Art Jun 25, 2020
Watari-um celebrates a mother's legacy
Thirty years on, the Watari siblings encourage the quirky and unusual as the curators of the Watari Museum of Contemporary Art.
Gianni Simone
Gianni Simone is a mail artist, zinester and general troublemaker from Italy. When not taking pictures of Tokyo police boxes, he writes on all things Japanese for Vogue Italia, Zoom Japan, and other assorted publications. Together with Randy Osborne, he co-authored the book "Made of This."
For Gianni Simone's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Music Apr 30, 2020
Taiko group Kodo makes a plea for donations amid the COVID-19 crisis
With Japanese drumming group Kodo forced to cancel this year's tour, the group has made an appeal for donations and equipment.
Style & Design Apr 19, 2020
A Japanese designer lauds the allure of everyday aluminum
They may not have the stylish design of what's being produced today, but the simplicity in Seiji Onishi's collection of aluminum items are where true beauty lies.
Issues | THE FOREIGN ELEMENT Jun 2, 2019
Coming to Japan to escape alcohol is risky, but help is available
When Casey "dropped dead" on his kitchen floor, he realized he hit rock bottom. Luckily, he got the support he needed to get his drinking problem under control.
Our Lives | TELLING LIVES Feb 3, 2019
From cosplay fan to idol, Yuriko Tiger's journey has been a colorful one
It was 1964 when 19-year-old ye-ye singer Sylvie Vartan captured the hearts of Japanese cinemagoers in the French film "Cherchez l'idole," released here as "Aidoru o Sagase" and in English as "The Chase." Her track from that film, "La plus belle pour aller danser," ...
Community Nov 18, 2018
A pair of events centered on non-Japanese artists are helping to build bridges into Japan's manga market
The Japanese market for manga is worth hundreds of billions of yen and is a crowded field for many young Japanese illustrators to break into. And if you're coming from overseas, there are even more obstacles. Fredric Toutlemonde, however, has been successful in tackling those ...
Food & Drink Jan 29, 2016
The future of rice farming in Japan
Rice has been at the center of Japan's economy and culture for centuries. But changes are afoot. There is growing concern among Japanese farmers that the country's rice-producing capabilities are diminishing in the face of international trade pacts such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership. In ...
Issues | THE FOREIGN ELEMENT Jul 28, 2014
A trip around the Yushukan, Japan's font of discord
Often overlooked in discussions about Yasukuni is the divisive role played by the Yushukan, the war museum built within the shrine grounds to promote the "Yasukuni doctrine."
Our Lives | TELLING LIVES May 25, 2014
With one eye on the future, globe-trotter builds a foundation for change
Having lived in Punjab, California, London and Tokyo and set herself one huge goal after another, Sonia Dhillon-Marty is now trying to make a difference through her Tokyo-based nonprofit foundation.
Voices Apr 9, 2014
Post-Fukushima reform throws up a few surprises
The magnitude-9 earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11, 2011, devastated the northeast, killing more than 15,000 people and causing level 7 meltdowns at three reactors at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. Observers believed the sheer size of the catastrophe ...