Nick Smith: ‘Skateboarders are no longer troublemakers, we’re athletes’
Nick Smith needed a solution to help assemble his skateboard in an easier way. So, he created his own tool to do so and is now selling it to stores up and down Japan.
Ally Hongo: 'If Japan wants to elevate its "brand," it has to see how the world is changing'
Ally Hongo's background in media came in handy as she and her husband launched Shiitake Creative, which promotes responsible tourism.
Natsumi Yamada: ‘We need to make the issues LGBTQ people face visible’
Natsumi Yamada is co-president of Tokyo Rainbow Pride. She credits a youth with no television and “gyaru” fashion as helping her realize her best, authentic self.
Sara Yoshihara: ‘The best reaction is when a kid with allergies stops by and gets to have a treat’
A wheat allergy diagnosis prompted Hototogisu Bakery and Farm to switch to gluten-free products, which has helped foster a community.
Atsushi Murakami: ‘If Tono becomes synonymous with hops in Japan, I’ll be happy’
Atsushi Murakami has played many roles in his life, including as the creator of the Murakami Seven hop variety.
Kristopher Kwiatek: 'If you keep working hard, you'll end up somewhere pretty good'
Most parents get involved with their child's schooling at an early age and back off as they get older. Principal Kristopher Kwiatek says, "stay involved."
A photographer couple in Kyoto discusses why they prefer analog film and how they're helping their son discover his creativity.
Mayu Nakamura: ‘Why can't a woman be sexy and a mother at the same time?’
Mayu Nakamura is known for her critically acclaimed documentaries. After a hiatus, she's back with a drama that aims to change how we view older women.
Hiroto Watanabe: 'If there is no vision, there is nothing to work toward'
Youth poverty is a largely hidden problem in Japan that stems in part from a mindset that pushes young people to hide their failures.
Diane Kichijitsu: ‘Human interactions provide plenty of comedic material’
The male-dominated world of "rakugo," traditional Japanese comic storytelling, has welcomed a British woman who's in on the joke.
Biankah Bailey: ‘Poetry speaks to the heart of society as it exists from moment to moment’
During Black History Month, writer Biankah Bailey has worked with the Tokyo Poetry Journal to produce "Umoja," a book featuring the work of Black creatives.
Yu Shibuya: ‘Creating something from nothing requires a huge effort’
Yu Shibuya made the decision early on in his life to “rescue” modern Japanese culture from crass commercialism. He chose the theater as his weapon.
