The biggest moment for streaming music in Japan this year came via a handwritten letter. In late June, Kenta Matsumoto of pop-punk trio Wanima shared a note on Twitter announcing that his band's entire catalog would be uploaded to streaming music platforms like Spotify ...

Monami Kida can't remember the last time she had an argument with Hinano, her younger sister and partner in the classical-meets-pop project Kitri. "It might have been a disagreement regarding the order of the songs we would play live," Monami, better known as Mona, says. ...

Mister Donut and patisserie Mon Cher combine their signature doughnut and roll cake to create a new frankensweet: the Roll-nut.

The operator of Seven-Eleven’s new smartphone payment service is under fire for appearing clueless at a news conference that was held after customers were allegedly defrauded through unauthorized access. On July 4, Seven & I Holdings Co. said some 900 convenience store customers using the ...

Few in the history of Japan's entertainment industry have wielded more power than talent manager Johnny Kitagawa. Kitagawa primarily flexed this influence through Johnny & Associates Inc., an agency he founded in 1962 that would go on to become one of the most powerful entertainment ...

Japan's capital abounds with top-notch gelato spots to satisfy any sweet tooth. Just in time for summer, here's The Japan Times' guide on where to find the best scoops in the city.

Green tea, lemon and Makoto Shinkai's film "Weathering With You"-themed fruit-flavored soda drinks all hit convenience stores shelves this month.

Some of the most popular users of social media platforms such as Twitter are expressing frustration with life online. Adult film star and media personality Makoto Toda joined Twitter in 2016 and quickly established a strong following that extended far beyond her profession.  By the start ...

The first half of the 2010s offered singer-songwriter Emi Meyer few breaks. She released a full-length album every year until 2015, driven both by creative energy and a feeling that she needed to put herself out there. "That was my fulfillment in life. It was ...

Strawberry Fetish serves up a wide variety of sweets starring the titular fruit, including a couple of strawberry-centric drinks and strawberry ice cream.