Japan Reacts

Author: Japan Reacts Editorial

  • Leaker: “PSP3 Launches Late 2027, Will Run PS5 Games”

    A leak about a handheld console reportedly in development at Sony (dubbed the “PSP3”) has stirred up 5ch’s Hardware & Industry board (Geha), claiming a late-2027 release, PS5 game compatibility, and 24GB of memory.

    The information is attributed to data miner Kepler L2, but the thread quickly filled with technical skepticism — comments like “the PS5 has 448GB/s of memory bandwidth, but the LPDDR5X used in handhelds tops out around 200GB/s, there’s no way this can run” and “a 4-core CPU is going to make developers hate this thing.” Plenty of posters also had fun guessing at price and battery life, but the real center of debate wasn’t whether the leak itself was true so much as whether such a device could actually be built at all.

    4AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:28
    It's a leak from Kepler L2, so this is the real deal!
    5AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:29
    24GB of memory and it runs PS5 games?
    How much is this thing gonna cost?
    Like $899 or something?
    6AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:29
    Probably ¥199,980?
    8AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:30
    Re: #6
    Obviously there'll be a Japanese version too
    10AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:30
    Is this really from Kepler?
    But won't memory be even more expensive by next year?
    12AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:31
    Just hurry up and release it already
    Do the fanboys want to see Sony go under or something?
    13AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:32
    Who cares about this, what about the PS6?
    14AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:34
    Wouldn't it make more sense to put that 24GB into an entry-level Xperia instead?
    15AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:35
    They're packing in 24GB during this insane memory price surge?
    Guessing it'll run about ¥250,000
    16AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:36
    "It's a next-gen console with just a slight performance bump — still below PC level!" Going more portable does seem like a reasonable direction, but it's definitely going to be expensive
    If it comes in at ¥200,000 that'd be a steal
    17AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:36
    "PS3 games are sooo easy to port!" — NGP! (Vita's original codename) → Reality: the Vita
    "Native PS5 support!" (leak) → ???
    19AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:37
    https://x.com/ghostshinka/status/2100287452414107709?s=46&t=ppQUFBT6RkKK3Ue5bqaFRQ

    Totally unrelated to the video, but ten years from now the only game companies left will probably be Steam and Nintendo, right?
    That's pretty wild.
    21AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:37
    The classic pitch: high performance… and cheap too!
    24AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:38
    Wait, is this actually from Kepler, or is it "Moore's Law is Dead" info? (a rival hardware-leak YouTube channel)
    26AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:41
    Re: #1
    The exact opposite rumor is floating around too — Kepler L2 himself says turning this into an actual product is close to impossible from a business standpoint

    Because of the memory crunch, it's become impossible for Sony to sell a portable PS6 for $600
    https://overclock3d.net/news/misc/sonys-ps6-canis-handheld-to-cost-over-600-leaker-claims/

    If you trace Kepler L2's actual statements closely on overseas forums (like NeoGAF),
    all he's really said is that "Sony is testing a chip with this configuration (24GB LPDDR5X),"
    he's never flatly declared that a new handheld will 100% ship.
    In fact, more recently he's leaned negative, saying "memory prices have surged so much that making this a real product is nearly impossible from a business standpoint."
    33AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:46
    Re: #26
    Running a GDDR6 PS5 off LPDDR5…?
    That lie is so bad it's funny (lol)
    35AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:47
    Why would anyone even want a handheld like that? Isn't the PlayStation Portal just the obvious answer?
    39AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:52
    Re: #35
    No way that thing's the "obvious answer"…
    37AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:51
    What about storage?
    They've been trash-talking the Switch 2's 256GB, so this better top it, right?
    40AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:52
    Re: #37
    Obviously it'll pack something like 2TB
    38AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:51
    The PS5 has 448GB/s of memory bandwidth —
    how are they even going to run that?
    Even today's high-end mobile gaming PCs fall overwhelmingly short:

    ROG Xbox Ally X
    LPDDR5X-8000
    128-bit
    128GB/s

    ROG Ally X
    LPDDR5X-7500
    128-bit
    120GB/s

    GPD WIN Mini 2025
    LPDDR5X-7500
    128-bit equivalent
    120GB/s

    ONEXPLAYER X1 8840U
    LPDDR5X-7500
    128-bit equivalent
    120GB/s

    AYANEO 2S 8840U
    LPDDR5X-7500
    128-bit equivalent
    120GB/s

    Steam Deck OLED
    LPDDR5-6400
    128-bit
    102.4GB/s

    ROG Xbox Ally
    LPDDR5-6400
    128-bit
    102.4GB/s

    Even if they somehow made it work, it'd cost a fortune
    52AnonymousSep 17, 2026 07:02
    Re: #38
    Rumor says it's 192-bit
    but even then it only gets to about 200GB/s
    Maybe they'll add Infinity Cache?
    That would make the die size a lot bigger though
    53AnonymousSep 17, 2026 07:03
    Re: #38
    I mean, there's not a single multiplatform game that runs on PS5 but fails to run on the ROG Ally
    so if third parties put in the porting effort, it should be doable, right?
    IF third parties put in the effort (lol)
    45AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:59
    The Switch 2 tops out around 10W in handheld mode — how many minutes is this piece of junk gonna last?
    51AnonymousSep 17, 2026 07:02
    Re: #45
    It'd be hilarious if this thing turns out to be junk that also caps at 10W (lol)
    54AnonymousSep 17, 2026 07:04
    Re: #45
    It'll probably carry a battery around 80Wh, four times the Switch 2's
    though the weight is going to be insane too
    55AnonymousSep 17, 2026 07:04
    Switch 2 is completely done for
    A handheld that runs PS5 games
    This is the power of 3nm
    Switch 2 got totally left behind for going with an outdated chip
    63AnonymousSep 17, 2026 07:10
    Re: #55
    I don't think they'd run that kind of business model
    I think it'll be pay-to-play only, freeloaders excluded
    After all, it'll launch with thousands of games already available, so there's no need to prop up the lineup or discount anything
    56AnonymousSep 17, 2026 07:05
    Re: #53
    Games like GTA6 that only run at 30fps are probably a lost cause
    it's only got a 4-core CPU anyway, so it's not running at full clock
    65AnonymousSep 17, 2026 07:11
    Re: #56
    GTA6 runs on the Xbox Series S (XSS), doesn't it?
    If third parties put in the work, it'll be fine
    67AnonymousSep 17, 2026 07:12
    For native support, CPU power — which isn't even listed here — matters most, but earlier leaks said it's only 4 cores
    Developers are going to hate being asked for native PS5 support with that
    73AnonymousSep 17, 2026 07:16
    Re: #67
    For "Ongi" devs, Sony's low performance is a blessing, get it? (term unclear in original)
    But Xbox Series S doesn't count, understand?
    69AnonymousSep 17, 2026 07:13
    Re: #65
    If Rockstar manages to pull off 60fps on PS5, I think a port would be possible
    though at that point it'd probably get ported to the Switch 2 too (lol)
    74AnonymousSep 17, 2026 07:18
    Re: #69
    Plenty of PS5 games run at just 30fps
    but is there really any game that's 30fps on PS5 and still can't run on the ROG Ally?
    82AnonymousSep 17, 2026 07:27
    Re: #74
    How many titles are actually capped at 30fps max?
    86AnonymousSep 17, 2026 07:29
    Re: #74
    Most PS5 games hit 60fps in performance mode
    and the ROG Ally has an 8-core CPU
    Canis (the rumored codename), with only 4 cores, is at a huge disadvantage
    75AnonymousSep 17, 2026 07:23
    Being told it runs PS5 games instead of PS6 games makes me wonder how well that's really going to work as a sales pitch
    77AnonymousSep 17, 2026 07:24
    Re: #75
    They probably just want to become Steam
    because they're idiots
    that's why they're even dropping discs, one of the console's advantages
    83AnonymousSep 17, 2026 07:28
    Surely even Sony isn't dumb enough to actually make this
    though if they do release it, it'd be fun from a console-war-forum (Geha) perspective
    95AnonymousSep 17, 2026 07:31
    Re: #83
    There's the Vita precedent though…

    Background and Key Points of This Topic

    This leak traces back to information attributed to data miner “Kepler L2.” However, as pointed out in >>26 within the thread, Kepler L2 himself only said that “Sony is testing a 24GB LPDDR5X chip” — he never flatly confirmed the product will actually launch, and has recently leaned skeptical, citing soaring memory prices as a reason it may be “difficult from a business standpoint.” That gap in tone is what’s driving the split opinions in the thread. On the technical side, the focus is memory bandwidth: the PS5 itself uses GDDR6 at 448GB/s, while current handheld gaming PCs (like the ROG Ally and Steam Deck) only manage around 100-130GB/s with LPDDR5X. Skeptics argue this makes it hard to replicate the PS5 experience on a handheld. There were also comments noting that a reported 4-core CPU looks weak next to competing handhelds, most of which run 8 cores. Readers should keep in mind that price and release date remain unconfirmed rumors, not reported facts.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from a 5ch Hardware & Industry (Geha) board thread titled “Leaker: “PSP3 Launches Late 2027. Will Run PS5 Games and Push Graphics Performance to 14TF”.”

  • 37 Fungicide Detections in Chinese Frozen Broccoli — 5ch Reacts: ‘Gyomu Super Is Basically All China-Made’

    Reports say that frozen broccoli from China had the highest number of violations for the fungicide procymidone — a substance not approved for use in Japan — with 37 cases detected, the most of any item. Broccoli only became one of Japan’s ‘designated vegetables’ (a category the government uses to ensure stable supply) this past April, and it’s a popular vegetable, but because domestically grown broccoli is expensive, large volumes of frozen Chinese broccoli are imported — a situation believed to be behind the high number of violations. On 5ch, the thread filled up with comments reflecting real-world experience, like “almost all the frozen food at Gyomu Super is Chinese-made” and “there’s no way to avoid Chinese origins with restaurant food or prepared dishes,” with the difficulty of protecting yourself becoming the main topic of discussion.

    Frozen broccoli (37 cases) topped the list of items in which procymidone was detected this time, and journalist Masayuki Ogura, who specializes in food safety, explains:

    “While the use of procymidone on broccoli is restricted within Japan, it’s permitted in China. This difference in regulations between countries is the backdrop to these violation cases.

    Broccoli was added this past April to the ‘designated vegetables’ list — a category the government established to secure a stable supply of vegetables that are widely consumed and important to people’s daily lives — making it a highly popular vegetable. At the same time, because domestic broccoli is expensive, large amounts of cheap frozen Chinese broccoli are imported, and this too is thought to be behind the high number of violation cases.”

    Source: moneypost.jp / Original article here

    2AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:17
    I'm literally eating 7-Eleven broccoli right now, hope it's fine
    8AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:21
    Re: #2
    Pretty sure 7-Eleven's is from Ecuador
    Haven't heard anything bad about it so far, should be fine
    6AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:19
    Nobody's eating Chinese-made stuff, right?
    155AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:36
    Re: #6
    All the cheap stuff is China-made though
    161AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:39
    Re: #6
    It's in frozen food and restaurant food though
    10AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:24
    I avoid Chinese-made stuff as much as I can, but I'm probably eating it without knowing — and a lot of it too.
    204AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:52
    Re: #10
    Eating out is too scary to even do
    16AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:26
    Went to Gyomu Super yesterday, and yeah, you could clearly tell it wasn't selling lol
    This isn't even a new problem lol
    26AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:30
    Re: #16
    It's cheap, sure, but once it's labeled 'Made in China' I just can't put it in the basket.
    Most of Gyomu Super's frozen veggies and fruit are Chinese-made anyway.
    China and Korea are the only origins that make me hesitate to buy
    18AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:27
    There's no way to actually avoid Chinese-made food
    187AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:47
    Re: #18
    With frozen ingredients like this you can check the label and avoid it,
    but there's no avoiding it with restaurant food or deli items
    And there's origin mislabeling on top of that anyway lol
    22AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:28
    The additives in cheap sweet bread are no joke
    It never goes bad no matter how long you leave it
    43AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:39
    Re: #22
    >This kind of not-really-experimental performance — 'look, no mold!' — makes for a cleverly imagined, seemingly logical narrative that works well on people for whom science is unfamiliar territory.
    >
    >I once told someone, 'Store-bought bread doesn't contain preservatives. Bread made in an industrially sterile environment naturally keeps for a few days even without preservatives.' They replied, 'I don't buy store-bought bread — I make all the bread I eat at home myself, and it doesn't even last 3 days.' So I told them, 'I hate to say it, but that's because your kitchen is dirtier than a bread factory' — which made them furious.
    57AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:44
    (　ﾟ∀ﾟ)
    　(　　∩ミ 　Here, have some broccoli
    　 |　 ω |
    　 し ⌒Ｊ
    58AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:45
    Re: #57
    Put that white asparagus away (a joke poking fun at the AA figure's outstretched arm)
    76AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:55
    For vegetables used in restaurants and prepared foods, isn't it true that anything not specifically marketed as domestic is pretty much all Chinese-made? If you don't want to eat Chinese-made stuff, you'd better get cooking for yourselves
    100AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:06
    Re: #76
    I'm genuinely curious how people who insist on domestic-only handle eating out
    95AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:04
    American food is full of sketchy stuff too
    96AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:05
    Re: #95
    Still better than Chinese food
    139AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:27
    Is this something they only do for Japan,
    or is it the same within China itself? That's the most important question IMO
    140AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:28
    Re: #139
    It's probably even worse inside China — remember the stories about them scooping oil out of gutters? (referring to China's "gutter oil" scandal)
    146AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:32
    Re: #139

    Sorry, but in China only Communist Party officials
    get to eat real organic food —
    there are farms reserved exclusively for Party cadres
    150AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:34
    Restaurants using Chinese-made ingredients, please just disclose it
    157AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:36
    Re: #150
    I think Hidakaya does that, if I remember right (a Japanese ramen/Chinese-food chain)
    Haven't seen it anywhere else though
    158AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:37
    Re: #150

    Cooking for yourself is best

    Eating out means handing someone else the power of life and death over you

    Buy domestic broccoli and freeze it yourself
    196AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:50
    Re: #150
    If they could cover everything with domestic ingredients, they'd be advertising it lol
    They're not disclosing it, so take the hint lol
    185AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:46
    I have this image of bodybuilders and gym bros eating a ton of it. Might be one reason they die young
    190AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:48
    Re: #185
    Could be…
    I know someone who was eating nothing but broccoli because they had a competition coming up
    195AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:50
    Re: #185
    I know a guy who got colon cancer and ended up with a colostomy lol
    200AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:52
    Farmers in that country think anything goes as long as it's not something they'll eat themselves
    208AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:58
    Re: #200
    Don't worry
    Japanese farmers aren't any different
    216AnonymousSep 17, 2026 07:00
    Re: #200
    Consumers in this country be like: 'If it's cheap, imports are fine — boycott domestic rice, farmers can go bankrupt'
    Guess the national character of that country and this one match perfectly, LOL, it was bound to happen

    Background and Key Points

    Procymidone is a type of fungicide, and in Japan usage standards are set for each crop under the Agricultural Chemicals Regulation Act. Broccoli was only added to the ‘designated vegetables’ list this past April, and because domestic prices have remained high, import volumes have been rising. Import food monitoring inspections conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and other bodies are generally based on sampling at the customs stage, and when a violation is found, the system calls for that shipment to be sent back or disposed of. In other words, a ‘detected case’ isn’t necessarily something that made it into circulation — it may well have been stopped at the border — and the thread didn’t really sort this distinction out, which makes it an easy point to misunderstand. The thread was dominated less by a clash of opinions than by a shared sense of resignation (‘there’s no avoiding Chinese-made products’) and real-world observation (‘Gyomu Super and restaurants are full of Chinese-made stuff’).

    *This article is compiled as an excerpt and summary of the 5ch (News Express+) thread “[Chinese ‘Carcinogenic’ Food Imported to Japan] Numerous Detections of the Fungicide Procymidone in Frozen Broccoli 🥦.”

  • PS5’s Wolverine Launches with 6.4 User Score as Opinions Clash

    The PS5 action game Marvel’s Wolverine (developed by Insomniac Games) has become a hot topic on 5ch’s Hardware/Industry board after its user score stalled at 6.4 despite a Metascore of 77. In the thread, opinions split between those pointing to complaints about the game itself — around 10 hours of actual playtime padded with lots of cutscenes and simple, hand-holding gameplay — and those suspecting the low scores stem from a deliberate “review bombing” campaign tied to controversies unrelated to the game itself, with no consensus on which factor is really driving the number down.

    2AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:02
    PS2-tier lava, PS2-tier water effects
    40% cutscenes
    QTEs you can clear without even doing anything
    Bike sections you can clear without even doing anything

    Is this the reason?
    5AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:03
    I was hoping the user score would at least be high even with a low Metascore, but I guess not
    6AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:03
    Crimson Desert has a Metascore of 77 and a user score of like 8.8…
    7AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:04
    With 600 ratings already sitting at this score, there's basically no way it climbs back into the 8s from here
    Guess this is really gonna end up a 6-7 range game
    8AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:05
    This is such a shit game

    Main game: about 10 hours
    Cutscenes only: about 4 hours

    Actual playtime = 6 hours

    tps://i.imgur.com/mtRj1KY.jpeg
    10AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:05
    Lowest score in Insomniac's history ♥

    Spider-Man: 87
    Miles Morales: 85
    Spider-Man Remastered: 87
    Spider-Man 2: 90
    Wolverine: 77
    ps://i.imgur.com/C4uYNLP.png

    The big outlets' scores are a mess too ♥

    60 — IGN
    60 — VGC
    60 — GameSpot
    60 — GamesRadar+
    60 — Eurogamer
    60 — Guardian
    11AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:05
    Re: #10
    The big outlets are surprisingly accurate this time
    A 60 is basically the same as the user score
    43AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:22
    Re: #10
    The user score's almost identical too — guess the big outlets' scores are worth something once in a while
    62AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:30
    Re: #10
    A proper mediocre game that media and users teamed up to trash
    13AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:06
    So it got a +13 boost from the Sweet Baby bonus and the Sony favoritism bonus? ("Sweet Baby" refers to Sweet Baby Inc., a narrative consultancy that's become a lightning rod in gaming discourse)
    14AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:07
    Congratulations, it's officially a shit game — in name and in fact
    17AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:07
    Even the user score, our last lifeline, is beyond saving at this point
    19AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:08
    But didn't Pokaosu say this was fun? Why?😭 (presumably a reviewer/streamer who praised the game beforehand)
    22AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:10
    Re: #19
    Probably a Marvel otaku who reviewed it through rose-tinted glasses
    20AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:09
    https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/2100053723510652929/vid/avc1/1920×1080/m0xonwd1UafWpYCo.mp4?tag=29


    No exaggeration, this is genuine PS2-quality lol
    21AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:09

    By the way this has over 50k likes and gone viral — it's genuinely become a global laughingstock
    24AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:12
    People who just hate Sony are slapping on 0s, so now it's turned into a war with the antis (they probably didn't even buy it)
    26AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:13
    Re: #24
    Ghost of Yotei and Death Stranding 2 weren't nearly this bad, so that excuse doesn't hold here
    30AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:15
    Re: #24
    Concord flopping and getting bad reviews — blame the antis
    Marathon flopping and being a ghost town now — blame the antis
    Toukon flopping and being dead now — blame the antis

    Just pin everything inconvenient on Sony antis and you're all set, right? 👍
    25AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:12
    Can't help it, it's a game for children
    Anyone who enjoys this is childish
    Simple controls, simple action, events you can clear without touching anything, mostly cutscenes, enemies that all look the same, and shoddy graphics
    28AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:15
    Even Pokémon — that garbage — scores lower than this
    29AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:15
    Rail Playing GAME
    31AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:16
    A giant turd built on a budget of roughly ¥50 billion
    32AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:16
    Not bad for what's basically a minor, indie-adjacent developer, huh?
    Looking forward to the next one
    33AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:17
    Since this is a Sweet Baby Inc. project, it's guaranteed to drop even further from here
    34AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:18
    It was dumb to even try building a game around Wolverine's powers
    Adamantium claws that cut through anything plus unkillable regeneration — you just can't make a game work with that
    40AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:21
    Re: #34
    I don't think that's true
    A fun game should still be possible
    56AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:27
    Re: #34
    It's just a guy in cosplay brutally slicing people up with claws

    There's no way that's gonna land with people
    35AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:19
    Re: #27
    Re: #30
    Guess this person doesn't know disc production for new games ends starting in 2028, and the antis are losing their minds over it?
    57AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:28
    Every review says the same thing — it's a totally linear game with almost no exploration or side content, and action is supposed to be the whole selling point
    but a lot of comments say the core action gets stale fast
    For a game that's basically nothing but action, that's rough
    69AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:34
    Re: #57
    And on top of that, a lot of people say the story is garbage too
    What exactly are we even supposed to enjoy here 🤭
    93AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:51
    Re: #1
    It's ranked #2 in ratings among this year's PS Store titles
    https://ps-store-db.live/static/cards/shared/2026-09-16-9547cad880a1d813.png
    102AnonymousSep 17, 2026 07:01
    Just go bomb it with 10s already
    Can't be helped, Sony brought this hate on itself anyway
    Doesn't exactly look like a game that should be scoring super high either, honestly
    112AnonymousSep 17, 2026 07:07
    Re: #102
    If you think the user score has collapsed, the real cause is Sony itself — repeated bad news has left Western users angry and disillusioned
    User scores tainted by personal grudges or blind loyalty have always been a thing anyway

    Background and key points of this discussion

    Metacritic has a user-score section separate from media review scores that anyone can post to, and right after a game launches, posts from dissatisfied players often pile up and drag the number down further than the actual content might warrant. In this case too, the wide gap between the media score (77) and the user score (6.4) sparked debate: some in the thread pointed to complaints about the game itself, like the short actual playtime and repetitive combat, while others suspected deliberate low scoring driven by controversies unrelated to the game — so-called “score bombing.” The thread never settled on which factor was the main driver. Note that specific claims raised in the same discussion about the discontinuation of physical disc production for consoles and moves by the development studio were left out of this article, since their timing and details remain unconfirmed.

    ※This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Hardware/Industry) thread “[Sad News] PS5’s “Wolverine” Opens With a 6.4 User Score.”

  • Keito Nakamura Scores on First Lyon Start, Helps Sink Anderlecht in Europa League Debut

    Japan national team midfielder Keito Nakamura scored an early opener in the 8th minute on his first start for Lyon, in a Europa League (EL) clash against Anderlecht. Nakamura had only just made his substitute debut in the Ligue 1 season opener on September 12, and this marked his first-ever start, playing on the left wing. Lyon came from behind away from home to win 2-1. In the 5ch live-thread comments, alongside praise for Nakamura’s performance, fans compared his goal to one scored by fellow Japan international midfielder Ao Tanaka, and also brought up Nakamura’s distinctive habit of wearing his socks pulled down.

    Lyon grabs the opener in the 8th minute

    In matchday 1 of the Europa League (EL) league phase, played on September 16 local time, French giants Lyon — who Japan international midfielder Keito Nakamura has just joined — traveled to face Belgian powerhouse Anderlecht.

    Nakamura, who came on as a substitute in the 75th minute of the September 12 Ligue 1 match against Paris FC (0-0) for his debut with his new club, made his first start on the left wing this time, taking the pitch in the Europa League for the first time.

    Source: soccerdigestweb.com / Read the original article here

    6AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:04
    Letting Nakamura cut inside like that was a bad move — clearly they didn't do their homework on him.
    10AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:08
    Spitting image of me back in my younger days.
    39AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:29
    Re: #10
    Nah, you were better than him.
    12AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:08
    That was pretty great. Hope he keeps stepping up over the year.
    13AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:09
    Feels like he hasn't really gotten close with his teammates yet — that's the vibe I get.
    14AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:10
    Nakamura's consistency is impressive. Having a reliable scoring pattern like that is a real strength.
    22AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:15
    Ao Tanaka's goal was more impressive.
    41AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:30
    Re: #22
    Tanaka's was an own goal, so it doesn't count on his stat sheet.
    33AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:22
    He's good-looking and skilled, but it's such a shame he wears his socks pulled down. It makes him stick out in the worst way.
    43AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:30
    Re: #33
    He's got a player he looks up to and copies everything — the hairstyle, the whole outfit, all of it.
    77AnonymousSep 17, 2026 07:02
    Re: #33
    He actually got famous for it after a ref called him out for his socks being torn. Probably because his legs cramp easily.

    Background and Talking Points

    Keito Nakamura only joined French giants Lyon this summer, and after being limited to a substitute appearance in the September 12 Ligue 1 season opener, this Europa League (EL) match against Anderlecht marked his first start since joining. The EL is Europe’s second-tier club competition behind the UEFA Champions League, where clubs that advance through the league phase move on to the knockout rounds. Scoring the opener as early as the 8th minute made for a strong first impression in his new environment. The thread also brought up a comparison with a goal scored around the same time by fellow Japan international midfielder Ao Tanaka, though it’s worth noting that Tanaka’s was recorded as an own goal, which differs in official standing from Nakamura’s strike. Later in the thread, the discussion drifted away from the match itself into a debate about social media follower counts across different sports; since that’s unrelated to the match content, it isn’t covered in this article.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “[Soccer] Keito Nakamura scores immediately on his first start since joining! Impressive in his EL debut! Lyon defeats Anderlecht 2-1.”

  • Nakau’s ¥390 Breakfast Menu Sparks Debate — 5ch Weighs In: ‘You Still Gotta Clean Up Afterward’

    Nakau added six new items to its ¥390 breakfast menu starting September 3, 2026. The standout is the “mixed rice bowl” (maze-nokke gohan), also found at sister chain Sukiya under the same Zensho Group umbrella, loaded with egg, natto, bonito flakes, and okra — and it’s become a hot topic. On 5ch’s Newsflash+ board, opinions split: some praised the low price, while others argued “you could make this at home for less than half the price” or “cooking it yourself just means you’re stuck with the dishes,” turning the debate into one about the value of eating out in general. Nitpicks flew over whether the natto was actually included and how visible the bonito flakes were, and the discussion expanded into comparisons with breakfast menus at other chains like Matsuya and Bikkuri Donkey.

    ■ Nakau’s new menu turned out to be perfect for breakfast! Starting Thursday, September 3, 2026, six new items have joined Nakau’s breakfast lineup.

    Continued

    Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Read the original article here

    14AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:23
    For breakfast, Sukiya's the way to go
    That mixed rice bowl looks pretty good
    24AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:27
    Re: #14
    That's exactly what just got added at Nakau
    Nakau and Sukiya are both under the Zensho Group anyway
    27AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:28
    This ¥390 mixed set meal
    No natto is a dealbreaker
    Just make it ¥440 and throw in some natto
    They're way too obsessed with staying under ¥400
    31AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:31
    Re: #27
    Can't you see the natto's right there?
    102AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:50
    Re: #31
    Can't you see that's bonito flakes?
    204AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:18
    Re: #31
    Wait, don't tell me you mean the okra…
    28AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:30
    I'll just cook it myself
    29AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:30
    Japan just keeps getting poorer
    181AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:12
    Re: #29
    It means more people are fine settling for stuff like this.
    If regular folks can only afford this, you'd have a point.
    It just means there are more lazybones willing to go out to eat something like this
    75AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:42

    84AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:44
    Why doesn't a Katsuya thread ever get going?
    97AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:49
    Re: #84
    One goes up during their Thanksgiving Festival sale
    89AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:45
    For Nakau, honestly a bowl of udon feels like enough for breakfast
    92AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:47
    Re: #89
    Sukiya's already doing the same thing, so Nakau didn't need to copy it
    And it's a downgraded version to boot
    121AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:56
    I was genuinely let down that the fried egg at Sukiya isn't even cooked in-store
    128AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:58
    Re: #121
    There's no way Sukiya would do that
    Nothing there is actually made in-store to begin with
    126AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:57
    I'm not usually into raw egg over rice, but with a soft onsen egg like in the mixed bowl, I can actually eat it
    131AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:58
    Re: #126
    Might be the bonito flakes doing that
    129AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:58
    With ¥390 you could just buy the sausage bento at Lawson.

    138AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:01
    Re: #129
    To each their own — it's not just about having meat
    130AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:58
    Just eat this at home
    Cook it yourself and it's under ¥100
    133AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:59
    Re: #130
    You still gotta clean up afterward, you know
    134AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:59
    At Matsunoya you get free refills for ¥250
    150AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:04
    Re: #134
    There's no such menu, is there?
    136AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:00
    I'll go with this one instead
    142AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:02
    You could make this at home for less than half the price lol
    156AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:05
    Re: #142
    That's true of eating out in general
    157AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:06
    Re: #142
    Paying ¥400 for this just looks like a punishment game to me
    Are the people going "thank you, thank you" for it actually the majority?
    158AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:06
    Looked it up —
    apparently neko-manma (rice topped with bonito flakes and soy sauce, lit. "cat's rice") means different things in Kanto and Kansai
    So this is neko-manma with egg and okra thrown in, for ¥390, huh…
    166AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:08
    Re: #158
    You mix in the okra and bonito flakes, right? Even so, nobody's calling this neko-manma
    169AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:09
    Re: #158
    As restaurant food, that's dirt cheap though
    206AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:19
    Might depend on the location, but Nakau's morning shift running on a single staffer sounds brutal
    If five customers walk in back to back, that poor person is way past overwhelmed
    They've cut labor costs to the bone just to hit this price — if you're still calling it expensive, you won't be able to eat out anywhere
    218AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:21
    Re: #206
    Probably people who never eat out — like shut-ins mooching off their parents or something?
    232AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:24
    Re: #206
    Not my problem
    Expensive is expensive
    My paycheck sure hasn't changed
    242AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:27
    I'll go with this one
    Bikkuri Donkey
    267AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:35
    Matsuya, ¥350


    You can choose from a small beef side dish, natto, and more
    Raw egg can be swapped for a soft onsen egg

    Background and Key Points of the Debate

    Nakau’s parent company, the Zensho Group, is a major restaurant conglomerate that also owns Sukiya, Hamazushi, and others. The backdrop to this whole discussion is that, amid an industry-wide wave of price hikes, Zensho has managed to hold the line at a ¥390 price point in the first place. What split opinion on the thread wasn’t the price itself, but whether the cost of eating out should be weighed against the time and effort of cooking and cleaning up — revealing a values gap between the home-cooking crowd and the eating-out crowd. Some also pointed out that ¥390 menu items are often run by a single staffer per shift, a detail worth keeping in mind as the labor-cost-cutting reality behind that low price — something that’s easy to miss just from reading the replies. Some posters equated the mixed rice bowl with “neko-manma” (a homestyle rice dish topped with bonito flakes and soy sauce), but the name and exact makeup of that dish vary by region and shop, making it an easy point of confusion.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Newsflash+) thread “This is exactly what I wanted! Nakau’s ‘breakfast-only ¥390 menu’ delivered more satisfaction than it looks — it was truly the ideal breakfast!“

  • “I took it out to try selling it, and it sold right away, so…” — Cop disciplined for stealing kendo gear from police station dojo and listing it on a flea market app

    Osaka Prefectural Police handed a three-month suspension to a male officer in his 30s for stealing three kendo masks (men) that were stored in a police station’s dojo and selling them on a flea market app. The case came to light after a backpack bearing a police logo was spotted for sale on an online flea market; when the platform was asked to disclose the seller’s information, the officer was identified and admitted to the theft. On 5ch, users questioned why he wasn’t arrested on theft charges, and the case drew comparisons to a 2023 incident in which the Tokyo Fire Department dismissed a fire captain for a similar offense, with opinions split over whether this punishment was too lenient.

    Osaka Prefectural Police announced that a male officer in his 30s has been given a three-month suspension for stealing kendo gear stored at a police station.

    According to the police, it came to light in May this year that a backpack bearing a police logo was being sold on an online flea market.

    After the flea market platform was asked to disclose seller information, it turned out the male officer had listed the item, and he admitted to it. Osaka Prefectural Police also found he had stolen three kendo masks left by other station staff, and handed him a three-month suspension.

    Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here

    2AnonymousSep 16, 2026 23:06
    Yep, Mercari.
    168AnonymousSep 17, 2026 02:55
    Re: #2
    The way this is phrased feels like they're pulling punches — normally they'd just say "Mercari," but here they wrote "flea market site" instead.
    3AnonymousSep 16, 2026 23:06
    "So…"? What kind of reason is that?
    That's not an explanation.
    4AnonymousSep 16, 2026 23:06
    Why isn't this an arrest for theft?
    44AnonymousSep 16, 2026 23:17
    Re: #4
    Civil servants go easy on their own.
    They wouldn't even get arrested for murder.
    84AnonymousSep 16, 2026 23:36
    Re: #4
    Guess that means stealing other people's stuff isn't a crime then.
    192AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:52
    Re: #4
    Arresting him means a pile of paperwork and procedures — better to just wait for him to resign.
    5AnonymousSep 16, 2026 23:07
    Kendo gear smells so "lovely" (sarcasm) — still, if it were me, I'd want the police-issue one.
    8AnonymousSep 16, 2026 23:07
    A three-month suspension… shouldn't outright dismissal be more appropriate?
    9AnonymousSep 16, 2026 23:08
    Goes without saying, but once this guy's back on duty he'll probably be smugly busting shoplifters like nothing happened. Just process it properly and fire him already…
    19AnonymousSep 16, 2026 23:11
    Re: #9
    This is basically how these police disciplinary cases work:
    "We'll overlook the dismissal, so just resign on your own during the suspension."
    (´・ω・`)
    109AnonymousSep 16, 2026 23:48
    Re: #19
    And what if he doesn't?
    Sounds like the poster boy for tone-deaf incompetence.
    111AnonymousSep 16, 2026 23:48
    Re: #19
    If he resigns they'd have to pay out his retirement benefits.
    I think just firing him would be fine.
    17AnonymousSep 16, 2026 23:10
    Sounds like it'd reek.
    Who even buys that, and for what?
    54AnonymousSep 16, 2026 23:22
    Re: #17
    It was kept in storage, y'know.
    155AnonymousSep 17, 2026 01:06
    Re: #17
    A full set of kendo gear is seriously expensive.
    Back in middle school I joined the kendo club because there wasn't any other club I could get into, and my parents had to ask around to find someone willing to hand down used gear.
    33AnonymousSep 16, 2026 23:14
    I get it — once you're hooked on flea market apps, you start wanting to sell everything.
    56AnonymousSep 16, 2026 23:23
    Re: #33
    Is that really how it is?
    Seems like a hassle to me, what with shipping and dealing with complaints.
    41AnonymousSep 16, 2026 23:16
    Fire Captain, 47, Dismissed for Selling Issued Gear on Flea Market App — Tokyo Fire Department
    August 4, 2023, 8:02 PM
    https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2023080401093&g=soc

    The Tokyo Fire Department dismissed Tomonori Saito, 47, a fire captain at Joto Fire Station, on the 4th, for selling issued equipment such as helmets on a flea market app. The captain reportedly said his motive was "the thrill of having a bid won," adding, "I've lost people's trust, and I deeply regret it."

    According to the department, between April 2019 and June this year the captain sold at least 42 items across 25 types of gear — including helmets and rescue suits marked with the Tokyo Fire Department's name — on Mercari and Rakuma, earning roughly 360,000 yen in profit.
    The listed items reportedly included gear loaned to colleagues and station supplies, suggesting the captain stole them from shared lockers and supply rooms.
    The department says it is considering filing a criminal complaint for theft and is working to recover the listed items.
    208AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:32
    Re: #41
    In Tokyo it's outright dismissal, but in Osaka it's just a 3-month vacation lol.
    Is that a police-vs-fire-department thing?
    Or is Osaka just soft on criminals — no named reporting and a lighter punishment?
    81AnonymousSep 16, 2026 23:33
    Wait, he's not quitting?
    90AnonymousSep 16, 2026 23:39
    Re: #81
    The idea is he's supposed to resign on his own during this period.
    128AnonymousSep 17, 2026 00:01
    Civil servants going easy on their own is nothing new, but with the staffing shortage, Japan might genuinely be at the point — whether it's teachers, police officers, or Self-Defense Force members — where they have to keep even the bad apples employed just to keep things running.
    130AnonymousSep 17, 2026 00:03
    Re: #128
    Of course — the people doing the hiring are already a bunch of bad apples themselves, so it's birds of a feather.
    131AnonymousSep 17, 2026 00:06
    Re: #128
    I get what you're saying, but it's not like civil servants back in the day were exactly upstanding either.
    135AnonymousSep 17, 2026 00:11
    Re: #128
    Small and mid-size factories are seriously staffed almost entirely by foreign workers now.
    Give it ten years and we won't even be able to maintain infrastructure.
    158AnonymousSep 17, 2026 01:15
    Re: #111
    Going by case law on disciplinary actions, dismissing him for something this size would actually count as excessive — it wouldn't hold up.
    There's a going rate for these punishments.
    I think 3 months' suspension is reasonable.
    He won't be able to stay anyway — there's no way he can stand everyone's cold stares.
    175AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:22
    Re: #158
    Case law isn't absolute — rulings can and do shift with the times.
    Punishments like this won't win public understanding, and honestly, standards should get stricter.
    Then again, no matter the era, there's no way the public would ever accept a thief who stole taxpayer-funded equipment going without arrest.
    165AnonymousSep 17, 2026 02:34
    Wait, do people actually reuse kendo gear that's soaked in someone else's sweat?
    191AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:51
    Seems like a lot of people are "just trying things" lately.
    206AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:29
    Re: #191

    (°∀°) A "try-er"… no wait, that's not very gentle-sounding, so I guess he's a "challenge-kid" instead……… (wordplay on トライ人/チャレン児, riffing on "try" vs. "challenge")

    (°∀°)つ Corn grits
    (°~°) *nom nom* (stock 5ch ASCII-art meme reaction)
    209AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:32
    The stench of kendo gloves (kote) is next level.
    Asics or someone needs to hurry up and invent gloves that don't stink.
    210AnonymousSep 17, 2026 06:36
    Re: #209

    (°∀°) Isn't the mask (men) just as bad? Time for the Odor-Busting Swordsman to step in.

    (°∀°)つ Black oolong tea
    (/◎＼) *glug*

    Background and Key Points of This Story

    Disciplinary action against civil servants in Japan follows the National and Local Public Service Employee Acts, with penalties ranging from a reprimand up to dismissal, decided based on the nature of the act, the degree of remorse shown, and consistency with past disciplinary cases. Dismissal has a major impact on the individual’s livelihood and carries the risk of being ruled an abuse of disciplinary authority in court, so even in theft cases it’s not unusual for the punishment to stop at suspension. Commenters on the thread pointed to a 2023 case in which a Tokyo Fire Department fire captain was dismissed for stealing loaned equipment, questioning the gap between the two punishments — though factors like the number of items stolen, the value of the damage, and differences in each organization’s internal rules make a simple comparison difficult, details the article alone doesn’t clarify.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (News速報+) thread ““I took it out to try selling it, and it sold right away, so…” — Cop disciplined for stealing kendo gear from police station dojo and listing it on a flea market app.”

  • Fed Hikes Rates for First Time in 3 Years, Shifting Course to Head Off Prolonged Inflation

    On September 16, the U.S. Federal Reserve raised its policy rate by 0.25 percentage points at the FOMC meeting, bringing it to a range of 3.75–4.00%. This is the first rate hike in three years and two months, since July 2023, marking a shift away from its previous wait-and-see stance. The move comes against a backdrop of rising energy prices driven by tension in the Middle East, aiming to prevent inflation from becoming further entrenched. On 5ch threads, opinions were divided over whether rate hikes can actually work against supply-shock-driven inflation, whether the Bank of Japan should follow suit with its own hike, and the apparent gap with President Trump’s earlier demands for rate cuts.

    [Washington, Jiji Press] The U.S. Federal Reserve, at its Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on the 16th, decided to raise its policy rate by 0.25 percentage points to a range of 3.75–4.00%. This is the first rate hike in three years and two months, since July 2023. Inflation has been accelerating due to higher energy prices stemming from the U.S.-Iran conflict, and to prevent prices from staying elevated for even longer, the Fed shifted away from its previous wait-and-see approach.

    Continued: Thu 9/17, 3:30

    Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here

    10AnonymousSep 17, 2026 03:50
    Japan needs to stop messing around with pathetic 0.25% hikes too —
    if we don't raise it a full 1%, the yen's just gonna weaken right back again.
    62AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:20
    Re: #10
    The yen-carry-trade unwind should hit any time now — expect the yen to surge like a dam bursting open.
    Gradual, step-by-step hikes are fine.
    101AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:36
    Re: #10
    Nickel-and-diming the rate hikes just gets seen through by the market,
    and in the end you still can't stop inflation and get cornered anyway.
    It only drags out the pain and makes the damage worse — seriously dumb.
    35AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:03
    The BOJ needs to speed up its own pace of rate hikes too.

    Whether Trump picked him or not, turns out he's someone who actually does his job as Fed chair properly.
    153AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:54
    Re: #35
    If Japan raises rates, prices keep climbing, corporate bankruptcies increase, the yen keeps weakening, and the recession just gets worse.
    54AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:16
    Guess they're actually hiking after all.
    They're not dumb enough to go along with an unreasonable Trump.
    58AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:18
    Re: #54
    They're already half-dead from interest payments, and hiking rates to push the dollar higher will finally finish them off.
    60AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:18
    Raising rates as an inflation fix — isn't that backwards?
    Do they actually want to fight high prices,
    or did they just not want to go along with Trump?
    64AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:20
    Re: #60
    One of the main causes of Japan's high prices is the weak yen, so a BOJ rate hike would actually work to curb inflation.
    65AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:21
    Re: #62
    If the US hikes rates, that just pushes the whole thing (curbing inflation) further out of reach.
    69AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:22
    Re: #65
    That's why the BOJ needs a surprise hike of around +0.5%, or the weak yen plus expensive oil will kill us.
    67AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:22
    If the BOJ hikes rates, the yen will probably weaken even more, ironically.
    160 yen (to the dollar) is coming fast.
    72AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:23
    (;°Д°) The stock market board is in absolute chaos…
    Prices keep climbing.
    Falling stocks make companies stop raising wages.
    That's deflation right there.
    76AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:24
    Re: #72
    No — that's stagflation.
    75AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:24
    Re: #64
    Hiking rates against supply-shock-driven inflation doesn't actually curb prices.
    If anything, it just triggers higher long-term interest rates and even more inflation.
    81AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:26
    I'm 100% certain Ueda (the BOJ governor) would never do a 0.5% hike.
    82AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:27
    Re: #81
    If he doesn't, we're right back to 160 yen.
    100AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:36
    Well, Trump's just been running one inflationary policy after another — deporting immigrants, tariffs, wars — so what do you expect.
    118AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:43
    Re: #100
    That's the root of all evil behind the economic problems every country in the world is dealing with right now.
    104AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:37
    I wonder what happens if Japan follows and hikes too? Waiting to see what the EU/euro does first? lol
    Throw in the rumors about Xi Jinping's health, and apparently they're ramping up readiness for some kind of civil war or something.
    Feels like the big powers have already settled something behind closed doors lol
    117AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:43
    Re: #104
    The ECB already hiked last week lol
    107AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:39
    And here Trump was just telling them to cut rates lol
    111AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:41
    Re: #107
    He was even threatening to cut off trade with countries running a trade surplus with the US if they didn't cut rates.
    126AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:45
    Re: #107
    Guess this shows the Fed is actually keeping its independence —
    unlike the BOJ, which is a slave to the government.
    139AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:51
    Re: #107
    The Fed: "Well, a war broke out, so there's nothing we can do about it."
    161AnonymousSep 17, 2026 04:59
    Wait, whaaaat??
    Wasn't the script supposed to be the US cutting rates under Trump's pressure while the crazy BOJ hikes??
    A double rate hike means higher debt-servicing costs and a slowing economy — right there.
    165AnonymousSep 17, 2026 05:03
    Re: #161
    That's just how the economy works — booms and busts on repeat.
    The reason Japan's economic policy failed is that it never managed to make trickle-down actually happen.

    Background and Key Points of This Story

    Behind this move lies the standoff between the Trump administration, which has been pushing for rate cuts, and the Fed’s independence. A notable feature of this hike is that it isn’t a response to an overheating economy, but rather to supply-shock-driven inflation caused by higher energy prices amid tension in the Middle East. On the thread, opinions were split over whether a rate hike can even work against inflation driven by supply-side factors, with some pushing back that it would only push long-term interest rates higher. The ECB had already finished its own hike the week before, and whether the Bank of Japan will follow with a hike of its own is set to be the next focal point. Since rate hikes also ripple into mortgage rates and costs for import-reliant companies, the impact on households and businesses at home is worth watching closely.

    *This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (News Speed+) thread “[Breaking] U.S. Fed hikes rates for first time in 3 years, shifting stance to head off prolonged inflation.”

  • Juice=Juice’s Reon Inoue Tapped as earth music&ecology Model — 5ch: ‘A Total It Girl Now’

    It was reported on 5ch’s Hello! Project board that Juice=Juice’s Reon Inoue has been cast as the 2026–2027 autumn/winter season model for the fashion brand “earth music&ecology.” The brand is known for having previously featured Aoi Miyazaki, Suzu Hirose, and Kyoka Suzuki as models, and its mook (photo-book) covers have been graced by Ai Takahashi and Mei Jokoryo in the past. Thread posters cheered her on with comments like “a total it girl now,” while talk also buzzed around her Instagram follower count and the group’s rising profile.

    1AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:01
    Juice=Juice's Reon Inoue Becomes earth music&ecology's Season Model — A Dream Come True Since Her Debut
    3AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:01
    Juice=Juice's Reon Inoue has been cast as the 2026–2027 autumn/winter season model for the fashion brand earth music&ecology.
    6AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:03
    One eraser the size of the Himalayas (a random non-sequitur post, as often turns up in 5ch threads)
    7AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:03
    Whoa, earth [music&ecology] is way too legit for this, lol
    10AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:05
    That's our Rei-Rei for you (a play on her nickname and "as expected")
    13AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:05
    A total it girl now
    17AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:06
    Feels like someone did this before, way back when
    26AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:07
    Back in the day it was Aoi Miyazaki who did it
    27AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:07
    ChatGPT

    As far as I could find, there isn't enough info from official/primary sources right now to put together a clear list of female idols who've officially held the title of "earth music&ecology season model."
    31AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:08
    I think of Aoi Miyazaki for this one too
    36AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:08
    She's not graduating anytime soon after this
    52AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:10
    Not sure about now, but back in the day this brand had a real "dowdy girl" image — total opposite of Inoue
    60AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:11
    The group's profile goes up, individual work follows —
    that's what a genuinely popular idol looks like
    62AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:11
    Members are starting to get noticed on their own now too
    63AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:11
    Give Angerme some modeling work too, please!
    81AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:13
    Re: #63
    If it's Shimamura, maybe you've got a shot if you get down on your knees and beg (a budget clothing chain, tossed in as a joke contrast)
    70AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:12
    Back in 2020, huh —

    "This is Mei Jokoryo 🌼 I got to do the cover of the 'earth music&ecology' photo-book!" 😌
    74AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:12
    Aoi Miyazaki, Suzu Hirose, and Kyoka Suzuki have all done it before, right?
    78AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:13
    Zukki, seriously?! (nickname for a fellow Hello! Project member)
    88AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:14
    There's a real gap in status between a mook cover model and an actual brand model, isn't there?
    112AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:16
    Spending over ¥8,800 just to get the photobook
    113AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:16
    Is this the kind of store a middle-aged guy can walk into without it being weird?
    134AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:18
    The number of deleted posts equals the number of tears —
    and there's plenty more crying to come
    149AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:20
    That's an Atsuhime-level meteoric rise (referencing the historical drama heroine who rose from commoner to shogun's wife)
    150AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:20
    That's literally the store in my local station building
    153AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:20
    Frustration: MAXED OUT

    And I'm not done making you frustrated yet —
    stay tuned
    208AnonymousSep 16, 2026 12:25
    Female idols who've done earth music&ecology mook covers → Ai Takahashi, Mei Jokoryo
    Female idols who've been earth music&ecology season models → Reon Inoue, and only Reon Inoue

    Background and Key Points of This Discussion

    earth music&ecology is a major apparel brand that has previously featured Aoi Miyazaki, Suzu Hirose, and Kyoka Suzuki, and the thread showed some noticeable mixing-up of “mook cover model” and “season model.” The former refers to a one-off feature that Ai Takahashi and Mei Jokoryo took part in, while the latter is described as a seasonal endorsement deal — the two are different roles. Some posts in the thread tried using ChatGPT to verify official information, but no confirmation turned up in primary sources, so it’s worth noting the details of this casting remain limited to reports circulating on 5ch. The thread also touched on the broader trend of Hello! Project members picking up more individual corporate endorsements as their groups’ profiles rise.

    *This article has been excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Hello! Project) thread “Juice=Juice’s Reon Inoue Becomes earth music&ecology’s Season Model — A Dream Come True Since Her Debut.”

  • 5,116 Apply for National Civil Servant Exam Aimed at Japan’s ‘Employment Ice Age’ Generation — 5ch: ‘Even 3,000 Would Be Brutally Competitive’

    The mid-career hiring exam for national civil servants aimed at Japan’s “employment ice age” generation will run for three years, from fiscal 2026 through fiscal 2028. Eligibility is broad, covering anyone born between April 2, 1966 and April 1, 1986. Applications for the fiscal 2026 round have already closed, and the first-stage written exam wrapped up on September 6, 2026. On the thread, some reported that about 40% of seats were empty on exam day, pushing the effective competition ratio even higher, while others pointed out that in practice only people with professional qualifications stand a real chance. Meanwhile, opinion was split by concerns that people who bounced between non-regular jobs and have gaps in their résumés are less likely to pass — raising doubts about whether the exam is actually helping the people who need it most.

    The mid-career hiring exam for national civil servants targeting Japan’s “employment ice age” generation will be held over three years, from fiscal 2026 through fiscal 2028.

    Applications for the fiscal 2026 exam have already closed, and the first-stage exam concluded on September 6, 2026.

    This article reviews the progress and upcoming schedule of the fiscal 2026 exam, along with the job duties, planned hiring numbers, and application figures for each exam category, and lays out what people hoping to take the fiscal 2027 and fiscal 2028 exams should start preparing now.

    Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here

    2AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:32
    Born April 1, 1966? You're crying right now (one day short of the cutoff)
    6AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:33
    Re: #2
    You're straight-up bubble generation, dude
    3AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:32
    Went to take it, but about 40% of seats were empty at the written exam, so it's really more like 3,000 people. The ratio in Kinki is insane, and Kanto's rough too.
    22AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:36
    Re: #3
    Even 3,000 is brutally competitive lol

    This is just the government pretending to do something about the ice age generation.
    4AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:32
    Telling 50- and 60-year-olds to study for a civil service exam is just cruel.
    10AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:34
    Re: #4
    The exam range is wider than the Pacific Ocean, so studying is pointless — it all comes down to the knowledge you've built up over your life.
    5AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:33
    Isn't there a written-exam exemption for people with professional qualifications? I've got judicial scrivener and administrative scrivener licenses (shihoshoshi and gyoseishoshi), so just let me skip to the interview. I'd do a way better job than the unlicensed people working at the Legal Affairs Bureau — heck, I could train them myself.
    35AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:39
    Re: #5
    Other way around. Only people with qualifications even have the right to apply in the first place. Anyone with no real skills gets rejected.
    24AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:36
    Early-'70s babies shouldn't really be included either — it was only a bit tougher for them than the bubble era, still within the average range.
    32AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:38
    Re: #24
    Early-'70s babies got hit with a double whammy: recession plus the baby-boom generation flooding the job market.
    39AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:39
    I want to be the interviewer for these ice-age middle-aged guys. I'd hit them with a brutal, hostile interview and dredge up all their trauma. But any warrior who can survive that is worth hiring.
    48AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:42
    Re: #39
    You wouldn't even get appointed as an interviewer in the first place.
    65AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:48
    Re: #39
    That's a one-way ticket to a power-harassment lawsuit and a demotion ☺
    129AnonymousSep 16, 2026 17:00
    Re: #39
    Pull that in this day and age and you'll get sued and I'll walk away with the damages lol
    41AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:40
    The ice-age people who actually pass this exam are the ones who've already built careers as full-time employees — they don't need this kind of support. People who bounced between non-regular jobs and never got to build a career won't pass.
    54AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:44
    Re: #41
    Exactly this. If they're not hiring from the group with career gaps, this isn't ice-age relief at all.
    66AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:48
    Re: #41
    Shouldn't we also think about the burden on current staff who'd have to train and manage incompetent hires?
    46AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:41
    There's nothing left but washed-up old-timers with rotted brains, and they're still running this "comeback" event? lol
    51AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:42
    With odds like these, anyone who actually passes might be too good to waste on a civil servant job.
    72AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:49
    Re: #46
    It's stable, but hardly a "comeback" lol. The pay's only about twice welfare benefits, right? And you'd hit mandatory retirement before seniority raises get you anywhere near a decent salary.

    And yet the ratio is this insane lol
    50AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:42
    > Eligible applicants are those born between April 2, 1966 and April 1, 1986.

    Some of these people are basically grandpas and grandmas already lol
    56AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:44
    Re: #50
    So I guess that makes me, born in 1969, part of the ice-age generation too lolol
    93AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:55
    Meanwhile, Kasumigaseki bureaucrats (the central government district, shorthand for the bureaucracy) have quietly started hiring private-sector people straight off job-listing sites — interview only, no exam. And the pay is set way higher than what these ice-age-exam hires get, since they're coming in at director-general level.
    104AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:56
    Re: #93
    How many tens of thousands are they hiring a year?
    105AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:56
    Statistically, the group within the "employment ice age" generation with the lowest job-placement rate — the "worst of the worst" — is the cohort that job-hunted around fiscal 2002 (roughly 2000-2003). The employment rate for new university graduates fell to about 63%. That corresponds roughly to people born 1977-1984 (now in their early-to-late 40s).

    During the ice age, national and local governments joined the private sector in slashing civil-service hiring, and this was also the era when "personal responsibility" rhetoric spread widely under the banner of structural reform.

    For example, at Hiroshima City Hall, general clerical positions for university graduates:
    FY2005 hires: 2 people, ratio 279.0x ← 280x!
    (Late ice-age cohort, early 40s now)

    FY2015 hires: 168 people, ratio 5.4x
    FY2024 hires: 280 people, ratio 2.3x
    108AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:57
    You're pretty much out of luck for the civil service exam if you've had long stretches of unemployment, but unlike private-sector job changes, they do count part-time work periods as work history.
    144AnonymousSep 16, 2026 17:04
    Re: #108
    They count it as history, but they don't actually give it credit.

    Re: #105
    The worst case has to be Naha City's 2020 staff recruitment (ice-age quota). 1,879 people applied, and only 2 made it through in the end (940x ratio).
    146AnonymousSep 16, 2026 17:04
    Re: #1
    If you were born in fiscal 1966, you'd already be 61 by the time you're hired next spring. The mandatory retirement age for national civil servants is being phased up, but you'd still hit retirement at 65 by the end of fiscal 2031 — meaning you'd only get to work for 5 years.
    152AnonymousSep 16, 2026 17:06
    Re: #146
    I'm set to become the head of my neighborhood association starting the year after next, so I don't have time to be a public servant 🤣🤣🤣
    155AnonymousSep 16, 2026 17:06
    Re: #146
    Can't even land a cushy post-retirement gig (amakudari, the practice of ex-bureaucrats landing jobs in industries they used to oversee) — so long! (^^)/~~~

    Background and key points of debate

    This mid-career hiring exam is being run by the government over three years, fiscal 2026 through fiscal 2028, as part of its support measures for the “employment ice age” generation. The eligible age range spans roughly 20 years, covering anyone born between April 2, 1966 and April 1, 1986. When people talk about the “employment ice age generation,” they usually mean the cohort hit hardest — those who job-hunted around fiscal 2002, when the university graduate employment rate sank to about 63%, roughly people born 1977-1984. It’s easy to overlook that this exam’s eligibility actually stretches back to include people who entered the job market during the bubble economy. What divided the thread wasn’t so much the high competition ratio itself as the question of who actually benefits: commenters pointed out that people who kept steady full-time employment throughout their careers have an easier time passing, while those who bounced between non-regular jobs are at a disadvantage. In the past, some municipal “ice-age quota” hiring drives have seen competition ratios exceeding 200x to 900x, and this exam’s effective ratio has also shifted due to high no-show rates on written exam day.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (News Express+) thread ‘5,116 Applicants This Year for the “National Civil Servant Exam for the Ice Age Generation” — What Those Planning to Try Next Year Should Do Now‘.

  • Country Girls gathered cute members but still couldn’t break through — 5ch: ‘They were just ahead of their time’

    A thread on the Hello! Project board looks back at why the Hello! Project unit Country Girls never quite caught on. Country Girls relaunched in November 2014 after being renamed from Country Musume, and went on hiatus in December 2019. In the thread, some point to the music and management side — “they were just ahead of their time,” “that weird rockabilly sound scared off the wota (hardcore fans),” “the agency’s events felt phoned-in” — while others question the member lineup itself, arguing “you didn’t need to gather only cute members — having a mix of different types would’ve been better.”

    1AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:35
    They might have broken through if they'd debuted now
    4AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:36
    On November 5, 2014, Country Musume relaunched under the new name Country Girls, the rename meant to reflect a hope that they'd "grow into a group that could hold their own on the world stage."

    They went on hiatus as of December 26, 2019.

    Members
    Yamaki Risa
    Morito Chisaki
    Koseki Mai
    Funaki Yui

    Former members
    Tsugunaga Momoko
    Inaba Manaka
    Shimamura Uta
    Yanagawa Nanami
    5AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:36
    It's not just about being cute
    a mix of different types would've been better
    6AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:37
    They really had a great lineup though
    Such a shame
    7AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:38
    Why do you think 'kyururin' is popular with young people these days?
    8AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:39
    Because they never got to frolic with Mr. Cow and Mr. Pig
    12AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:41
    Re: #1
    Bad fit for Hello! Project
    Hello! Project only cares about skill
    17AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:45
    Serious answer: they were just ahead of their time
    the world hadn't caught up yet
    18AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:46
    It had this overly manufactured feel, boxed in by a rigid concept
    20AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:48
    Tsugunaga wasn't needed
    that's really all there is to it
    49AnonymousSep 16, 2026 17:19
    Re: #20
    Seriously, that's really all there is to it
    58AnonymousSep 16, 2026 17:28
    Re: #20
    Kind of like how ROSY has Oda?
    29AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:55
    It's the songs, honestly
    that weird rockabilly direction turned the wota off
    and ROSY doing gothic lolita now is making the same mistake
    30AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:56
    The 7-kan (a fan nickname for a specific event) was amazing
    I still haven't forgotten it
    33AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:57
    If you or I had been team manager or producer
    they'd have easily been filling Budokan every year with no graduations

    because all it would've taken was just doing things the normal way
    45AnonymousSep 16, 2026 17:11
    Re: #33
    that's the thing — this agency can't even manage 'normal'
    35AnonymousSep 16, 2026 16:58
    This is a job, a business
    you can't run it like a hobby
    that's all there is to it
    38AnonymousSep 16, 2026 17:00
    Not that I even like them, but if it had been Anju from the start…
    I think after Ma-ya and Karin-chan graduated, Funaki's fans wouldn't shut up about her being Hello Project's ace! Ace!
    39AnonymousSep 16, 2026 17:01
    In the end, Inaba was the only one who was truly serious about it
    40AnonymousSep 16, 2026 17:01
    Guess it just didn't fit the 'Cool Hello' (lol) branding
    seriously, what a dumb agency
    41AnonymousSep 16, 2026 17:02
    It's just not a company culture where you're allowed to get serious, huh
    50AnonymousSep 16, 2026 17:20
    Satoda said she wanted them to carry on the Country Musume name, but
    they just up and changed it out of nowhere anyway
    53AnonymousSep 16, 2026 17:22
    Honestly, the shows without Momochi were the most fun
    54AnonymousSep 16, 2026 17:24
    Losing Yanamin and Funakki was huge
    55AnonymousSep 16, 2026 17:24
    When I watched their early release events before Momochi joined, I remember thinking they seemed like a fresh, hard-working group
    56AnonymousSep 16, 2026 17:24
    That 'pan-pan-pa-pa-pan' clapping bit they made grown men and old grandpas do was a scene straight out of hell. They actually use that kind of thing in day-care centers as a dementia-prevention game. (Kawa Lab and others picked up on it too, having grubby old men clap along — the seeds Country Girls planted are blooming into flowers for other agencies' idols.)
    57AnonymousSep 16, 2026 17:25
    They were the last idol group Hello! Project ever produced

    Background and key points of the discussion

    Country Girls was a Hello! Project unit that relaunched in November 2014 after being renamed from Country Musume, then went on hiatus in December 2019. Opinion in the thread split over the reason for their lukewarm popularity: some blamed the music and management side (event direction, promotion), while others argued the problem was the “cute-first” member selection and the group concept itself — no single explanation won out. A misconception the thread pushes back on is the assumption that “gathering only cute members should guarantee popularity”; as the discussion shows, an idol group’s popularity hinges on a mix of factors including musical direction, promotion, and debut timing. The fact that the group’s direction kept shifting over its roughly five years of activity is also seen as part of why opinions remain divided.

    ※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Hello! Project board) thread “I don’t get why Country Girls, who gathered only cute members, never really took off.”