Akio Fujimoto trades drama for authenticity in film about the refugee experience
Akio Fujimoto's "Passage of Life," a drama about the struggles of a Myanmar family in Japan and the troubled return of a mother and her children to Yangon, premiered at last year's Tokyo International Film Festival before continuing on to win honors and acclaim ...
'Passage of Life': A family drama that treats refugees with respect
Hollywood films about the immigrant experience are common enough (see "The Godfather" and other classic gangster movies for examples), while Japanese films on the same topic are rare, save for those about Zainichi (ethnic Koreans) in Japan. (Among the best is Zainichi director Yoichi ...
'It's Boring Here, Pick Me Up': A rural road movie with no destination
What passes for countryside in Japan is often a vast sprawl of low-rise development: chain restaurants, big-box stores, gas stations and pachinko parlors. While there's no shortage of films that have tried to capture the ennui of life in such areas, the results are ...
'Every Day a Good Day': The wonder of tea with Kirin Kiki
I attended my first tea ceremony decades ago, as part of a company orientation. Kneeling on the floor, I sat in the formal seiza position, stumbled through the motions and sipped the thick green tea. Just as the pain in my legs was reaching ...
Politics and cinema intermingle at Busan International Film Festival
'The Chaplain': Ren Osugi shines as a clergyman working on death row
Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia's mini party is worth a little look
'Dare to Stop Us': Japanese cinema's bad boy as seen by one of the women who worked with him
'You Are the Apple of My Eye': A missed chance at romance isn't a bad thing
Japanese film has its own 'Crazy Rich Asians' if you know where to look
Haru Nemuri's rapping and roaring speaks to the zeitgeist of 2018
Haruna Kimishima knew her music had found an audience overseas when her Twitter DMs began to fill up with English. "Japanese fans tend to not react to me directly, especially when compared to foreign listeners," says the 23-year-old artist, who records as Haru Nemuri. "They ...
Etsko Tazaki creates her own legacy at the piano keys
When Ami Yamasaki begins to sing, brooks, birds and barks emerge
'Music progresses when people make mistakes': Foodman favors taking risks on new album
Seiko Oomori: J-pop's reigning rule-breaker
Electronic artist Tim Hecker delves into ancient Japanese court music and negative space on 'Konoyo'
Japan and China: Forging ties in the electronic underground
The cutting edge of Kyoto swordmaking
Showcasing 170 blades, 19 of which are National Treasures and 61 are Important Cultural Properties, "Swords of Kyoto: Master Craftsmanship from an Elegant Culture" is the largest sword exhibition in the Kyoto National Museum's 120-year history.
'Astronomy and Printing: In Search of New World Vision'
'Aesthetics of Shinzo Fukuhara: Assemble, The Eugene Studio'
'Local Prospects 4: Distances'
White is not as monotone as some think
'Rubens and the Birth of the Baroque'
Tokyo Festival looks to throw open some doors with fringe elements
If the inclusion of Festival/Tokyo in Tokyo Festival's diverse program of performing arts is any indication, theater events in Tokyo have been evolving over the past decade or so. Festival/Tokyo was set up by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 2009 to showcase the city's cutting-edge ...
The experiment continues on Kyoto's stages
'Hurricane — The Life of Tian Han' tells the story of the father of contemporary Chinese theater
Golden oldies: A Saitama theater festival for elderly actors welcomes seniors from around the world
Akinori Nakagawa captures Frankie Valli's voice in 'Jersey Boys'
'Swimming With Sharks': A horrible boss is truly universal
Lady Gaga getting married? She thanks 'fiance' during speech
Lady Gaga apparently is getting married. The 32-year-old singer and "A Star is Born" actress thanked her "fiance" Christian Carino as she finished speaking Monday night at Elle's 25th annual Women in Hollywood event. A message seeking comment from her publicist was not returned. Gaga was ...
1967 Beatles album 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' named most popular in U.K. history
Rare 1932 'The Mummy' film poster poised to hit record $1 million at auction
Stolen Stradivarius found after decades comes to life again under 18-year-old virtuoso's chin
Mountain High: Junko Tabei's adventures at the top of the world
Junko Tabei was a pioneering alpinist who dramatically changed the landscape of mountaineering around the world. Previously available only in Japanese, excerpts of her writing have been translated and compiled into "Honouring High Places," a beautifully illustrated retrospective.
Kenzaburo Oe's 'Teach Us to Outgrow Our Madness': Reflections on father-son relationships
Nahoko Uehashi's 'The Beast Player': Fantasy grounded in nature
Haruki Murakami says good writing is what he can do to help people in times of trouble
'Anthony Bourdain's Hungry Ghosts': Deliciously sinister, beautifully illustrated supernatural tales
Anpanman: Is the children's superhero the best thing since sliced bread?
Illustrator Takashi Yanase's beaming cartoon character celebrates the 30th anniversary of 'Soreike! Anpanman' on Nippon TV.
The small screen needs the small mercies of 'Terrace House'
Rainy season is a great time to binge-watch anime
'The Bachelor Japan' promises more drama in its second season
Yuko Takeuchi steps into an iconic role on 'Miss Sherlock' with elementary ease
Yuki Kimura may have struck out on 'The Bachelor Japan,' but she won the people's rose
'Ainori' teaches lessons in love ... and soft power
