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Lance Henderstein
For Lance Henderstein's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Historically, kabuki was considered the entertainment of the merchant and peasant classes, a far cry from how it is regarded today.
LIFE / Travel / Longform
Apr 15, 2024
For Japan's oldest kabuki theater, the show must go on
After a five-year absence, kabuki has returned to Kotohira. Can it be the draw that this tourism-hungry town desires?
Aoi Suzuki’s son runs past a home in Taketomi on Iriomote Island (not to be confused with Taketomi Island, which lies to the east of Iriomote). The Suzukis run the Takemori Inn, one of the few hotels on Iriomote.
PODCAST / deep dive
Feb 29, 2024
[Rebroadcast] Traveling Okinawa with a broken heart
This week on Deep Dive we get contributing writer and photographer Lance Henderstein to read us his article on traveling Okinawa during the rainy season.
Ryoji Ikeda’s “mass,” a site-specific installation at Helsinki’s Amos Rex museum, presents a stroboscopic video of black concentric rings that fill a square on the floor by rapidly expanding outward.
CULTURE / Art
Jan 20, 2024
Ryoji Ikeda adds to his universe of data in Helsinki
The Japanese composer and multimedia artist’s exhibition in Finland features two new site-specific installations that take advantage of the museum's unique interior space.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Dec 29, 2023
20 Questions: The best answers of 2023
Our interviewees this year gave a lot of advice for living a good life and paying attention to the things that matter most.
Yukimasa Ida’s first major museum exhibition showcases a young artist in full command of his craft but still looking for something deeper to say.
CULTURE / Art
Nov 4, 2023
‘Panta Rhei’: Yukimasa Ida is still searching for his own voice
Kyocera Museum of Art's major exhibition finds a young artist sampling great works of the past but looking for something deeper to say.
A festivalgoer walks along the water near Kyotophonie’s Beach Stage. Despite rain on the second day of the festival, attendees and musicians maintained a lively atmosphere until the nighttime finale.
CULTURE / Music
Oct 21, 2023
An intimate bazaar of music and magic at Kyotophonie
The biannual music festival brought soulful sounds to Amanohashidate, a sandbar famed for having one of Japan’s three most beautiful views.
A performer going by the name “Tanefukube” leads shishi-odori dancers during Tono Meguritoroge’s grand finale at Rokko-shi shrine.
LIFE / Travel
Sep 30, 2023
Dancing with ghosts at Tono’s rural folk festival
The Tono region is Japan’s go-to setting of scary stories to tell in the dark.
Aoi Suzuki and her two sons head back down to a barbecue after watching the sun set.
PODCAST / deep dive
Sep 28, 2023
Traveling Okinawa with a broken heart
Writer and photographer Lance Henderstein reads us his article on traveling Okinawa during the rainy season.
Aoi Suzuki’s son runs past a home in Taketomi on Iriomote Island (not to be confused with Taketomi Island, which lies to the east of Iriomote). The Suzukis run the Takemori Inn, one of the few hotels on Iriomote.
LIFE / Travel / Longform
Aug 14, 2023
My annual pilgrimage to Okinawa
Navigating between different ferries can open up whole new worlds in Japan's southernmost islands.
Akiko Mizuno says one positive thing about living on a relatively remote island is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money every day.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Aug 3, 2023
Akiko Mizuno: ‘Time moves forward. Photographs stop time.’
After years in New York City, Akiko Mizuno relocated to a small island in Okinawa Prefecture to concentrate on her long-term photography project.
A photograph by Joel Pulliam provides a hint at what is on offer at VoidTokyo's "Sharaku" exhibition at HikoHiko Gallery.
CULTURE
Jul 19, 2023
Street photography by VoidTokyo on full display in Ginza
With the goal of capturing the city of Tokyo in physical form and not just on social media, VoidTokyo celebrates its members at “Sharaku.”
A man sits on his own at a taco stand on Kokusai Street in Naha.
COMMUNITY / Issues
Jul 2, 2023
Peacemaking of a different sort in Okinawa
Through therapy and community outreach, counseling service TELL draws on the personal experiences of its clinicians and support workers to help various communities in Okinawa.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Jun 16, 2023
Marimekko designer Fujiwo Ishimoto returns to his roots in Ehime
When I arrive at the flagship store of Mustakivi in Dogo, Ehime Prefecture, I’m greeted silently by 82-year-old Ehime-born designer Fujiwo Ishimoto. He unlocks the back door to his adjoining atelier and motions for me to come in. We pass through the kiln room and enter a studio filled with ceramic pieces in various stages of completion.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Jun 9, 2023
Jesse Freeman: 'As far as a Black art scene goes … it’s just foreign or not.'
Ikebana, filmmaking, collage and quilting are some of the many forms of media Tokyo-based artist Jesse Freeman works in.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
May 13, 2023
KG+ event celebrates emerging photographers
Three young photographers from varied backgrounds and approaches won prizes and the chance to take their work to the next level at Kyotographie’s satellite event, KG+.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Apr 28, 2023
Amid the parties and schmoozing, socially conscious art is still Kyotographie's main draw
With the financial freedom to expand Kyotographie’s offerings further still, the responsibility arises to do so without diminishing the event’s original rebellious spirit.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Apr 25, 2023
Neil Hartmann: 'When you are out of your comfort zone, you look at things differently'
Neil Hartmann came to Japan as a teenager and got an education in music and Japanese by being Hokkaido’s first English-speaking radio DJ.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Feb 26, 2023
Nobuhiro Tamura: 'Those who need spirituality will find it themselves'
A fan of 1990s hip-hop and electronic music, former Buddhist monk Nobuhiro Tamura has opened a bar on Mount Koya to talk to people about good tunes, spirituality and whatever else they like.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Dec 29, 2022
Answers in 2022 encouraged activism, recommended books and provided advice
The 20 Questions section discusses people's experiences of Japan in their own words. As we emerge from the pandemic, an underlying theme in 2022 was fighting for change.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Oct 8, 2022
Halvor Skiftun Digernes finds a new life's calling crafted from clay
The former mixologist and Tokyo cafe co-founder is combining his creative interests with a new passion — ceramic arts.

Longform

Historically, kabuki was considered the entertainment of the merchant and peasant classes, a far cry from how it is regarded today.
For Japan's oldest kabuki theater, the show must go on