 Hajime Sasaki

 Just before the first real event! Special Interview

 An idol was born from "Nobuyuki Sakuma's NOBROCK TV". The name of the group is "DRAW♡ME". P. Sakuma talks about the unique members, Ririka Moriwaki, Saki Tateno, Yuka Nihei, Mitsuho Fukudome, Kei Fubuki, and Mirichamu.

NOBROCK TV Idol Group Formation: Sakuma Reveals Unexpected Connections Between Unique Members

 Motoko Abekawa is a freelance writer mainly for the web. She is also involved in the production of books and corporate PR magazines. She does not specialize in any particular field, but covers a wide range of topics that intrigue her, including history, comedy, health, beauty, travel, gourmet food, and nursing care.

 Motoko Abekawa

 Afro

 The year 2026 "丙午" is the end of Mr. Delicacy!　In a period of drastic change that occurs only once every 60 years, a popular astrologer gives advice on "survival strategies" to seize opportunities by moving rather than worrying.

Sanma Akashiya and Anmika Stand Out in 2026’s Hinoe-Uma Year: How Winners and Losers Differ

 Shimei Kurita (nonfiction writer)

 Takayuki Ogawauchi

 Shinjuku 2-chome in Tokyo is famous as "the world's largest gay town. The homosexuals living there have connections and stories that are unique to Shinjuku 2-chome. We interviewed them about these connections and stories.

Increasing Partnership Recognition, but What Life Is Really Like for LGBTQ+ People in Tokyo’s Shinjuku 2-Chome

 Shinjuku 2-chome has become known as "Gay Town. In recent years, it has opened its doors to foreign tourists and female customers. However, the damage caused by overtourism has been reported.

Chaos and Transformation in Tokyo’s Shinjuku 2-Chome, the Heart of the Global Gay Scene

 Rino Oshima, owner of the slenderest body, appears in FRIDAY's gravure magazine!

 Rino Oshima, the owner of the strongest slender body, appears in FRIDAY's gravure magazine!

Rino Oshima: &#8220;Gravure is my foundation&#8221; and why she continues to make up her body

 Latest Report [Special New Year's Edition]: Dominance of the Industry Seen in Tuna and Salmon

 Kappa Sushi continues to struggle despite attempts to implement measures. Kurazushi, which lost ground to Hamazushi last year, is expected to continue its strong performance in 2014. Sushiro's reign as the overwhelming champion will not waver in '26...in fact, it will be stronger than ever!

Is Sushiro, the champion, on solid ground? Conveyor-belt Sushi War 2026

 The keys to victory are "side menus" and "family-oriented sushi

 Matsuya Foods, the leader in the food service industry, is serious about capturing the conveyor-belt sushi market. Sushimatsu, a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant, is steadily increasing the number of its outlets. The four major conveyor-belt sushi chains, which have been vying for supremacy in the industry for a long time, are under pressure to make major changes.

Tuna and Salmon: The Conveyor-belt Sushi War 2026 &#8211; Latest Report

 Diceke Takahashi

 Seven's fresh noodles are too "ferocious"..!　Famima and Okay have also entered the "Generic Jiro" market, ushering in a new era of "Generic Jiro. We report thoroughly on the latest movement that transcends the boundaries of microwavable noodles and their destructive flavor.

Seven-Eleven’s Fresh Noodles Pack a Punch—FamilyMart and OK Enter the Generic Jiro Arena

 Daisuke Iwasaki

 Hieroglyphics used in ancient Egypt could be deciphered by French scholars 200 years ago. Mr. Michinori Oshiro, an Egyptian archaeologist, talks about the fascination of ancient letters, which are generally useless but indispensable for archaeological research.

Hieroglyphs Make a Comeback After 1,500 Years, Fascinating Archaeologists

 Toru Uesaka

 Hiroyuki Komatsu

 Special Long Interview

 Koei Tecmo Games has released a series of masterpieces such as "Nobunaga's Ambition", "Sangokushi", and "Shin-Sangoku Musou". Yoichi Erikawa, the founder of Koei Tecmo Games, also known as "Shibusawa Ko," talks about the secret stories of the company's early days.

Full Text] Koh Shibusawa: &#8220;I have to try it myself. I still play games all morning.

 With the recent inflation, it is not unusual to find menus priced over 1,000 yen at restaurant chains. Four experts on restaurant chains introduce their recommendations for the "most cost-effective" menu items you should know about in these times.

Top Chain Restaurant Expert Reveals Best Value Menus for the Inflation Era

 Four experts from restaurant chains had a heated debate about the "most satisfying and cost-effective menu items"!

Expert Reveals Hidden High-Value Menus at Famous Chain Restaurants

 Hiroki Aoyama

 A way of life that is not afraid of change

 TV personality Serina shares her thoughts on her latest gravure shoot

Serina on Continuing Gravure and What She Believes in Most

 Showa no Zaito-chan, a manga artist, has been well-received for her report on her experience at a happening bar, "An Ordinary Office Lady Went to a Happening Bar. Why did she decide to draw a manga about a hap-bar? We asked her.

Manga Artist Showa no Zanto-chan Faces Surprising First Experience at a Happening Bar

 Koei Tecmo Games has produced games with a large fan base, such as "Nobunaga's Ambition," the "Sangokushi" series, and the "Shin-Sangoku Musou" series. Yoichi Erikawa, the founder of Koei Tecmo Games, talked about episodes in the early days of the company.

The founder of &#8220;Koei&#8221; tells a secret story&#8230;Koh Shibusawa: &#8220;I never thought the game industry would become so big&#8230;&#8221;

 The temperature has suddenly dropped in December! Even colder weather is forecast for the year-end and New Year's holidays. ......Items to stay comfortable even in such a harsh winter 2025-2026

 The temperature has suddenly dropped in December. Experts carefully select the latest items to keep you comfortable during the harsh winter months of 2025 and 2026.

Ai Yamada, a rising star in the gravure world, tries out　The latest items carefully selected by experts!

 Hisao Omae

 The NHK Taiga (historical drama series) in 2014 will focus on the brothers Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Hidenaga. Hidenaga is said to have been such an excellent assistant to his elder brother that it is said that if he had lived longer, the Toyotomi family would have been safe and sound.

If Hidenaga Had Lived Myth or Fact? Exploring the Toyotomi Brothers’ Relationship

 Yasuko Funamoto

 The recent boom in stuffed animals, such as "nui katsu" and "nui shoots," is a good example of how to treat stuffed toys. A "stuffed animal hospital" that specializes in the "treatment" of stuffed animals is the talk of the town. We caught up with this magazine's reporter, "45-year-old Kitty," to find out what kind of treatment she is receiving.

Inside Japan’s Realistic Stuffed Animal Hospital Where Plushies Get Spas and Hair Transplants

 Kamogawa Sea World (1st and 5th photos), Nagoya Port Aquarium (7th to 9th photos)

 Orca whales have been enjoying a boom in popularity in recent years. The ecology of orcas, the "kings of the sea," is not as well known as one might think. We interviewed Kamogawa Sea World to learn more about orcas and their fascinating performances.

Ocean’s Apex Predator Orcas Show Stunning Intelligence Through Social and Hunting Skills

 Six major manufacturers compete with pencils!  Kokuyo, Pilot, Mitsubishi Pencil, Pentel, Zebra, Tombo Pencil

 Mitsubishi Pencil for practicality, Pentel for creativity. Zebra sells the world's best-selling "Mackie" pencils, and Tombo pencils use "erasing" as a weapon. Kokuyo is very good at handling paper. Each stationery manufacturer is working hard to develop new products.

The Stationery Industry: The Secrets of Jetstream&#8230; Japan&#8217;s World-Class Export Industry &#8220;At the Forefront of Product Development

 Kokuyo, Pilot, Mitsubishi Pencil, Pentel, Zebra, and Tombo Pencil in a fierce battle!

 In Japan, stationery products with meticulous attention to detail, functionality, and design are available at low prices, and in recent years, these products have gained tremendous popularity among foreign tourists as travel souvenirs. Each company is working day by day to develop products that will take the market by storm.

The six major makers of pencils and pencil products are engaged in a fierce battle for the top spot in the global stationery industry!

 Takeshi Kinugawa (2nd to 4th photos) Hiroto Kato (5th to 7th photos)

 Toyota of Japan and BYD of China are making their presence felt with their unique strategies, while Tesla of the U.S. is...

 At the Japan Mobility Show 2025, where top manufacturers from around the world gathered, Toyota of Japan and BYD of China attracted attention with their unique strategies. Meanwhile, the U.S.-based Tesla is focusing on robo-taxis, and the car industry is entering a new era.

Touch-Panel Controls Highlight Changes in the Future of Cars at Japan Mobility Show

 Yoshio Ichise

 The 55th anniversary of TOMICA] Introducing rare and precious items that collectors covet, along with photos! In addition, an expert explains the "value" of "Tomica" and "how to identify" rare Tomica. Also, the shocking price of the phantom "pure gold Tomica"!

Three key traits of rare Tomica models and the shocking price of the pure-gold edition

 Are you losing money by not saying "NO"? Supreme" designer and popular YouTube star, acchi-san, who has lived in New York for 23 years, talks about overcoming Japanese weaknesses and how to live on "your own axis". What are his tips for surviving in a diverse society?

Culture

NOBROCK TV Idol Group Formation: Sakuma Reveals Unexpected Connections Between Unique Members

Sanma Akashiya and Anmika Stand Out in 2026’s Hinoe-Uma Year: How Winners and Losers Differ

Increasing Partnership Recognition, but What Life Is Really Like for LGBTQ+ People in Tokyo’s Shinjuku 2-Chome

Chaos and Transformation in Tokyo’s Shinjuku 2-Chome, the Heart of the Global Gay Scene

Rino Oshima: “Gravure is my foundation” and why she continues to make up her body

Is Sushiro, the champion, on solid ground? Conveyor-belt Sushi War 2026

Tuna and Salmon: The Conveyor-belt Sushi War 2026 – Latest Report

Seven-Eleven’s Fresh Noodles Pack a Punch—FamilyMart and OK Enter the Generic Jiro Arena

Hieroglyphs Make a Comeback After 1,500 Years, Fascinating Archaeologists

Full Text] Koh Shibusawa: “I have to try it myself. I still play games all morning.

Top Chain Restaurant Expert Reveals Best Value Menus for the Inflation Era

Expert Reveals Hidden High-Value Menus at Famous Chain Restaurants

Serina on Continuing Gravure and What She Believes in Most

Manga Artist Showa no Zanto-chan Faces Surprising First Experience at a Happening Bar

The founder of “Koei” tells a secret story…Koh Shibusawa: “I never thought the game industry would become so big…”

Ai Yamada, a rising star in the gravure world, tries out　The latest items carefully selected by experts!

If Hidenaga Had Lived Myth or Fact? Exploring the Toyotomi Brothers’ Relationship

Inside Japan’s Realistic Stuffed Animal Hospital Where Plushies Get Spas and Hair Transplants

Ocean’s Apex Predator Orcas Show Stunning Intelligence Through Social and Hunting Skills

The Stationery Industry: The Secrets of Jetstream… Japan’s World-Class Export Industry “At the Forefront of Product Development

The six major makers of pencils and pencil products are engaged in a fierce battle for the top spot in the global stationery industry!

Touch-Panel Controls Highlight Changes in the Future of Cars at Japan Mobility Show

Three key traits of rare Tomica models and the shocking price of the pure-gold edition

Why NYC Taught Them to Stop People-Pleasing—and Stay True to Themselves

Culture

NOBROCK TV Idol Group Formation: Sakuma Reveals Unexpected Connections Between Unique Members

Sanma Akashiya and Anmika Stand Out in 2026’s Hinoe-Uma Year: How Winners and Losers Differ

Increasing Partnership Recognition, but What Life Is Really Like for LGBTQ+ People in Tokyo’s Shinjuku 2-Chome

Chaos and Transformation in Tokyo’s Shinjuku 2-Chome, the Heart of the Global Gay Scene

Rino Oshima: “Gravure is my foundation” and why she continues to make up her body

Is Sushiro, the champion, on solid ground? Conveyor-belt Sushi War 2026

Tuna and Salmon: The Conveyor-belt Sushi War 2026 – Latest Report

Seven-Eleven’s Fresh Noodles Pack a Punch—FamilyMart and OK Enter the Generic Jiro Arena

Hieroglyphs Make a Comeback After 1,500 Years, Fascinating Archaeologists

Full Text] Koh Shibusawa: “I have to try it myself. I still play games all morning.

Top Chain Restaurant Expert Reveals Best Value Menus for the Inflation Era

Expert Reveals Hidden High-Value Menus at Famous Chain Restaurants

Serina on Continuing Gravure and What She Believes in Most

Manga Artist Showa no Zanto-chan Faces Surprising First Experience at a Happening Bar

The founder of “Koei” tells a secret story…Koh Shibusawa: “I never thought the game industry would become so big…”

Ai Yamada, a rising star in the gravure world, tries out The latest items carefully selected by experts!

If Hidenaga Had Lived Myth or Fact? Exploring the Toyotomi Brothers’ Relationship

Inside Japan’s Realistic Stuffed Animal Hospital Where Plushies Get Spas and Hair Transplants

Ocean’s Apex Predator Orcas Show Stunning Intelligence Through Social and Hunting Skills

The Stationery Industry: The Secrets of Jetstream… Japan’s World-Class Export Industry “At the Forefront of Product Development

The six major makers of pencils and pencil products are engaged in a fierce battle for the top spot in the global stationery industry!

Touch-Panel Controls Highlight Changes in the Future of Cars at Japan Mobility Show

Three key traits of rare Tomica models and the shocking price of the pure-gold edition

Why NYC Taught Them to Stop People-Pleasing—and Stay True to Themselves

Ai Yamada, a rising star in the gravure world, tries out　The latest items carefully selected by experts!