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Japan can’t stop looking at modeling idol’s big, beautiful…muscles! 【Photos】

January 25, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Buff beauty boasts bewitching biceps.

Pro wrestling league WRESTLE-1 is just one of many competing organizations in its industry, so it has to do more than just shout its name in all caps to draw in spectators. One way to attract attention is with attractive women, so WRESTLE-1 has its own group of designated mascot models called Cheer♡1.

As you’d expect from a team with a heart as an official part of its name, Cheer♡1 goes for a cute, energetic image. Perky and petite Reika Saiki’s Twitter account shows that she can easily check both of those boxes.

At just 150 centimeters (59 inches) tall, the 23-year-old Saiki is the shortest member of the group, and is considered to be the “little sister” of the outfit.

But take another look at the above photo, and you might notice that while all three models have the midriffs to pull off those outfits, the 23-year-old Saiki’s has far more definition to it. It turns out that while it’s Cheer♡1’s job to cheer on pro wrestlers, Saiki has a physique that makes us think she could probably hold her own inside the ring too.

Saiki has been spending the last couple of months hitting the gym and protein-loading, and the results of her new exercise and diet regimens are starting to show.

▼ “Mmm…today’s protein shake tastes so good♡”

Until recently, her manager had been making some cursory efforts to keep her body-building under wraps, admitting that he’d even edited some of her promotional photos to tone done her muscle mass. During an appearance last weekend on variety program Ariyoshi Hanseikai, though, the Saitama native showed off her guns for the studio and TV audience, while cheerfully telling them “It’s fun to build muscle!”

However, fans who follow Saiki through her Twitter account and other forms of social media were already in the know, as she regularly posts snapshots that make it clear she has a penchant for fitness.

▼ And also that she doesn’t’t skip leg day.

While her powerfully athletic build might differ from the more slender look that’s the typical archetype of beauty in Japan, the response to Saiki’s increased openness has been largely positive and is winning her plenty of new supporters.

After all, Cheer♡1’s states its core values as “Sporty. Healthy. Beauty. Global.”, and there’s no denying that Saiki is showing how exercise can be part of a happy, healthy lifestyle.

Related: Reika Saiki Twitter, Reika Saiki official blog, Cheer♡1 official website, WRESTLE-1 official website
Source: AOL Japan via Hachima Kiko
Top image: Twitter/@saikireika

Origin: Japan can’t stop looking at modeling idol’s big, beautiful…muscles! 【Photos】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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J-Rocker Gackt is ready to pump you up with his abdominal muscle training regimen【Video】

February 1, 2016, 3:30 pm
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Can you stomach his ab-crushing exercises?

J-rock superstar Gackt is always looking for new ways to keep his body looking ripped for all his fans. To maintain his athletic build, Gackt has to be willing to go the extra mile, putting his body through an extreme regimen to rock the six-pack.

And now you, too, can look as good as Gackt just by replicating his workout…that is, if you can handle the pain (and trust us, there is going to be a lot of pain). However, it might be worth it just to look like this.

Ready to get ripped? All you will need is a seven-kilogram (15-pound) medicine ball and a friend who is willing to throw it at you. Depending on who you hang out with, you might have a long list of friends ready to sign up for that role.

Step 1 – Lie down on the floor. Place a pillow under your back for safety.

Step 2 – Flex your abdominal muscles and brace for impact.

Step 3 – Your “friend” throws the medicine ball at your stomach.

Step 4 – Allow the ball to hit your rock hard muscles.

Step 5 – Using your hands, toss the ball back up to your assailant- – we mean friend.

Step 6 – Repeat for 10 reps.

Step 7 – If you’re strong like Gackt, you’ll be able to do 120 reps a day.

Sounds so simple, right? If you’re still a little confused about how this exercise works, just watch this video of Gackt working out.

 

Armed with this knowledge, perhaps you too can obtain the abs of a Japanese music icon.

Note: The writers at RocketNews24 have no medical background and cannot be responsible for any celebrity exercises. Please consult a doctor before starting any new workouts.

Source: grape
Top Image: Instagram/gackt

Origin: J-Rocker Gackt is ready to pump you up with his abdominal muscle training regimen【Video】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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Korean bodybuilder Jhi Yeon-woo breaks hearts and beauty standards… with just one finger【Pics】

March 11, 2016, 6:00 am
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“Excuse me, but my eyes are up here.”

We’ve featured plenty of beautiful women before on RocketNews24, but Korea’s Jhi Yeon-woo is easily the strongest of them all.

When you first look at her, though, the reason why might not be immediately apparent:

▼ Hey, she’s pretty cute. But I don’t see what’s so-

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▼ Oh.

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▼ Ohhh.

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▼ She has a higher number of curves
than any other woman we’ve seen before!

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Yeon-woo has competed in female bodybuilding contests both in South Korea and internationally, winning several of them. She’s become a bit of a celebrity in her home country, where her atypically adorable appearance has earned her the nickname “King Kong Barbie.”

▼ Apparently she doesn’t take offense to the name though, because if she did, there would be a lot more broken noses in the world.

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▼ Gym selfies – the most important part of working out.

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▼ When you’re in the elevator going to work and
you see how jacked you are in the reflection.

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▼ This is pretty much how I feel after I help someone open a pickle jar.

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▼ Those hamstrings though!

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And just in case there are any doubters, here’s a video of Yeon-woo posing and taking pictures with fans. Seeing them all smiling and flexing together is pretty cute.

If bench-pressing with (or being bench-pressed by) Yeon-woo sounds like a dream come true to you, then come join the 30-thousand-plus followers over at her Instagram account. It may just be the inspiration you’ve been looking for to get a little muscle yourself.

Source/images: Instagram/yeonwoojhi

Origin: Korean bodybuilder Jhi Yeon-woo breaks hearts and beauty standards… with just one finger【Pics】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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The new fitness test that’s sweeping the Chinese net

March 20, 2016, 10:00 pm
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What can you tell from one blank sheet of paper? According to Chinese netizens you can tell if you’re fit or flabby.

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Over 40,000 Weibo users have flooded the Internet with images of themselves covering their bellies with a white sheet of A4 sized paper. According to the simple test, if hold a piece of paper vertically over with your waist and your belly is hidden from view, you’re fit. If your waist is peaking out from the sides of the paper, you better hit the gym or get on whatever diet is trending nowadays.

▼ My, oh my, where is her waist?

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If you’re looking at these papers from the U.S. or Canada, remember that A4 paper is 21 centimeters (8.27 inches) in width and 29.7 centimeters (11.7 inches) in length, so a little narrower than your typical letter-sized paper.

▼ It should be no surprise that a yogi would pass the test.

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▼ Is she cheating by holding the paper that way?

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▼ Wow!

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▼ Not everyone passes, even horizontally…

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▼ Some heads barely pass.

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We’re not sure whether this test actually tells how “fit” you are, but we do know that it’s a hot trend. How do you fare? Do you pass the single sheet of paper test?

Sources, images: Shanghaiist

Origin: The new fitness test that’s sweeping the Chinese net
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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Japan’s muscle idol continues to turn heads with body that looks like it could crush stone 【Pics】

March 30, 2016, 7:00 am
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Buff beauty poses for spread in Japan’s Weekly Playboy.

Back in January, we took a look at Reika Saiki, a model attached to Japanese pro wrestling organization WRESTLE-1. But there’s more to Saiki than just a pretty face, as she also regularly shows off her muscular biceps, sculpted abs, and powerful quads.

Television audiences across Japan got an eyeful of Saiki’s musculature after she appeared on a variety program last winter, and if you thought the fitness-minded 23-year-old was going to start coasting on her workout schedule after that, think again. Not only is she in the middle of training for a career change in which she’ll become a pro wrestler herself, the Japanese edition of Weekly Playboy magazine that went on sale March 28 has a four-page, non-nude spread dedicated to Saiki, and in a series of preview tweets she sent out, she’s looking as buff as ever.

With the splashy text introducing her as “The muscle idol with an astonishing body,” Saiki smiles and poses in a revealing backless dress. But while that’s a common wardrobe choice for glamorous photo shoots, most people modeling the fashion aren’t also doing this great a job modeling the trapezius muscles too.

A proper weightlifting regimen doesn’t just focus on the upper body, though, and as a reminder of that readers of the magazine will also see Saiki doing a set of barbell squats.

While her weightlifting form looks impeccable, she points out that she usually works with far more weight than what’s pictured here, and last week, in the company of her personal trainer, squatted over 100 kilograms (220 pounds).

“In this shot, you can tell that I’m flat-chested,” laughs Saiki. However, she also mentions that she’s heard from fans who bought the new issue of Playboy just to see her, and with so many other parts of her body to appreciate, one can understand why.

Source: IT Media
Top image: Twitter/@saikireika (edited by RocketNews24)

Origin: Japan’s muscle idol continues to turn heads with body that looks like it could crush stone 【Pics】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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Japanese Twitter users reveal the logic behind the 5K eggs in Pokémon Go

July 25, 2016, 1:30 am
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Just how long is it supposed to take to hatch those eggs?

Pokémon Go has officially become a worldwide sensation. It’s not only fun, it’s also a great way to get outside and interacting with others.

You’ve probably already gotten and hatched a few eggs, one of the goodies you can get from swiping nearby Pokéstops. They come in three varieties: two kilometers (1.24 miles), five kilometers (3.1 miles), and ten kilometers (6.21 miles). The more you walk while the game is in use, the more eggs you can hatch.

But exactly how fast, on average, can you hatch a five kilometer egg? In more rural areas, where you probably travel a lot by car, it can be tough to get those five kilometers in just one day unless you go out of your way to do it. In cities where public transportation and walking are more common–say, in Tokyo–you might even be able to hatch one of those babies a day just by going about your daily business.

▼ So, why five kilometers? Twitter user @Toku_Hero points out this interesting factoid.

“I think about 87% of Japanese people just think of Pokémon Go as a mobile game. I’d bet 50 Pikachus that most don’t realize that it’s based on Ingress. Ingress was created based on the idea that as long as you have your battery fully charged, it’s easy to walk five kilometers in a day [for the game].”

That’s right. Remember Ingress? It’s the hit game by Niantic and Google that preceded Pokémon Go. The idea was to reach portals placed at real-life locations and connect them to each other. Just like Ingress, Pokémon Go is based on a real-life map.

▼ That’s when another Twitter user responded to @Toku_Hero’s discovery with something equally profound.

“The average person can walk about four kilometers in one hour. [Niantic] is basically asking, ‘Can you walk for 75 minutes a day to play a video game?'”

There you have it. Along with having fun, Niantic wants you to get moving by playing their games. But, hey, we’re not complaining! (Okay, maybe our feet are.)

Here’s what some other internet users thought of the discovery:

“I envy students. I want more free time…”
“I’ll walk as much as it takes to get my favorite Pokémon.”
“It’s pretty difficult to walk that much in the blazing heat, snow, or heavy rain…”

Despite all odds, how many eggs can you hatch in a day? Try timing your personal 5K and put yourself to the 75 Minute Challenge!

▼ “There had better be a rare Pokémon in this egg…”

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Sources: Jin 115, Wikipedia, Twitter/@Toku_Hero, Twitter/@holycowboy2099
Images: Flickr/fdecomite, Flickr/Andrew Bowden

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Pizza Hut teams up with Japanese fitness chain to bring you “diet pizzas”【Taste Test】

August 25, 2016, 9:00 pm
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New pizzas promise you can still keep the pounds off, but without the cravings.

Rizap, a Japanese company promoting nutrition and exercise through personally tailored training and diet regimens, has quickly become one of the fastest-growing fitness brands in Japan.

Now the brand is looking to turn one of everyone’s favorite guilty pleasures, pizza, into a healthier meal by releasing three different pies with reduced sugar courtesy of a partnership with international pizza chain Pizza Hut.

▼ It’s the collaboration dreams are made of.

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If you’re fortunate enough to live near the six participating store locations around the Kanto area (Ebisu, Kanda, Otakibashi, Higashi Ginza, Chiba, and Urayasu), these healthier pizza options, which include “thick-cut bacon and grilled vegetables”, “savory bulgogi”, and “teriyaki egg”, are only a phone call away, and come baked fresh in a “small” personal pan size. As a bonus, those in Japan who often lament how expensive delivery pizza can be will be happy to know that each one will only set you back 1,000 yen (US$9.99).

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Though none of us at RocketNews24 are exactly ready to “commit to the result” as part of Rizap’s training program motto, we’re always down when it comes to committing to some pizza, or “commit to deliciousness”, like it says on the box. And so one of our Japanese writers immediately took advantage of Pizza Hut’s special “buy two, get one half off” takeout deal — and he was pleasantly surprised upon digging in.

Reportedly, each pie’s crust was light and crispy like you’d expect from a diet pizza, but was still chock-full of volume and flavor. Here’s the “savory bulgogi” pie, which makes use of Pizza Hut Japan’s most popular topping, Korean-style bulgogi marinated beef.

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Following that, our writer opened up the “thick-cut bacon and grilled vegetable” pizza, which contained six different vegetables, and tasted like something your average Japanese mom might whip up for a house party.

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Last, but not least, he helped himself to the “teriyaki egg” pizza, which had a great, rich taste with every bite. “If only I could go back in time to when I was starving myself on a tasteless, bean diet, and give myself one of these,” our reporter exclaimed.

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As far as health benefits go, each pizza is made with 50 percent less sugar than Pizza Hut’s regular “chewy, hand-tossed crust”, and overall they contain less than 30 grams of sugar per pie, compared with the 55.2 grams you’d get from a regular meal.

The only bad thing is that, much like after that first slice hits your mouth, these pizzas won’t last long. Starting from this week, they’ll only be around until October 23.

If you’re trying to trim your waist down before the end-of-the-year holidays get underway, we can’t think of a more delicious option.

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Reference: Pizza Hut Japan
Images © RocketNews24

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Finding a half decent gym in Japan: A survival guide

September 2, 2016, 10:30 am
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Here’s a guide to finding the right gym for you in Japan, a surprisingly difficult endeavor.

Gyms in the United States and other western countries have ballooned over time into all-encompassing, cavernous megastructures that you can spend hours wandering around in without encountering another living human being. A good many of them are equipped with all the latest gear and machines, and sometimes even a frikkin’ five ton tire placed there specifically in case The Rock decides to show up one day. It’s not hard, in other words, to find a gym that has everything you need and a membership will probably only cost you something south of fifty bucks a month.

Japanese gyms, on the other hand, are another story entirely. It’s not uncommon to get roped into an eye-bulgingly expensive membership at a place that looks great on the outside, only to walk in and find an empty room with a single 12 kg dumbbell collecting dust in the corner and a single octogenarian in spandex pants leering at you in the mirror.

Now, in my quest to find actual good gyms in Japan, I’ve been to somewhere in the ballpark of about 30 different locations throughout Tokyo and some surrounding regions. So, to save Japan newcomers (or long-term residents who’ve recently decided to get in shape) some hassle, here’s my survival guide for finding a decent gym in Japan:

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Keep your fitness goals in mind

Knowing your own fitness routines and personal goals will help you choose the gym that’s right for you. Yeah, that sounds obvious, but a lot of gyms here can be severely lacking in the equipment department, while others don’t have swimming pools or classes or trainers who have any idea what they’re talking about, and others still may have basically everything except the specific gear you want to use. Later on, we’ll break down the three major types of gyms in Japan and what you can expect to find in each.

Determine your budget

Don’t expect to stroll into a place and plunk down 30 bucks for a pay-as-you-go monthly membership. Almost all gyms require 6-to-12 month contracts upfront and there are all kinds of wacky extra charges. Generally, you can expect to pay something like US$80 to 200 per month for a long-term membership. Luckily, if you’re only visiting for a week or so or don’t want to have to regularly skip meals just to offset gym fees, there are plenty of public gyms with pretty cheap single-visit options. And that brings us to…

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Types of gyms

Broadly speaking, there are three common types of gyms. Here’s what kind of experience you can expect at each:

Private gyms catering to the general public: These are places like Esforta, Tipness, Renaissance, and Konami. If your main goal in the gym is to lift weights, you’re probably going to be disappointed by these locations. Sure, Tipness has a few locations with robust weight rooms, but they’re few and far between. Expect lots of cardio equipment, mostly cardio-focused fitness classes, maybe one to two benches that will always be occupied by two old guys sitting around chatting with each other, and just maybe a squat rack. These gyms also tend to have a bunch of weird, draconian rules and trainers prone to programs that run from ineffective to possibly actually bad for you. They usually cost around 8,000 to 150,000 yen a month (US$78-140), and are perfect for cardio enthusiasts who might pick up a dumbbell occasionally and people primarily interested in a large variety of classes.

Public gyms: The biggest perk of Japan’s public gyms is that no membership is required. You typically pay somewhere between 300 and 500 yen a visit, and you can even get an additional discount if you’re a resident of the area. And the one big, big con? Well, these things are all over the place in terms of quality. Some are well-equipped gym rat utopias that sometimes even feature basketball courts, swimming pools and, no kidding, even sumo rings. Others might only have a handful of decrepit running machines and a couple of dumbbells. Practically every city has one, and larger cities often have several, but it’s really just down to blind luck whether or not the public gym(s) in your area are any good (for example, all three of the gyms in Shinagawa suck, trust me). If you want to find your nearest public gym, just ask around for either a ku-ritsu gym (区立ジム) or the local Sports Center. Pro Tip: Avoid Minato-ku Sports Center at all costs. It may look nice on the inside, but it’s a crowded, overpriced nightmare. These gyms are perfect for frugal gym-goers, short-term visitors or any lucky bastard living near a really nice one.

Private gyms catering to hardcore weight lifters and bodybuilders: It’s pretty self-explanatory who these gyms are a good fit for, and basically include Gold’s Gym and a handful of solo operations peppered around the city. Gold’s Gym is the closest Japan has to a one-size-fits-all fitness haven and I would have just recommended it immediately and saved you from reading the last, like, bazillion words, but for the fact that it’s prohibitively expensive (about 16,500 yen a month for a basic membership) and certain locations may still be missing the gear you want. Other options include Endo’s Gym and King Platinum in Hiroo. You can do a search for “bodybuilding gym” (ボディビル　ジム) in your area, but be aware some of the aforementioned gyms for the general public are going to sneak into the search results.

Final notes: In terms of actually going out and looking for a gym that suits you best, my advice is to at least check out the public gym(s) in your area first, since there’s a non-zero chance you’ll like it just fine and you’ll save yourself a whole bunch of money. Also, a Gold’s Gym membership entitles you to entry in their locations nationwide, while Tipness has a similar plan for an additional fee; something to keep in mind if you move around a lot.

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Etiquette and what to expect

  • Literally every gym in Japan requires that you change from your outdoor shoes to shoes specifically for the gym. Don’t show up empty-handed, or you’ll be forced to rent a pair of indoor gym shoes for an added fee.
  • It’s frowned upon to show up more than five minutes late for a fitness class and they’ll often lock the doors outright around 15 minutes in.
  • Super-setting (going back and forth between two machines) is forbidden at most gyms, frowned upon in most others. Among those that do allow it, you may still find certain machines that are off-limits to this practice (the sign will read something like スーパーセット禁止).
  • Need a water break between sets? Bring a large-ish towel and a water bottle. Drape the towel over the bench or on the machine you’re using whenever you need to walk away for a few seconds. This will prevent people from taking your machine while you’re gone. The water bottle also serves as a backup option for hydration, as many gyms only have vending machines and no water fountains.
  • Some equipment works on a “reservation” system at some gyms. Keep an eye out for a red, magnetic card, particularly near treadmills, bikes and barbell benches. If someone is already on the machine, take the red magnet to “reserve” the machine and go do something else until it’s free. Also, obviously, if the red card is gone but there’s no one on the machine, don’t just jump on it. Look around for whoever’s got it and remind them they’re up next.
  • It’s typical for gyms to close entirely once a week or a few days out of the month. Look for signs near the front desk with their closing schedule, so you don’t – like I constantly do – wind up biking halfway across town to find the lights out and the doors locked. Also, many locations are closed for long holidays, such as Golden Week and the new year.
  • Don’t expect to get your workout done in the exact order you planned it. Japanese gyms are crowded and a lot of people here have no concept of “working in,” so if your machine is taken, you may find yourself waiting an impractical amount of time.
  • The walls of gyms in Japan are plastered with rules, many of which you will frequently see Japanese people flagrantly breaking. You, however, as a foreigner, will be under extra scrutiny, so it’s best to just follow the rules.
  • Prepare to see some really weird stuff in the locker room.

Well, I think I’ve rambled long enough. I hope prospective Japan-based gym rats find this guide helpful. And if you ever find your workout resolve faltering, just watch this hilariously 80s Rocky IV training montage.

Images ©RocketNews24

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Japan’s iconic P.E. uniform becomes one-piece dress in latest schoolgirl-themed fashion offering

October 17, 2016, 6:00 pm
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Sells out almost immediately, prompts second production run.

In Japan, October 10 was Fitness Day, a national holiday dedicated to furthering passion and interest in physical well-being. While many celebrated by participating in sports or group exercise events, fashion website Moira Design chose to mark the occasion by releasing a new one-piece dress inspired by the type of shirt used in Japan’s iconic P.E. uniforms.

Just like much of Japan has warm, nostalgic feelings for the sailor suit, so too do many adults have fond memories of the clothing worn for gym class, which usually takes the form of a simple white T-shirt with colored sleeve cuffs and collar. Since most Japanese educational institutions opt for subdued school colors, Moira Design’s Training Wear One Piece, as the dress is officially called (the word “training” is often used as a catch-all for “fitness” in Japan) goes with understated maroon accents.

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Made of a special, sweat-absorbent, fast-drying variety of polyester, Moira Design touts this as “A piece of clothing you can always play and run in.” While that’s technically true, the extra length needed to turn a P.E. shirt into a dress means that the Training Wear One Piece is probably better suited to relaxing, or perhaps turning heads, than running wind sprints.

▼ Windbreaker not included

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But despite its shortcomings as dedicated sportswear, there was apparently massive latent demand for the Training Wear One Piece, as the initial batch sold out just two days after it went on sale. The fast-acting Moira Design is already gearing up for another production run, though, and is taking domestic orders through its website here, where the item is priced at 8,900 yen (US$86). Oh, and Moira Design also sells the Maid School Swimsuits and Sailor Suit Swimsuits we talked about a while back, just in case you need even more educational-themed crossover clothing.

Source: IT Media
Images: Moira Design

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Anime song fitness video series kicks off with exercise routine for the Evangelion theme【Video】

January 23, 2017, 8:00 am
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“Cruel Angel” aims to make healthy otaku.

While much of the social stigma of being a Japanese animation enthusiast has melted away in recent years, anime remains an extremely sedentary hobby. Sure, otaku get spurts of exercise trekking around the venues of conventions and events such as the twice-a-year Comiket, but under normal circumstances, being an anime fan doesn’t require any greater physical exertion than hitting the play button on your Blu-ray player’s remote control.

Still, any time spent exercising is generally less time spent enjoying the myriad aspects of anime content, right? Well, not necessarily, thanks to Anison Fitness, a TV program that premiered earlier this month on broadcaster Tokyo MX. Each episode clocks in at just five minutes, airing from 10:35 to 10:40 on Wednesday nights, and showcases a different aerobics-style exercise routine, to be performed in conjunction with a famous anime theme song.

The show’s producers have even been generous enough to start sharing some of the routines online, starting with one of the most iconic anime songs of all time: “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” from Neon Genesis Evangelion.

▼ Hit play to start your workout!

Given that the target market is more “people who need to get off the couch for a few more minutes a day” than “hardcore fitness buffs,” nothing in the routine is too terribly strenuous.

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Still, it covers a wide variety of motions so as to get all of your limbs as well as your core involved.

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If you had trouble catching everything, Anison Fitness also has a video that walks you through many of the steps at a slower pace.

Conversely, if you’re looking for a greater challenge, you can fiddle with YouTube’s playback settings to run the video at 1.5 or two times its normal speed, so that the quicker tempo gives you a more vigorous cardiovascular workout.

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Just remember that while it may have taken only two hours to write the lyrics to “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis,” you’ll need to stick with your exercise regimen a bit longer before you’ll start to see results.

Related: Anison Fitness official website
Source, images: YouTube/アニソンフィットネス -Anison Fitness- official channel

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Beautiful Chinese model is nearly 50, but looks decades younger【Photos】

May 17, 2017, 8:00 am
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Credits amazing looks to fitness regimen of swimming outdoors even in the cold of winter.

On her next birthday, the first digit of Yelin Liu’s age will roll over. The native of Xinyang, China, doesn’t seem particularly fazed by the impending milestone of getting older, though she has expressed a desire to maintain her youthful looks as she gets older.

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While that’s something that many people say they’d like to do, in Liu’s case it’s more than just an empty pie-in-the-sky-instead-of-the-stomach ambition. After all, transitioning to a new decade of adult life isn’t a first-time challenge for Liu.

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As a matter of fact, she’s an old hand at such new beginnings, since on her next birthday she’ll be turning 50.

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Yes, the expectation-defying Liu was born in 1968, and as of this moment is 49 years old. A former librarian, she now identifies herself as a freelance fashion model.

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Many of you are no doubt thinking that Liu is old enough to be your mother, and she does indeed have a child of her own, pictured below, who at 22 is probably old enough to be your brother. Liu says that when she and her son are out and about together, strangers often assume they’re boyfriend and girlfriend, instead of son and mom.

▼ Some of the confusion might stem from her attire, though, which is more revealing than what most moms choose for an afternoon of family bonding.

Instagram Photo

Instagram Photo

Liu claims to use very little makeup. Instead, she credits her looks to a 30-year regimen of regular exercise. Even now, she lifts weights and swims every day. Oh, and she’s not taking a dip in the pool, either. Liu says she loves to swim outdoors in a lake, even in winter, when it becomes “a test of [her] will and perseverance,” and she recently swam the 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) across Malaysia’s Strait of Malacca in four hours.

Instagram Photo

Instagram Photo

▼ Liu, in a rare moment of relaxing

Instagram Photo

Instagram Photo

“I want to stay this beautiful when I’m 80 years old,” Liu has declared. While that seems like an impossible goal, it’s also hard to believe someone can look this young at nearly 50.

Sources: Yelin Liu Instagram, Mail Online
Featured image: Instagram/queenyelin

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Japan’s adult wrapping wellness trend is so weird it’s creeping out the Japanese people

May 22, 2017, 8:00 am
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Can reliving the womb experience help develop a healthy body and happy mind?

I have a pretty good memory, to the extent that I can recall a trip to the emergency room that, according to my parents, took place when I was about two years old. But even still, my memory isn’t sharp enough to recall whether or not being in the womb was comfortable.

As such, my reaction to otona maki, a wellness/fitness trend in Japan that could be translated as “adult wraping” or “adult swaddling,” comes purely from how it looks to me as an adult, which is that it seems like an almost perfectly even mix of baffling and frightening.

▼ Only the bottom right image is from a horror movie.

Reportedly first developed in Kyoto, otona maki has been around since at least 2015. It’s getting renewed attention in Japan, though, thanks to being featured on a recent episode of TV news program Shin Joho 7 Days from broadcaster TBS.

In otona maki, participants lie down on a large, sheet-like piece of cloth. An attendant then wraps them up snugly, leaving their face completely obscured their knees tucked up near their waist, and their overall posture resembling the fetal position. The only openings are two small gaps near the participants’ midsection, left over from how the cloth is tied.

▼ A separate video report on the practice

While wrapped up, participants rock gently back and forth, with occasional assistance from the attendants. Once the session is up (sessions seem to be roughly an hour), the participants are unwrapped, as though they’re being born.

As a new and rather obscure wellness program, the health benefits, if any of otona maki are yet to be confirmed. However, proponents claim that it’s good for relieving stiffness in the shoulders and lower back, as well as relaxing and stress-reducing.

However, most people in Japan remain highly reluctant to try it for themselves. Many online commenters have voiced concerns about being unable to move or undo the binding under their own power, while others chimed in with:

“Is this some kind of fetish?”
“If people get carried away with this, I could see something really bad happening.”
“If they don’t come untie you, will you eventually run out of oxygen?”
“It’s only a matter of time until someone gets killed doing this.”
“I think I saw this in Resident Evil 7.”
“All set to become nutrients for the Matrix.”

Aside from looking like a scene from a horror video game or movie, at least one person thinks otona maki looks like something the grocery store.

Between the visual creepiness and imagined danger, otona maki hasn’t become a major part of the fitness landscape in Japan. It’s not really something you can try at home by yourself, and finding facilities with regular sessions is difficult. In the downtown Tokyo area, the Suitengu Kosetsuin Osteopathic Clinic, located in the Ningyocho neighborhood, advertises 50-minute sessions for groups of one to three people. Three-person groups are charged 2,980 yen (US$27) each, two-person groups 3,980 yen each, and solo participants 7,980 yen.

And yes, the math does work out that the total cost for two people is 20 yen less than a solo session. But hey, if you can find a pal willing to try this with you, maybe the clinic thinks you deserve some kind of reward.

Sources: Jin, Toyo Keizai/Reuters, Byokan Sunday, Suitengu Kosetsuin Osteopathic Clinic
Featured image: Twitter/@discyurion

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Vietnamese ao dai dress reimagined as stylish yoga outfit by Japanese fashion label

June 13, 2017, 10:30 am
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Offers a stylish yet modest alternative to skimpy workout wear.

Japanese fashion brand Mocolle is flying high these days. The organization, which specializes in fanciful reimaginings of traditional outfits, has recently opened official sales for its Shinto shrine maiden-inspired swimsuit, following a hugely successful crowdfunding campaign last spring.

The foray into swimwear was a change of pace for Mocolle, coming after the release of its shrine maiden and Taisho period schoolgirl roomwear ensembles. Now Mocolle is heading back to dry land once again, but it’s looking beyond the borders of Japan for inspiration.

This time, the styling cues come from the Vietnamese ao dai dress and pants combo. Mocolle’s version, however, is designed with extra comfort and mobility in mind, since it’s being marketed as a wardrobe option not just for lounging around the house like other roomwear, but also as a yoga outfit.

Instead of the customary silk of orthodox ao dai, the top is made from polyester, and the pants a polyester/polyurethane blend. While it may not have the same luxurious texture as fine silk, the material is a better choice for light exercise, and is machine washable to boot.

With flexibility a priority, the material is lightweight and thin. However, an extra layer of fabric is used in the upper torso, to avoid giving your yoga classmates a peek at your bra choice for the day.

As with most of Mocolle’s endeavors, it’s testing the waters for the ao dai yoga outfit with a crowdfunding campaign on website Campfire here, with a target of 750,000 yen (US$6,750). Reward tiers that include the outfit (both top and pants) start at 9,800 yen, and the campaign is scheduled to run through June 30.

Source, images: Campfire/mocolle

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First ever Dragon Ball Run jogging event to be held in September this year!

June 23, 2017, 7:00 am
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Here’s your chance to run in the spirit of Dragon Ball with fellow fans this September! 

This should be welcome news for Dragon Ball fans looking for some healthy fun! Japanese anime production company Toei recently announced that the very first Dragon Ball fun run will be held in two locations this year in September.

The two events will take place at Chiba’s Makuhari Kaihin Park (near Tokyo) on September 10 and Aichi Rinku Beach (near Nagoya) on September 23. Participants in the event will be running a roughly three-kilometer (just under two-mile) course and will receive a special T-shirt based on Goku’s trademark orange outfit.

But that’s not all! The event will include opportunities to take simulated “augmented reality” pictures with Dragon Ball characters as well as promotional activities in which participants can collect the seven magical Dragon Balls to receive a special limited edition gift item.  And to add further to the festivities, there will also be Dragon Ball voice actors and singers present at the event, so there should be plenty of fun for Dragon Ball fans of all ages, both kids and adults!

They will be taking entries for the event starting July 3, and tickets will cost 6,800 yen (US$61) for adults and 3,800 yen (US$34) for children. There will also be special parent-child tickets available for 9,800 yen.

The run event organizers have also announced that they are hoping to bring the event to other cities in Japan as well as overseas locations, so if you’re a fan, you may want to stay tuned, as the Dragon Ball Run might come to a venue near you!

Related: Dragon Ball Run official website
Source: Toei via IT Media 
Top image: Dragon Ball Run official website 
Insert image: Toei

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Japan’s handsome, buff Swedish gardener now has a new job: Working out silently on public TV

August 29, 2018, 6:00 pm
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Shows off his bodybuilding form as past of educational program with soulful saxophone soundtrack. Many of you no doubt recall that last month we introduced you to Tatsumasa Murasame. Perhaps Murasame remained in your memory because he was born in Sweden as Jakob Björk, the name he went by before becoming a naturalized Japanese citizen. There’s also a […]
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Ninja burglar arrested in Japan, brags to police about how much he can bench press

January 26, 2019, 8:00 am
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Do you even burgle, bro? As someone who likes to exercise, I know it can be fun, and motivating too, to trade notes with someone else about your fitness routine. You might learn a new stretch or lift, and having some sort of numeric data to compare with others can help you gauge how well […]
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Japanese Twitter invites you to run the adorable Snoopy marathon hiding in Tokyo

January 31, 2019, 8:00 pm
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One of the coolest points is the identity of the real-world location that forms Snoopy’s ear. We’ve always known that Tokyo is home to some bizarre hidden sights, from this terrifying ad to a very special milk vending machine. But we didn’t know that one of the world’s most beloved characters, Snoopy of Peanuts fame, has also been hiding in […]
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Don’t forget to eat your special sports fish sausage if you’re exercising in Japan

February 7, 2019, 8:00 pm
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Why settle for protein bar flavors like chocolate or peanut butter when you can enjoy the performance-boosting nutritional goodness of compacted fish paste? Nutrition and exercise are both pillars of good physical health, and Japan has plenty of supplements to keep its professional and amateur athletes supplied with the dietary building blocks their sports-loving bodies crave. […]
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Japanese gravure idol loses weight, becomes poster girl for Rizap weight loss company 【Video】

March 15, 2019, 10:00 pm
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This bikini model may have lost her “happy fat” but she definitely hasn’t lost her spark. Rizap, a Japanese company that promotes nutrition and exercise through personally tailored training and diet regimens, has become one of the fastest-growing fitness brands in Japan. With eye-catching marketing campaigns involving billboards and commercials showing sad and frumpy before […]
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New women-only gym in Tokyo offers free all-you-can-eat donuts and other sweets to members

April 9, 2019, 8:00 am
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You can skip the protein bars and snack on real desserts at this fitness center, but there’s a catch. Forza Fitness Studio Gran is a new gym that just opened up in Tokyo, and it boasts a couple of unique features. It’s got a convenient location in the downtown Ikebukuro neighborhood, offers a variety of […]
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