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With Covid-19 cases decreasing, there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel at last. For now, however, the state of emergency remains in place, meaning more time at…
By Paula Chiarino
After a long photo-shoot, I thought Hikari Mori may be tired and possibly a little apathetic for our interview. She was anything but. The 29-year-old model was brimming with energy and enthusiasm…
By Matthew Hernon
Musician and actor Gackt will be going on a hiatus for an indefinite period. The 48-year-old singer has dysphonia (vocal disorder) and has been told by doctors it would be impossible to…
In 2001, it was announced that then-newcomer Mamoru Hosoda would direct Howl’s Moving Castle instead of Hayao Miyazaki in a significant departure for Studio Ghibli. However, Hosoda ended up leaving the project…
By Cezary Jan Strusiewicz
On August 19, the world said goodbye to Shinichi Chiba, Sonny Chiba, Sadaho Maeda and Rindo Wachinaga. Of course, we are talking about the same person, just one who used various names…
On this day 23 years ago, the movie world lost one of its greatest ever directors. Akira Kurosawa is widely regarded as the most influential filmmaker this country has ever produced. He…
If seeing the likes of Demon Slayer and Attack on Titan everywhere in Japan right now hasn’t made it abundantly clear, anime is experiencing a resurgence in popularity like never before. Certainly, classics…
By Samantha Low
If you haven’t been living under a YouTube-less rock for the last few years, the name Abroad in Japan is certain to ring a bell. As one of the most celebrated YouTubers…
For 10 points, name a Hollywood movie with a male Asian lead? For 100 points, it can’t be a whacky comedy or a martial arts film. To win the game, say anything…
How do you prove to someone that you’re real? In the case of journalist Shiori Ito, there are many ways for people to confirm her identity. For example, there are the bylines…
When you think of maid cafés, you probably imagine cute Japanese girls in frilly French maid outfits being gawked at by tourists and cheered on by their loyal otaku clientele. You’re not…
By Alana Juric
There’s an inherent, undeniable link between comedy and horror. One only needs to look at, say, Alfred Hitchcock. The master of terror and suspense had a darkly humorous side exemplified by his iconic…
A never-ending loop of funny, adorable and oddly satisfying videos awaits on TikTok. It has become one of the most popular social media platforms around the world, especially among teenagers. And just like anywhere, people…
After a number of Japanese celebrities took their lives last year, including Yuko Takeuchi, Haruma Miura, and Hana Kimura, Japan had a nationwide discussion about the importance of mental health. Sadly, it remained exactly…
Mitsuko Mori died in 2012, but her impact on Japan’s entertainment culture resounds. As a prolific actress, presenter, singer and otherwise multitalent, her contributions to comedy, theater, TV and other corners of…
By Taylor Stewart
New York. Paris. Tokyo. Vogue is a rich and storied dance form, taking the world by storm. In recent years, voguing has become increasingly prominent in Tokyo and Osaka’s house music scenes.…
By Kat Joplin
Sonic the Hedgehog turns 30 today and to celebrate we thought we’d look at some Japanese video game characters who have become global icons. As well as the speedy blue hedgehog, we’ve…
Centered around a small Shinjuku eatery that’s open from midnight to 7am, the MBS and Netflix show Midnight Diner is a compilation of many different human stories. Some are touching, others are heartbreaking and…
