The PM-to-be’s unofficial (???) cameo in Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu, episode 6

It’s official.

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party has picked self-professed manga fan Asou Tarou to succeed outgoing premier Fukuda Yasuo as party president, which puts him squarely on the path to become the country’s first Roman Catholic prime minister.

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Pull out those discount cards, lads!

In the latest version of its “In Pictures” photo gallery feature, the BBC News website takes us on a shopping tour of Tokyo’s world-famous otaku paradise, Akihabara.

Many of the featured items aren’t new, but I always get a kick out of seeing these delightful little oddities. Here’s my pick of the lot:
- A USB-powered microscope
- A necktie with a built-in cooling fan (also USB-powered)
- Tinned pasta (best eaten with tinned bread!)