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2019 in Review

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In video games, 2019 was the year of Death Stranding

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

The dawn of a new era and a change in J-pop

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

2019 served as a reminder of the importance of community in music

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

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    Group of Seven leaders, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, take their seats as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses them via video link during a working session of the G7 summit on Monday at Elmau Castle in southern Germany.
  • BOJ's public relations crisis forces rethink on inflation message

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  • Launch of new carrier highlights China's bid to tip balance in the Pacific

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  • Crypto crash threatens North Korea's stolen funds as it ramps up weapons tests

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  • Trump’s Jan. 6 rage gets vivid retelling in ex-aide’s testimony

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  • Abortion legal and apolitical in Japan, but cost and consent present barriers

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2019 brought both tragedy and triumph to Japan's anime industry

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.

Netflix led the streaming race with original Japanese content in 2019

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.

The year that musicals took on Japanese stages

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

2019 saw just a few glimmers of hope in an otherwise mediocre year for Japanese film

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.

Japanese television relied heavily on tried and tested formulas in 2019

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.

Future design in Japan: Recycle, upcycle and reinvent

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?

Creative expression stifled by 'safety concerns' in Japan

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."

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