Universal beauty: Ariana Miyamoto strikes a blow for racial diversity. Adoption in Japan: The poor state of a broken institution. The heart of Japanese culture: Modern kabuki and the omotenashi experience. Also: Lessons learned outside the classroom walls, people, parties, and places, events around town, movies, and more.

Space time: George Clooney and Omega pay respect to the rocketmen of the Apollo project. Surf’s up: Catching waves in Chiba. A new horizon: Japan’s space agency readies their moon shot. Also: Abstract beauty at Kashima arts, artisan-grilled eels, an avant-garde chocolate collection, and much more…

UFC road to Japan. Juvenile justice: Should school-age killers be tried as adults? Maing a case for beauty: Former DA Gil Garcetti provides photo evidence. Summer in Akita: Traditions and travel in the far North. Also: Summer festival guide, art around town, making the perfect mojito, people, parties, places, and more…

Japan heats up. Inside: Walking the Wakayama fire festival, remembering flight 123, weighing the military option, craft beer in Japan, and much more…

Travel special: Get lost in Autumn. Akita: Once more into the North. Kagoshima: Adventuring around old Satsuma. Get ready to rumble: UFC action hits the city. Also: Photographer Tomohiro Muda fixes his lens on the elements, a weekend MBA by way of Montreal, and people, parties & places.

Yokai guide: Sorting out Japan’s supernatural creatures. Baby metal: Teenage sensations look to rock the world. “J-Horror Night” at Tokyo International Film Festival. Also: Education special, the hoop nation of Nippon, Marie Kondo cleans out the clutter, people, parties, & places, and much more…

Okinawa: Island life and local color. Man with a mission: Hungry like the wolf. Dining at Andaz Tokyo: Haute cuisine atop Toranomon. Also: Revisiting the heroic return of Apollo 13, fall foliage guide, artistic Tokyo, people, parties, and places, and much more…

Finding holiday cheer: Our guides for making spirits bright. Neo Edo Kitchen: Unique dining in Ginza. Music mainstay: What the Dickens! turns 20. Saeko opens up: The fashion figure talks about fame, motherhood, and criticism. Also: Japan’s stance on the Syrian refugee crisis, movies, agenda, people parties, and places, and much more...