Random Japan

 photo img_5089_580px_zps9f0ffb82.jpg

Baskin Robbins’ new year lucky bags are Snoopy-tastic! (Also, free ice cream!)

 evie lund

We’ve been bringing you all the the details on the year’s best fukubukuro – or “lucky bags” – today, but no roundup of these wonderful New Year’s goodie bags would be complete without a visit to ice cream purveyor Baskin Robbins Japan. Let’s find out what frozen delights were hidden in their bag!

Baskin Robbins, known simply as 31 (Saatii wan) in Japan, is extremely popular among Japan’s ice cream aficionados. Not only do they offer a wide range of flavours, but they’re always running some kind of interesting deal or promotion, so we had high hopes for their New Year Lucky Bag! What tantalising treats could be lurking within? Our Japanese correspondent Debuneko went to find out!

BETTER GET CRACKING

      Toho announced it will release a new Godzilla movie in 2016, though the studio has yet to decide the “title, storyline, staff and cast.”

   Public security authorities warn that the two religious groups which splintered off from the Aum Shinrikyo cult “are increasing their assets.”

   A news organization survey has found that just 24 of 47 prefectures have set targets for promoting female workers in line with the Abe administration’s goal of increasing the number of women in leadership positions.

   Officials at the meteorological agency are keeping a close eye on Mount Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture after “small-scale eruptions” threw plumes of smoke 1,000 meters into the air.

Truck Batteries

The Next Must Have Item

 Peach

   Plans Hubs

 Japan Post Delivers

1.81 Billion

Complaints lead to debate about whether noise from schools should be regulated



By Meg Murphy

With Japan trying to figure out how to handle its issue of a declining population (predicted to decrease by one-third over the next half century if the current trend in birth rates continues), the country has been working to raise awareness of the problem and implement more resources for children and parents.

However, with a recent increase of new day cares, preschools, and kindergartens, there has also been an increase of complaints about noise, particularly from elderly residents.

Some of these cases have even gone to court, and have resulted in some schools having to restrict outdoor playtime for the children and keep their curtains closed.