🔐 Hackers' leak site shut down as GMO refuses $1 million ransom

🔹 Breach via domain service Onamae.com may affect 26,000+ servers; the group posted one alleged client's data
🔹 GMO now offers up to $1M bounty for leads on the attackers

🇯🇵 @japan

🍛 Where to eat in Nagoya: Yabaton Yabacho Honten

Nagoya's signature dish is miso katsu: a crispy pork cutlet drowned in a sweet, rich sauce made from dark local soybean miso. Yabaton has served it since 1947, and its giant "waraji" (straw-sandal) cutlet can be ordered half miso, half regular sauce.

🔹 Order: Waraji tonkatsu set ¥2,000, à la carte ¥1,570 (tax incl.)
🔹 Hours: 11:00–21:00 (order by about 20:00)
🔹 Closed: open every day
🔹 Access: Yabacho Station (Meijo Line) Exit 4, 5 min walk

💡 Tip: The official website shows the live waiting time for this branch, so check it before you walk over. Card, Suica and QR payments are accepted. Osu shopping arcade is a few minutes away for a walk after your meal.

📍 Google Maps: Yabaton Yabacho Honten

🇯🇵 @japan

🍁 Where to go in Kyoto: Tofuku-ji

A vast Rinzai Zen temple founded in 1236. Its covered Tsūten-kyō Bridge looks over a maple valley that turns red and gold every autumn.

🔹 Entry: Tsūten-kyō + Kaisandō ¥600 adults (¥1,000 Nov 14–Dec 6); Hōjō garden ¥500 until Oct 31, ¥600 from Nov 1; combo ¥1,000 (not sold in autumn peak)
🔹 Hours: 9:00–16:00 last entry, gates close 16:30 (until Oct 31). In autumn peak, Tsūten-kyō opens 8:30
🔹 Closed: No closing days
🔹 Getting there: 10 min walk from JR or Keihan Tofukuji Station (JR is ~2 min from Kyoto Station)

💡 Tip: Leaves usually peak mid to late November. Once special autumn hours start on Nov 14, go early on a weekday — the bridge gets packed.

📍 Google Maps: Tofuku-ji

🇯🇵 @japan

🐒 A wild monkey hopped onto a car bonnet in Komatsushima, Tokushima — two evenings in a row

🔹 Resident honked; the macaque fled. No injuries reported (Oct 26–27 evenings)
🔹 Police: if you see a monkey, don't provoke it — calmly leave the area

🇯🇵 @japan

🗣 Learn Japanese: SHOPPING 🛍

🔤 How to read: Keep every syllable short and even. The u in desu and masu is almost silent ("dess", "mahs"). Kādo has a long ā, so hold it a little: kaa-doh.

💴 Kore wa ikura desu ka? = koh-reh wah ee-koo-rah dess kah (how much is this?) · casual: Kore ikura?
👀 Mite iru dake desu = mee-teh ee-roo dah-keh dess (I'm just looking) · casual: Miteru dake
💳 Kādo wa tsukaemasu ka? = kaa-doh wah tsoo-kah-eh-mahs kah (can I pay by card?) · casual: Kādo tsukaeru?
🛂 Menzei dekimasu ka? = men-zay deh-kee-mahs kah (can I buy it tax-free?)
😅 Chotto takai desu ne = choht-toh tah-kai dess neh (it's a bit expensive) · casual: Chotto takai ne

💡 Tip: Haggling is rare in Japanese shops, so the tag price is final. When staff say Irasshaimase (welcome), you don't need to answer; a smile or small nod is fine. Asking about tax-free? Have your passport ready.

🔊 Listen to the voice clip below 👇

Japanese: これはいくらですか？ · 見ているだけです · カードは使えますか？ · 免税できますか？ · ちょっと高いですね

🇯🇵 @japan

🔊 Kore wa ikura desu ka? · Mite iru dake desu · Kādo wa tsukaemasu ka? · Menzei dekimasu ka? · Chotto takai desu ne (male, then female)

🇯🇵 @japan

🌍 M5.5 quake hits northeastern Chiba at 12:07 a.m.; max intensity lower 5 in Yokoshibahikari

🔹 Felt across Kanto including Tokyo; JMA says no tsunami
🔹 Agency warns similar shaking possible for about a week

🇯🇵 @japan

🍤 Where to eat in Tokyo: Daikokuya Tempura Honten

Since 1887 near Senso-ji, this Asakusa classic is known for tendon: sesame-oil tempura over rice under a dark, sweet-savory sauce.

🔹 Order: Tendon ¥2,300 (1 prawn, kisu, kakiage) to Ebi tendon ¥2,700 (4 prawns), tax incl.
🔹 Hours: 11:00–20:00
🔹 Closed: Open daily (no regular holiday)
🔹 Access: ~5 min walk from Asakusa Station via Kaminarimon, on Denboin-dori

💡 Tip: Cash only, no ordinary reservations — arrive at opening or mid-afternoon; the set with soup and a side is ¥2,900.

📍 Google Maps: Daikokuya Tempura Honten

🇯🇵 @japan

🍁 Where to go in Fukuoka: Dazaifu Tenmangu

Head shrine of Japan’s ~12,000 Tenjin shrines, for Sugawara no Michizane, deity of learning. Classic day trip ~30 min from central Fukuoka — giant camphor trees and a shop-lined approach.

🔹 Entry: Free (grounds). Treasure House ¥500; history museum ¥200
🔹 Hours: Gates ~6:30–19:00 in autumn; museums last entry 16:00
🔹 Closed: Shrine open daily (Treasure House closed Mondays)
🔹 Access: 5 min walk from Nishitetsu Dazaifu Station

💡 Tip: Try umegaemochi on the approach. Some hillside art paths are closed Oct 27–30 for conservation — main sanctuary stays open.

📍 Google Maps: Dazaifu Tenmangu

🇯🇵 @japan

💬 Japan gov’t still lists “not paying for dates” as dating domestic violence

🔹 Gender Equality Bureau’s “economic violence” example sparked fresh online debate
🔹 Clarification: OK if both agree to treat; not OK if one side is forced to pay

🇯🇵 @japan

🗣 Learn Japanese: GREETINGS 👋

🔤 How to read: Keep every syllable short and even. The u in gozaimasu is almost silent ("goh-zai-mahs"). Hold the long ō a little: Ohayō = oh-hah-yohh. In konnichiwa and konbanwa, the last kana is written は (ha) but said "wa".

🌅 Ohayō gozaimasu = oh-hah-yoh goh-zai-mahs (good morning) · casual: Ohayō
☀️ Konnichiwa = kohn-nee-chee-wah (hello / good afternoon)
🌙 Konbanwa = kohm-bahn-wah (good evening)
🙏 Arigatō gozaimasu = ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zai-mahs (thank you) · casual: Arigatō
🤝 Hajimemashite = hah-jee-meh-mahsh-teh (nice to meet you, said only the first time)

💡 Tip: Greetings in Japan usually come with a bow (ojigi). A small nod is fine for a quick hello; a deeper, slower bow shows more respect or thanks. Konnichiwa is a daytime greeting; after dark, switch to konbanwa.

🔊 Listen to the voice clip below 👇

Japanese: おはようございます · こんにちは · こんばんは · ありがとうございます · はじめまして

🇯🇵 @japan

🔊 Ohayō gozaimasu · Konnichiwa · Konbanwa · Arigatō gozaimasu · Hajimemashite (male, then female)

🇯🇵 @japan

🚕 Toyota and Waymo to start running fully driverless robotaxis in Japan in 2027

🔹 Toyota bZ4X EVs fitted with Waymo self-driving gear at Toyota's Takaoka plant in Aichi
🔹 UK and other Waymo markets to follow; Japan locations and fleet size not yet disclosed

🇯🇵 @japan

🍛 Where to eat in Sapporo: Soup Curry GARAKU

Soup curry is Sapporo's own dish: a thin, spicy curry broth with big chunks of vegetables, eaten with rice on the side. GARAKU adds Japanese dashi stock to its spice blend — perfect for a chilly Hokkaido autumn night.

🔹 Order: Tender chicken leg & vegetables ¥1,480; signature charred pork kakuni ¥1,640
🔹 Hours: 11:30–15:30 (L.O. 15:00), 17:00–21:00 (L.O. 20:30)
🔹 Closed: Irregular days; closes early if the soup sells out
🔹 Access: ~5 min walk from Bus Center-mae Station (Tozai Line), basement floor

💡 Tip: No reservations, so come right at 11:30 or 17:00 to skip the queue. You choose your spice level and rice size when ordering — start mild; cards are accepted.

📍 Google Maps: Soup Curry GARAKU

🇯🇵 @japan

🏡 Where to go in Nagasaki: Glover Garden

A hillside of Meiji-era Western houses above Nagasaki Harbour, built around the home of Scottish merchant Thomas Glover. The Former Glover House is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the garden has 9 historic buildings plus sweeping harbour views.

🔹 Entry: ¥1,300 adults, ¥650 kids/teens
🔹 Hours: 8:00–20:00 in Nov–Dec (last entry 19:40); until 21:30 on Oct 30–31
🔹 Closed: Open every day of the year
🔹 Access: 7 min walk from Oura Tenshudo tram stop

💡 Tip: Ride the tram to Ishibashi and take the free Glover Sky Road lift to Gate 2, then stroll downhill. Gate 2 takes no cards, so bring cash. Stay past sunset for Lantern Night (~300 lanterns). Former Alt House is closed for repairs.

📍 Google Maps: Glover Garden

🇯🇵 @japan

🎃 Burger King is shutting its Shibuya Center-gai store for all of Halloween (Oct 31) again, as Shibuya braces for crowds

🔹 It reopens Nov 1 after a deep clean
🔹 At most other branches, the first 30 kids aged 18 or under who say "Trick or treat" (2–6 pm) get free soft serve

🇯🇵 @japan

🗣 Learn Japanese: EVERYDAY REACTIONS 😮

🔤 How to read: Short, even syllables, no strong stress. Hold the long ō in daijōbu a little: dye-JOHH-boo. The u in desu is almost silent ("dess"). The Japanese r is a light tap, close to a soft d.

🙆 Daijōbu desu ka? = dye-joh-boo dess kah (are you OK?) · reply: Daijōbu desu (I'm fine) · casual: Daijōbu?
🤩 Sugoi desu ne! = soo-goy dess neh (that's amazing!) · casual: Sugoi!
💭 Naruhodo = nah-roo-hoh-doh (I see! / that makes sense)
😱 Yabai! = yah-bye (slang: "oh no!" or "awesome!", the tone tells you which)
😳 Maji de? = mah-jee deh (slang: "for real?")

💡 Tip: Daijōbu desu is also a polite "no thanks". If a shop clerk offers you a plastic bag you don't need, just say it. Keep yabai and maji de for friends, not staff or strangers.

🔊 Listen to the voice clip below 👇

Japanese: 大丈夫ですか · 大丈夫です · すごいですね · なるほど · やばい · マジで？

🇯🇵 @japan

🔊 Daijōbu desu ka? · Daijōbu desu · Sugoi desu ne · Naruhodo · Yabai! · Maji de? (male, then female)

🇯🇵 @japan