Tokyo International News Agency

Popular liver Koyanagi Rou, affiliated with the VTuber group 'Nijisanji,' has captivated social media with his latest visual. Released in conjunction with the announcement of new merchandise, 'Suit Up, New Life.,' set to go on sale at the 'Niji Store' from 6:00 PM on Tuesday, March 24th, his sharp suit appearance quickly became a trending topic, with fans praising it as 'incredibly impactful' and 'utterly captivating.' The 'Suit Up, New Life.' merchandise line features three livers: Ex Albio, Nagisa Trout, and Koyanagi Rou. Koyanagi Rou's visual, in particular, has captivated countless fans, showcasing him in a stylish navy suit with slicked-back hair and glasses. Social media was flooded with exclamations of surprise and excitement, including comments like 'Koyanagi Rou is ridiculously charming, I'm laughing,' 'My brain is fried by the glasses x suit combo, even as I head to work,' 'Koyanagi Rou, what is this?...

Recently, on SNS X (formerly Twitter), posts comparing one's height and weight to popular Pokémon characters from the game "Pokémon" under the hashtag "#PokeFit" have become a major topic of discussion. This service, which diagnoses a Pokémon with a similar height and weight when users input their physical data, has resonated with many and quickly trended. The appeal of this trend lies in the fun of discovering that one's physical characteristics match an unexpected Pokémon. Users have been reporting things like, "My height and weight are the same as Scyther," and many cases have been seen where people are compared to familiar Pokémon like Gallade, Crobat, and Articuno, as well as mythical Pokémon like Zarude, and legendary Pokémon like Deoxys. Reactions were particularly lively when users were diagnosed with their favorite Pokémon or an unexpectedly strong opponent. One user expressed joy saying, "I was with my favorite Pokémon 🥺," whil...

On March 12, a major notification system error occurred in the official app of the Japan Racing Association (JRA), resulting in many users receiving a continuous stream of "race card confirmed" notifications for past G1 races. This unusual phenomenon quickly spread on social media, making "JRA App" a trending topic and generating significant buzz. According to user reports, the app pushed out a large number of "race card confirmed" notifications for various G1 races such as the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, Shuka Sho, Nakayama Grand Jump, Victoria Mile, and Takamatsunomiya Kinen, regardless of the date. While some users expressed confusion with comments like "Enough already, JRA app" and "The JRA app is completely bugging out, my G1 was almost a disaster," many others enjoyed the unexpected "notifications from the past," saying things like "The JRA app is spectacularly buggy lol," "You'll never see something like ...

On March 11, an extraordinary incident unfolded on Shin-Midosuji, a major thoroughfare in Kita Ward, Osaka City, as a giant pipe unexpectedly erupted from the road surface. In response to this unforeseen event, the unique phrase “Dokan ga Dokkan!” (The pipe went BOOM!) instantly trended on social media, capturing widespread attention from users. The site of the incident was a section of Shin-Midosuji, west of the Umeda Center Building and past EST. It is believed that the pipe ascended approximately 10 meters during sewage pipe construction, causing extensive traffic congestion. However, many commented that it was a “blessing in disguise” as the pipe rose in a precarious position, narrowly missing the elevated tracks of JR and Shin-Midosuji. By evening, there were reports that the pipe had been “considerably lowered,” indicating that restoration work was proceeding at a rapid pace. Eyewitnesses, particularly residents of Osaka Prefecture, inundated social media with posts featuring the...

Gaming industry giant Nintendo has reportedly sued the U.S. government, demanding the return of tariffs imposed during the former Donald Trump administration. This news has created a significant buzz on social media, with the phrase "Nintendo Legal Department" trending. Worldwide attention is now focused on how this legal division, often dubbed the "strongest," will challenge a nation. According to reports, Nintendo is seeking "prompt repayment with interest." This move is believed to be a direct response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that tariffs levied under the Trump administration were illegal. The lawsuit is being lauded as a "first-penguin" action, with Nintendo taking the lead among other companies. It is widely interpreted as a decision made by Nintendo's legal department, renowned in Japan for its formidable strength, after assessing strong chances of success. On X (formerly Twitter), posts related to "Nintendo Legal Departme...

The hashtag "#HandSizeComparisonTool" is seeing a massive surge in popularity on X (formerly Twitter). This tool allows users to compare the size of their own hands with those of their "oshi"—a beloved person, anime character, or idol they admire—and many users are reacting with mixed emotions to the results. The trending tool quickly went viral after a user (@qwertyaz111) introduced it, stating they "made it for personal use to compare hand sizes with my oshi." Its appeal lies in its simplicity: by just inputting height and gender, it instantly displays and visually compares hand sizes. Particularly popular are comparisons with beloved 2D characters, idols, and voice actors. For instance, posts like "Compared the hand size of Nagasone Kotetsu (20.0cm) with my Saniwa (me) (15.7cm)! It's so big... (trembles)" or "Tried the hand size comparison tool with my oshi and it was insane 🥺" show a flood of users expressing intense emotions s...

Racehorse Tanino Gimlet is setting X (formerly Twitter) abuzz with his incredible "pasture fence destruction" prowess. Despite being 27 years old, his daily fence-smashing spree has led many fans to praise him as the "God of Destruction," "Cleanup Hitter," or "Big Gun," likening him to a slugger hitting home runs consistently in baseball. This has even escalated to him being dubbed "Ohtani Tanino Gimlet," a playful nod to MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani. Tanino Gimlet, living out his retirement at Yogibo Versailles Resort Farm, has long been known for destroying fences, but his recent rampage has intensified. Posts such as "Entered HR mass production system for 2026" and "Continuously destroying fences: HR #3, #4, #5" have flooded social media, bringing renewed attention to his destructive power. His activities are truly in an "unrivaled state," with some even joking, "He might hit three home runs in one g...

[Tokyo] The term "Art Club" has suddenly trended on social media, and it has been revealed that the reason behind this phenomenon is Ayane Shirasuna, a new VTuber from the popular group "Nijisanji," who is set to make her debut. Ayane Shirasuna introduces herself as "Art Club President and Student Council Secretary," and her "high-spec" profile is already generating significant buzz among many fans. Debuting alongside her best friend Madoka as "Umyamy," they are scheduled for their first debut stream relay on Friday, January 30th, starting at 9 PM JST. Fans are eagerly expressing their excitement with comments like "Too cute," "The setting is precious," and "Can't wait for the first stream." Shirasuna's title as "Art Club President," in particular, has heightened expectations for her artistic skills and creative activities, leading to speculation such as, "Could she be a VTuber who ex...

A dream collaboration between the popular content franchises "Uta no☆Prince-sama♪" and "Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle-" is causing a massive stir on social media. Particularly drawing attention is the newly released tag-team visual featuring Kira Sumeragi from "UtaPri" and Rosho Tsutsujimori from "Hypnosis Mic."> Fans have expressed overwhelming surprise and joy regarding this unusual pairing, with comments such as "Predicted it! Grateful for this tag-team," "Too beautiful," and "What an unexpected combination." Many also highlighted their shared characteristic of "beautiful faces" and imagined "sharp comedic banter" between the cool Kira and the straight-man Rosho. Passionate posts like "Rosho-sensei is here!" and "Rosho-san, so cool!" briefly dominated X (formerly Twitter) under the trending word "Rosho." Mentions of Rosho Tsutsujimori's unique full name,...

January 23, 2026, garnered significant attention on social media as the designated "Curry Udon Day," following "Curry Day." TableMark's "Katokichi Sanuki Udon," in particular, was widely showcased by numerous users for its distinctive "contoured noodles," proposing a new way to enjoy curry udon. With January 22 annually celebrated as "Curry Day," the following day, the 23rd, has been positioned as "Curry Udon Day." To coincide with this unique commemorative day, many posts recommended "Katokichi Sanuki Udon." The posts emphasized, "The special 'contoured noodles' are a perfect match for curry because they entwine so well," drawing consumer interest to how the noodle's shape enhances its ability to capture the curry. "Contoured noodles" refer to a shape where parts of the noodle are thinner or constricted, which is expected to increase the surface area and allow rich curry soup to c...

On the SNS platform "X," the phrase "T-fal ring" suddenly trended, amusing many users. This unique trend is believed to have originated from a misunderstanding or mispronunciation of the luxury jewelry brand "Tiffany" as "T-fal," with its humorous sound sparking its widespread diffusion. In what is believed to be the originating post, a user playfully asked, "My boyfriend asked if a T-fal ring is okay, but I wonder if it can boil water?" In response, many users reacted with comments like "Is this a proposal!?" and "I want a T-fal ring." The word "T-fal," distinct from a typical engagement ring, instantly ignited imagination. Users engaged in various fantasies about the "functionality" that a "T-fal ring" might possess. Comments included, "Apparently, it can keep things hot forever 🔥🔥," "If it can boil water, I'd kinda want one," and "Imagine waking up and s...

The Tabletop RPG (TRPG) scenario "Katashiro" is currently generating significant buzz on social media X (formerly Twitter). Numerous posts related to "Katashiro" can be seen, with enthusiastic anticipation and reactions from fans. Particularly drawing attention is the announcement of the 3D stage performance "Katashiro Reflect." The participation of many popular VTubers (known as "Livers") from Nijisanji, including Kanae, Sukoya Kana, Suo Sango, Yumeoi Kakeru, Gwel, and Nagao, has been announced. Fans are expressing their joy with comments like "Katashiro~!!!" and "I'm so excited and waiting because my beloved Katashiro 3D has been decided." There are also voices recalling that Rikiichi's "Katashiro Reflect" in the past served as an entry point into the "Nijisanji swamp" (fandom), building high expectations for the current stage as well. The biggest appeal of "Katashiro" lies in its nature...

LINE's popular puzzle game, 'Disney Tsum Tsum,' is celebrating its 12th anniversary, and a commemorative campaign titled 'Tsum Tsum 12th Lucky Bingo Gacha,' announced to begin on December 26, is generating significant buzz on the social media platform 'X'. During this campaign, users can create their own original bingo cards, and the number of cards they create determines how many times they can participate in the Bingo Gacha. Achieving a bingo offers a chance to win 'eraberu Pay worth 3,000 yen' or attractive in-game items, leading to high anticipation among fans. On X, the hashtag '#ツムツム12thラッキービンゴガチャ' (Tsum Tsum 12th Lucky Bingo Gacha) is being widely used. Numerous posts feature shared bingo cards and express excitement with comments like 'I hope I win!' and 'So excited! 😃,' clearly indicating the high level of interest in the campaign. Some humorous comments, such as 'How about this one... 😂,' are also circulati...

On the SNS platform X (formerly Twitter), the phrase 'Kyoshuku Mode' (恐縮モード) suddenly trended, generating considerable excitement among users. The background behind this unique trend was an unexpected 'typo' from a popular hobby manufacturer. The incident began with a post from Premium Bandai's official account. In the product description for the popular robot 'SMP V-REX Robo,' the phrase 'transforms from dinosaur mode to robot mode with unprecedented articulation' (前代未聞の可動域で恐竜モードからロボットモードに変形) was mistakenly posted as 'transforms from kyoshuku mode to robot mode with unprecedented articulation' (前代未聞の可動域で恐縮モードからロボットモードに変形). Although the official account promptly corrected and apologized for the error, the unique ring of 'Kyoshuku Mode' captured users' imaginations. Even after the correction, 'Kyoshuku Mode' rapidly climbed the trending topics on X. Users latched onto the phrase, leading to a barrage of 'oogiri'-sty...

Toyo Suisan's popular instant cup noodles, "Akai Kitsune to Midori no Tanuki" (Red Fox and Green Raccoon Dog), are currently making waves on social media due to a major collaboration with the anime "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX." In particular, the second special movie, titled "Next Operation," featuring the phrase "Akai Kitsune to Midori no Tanuki and Red Gundam" and starring Char Aznable and Sharia Bull, has garnered significant attention. The collaboration, announced by the official account with the declaration "Wave of buzz has arrived!", has attracted so much attention that "Akai Kitsune to Midori no Tanuki" and "Red Gundam Episode 2" trended simultaneously. The witty banter between Char and Sharia has been praised as "too funny" and "Sharia, who's a bit rough around the edges and doesn't read the room, is adorable," with their humorous portrayal captivating fans. Furthermore, in ...

A teaser trailer has been released for the anime film Milky☆Subway: Local Train to the Theater (銀河特急 ミルキー☆サブウェイ 各駅停車劇場行き), set to premiere in theaters on February 6, 2026. Its unique title has become a major talking point on social media, with many users expressing interest and anticipation for the combination of the grand-sounding 'Galaxy Express' (銀河特急) and the everyday phrase 'Local Train' (各駅停車). Information released from the official account, accompanied by the message 'Bottom-dwellers of the galaxy, reunite! Teaser trailer unveiled!', suggests that Milky☆Subway , which had gained popularity as a short anime, is being reborn as a theatrical film. The subtitle 'Local Train to the Theater' (各駅停車劇場行き) has particularly sparked questions like 'A Galaxy Express that's a local train?' and 'Why a local train?' Alongside these queries, there are voices eagerly anticipating a deeper dive into the story, such as 'What does "local ...

The popular smartphone game "Goddess of Victory: NIKKE" has announced the arrival of a new character, "SSR Nikke Diesel: Winter Sweets," via a limited-time pickup recruitment event, creating a significant stir on social media. This new Diesel, voiced by voice actress Rie Takahashi, is scheduled to be available for recruitment from December 4th to December 25th. Players have showered the new version of Diesel with praise for her adorable design, with comments like "Diesel is cute," "This Diesel is so cute 🥰," and "Consistently adorable, love it." A particular point of discussion arose from the announcement that Diesel, previously characterized as "tone-deaf," would now "sing a wonderful song." This sparked a flurry of comments expressing surprise, anticipation, and amusement at the character's past contradiction: "Diesel singing...? That's great! 🤩," "Wasn't Diesel really tone-deaf...?...

In the popular idol training game "Ensemble Stars!!," a new shuffle unit called "ResQ Bears" has been announced, and the music video for their new song, "Kuma Kuma ResQ," has caused a significant stir on social media immediately after its release. The game-sized MV for "Kuma Kuma ResQ," which was suddenly released on November 12th, features Nazuna Nito and Leo Tsukinaga at its center, performing adorable choreography in a bowling alley setting. The bear-themed clapping dance, choreographed by NAOKI, is highly praised as "extremely addictive" and "an infinite repeat-worthy track." On social media, fans have expressed sentiments like "I can only think about Kuma Kuma ResQ" and "my brain is melting," captivated by its catchiness and cuteness. Of particular note is the charming appeal of the members. Many fans have voiced their delight at seeing new sides of their favorite characters, with comments such as ...

The nostalgic nutritional supplement known as "Kanyu Drop" (cod liver oil drops) has unexpectedly trended on X (formerly Twitter), prompting a flood of users to share their memories. The surge in popularity was triggered by its appearance in the popular TV show "Gojujer." In the program, characters were depicted using Kanyu Drop for rejuvenation and nutritional support, becoming a hot topic as "proof of age." On X, numerous childhood memories were posted, such as "So nostalgic! They were given out daily in kindergarten" and "I'm from the generation that was taught if you didn't stick to one a day, your neck would stretch out like a 'rokurokubi' (a long-necked yōkai)." Many voices, in particular, recalled eating them like sweet, delicious snacks, with some anecdotes even mentioning parents being tempted to eat too many. Conversely, comments highlighting a generational gap in awareness were prominent, such as "Do ki...

On October 17, 2025, a certain 'mishearing' of a word became a massive topic on social media. The observation that the phrase 'Katataki-ken' (shoulder massage coupon) sounded like the name of popular VTuber 'Akagi Wen' quickly led to the phrase 'Katataki Wen' spreading like wildfire. Its catchy sound caused many users to burst into laughter, and related posts followed one after another. The phenomenon originated from Akagi Wen's own post, which read: 'Came across this in my recommendations ⬇️ Katataki-ken ↔︎ Akagi Wen. Synonyms, huh 🤔 Akagi-ken? Katataki Wen?' In response, fans flooded the comments with remarks like, 'Katataki Wen has such a good ring to it,' 'Katataki Wen lol,' 'It's so catchy ww,' and 'Great wordplay! Akagi Wen has the same effect as a shoulder massage ww.' Its addictive sound captivated many users, even leading to calls for its 'official recognition.' This phenomenon was so impa...