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May 02, 2024
 

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Matt Schley
For Matt Schley's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
A woman takes a picture of the poster for the new Hayao Miyazaki film, “The Boy and the Heron.”
PODCAST / deep dive
Aug 2, 2023
Hayao Miyazaki’s confusing new masterpiece
Our critics Thu-Huong Ha and Matt Schley discuss what they thought of the new Hayao Miyazaki film, “The Boy and the Heron.”
A theater-goer takes a photo of the promotional poster for Hayao Miyazaki’s new film, “The Boy and the Heron.”
CULTURE / Film
Jul 18, 2023
‘The Boy and the Heron’: It’s so good to be back in Hayao Miyazaki’s world
Studio Ghibli’s latest film takes viewers on one last journey to the familiar world of a master animator who has captivated audiences worldwide for decades.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 13, 2023
Will doing 'nothing' be yet another marketing coup for Studio Ghibli?
Studio Ghibli's Toshio Suzuki has a history of taking unconventional approaches to promoting the work of anime director Hayao Miyazaki.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Apr 20, 2023
‘Osaka Vintage Diary’: Secondhand concept offers comfortable charm
Director Takeshi Taniyama builds on the universe of his web series 'Tokyo Vintage Diary' by making a film focused on comedian Tetsuya Morita.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Mar 23, 2023
‘Shin Kamen Rider’: Superhero romp is fun but not much else
While Hideaki Anno’s third installment in his “Shin” series lacks substance, it packs in the camp and energy of its 1970s source material.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Mar 16, 2023
‘Gridman Universe’: Multiverse monster mash falls flat
The recent revamp of the 1990s anime character Gridman delivered two entertaining series, but the theatrical follow-up fails to capture the fun and pacing of both shows.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 16, 2023
‘Blue Giant’ soundtrack steals the spotlight
The manga adaptation’s score, composed by jazz pianist Hiromi Uehara, hits all the right notes even if the animation fails to strike a chord.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 12, 2023
As anime continues its rise, animators eye opportunities afield in 2023
How big will Japanese animation be in 2023?
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 22, 2022
‘Lonely Castle in the Mirror’: Compelling characters hold the key
The film's storyline, based on Mizuki Tsujimura's novel of the same name, touches on themes of bullying and social anxiety. The plot will transport you, even if the animation doesn't.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Nov 10, 2022
‘Suzume’: Makoto Shinkai reigns supreme as master of visuals
'Suzume' is the anime director's most satisfying work yet, with more mature storytelling blended with stunning visuals.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 13, 2022
‘Break of Dawn’: Extraterrestrial adventures lack momentum
Tomoyuki Kurokawa's anime about a group of children's quest to help an alien return home is a nostalgia trip that takes on weighty themes but slogs toward the end.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Sep 29, 2022
‘Tatami Time Machine Blues’: Kyoto slackers return for summer fun
Anime director Shingo Natsume seamlessly takes up the mantel to revisit the characters from 'The Tatami Galaxy' for new hijinks and a jaunt through time to retrieve a broken remote control.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Sep 1, 2022
Step into the animated world of Mamoru Hosoda with 'The Man Who Leapt Through Film'
Charles Solomon's new book offers an inside look at the director's works such as “Summer Wars” and “Belle” via behind-the-scenes anecdotes, production art and exclusive interviews.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Jun 27, 2022
Facing redevelopment, Koenji rises up
Koenji residents claim the government's proposed Auxiliary Road 227 would spell the beginning of the end for their bohemian neighborhood.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jun 9, 2022
'Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan’s Island' returns with an upgraded look
Director Yoshikazu Yasuhiko rights past wrongs with this new interpretation of an infamous episode of the original “Mobile Suit Gundam” series that aired in 1979.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
May 19, 2022
‘Shin Ultraman’: No deeper messages, just a lot of fun
Otaku 'dream team' duo Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi join forces once again to revive another special-effects classic that's fun and camp but lacks some punch.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Apr 7, 2022
‘Odd Taxi: In the Woods’: Tokyo joyride runs out of steam
Baku Kinoshita's theatrical version of an anime series about animal urbanites is leaner than the original but loses much of its charm.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 3, 2022
‘The Deer King’: No crown for Masashi Ando’s directorial debut
Despite an impressive roster of talent working on the film, “The Deer King” shares too many similarities with Masashi Ando's previous work and comes up short in comparison.
Japan Times
PODCAST / deep dive
Jan 26, 2022
From 'Spirited Away' to 'Demon Slayer': The meteoric rise of anime
Since 2002, Japan’s anime industry has doubled in size to become worth over ¥2.4 trillion annually.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 20, 2022
The push to go digital opens new doors for anime
Digitization and remote work will be a mixed blessing for studios and animators in 2022.
'So hot you can't breathe': Extreme heat hits the Philippines
A pedestrian cools himself with a folding hand fan as he waits for a ride along a road in Manila on Wednesday, as extreme heat hit the Philippines.
Did Japan intervene to prop up the yen? Analysts think it did.
A man walks past an electronic board displaying the exchange rate for the yen against the U.S. dollar (right) in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Town to block view of Mount Fuji in response to overtourism
The town government of Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, decided to set up a 2.5-meter-high screen to prevent tourists from taking pictures of Mount Fuji looming behind a convenience store.
Number of vacant homes in Japan hits record high of 9 million
A vacant house in Tokyo is seen demolished in January 2020.
Weak yen fattens tourist wallets in Japan
People visit the Ameya Yokocho market in Tokyo's Ueno district during the Golden Week holiday on Tuesday.
Kishida sets sights on energy and climate in South America trip
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will use a policy speech in Sao Paulo to set out his vision for ties between Japan and South America, almost 10 years after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe advocated for stronger ties between the two in the same city.
Yellow sand allergy: A health issue made worse by climate change
A screenshot of the Meteorological Agency's satellite image of clouds and yellow sand (in pink) on Sunday.
Climate change, chalky grains and the risks for Japan’s rice farmers
A farmer plants seedlings in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Prefecture. Japan’s self sufficiency rate for rice is nearly 100%, compared with 38% for food overall, on a calorie basis.
Japan wants you to spend more with ‘luxury tourism’
Performers play a traditional drum unique to Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, in the prefectural capital of Kanazawa on March 16 to mark the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to Tsuruga Station in Fukui Prefecture.
Theaster Gates’ ambitious ‘Afro-Mingei’ brings Black Chicago to Tokyo
Theaster Gates' “A Heavenly Chord” lines up church pews before seven speakers and a Hammond B3 organ, a type of electric organ prevalent in Black American churches.

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

When trying to trace your lineage in Japan, the "koseki" is the most important form of document you'll encounter.
Climbing the branches of a Japanese family tree
By Alex K.T. Martin

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