to lose...

It had been eight long years since Violent Magic Orchestra’s last album, 2016’s Catastrophic Anonymous, so their latest long player, the intriguingly-titled DEATH RAVE (released in 2024), came with a...

For a while, Solo Leveling was all you ever heard of when people spoke about Webtoons, after the release of the anime it took the world by storm again. With...

PUNK RECORDS is SpecialThanks’s 5th full-length album, released on 23rd October 2024. Being active since 2005, the band's current line-up is made up of Misaki Anita (on vocals and guitar)...

Fans of raunchy, raucous rock n’ roll are in for a treat because the debut EP of GNU MAD RUSSELL$ received a global release via those groovy guys at German...

In case you keep an eye on the weekly music video roundup, the name La bit Pluie is probably no stranger to you. La bit Pluie's music can be described...

Tokyo-based band Cilvie were formed at the height of the global pandemic and that whole experience forced the band to find new, more inventive, ways of recording. However, most importantly...

These soft candy sticks by Kajiriccho are available in several flavours, this review focusses on their soda, cola and grape flavoured candy sticks. Not a fan of chewy candies? Maybe...

Adorable Sanrio characters and chocolate, what more can you ask for? These cute little kyara chocolates by Bandai Namco are available in 8 different varieties. I got Cinnamoroll, Pochacco and...

Meito - Curious George Banana Pudding - Simple Price: ± €6 Extra supplies: Bowl, Spoon, Mug, Water and Toothpick. Curious George is a well-known character from a children’s books series...

Tokimeki Bread is a line of products by Tokimeki, a relatively new brand that sells all kinds of Japanese snacks. This bread is fluffy Japanese-style bread and is available in...

Tokimeki is a relatively new brand that sells all kind of Japanese snacks, such as Mochi and Dorayaki, but also these different flavour biscuit sticks. They are sell Bubble Tea...

It’s been too long since I did a proper KitKat review and many flavours have been released since my last one. Here are the six flavours I tried out this...

Takara Tomy - Sumikko Gurashi Chocolate Popsicle - Simple Price: ± €7 Extra supplies: Two Heatproof Bowls, Silicone Spatula, Spoon, Scissors and Plate. Sumikko Gurashi, the set of characters by...

Toppo are a popular product by LOTTE, simply put these are inside out cookie sticks. The chocolate filling is covered by a thin cookie outer layer, which helps keep your...

Meigum - Edible Fluffy Cloud Candy - Simple Price: ± €6 Extra supplies: Water and Scissors. Foamy cloud candy, dipped in soda-flavoured “sky-powder”. Sounds interesting, right? To make this cloud...

Another Japanese KitKat review to catch up to the many flavours that were released in the last few years. This time there are seven flavours to review: Save the Blue...

Heart - Sweet Surprise Hamburger Steak - Elaborate Price: ± €12 Extra supplies: Microwave, Milk, Water, Scissors, Plate and Cocktail Pick. No, this isn’t an actual savoury meal, this is...

This Japanese sweets mix by Tenkei contains a variety of eleven treats total. When I purchased these I couldn’t find an exact list of the contents, which made it a...

Kracie - NeruNeruNeruNe - Cola & Orange Soda - Simple Price: ± €3 Extra supplies: Water and Scissors. Kracie produces a lot of these NeruNeruNeruNe candy kits, which are focussed...

Although Japan has a long history of producing top-quality metal acts (think Loudness and E.Z.O.), the last decade has seen an explosion of groups which have placed that country at...