Marie Kondo and Momo: The new faces of Japanese culture
Japanese soft power has seen two faces in 2019. One is that of tidying guru Marie Kondo. The other is the horrifying visage of Momo, an unsettling sculpture turned viral ...
#MeToo allegations roil U.S. anime conventions
Over the past two months, the #MeToo movement breached the American anime convention industry. Most feel it was inevitable. Many say it's about time.
Will 'Queer Eye' show a different view of Japanese culture?
Netflix's popular reality series "Queer Eye" recently wrapped up filming for a number of special Japan-based episodes. The footage from the recent trip to the country won't air until later ...
Game for a laugh: Learning to become a manzai comedian
As I stand in the cramped wooden gangway at the side of the stage, going over my lines in a frantic whisper, I am reminded of something that American comedian Patrick Harlan had told me when we first met four months ago. "The importance of ...
The story behind anime localization
"The structure of Japanese storytelling does not adhere to a strict three acts. At times, the story meanders and takes the viewer on a seemingly unrelated path. ... Characterizations are richer, deeper, darker. Plots are often complex and convoluted, serving primarily as vessels to ...
Second chance for Japan's manga museum
While official Japan may be slow to act on the appeal of its otaku mavens, the rest of the world appears keen to embrace manga and anime.
Hayao Miyazaki: The never-ending story
In September 2013, animator Hayao Miyazaki said: "Through the years I have frequently talked about retiring, so many of you are perhaps wondering if this time I am really sincere. I am." But was he?
Many gamers began 2018 by teaming up with a garishly outfitted cat and rushing into battle against a big, angry monster. Some of those same people will usher out the year by punching Nintendo icon Mario in his famously mustachioed face. It was a good ...
YouTube in 2018: Controversy, contributors and (allegedly) child-friendly content
YouTube in Japan had an identity crisis in 2018. The video-sharing site only grew in importance this year, as the top creators associated with the platform achieved acceptance by the country's mainstream media gatekeepers while famous names migrated over. But, at the same time, the ...
Counting down to the Year of the Boar: Festivals, foxes and fireworks welcome 2019 in Tokyo
With the end of the year drawing closer, the pressure is on to figure out how to greet the Year of the Boar. If the dwindling number of viewers staying in to watch NHK's annual music showcase "Kohaku Uta Gassen" is any indication, more ...
British Museum to hold largest-ever manga exhibition outside Japan
The British Museum said Wednesday it will hold from May the largest exhibition of manga ever to take place outside of Japan, showcasing original Japanese manga and other items influenced by the genre. The exhibit from May 23 through Aug. 26 will introduce the historical ...
Netflix anime welcomes the dark side
As manga artist Go Nagai celebrates the 50th anniversary of "Shameless School," first published in the debut edition of Shonen Jump magazine, Netflix releases his "Devilman Crybaby" as an anime series.
