Culture | 2019 in Review Dec 27, 2019
In video games, 2019 was the year of Death Stranding
by Jason Coskrey
The year saw an array of original titles hit the shelves, alongside a selection of reboots of existing francihses
Music | 2019 in Review Dec 26, 2019
The dawn of a new era and a change in J-pop
by Patrick St. Michel
2019 brought changes to Japan's pop scene, including established acts finally embracing the internet as a way of reaching fans
Music | 2019 in Review Dec 26, 2019
2019 served as a reminder of the importance of community in music
by James Hadfield
As music scenes fragmented, the year showed a renewal in community events for alternative music in Japan, with festivals and gigs taking to new venues and battling the weather
Film | 2019 in Review Dec 25, 2019
2019 brought both tragedy and triumph to Japan's anime industry
by Matt Schley
While the anime world was rocked by a fatal arson attack at the studios of Kyoto Animation, a diverse range of new films and series gave the year a creative boost.
TV | 2019 in Review Dec 25, 2019
Netflix led the streaming race with original Japanese content in 2019
by Alyssa I. Smith
The battle of the streaming giants saw some first class productions on offer in 2019, from original anime series, Japanese exclusives and fresh takes on established franchises.
Stage | 2019 in Review Dec 20, 2019
The year that musicals took on Japanese stages
by Nobuko Tanaka
While song and dance kept audiences flocking to theaters in Japan in 2019, the non-musical side was kept afloat by established dramatists rather than new faces
Film | 2019 in Review Dec 19, 2019
2019 saw just a few glimmers of hope in an otherwise mediocre year for Japanese film
by Mark Schilling
The year predictably saw new iterations of long-running anime favorites top the box office, but the year's truly interesting films lay much further down the financial rankings.
TV | 2019 in Review Dec 19, 2019
Japanese television relied heavily on tried and tested formulas in 2019
by Patrick St. Michel
While the Rugby World Cup and the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito brought the viewers flocking, television networks did little to offer anything else new in 2019.
Style & Design | 2019 in Review Dec 18, 2019
Future design in Japan: Recycle, upcycle and reinvent
by Mio Yamada
The focus on traditional artisanship is still strong, as is the global obsession with minimalism, but what about sustainability and ethical consumption?
Art | 2019 in Review Dec 17, 2019
Creative expression stifled by 'safety concerns' in Japan
by John L. Tran
As the taboo-busting comic Joan Rivers used to say after pressing her audience's buttons, "Can we talk?" On the evidence of this year's Aichi Triennale, if it's about World War II atrocities, the answer seems to be "no."